Eagle Optics Team Bird So Hard: (top row) Tom Prestby, Jessica Gorzo, Michael O’Brien (bottom row) Max Henschell and David La Puma

Eagle Optics Team Bird So Hard wrapped up a 24-hour extravaganza of birding at 12:00am on Sunday, May 28, by listening to a chorus of two Chuck-will’s-widows and several Eastern Whip-poor-wills singing to a beautiful full moon on the dividing line of Walworth and Jefferson Counties in the South Kettle Moraine State Forest. The Chucks represented species number 183 for the day, and when the clock struck midnight we all exchanged handshakes and hugs in congratulation of a job well done. Despite absolute fatigue from the marathon of birding, we weren’t done. We headed straight for the Yellow-breasted Chat found a week earlier by Cynthia Bridge in the South Kettle Moraine. The bird was singing his head off when we arrived, and we marveled at the experience of listening to a chat under a huge moon. Someone suggested “Chat and Chucks are both singing; maybe we should scrap our big day total and start again right now.”  Not the worst idea, but complicated by our inability to stay awake any longer, and the fact that some of us had work to do on Sunday–but otherwise we knew we had a great route that would only be made better by a few tweaks in timing and placement. In the end we voted to keep our 183 and make our adjustments in 2014.

It all started almost twenty-six hours earlier, around 10:30pm at the Mud Lake Wildlife Area in Columbia county, where a still-moonlit night was promising big things. We were still scouting for owls and were pleased to have a Barred and Great Horned giving calls from different parts of the marsh, and Whip-poor-wills in the distance. As the night progressed, though, the weather changed right before our eyes. Clouds rolled in, the wind picked up, and by the time midnight arrived the tops of trees were swaying, cattails were bending over, and a cold wind threatened to shut down our nocturnal birding. Tom cursed every weather person within a 100-mile radius (including all of his iPhone weather apps) as we kicked off our Big Day. Despite the winds, two of our target birds (Virginia Rail and Sora) could not resist the calls of both Michael and Tom. We left Mud Lake with several birds under our belts and a renewed optimism of birds to come. The next four hours would take us through marshes and bogs listening for owls, rails and sparrows, with our final nocturnal destination being Comstock Bog-Meadow State Natural Area. We picked up an Eastern Screech-Owl and a young Great Horned Owl giving food begging calls in Marquette County, as the wind finally died down. Comstock holds a lot of potential for rare birds such as Yellow Rail, Long-eared Owl, and Le Conte’s Sparrow, but when we arrived we noticed newly posted signage prohibiting our entry into the bog and none of these species could be heard from Edgewood Rd.

Buena Vista: a dawn chorus to remember

For me (one who loves sparrows), Buena Vista is second to none. Clay-colored, Henslow’s, Savannah and Grasshopper are thick as thieves in this grassland/marsh complex. Their songs overlap with the bubbly Bobolink, both Eastern and Western Meadowlark, and when combined with a bass-line provided by booming Greater Prairie Chickens, it’s an auditory experience that every birder should have at least once. Add to this the occasional Upland Sandpiper and Brewer’s Blackbird and you have a grassland specialty sweep. A Common Nighthawk in the headlights would become a great sighting, since it was our only one of the day. The only species missed here was Short-eared Owl, which has been in short supply this entire spring. We then shot down to the 8^th Avenue/Leola Marsh area where we picked up Mute Swan and a lingering Canvasback, stopped at a few locations for migrants, and then down to Adams County for some sandy pines specialties.

Big Days don’t allow for much photography, hence this horrible photo of a Kirtland’s Warbler

We checked our scouted Lark Sparrow spots but none turned up, although we lucked into an encounter with 20+ Red Crossbills (Type 3) drinking from a puddle at the side of the car before turning south onto a sand road. Perhaps our most unexpected find of the day was a Northern Mockingbird feeding along the road in northern Adams County. After a Baja-style adventure in our minivan, narrowly avoiding getting trapped in the sand, we killed the engine and immediately heard the song of our target bird: Kirtland’s Warbler. We stuck around long enough for Jess to get her lifer look at the bird, and Michael to get his first look at the species in over 20 years. It’s so wonderful to have them breeding in central Wisconsin, and doubly so to include them on our big-day tally. But big days are about the numbers, so after a few brief minutes we sped off for a Blue-headed Vireo present just the day before (missed it!), and then back up for another shot at Lark Sparrow (got two!). We then turned west to Cranberry Country where we picked up a pair of Common Loons and Trumpeter Swans, and down Ball Road for breeding warblers and boreal species (White-throated and Lincoln’s Sparrow, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher (presumably a migrant), Palm, Golden-winged, and Yellow-rumped Warblers).

