Bird Watcher Holiday Gift Ideas

Bird watching is a popular hobby that isn't just for retired folks sitting around the old age home. Bird watching is popular with children, nature lovers, environmentalists, and most anyone who enjoys the great outdoors. There are lots of items that will help the favorite bird watcher on your gift list to thoroughly enjoy their pastime.

The first thing any bird watcher needs is a good bird watching guide, particularly for identification purposes. There are literally thousands of books written on birds and not all are the same. If the bird watcher you are shopping for is relatively new to this hobby, a good choice is "Bird Watching for Dummies" written by bird expert Bill Thompson III (who has authored many books on birds). The book is a complete beginner's guide to bird watching from the basics to more complex identifications. It is written in very plain language and suitable for all levels. Regional guides are also available for bird watchers who are interested in birds in their specific areas. Also from Bill Thompson III is a vast array of guides broken down by state. I found the guide for my state of Missouri particularly helpful in local identifications without having to thumb through pages of birds that are not likely to be spotted in my town.

To spot birds, most watchers prefer to use an apparatus like binoculars to get an up-close and personal view of our feathered friends. The top of the line brand in binoculars at a reasonable price is definitely Bushnell. Standard binoculars like the Bushnell NatureView 8X40 Birder Binoculars are a great choice. These standard-size binoculars feature eight times magnification with a field view of about 340 feet at 1,000 yards. Not bad for the $35 price tag. However, when buying binoculars, a great choice is a folding pair that easily is toted in a backpack or even in a pocket so that the user is able to take in their hobby where ever they may be. Bushnell's Powerview Compact Folding Roof Prism Binoculars are a great pair that comes in varying magnifications and retail around $20-$30.

While some bird watchers do venture to other locations to enjoy their hobby, a great deal of them bird watch from home. To attract birds to their residence, bird watchers often use bird feeders and/or bird houses. Therefore, these items make great gifts for bird lovers. When selecting a bird house or feeder as a gift, be sure to pick one that is appropriate for the region and climate of the bird watcher's house. Also, if a bird watcher has a favorite species of bird, you may also want to take that into consideration. For humming bird lovers, a unique choice would be the Opus Garden Ballet Hummingbird Feeder Mobile. The mobile retails for about $30 and is designed much like the shape of a baby mobile that would hang over a crib. It is very aesthetically pleasing, provides three feeding stations for the humming birds, and is bee resistant.

However, if the bird watcher on your list has all the field guides, bird feeders, and binoculars for their hobby, there are some innovative products that they may not have. One is the Nova Backyard Birds Camera with Motion Sensor. It is a fully automated digital camera that is completely waterproof and is designed to take pictures of birds at bird baths, feeders, and houses. It captures brilliant photos that bird watchers can use for identification purposes or their personal enjoyment. The camera retails for around $185 and is shaped like a bird house so no one will even know it is there!

If you have trouble finding gifts for the bird watcher on your list, be sure to check online retailers like www.amazon.com.