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August 03, 2006  From Toe Tips to Mountain Tops I became aware of binocular envy about five years ago, not long after purchasing the binoculars I still use to this day. I tested them by focusing on a tire-rack across the department store and was delighted to read the raised print on the sides of the tires. They were pronounced adequate, and over the next few years subjected to much abuse, mostly through being dropped. Once they fell from my pack onto a hard tile floor and sustained distressing damage. I thought they were done for, but a friend remedied them with a few deft twists. Wow! Back to normal. Well, normal of a sort. Someone else looked through my binoculars and declared that they saw two separate images. Haven't they ever heard of a dominant eye? If you look through them with your dominant eye, there is only one image … but interestingly enough, whether I see one, two, or three images isn't the main problem. While most birders raise binoculars and advance on a bird of interest, I must raise binoculars and back away. The close-up focusing power of my 10 by 50 binoculars is laughable. I have to be at least 40 feet away from an object before seeing it clearly. Any closer and it's a blur! I couldn't afford to ditch my old binoculars but I desperately wanted to add a close focus option. So with my needs defined, the search began for another pair. I wanted to stay within budget, so the binoculars would need to be acquired for free, or darned close to free. This would require a certain faith in the generosity of the universe, but I've seen the giant wheels in motion before, and know that type of machination is well within the universe's realm. To make things easier I didn't specify a 'new' pair of binoculars, I did however, specify a close focus distance of 10 to 12 feet. So in a sense the search was not active, wherein one goes to sporting goods stores, or optical departments, haggling and shuffling a fistful of cash. You could say that this was to be more of a waiting game, one with focus. Then a few days ago while I sat in front of Parkside Art Centre doing a bit of volunteer-time, a worker walked over from the Cedar Crest Thrift store. In her hands she held a binocular case. "What do you think of these? If you're interested, bring them back to the store." I took the binocular case and unclipped the pseudo-leather plastic case. 'Let's see what the universe hath wrought!' Inside was a mediocre pair of lower-end 7 by 35 binoculars with zoom capability. I once owned a pair such as this and in no time flat the zoom lever detached from the zoom gears and the binoculars became unused gatherers of dust. Still, despite being rather dismal specimens I was surprised to find they focused slightly closer than the ones I already owned. In general the crispness of the image wasn't great. Still, perhaps this is what the universe decided I was to own. I took the binoculars back to the thrift store, said I was interested, and asked the price. However, the price-setting lady was out temporarily, so I returned an hour later and the binoculars were gone. I asked what happened and was told the price lady had wanted to know what I thought of the binoculars, because she was interested in buying them herself. When she heard that I asked about prices she decided they were good binoculars and took them for herself. A few days later I was back to the thrift store in the early morning. There was a lot of odd stuff out, and on a display rack where artificial flowers usually sit, was a small, black binocular bag. I lifted the bag from the shelf. It had a nice, solid weight and was slightly smaller than the size of my fist. Inside was a pair of older 6 by 25 binoculars. I quickly put them to my eyes and focussed on a nearby object. They focused to 10 feet and the image clarity was incredible. Forgetting the number one rule of thrift store and second-hand-store buying I put two good dollars on the counter and marched out triumphantly after paying the full price. The universe had disgorged its gift. But wait - the number one rule of second-hand-store buying states that there is a reason an item ends up being discarded - Usually it is broken. In my purchase I thought I dodged this cautionary rule, but on closer inspection I found the outer portion of the adjustable lens spun freely. Fortunately, I found that when the lens was set to my eye strength it would remain there unless someone else with a different eye strength used it. I could situate the outer portion of the lens cover without looking. It was a small problem and could be worked around easily. And so began my close-up birding adventures. The first thing I inspected was a female Black-chinned Hummingbird. This is the third summer it's dined at my feeder. I began to suspect she might actually be a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird because I thought I saw a mark on her cheek with the naked eye. However, one short, sparkling, water-clear look with my new little binoculars showed me that the cap of her head did not contrast sharply with her cheeks. She was indeed a Black-chinned Hummingbird. At the marsh I scrutinized juvenile Yellowthroats as I never could before with my old 10 by 50's. The best viewing of all came when I spotted a fledgling Virginia Rail as it squatted in the rushes about 12 feet away. With my new close-focus capability I studied the shape of the bird's nostril openings and the slight red flushing on the usual brownish juvenile beak. I could also see the wispy downy feathers on the upper chest and cheeks. Such details are priceless when sketching in the field. A new world has opened and I am close enough to drink it in! All praise to the universe! To e-mail Tom CLICK HERE To look at previous column "CLICK HERE |