At this point, we were running more than an hour behind our planned route,  so we decided to cut Baxter’s Hollow and Devils Lake in favor of the sites along the highway. Our decision paid off on Hooded Warbler and a makeup on Red-headed Woodpecker, which we had missed earlier, but we came up short on others species we hoped to pick up by cutting out some key Baraboo sites. But that’s how things go on a Big Day–and we just pushed through to our Prothonotary spot near Portage. Some excellent intel from Sean Fitzgerald turned us onto this site last week, and when we scouted it, we encountered at least two singing Prothonotary Warblers (a species easy to miss on this route). In addition, there were two calling Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers which were again present on the Big Day. We hadn’t anticipated the water level that had been well under flood stage when we scouted, was now flowing across the road (complete with surfacing carp) on Saturday. Not willing to miss an important bird, we parked our van and waded across the flooded road to the other side where we not only picked up Prothonotary Warbler, but also both Swainson’s and Gray-cheeked Thrushes!

We picked up Yellow-headed Blackbird first at Schoenberg Marsh, then again at Horicon

Now  it was time to high-tail it to the Columbia County ponds to pick up Eurasian Collared Dove in Arlington, Red-necked Grebe and a host of other birds at Schoenberg Marsh, and some lingering ducks and shorebirds at various flooded fields (including two Red-necked Phalaropes on Harvey Rd). We continued our flooded-field birding through the Beaver Dam/ Fox Lake region where we picked up Wilson’s Phalarope among other needed birds. Our second to last daylight spot would be Horicon Marsh, where several days of scouting promised a serious bump in our day list.

Horicon is a special place; from eye-level it can appear very two-dimensional, a sea of grass not unlike the Florida Everglades. Also like the Everglades, from above it opens up into a vast landscape mosaic. Horicon has grasslands on the overlooks, and a patchwork of open water, marshes, wooded islands, and mudflats below. We first made our way around the Auto Loop in search of migrants and marsh birds, and were treated to several fleeting single-observer (Michael) glimpses of a Least Bittern, and then to some excellent views of a single bird perched on a cattail clump for the whole group. American Bittern and Common Gallinule were both heard, the latter also seen, and we picked up Black and Forster’s Tern before wrapping up the drive. Highway 49 gave us a boost in shorebird sightings (Black-bellied Plover, Black-necked Stilt, and several peep species) as well as some ducks we had been missing (Gadwall, American Widgeon). We all agreed that if we spent the rest of the day there picking through birds, it would be totally enjoyable, but we had to push on. A race up to Stumpf Rd. yielded a Lesser Yellowlegs, a Great Egret (finally), and a surprise American Black Duck after which we high-tailed it towards Sheboygan.

En route to Sheboygan, we did some tallying and came up with an idea to pick up a few songbirds on the way. Our target location was the Greenbush Picnic Area in the northern Kettle Moraine. Theoretically, it would have been right off of the highway and promised easy detections for Cerulean and Mourning Warbler, as well as Acadian Flycatcher. As of this writing we’re still not sure whether we found the picnic area or not, but it’s safe to say that we picked up no new birds during this excursion, and lost about 30 minutes of precious daylight in the process. Feeling dejected, we got right back on the highway and pointed our van towards Sheboygan.

This was the first Little Gull we found during scouting. On game day we had an adult. How many more good gulls are hiding among the masses at Sheboygan right now??

Tom directed our van to the circle at the end of South Pier Drive where we quickly assumed positions to maximize our collective vantages of the lake. Tom picked the Peregrine off of the nest box atop the power plant, several of us got on a few lines of Red-breasted Mergansers offshore, Jess picked a lone Common Goldeneye lurking under our noses, and a Ruddy Turnstone called to help round out our shorebird numbers. Then Michael picked a good bird offshore with a group of Bonaparte’s Gulls; an adult Little Gull complete with telltale dark under-wings and near-complete dark hood. Once we all got on the Little Gull, we piled back into the van and headed north for the municipal beach. Sanderlings were quickly located running along the surf line, while Michael picked a 1^st year Lesser Black-backed Gull from the loafing birds. Caspian Terns were present and calling loudly, but no Common Terns could be found as the last available light faded. We ran down to North Point Park to take one more shot at a new gull, but when we arrived they all flushed and flew back toward the beach–and light gave way to dark. As darkness fell, we were all reeling from the last-minute flurry of new birds. Our total stood at 182, and we knew the Chuck-will’s-widow and Yellow-breasted Chat were still within reach. We headed into town for some sustenance and a little cleaning up before the long drive to Jefferson County.  In the end, we would get the Chuck-will’s-widow, but would miss the Chat by 9 minutes! So it goes.

As I write, it is several days later, with the Great Wisconsin Birdathon behind us. Who knows what next year will bring? If the last two years have told us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. And that’s one of the beauties of the Great Wisconsin Birdathon, you’ve got an entire month to strategize, to optimize your chances at a record total. We learned a few lessons this year–some new, and some just reinforced. We learned to keep an eye on the moon phase, as it can be your friend in making birds sing at night, but it can also hinder others from exposing their location.  Also, we’ll be much more aware of the potential for strong wind, especially during the night. Lastly, good scouting is paramount to anything else, including luck and skill. Scouting familiarizes you not only with the target species, but also increases your ability to hit sites quickly and efficiently. It was the sites we hadn’t scouted that cost us the most time and birds on our route. Scouting is critical.

The only team photo we have, taken at 9:00pm at The Owl’s Nest in Poynette, where we introduced Michael to Friday nights, Wisconsin-style

So on that note, we must thank Eagle Optics for sponsoring our team, which allowed us to get out and do some scouting prior to the event. Without their support we would not have been able to compete at the level we did. Eagle Optics also provided us with scopes and tripods to use during the event (and car window mounts, which are awesome), ensuring that each team member was prepared to pick birds at every opportunity. Eagle Optics Team Bird So Hard would like to thank all of the people who pledged toward our team to raise money for conservation of Wisconsin birdlife. So many of the places we visited are supported by public funds and would not exist if not for the hard work and dedication of conservation organizations at all levels. Your tax-deductible donation willsupport projects aimed at conserving these precious resources, including the true poster-child for bird conservation: the Kirtland’s Warbler.

On June 1^st a name will be chosen from our pool of contributors who donated or pledged at least $25 towards our team. This person will receive a brand new Eagle Optics 8×32 Ranger binocular donated by Eagle Optics of Middleton, WI. You still have a couple of days to make your last-minute contributions and help us reach our fundraising goal of $3000! So please, if you haven’t already, head over to the donation page at this link, make your pledge!

Last, but certainly not least, thanks to our friends and co-birders who shared information with us throughout the weeks leading up to the event. Since every species means more conservation dollars, this rising tide of working together clearly lifts all boats. A special thanks to Sean Fitzgerald who was practically part of the team, given the number of places he scouted for us prior to the event.

Thanks again for all of your support, and until next year, BIRD SO HARD.

Eagle Optics Team Bird So Hard

Jessica Gorzo
Max Henschell
David La Puma
Michael O’Brien
Tom Prestby

Here is the our final list of species seen or heard in the 24-hour period (note that NO tapes were played to attract birds):

Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Northern Bobwhite
Ruffed Grouse
Greater Prairie-Chicken
Wild Turkey
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Whooping Crane
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Black-necked Stilt
Spotted Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Upland Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Dunlin
American Woodcock
Wilson’s Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Bonaparte’s Gull
Little Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Forster’s Tern
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Common Nighthawk
Chuck-will’s-widow
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Blue-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warbler
Kirtland’s Warbler
Palm Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white warbler
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow’s Sparrow
Le Conte’s Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Western Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Brewer’s Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
Red Crossbill (types 3 and 4)
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Much thought and planning goes in to these big days of counting, and the teams can choose any one day in May to do their count. Having spent several days scouting the best birding hotspots in the southern half of the state (and this is not a small state!), Eagle Optics’ Team Bird So Hard is in the field today, May 25, doing their darndest.  They started their sojourn just after midnight last night, and will be ending on the shores of Lake Michigan at midnight tonight.  Every minute counts!  You can follow their Facebook updates here.

We applaud our team’s effort. These 5 experienced, bird-loving (and slightly crazed) individuals are giving it everything they’ve got!  Go team! Team Bird So Hard has a goal of identifying 200 species today. They will be challenged by many miles in the car, our temperamental spring weather (overcast and 50’s throughout this part of the state), stiff necks, and no doubt, sub-par road food. But our fantastic 5 team members are out there, ears perked, binoculars poised–all senses on high alert as they strive to bring home the honors.

Ultimately, it’s all a labor of love, you know. The Great Wisconsin Birdathon is a fabulous means to an end: raising $50,000 to protect Wisconsin’s precious bird habitats. Our team’s mission is to raise at least $3,000 of that amount, and right now, they still have $720 to go.  Please donate! It’s easy to do, online at this link. If you dontae $25 or more, your name will be entered in a drawing for an Eagle Optics Ranger 8×32 Binocular. We thank you!

Nina Cheney
Eagle Optics Staff
Binoculars: Bring them. See what they bring you.

Because we’re all about team spirit, we are offering a little incentive to anyone contributing $25 or more to our team’s fundraising effort! It is this nifty Eagle Optics Ranger 8×32 Binocular! When you make an online pledge of $25 or more to any participating team in the Great Wisconsin Birdathon, your name will be entered in a drawing to win the binocular.  The winner will be announced in June.

You can contribute easily online here. Choose from a flat-out donation in any amount, or pledge a specified amount per species sighted by the team during that 24-hour period. (Giving $25 automatically enters your name in the drawing for the binocular).  Our team’s (lofty) goal is to log in 200 species!  Hopeful sons-of-guns, aren’t they?

All kidding aside, we are lucky to have  our celebrity team: five talented individuals representing Eagle Optics in this event. The Great Wisconsin Birdathon is designed to be fun and challenging.  But most importantly, the teams will raise much-needed money to conserve crucial stopover habitats for birds migrating through, and nesting  in, Wisconsin.  Won’t you pitch in?  Please help us care for the birds while cheering our team, Team Bird So Hard, to victory!

Nina Cheney
Eagle Optics Staff
Binoculars: Bring them. See what they bring you.

This 10-day Ohio festival has it all, folks. Located near the southwest shore of Lake Erie and surrounded by prime birding habitat, Biggest Week provides the ultimate remedy for winter-weary birders. Birding sites include Crane Creek, Maumee Bay State Park, Magee Marsh, and Ottawa National Wildlife Area, which provide an amazing variety of warblers, water birds, shorebirds, songbirds, and resident species. In fact, the Magee Marsh Boardwalk is famous in May and was dubbed “Warbler Capital of the World” by Kenn Kaufman.

Why is this unique area teeming with so many warblers and others birds? Well, the southern edge of Lake Erie presents an obstacle birds are hesitant to cross during migration. Until they are ready to make the crossing, birds will rest and refuel in several birding hotspots on the lake’s southern edge, providing birders the opportunity to see warblers at eye level and water birds close up. These experiences along with the sheer number of birds you can expect to encounter during this event are bound to amaze bird lovers of all ages.

The beautiful Maumee Bay Lodge and Conference Center will serve as the festival headquarters and place to be for receptions, silent auction, evening keynote speakers, and vendors. The Biggest Week in American Birding is brimming with guided activities, trips, travel talks, and workshops. Inhabit the famous boardwalk, participate in a Big Sit, get photography and digiscoping tips, help with bird banding, sharpen your bird ID skills, and so much more. Enter your bird-related tattoo in the first annual Bird Tattoo contest (who says birders aren’t hip?)  See the full schedule here.

Co-hosted by Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO), Destination Toledo, and Lake Erie Shores and Islands, proceeds from a number of the festival activities will benefit vital bird conservation and education programs. According to the festival website, “We believe that connecting people to the joys of birding is the first step in building support for conservation; people care more about the things they love.” Last year, over $25,000 was raised for these important conservation initiatives. Your visit to the festival will assist this effort: it is eco-tourism at its best.  Find out about a chance to win a Leica Trinovid Binocular here, while becoming a new or renewed member of BSBO.

So, register now for one of the most exciting birding festivals anywhere, and bring the family!  Or, just come for the birding–you don’t have to be part of the festival to enjoy the birds.  The region offers plenty to do for the non-birders in your group, too.  

Eagle Optics is proud to be a sponsor and vendor for The Biggest Week In American Birding. Stop by our booth for individualized advice on selecting optics and first-hand experience with the many binoculars, spotting scopes, and tripods we will have on hand. See you in Ohio!

Nina Cheney
Eagle Optics Staff
Binoculars: Bring them. See what they bring you.

Don’t miss the chance to learn from experts during informative and entertaining programs featuring some of North America’s most talented speakers. View the current list of scheduled programs here.

At this year’s MBS, you can attend workshops for bird photography, birding with technology, bird identification, and more, plus we’re planning an entire day of activities especially for young birders. And, the Birders’ Marketplace at the MBS will be filled to the walls with companies offering you the very best in bird-related products, services, and merchandise.

You can also…
-Experience fall migration at one of our hand-picked birding hotspots
-Take a sunset boat cruise around Lake Erie’s beautiful islands
-Discover waterfowl, gulls, and jaegers on our Lake Erie pelagic trip
-Join us for the Roadrunner 3K Fun Run!

The 2013 MBS: It’s like going to bird-watching camp!  Register today!

Nina Cheney
Eagle Optics Staff
Binoculars: Bring them. See what they bring you.

Nina Cheney
Eagle Optics Staff
Binoculars: Bring them. See what they bring you.

Alaska is legendary for its rugged scenery, pristine waterways and abundant wildlife. But it’s also known for its friendly, down-home feel. The little town of Homer, and the folks at the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival exemplify this. It’s a community festival. The hard-working, dedicated festival volunteers extend a warm welcome, and keep attendees busy (and happy!) by offering educational events, guided walks and boat trips, speakers, artists, and a friendly competition or two, to boot. Check the entire schedule of events here.

Learn about bird and nature photography, shorebird ID, geology of the area, and try field drawing or birding by ear.  You can bird by bike and by kayak, take part in the festival’s 5K run, or just stake out a spot with your binocular on one of the many viewing platforms along the Homer Spit.  Meet and talk with  Jeff Gordon, Saturday evening’s keynote speaker and beloved President of the ABA, and Special Guest Author, Philip Hoose. Visit the beautiful Alaska Islands & Oceans Visitors Center. The variety of things to do is impressive, and there are activities specifically designed for families, children, and junior birders, too. Some events are free! Registration is required, since some trips and workshops have a limited capacity, so register today. No matter what you choose to do, hey–you’re in Alaska. Everything is an adventure.

Eagle Optics will once again be there, so if you come, please stop in the vendor area, say hello to Ben, and sample some of the latest in spotting scopes, tripods, and  binoculars.

Do come to Homer.  You’ll be charmed by the little town on Kachemak Bay. You’ll marvel at the sights and sounds of shorebirds moving over mountains and across water to their Arctic nesting grounds. You’ll make new friends, and you’ll go home a better birder. And forever after, you’ll have Alaska in your heart.

Nina Cheney
Eagle Optics Staff
Binoculars: Bring them. See what they bring you.

When something is said to be “for the birds,” by definition, it means pointless or worthless. Not around here. We’re getting fired up for the Great Wisconsin Birdathon (GWB).  And when we say it’s for the birds, we mean it, literally!

Like most birding competitions, there is a serious reason behind the fun, challenge, comradery, and adventure. Two words:  Bird conservation. The GWB, now in its second year, aims to raise funds to support the Bird Protection Fund, Wisconsin Stopover Initiative, and other statewide projects such as Bird City Wisconsin. And Eagle Optics has just the team to do it!

We are sponsoring a team of ace birders whose objective is to raise $3,000.00 for bird conservation in Wisconsin. The members of this team, dubbed Bird So Hard, are experienced, dedicated, and, well, a little crazy–characteristics vital for the strategy it takes to spot 200 species in a 24-hour period in May. That’s their goal, and they’re sticking to it!  (You can visit, like, and check for updates on the team’s Facebook fan page here.) Won’t you help our team with a much appreciated donation?

You see, geographically speaking, Wisconsin is uniquely situated between two of the Great Lakes (Michigan and Superior), and the Mississippi River flyway, affording migrating birds crucial habitat for stopping, resting and nesting. We all have a responsibility to the birds we love: to conserve, protect and enhance these important natural areas.

Don’t live in Wisconsin?  You can still donate!  Hey, remember–your birds are our birds. We strive to take care of them while they visit Wisconsin, so they can reach their breeding areas, raise their young, and safely migrate back to their wintering grounds.  Wisconsin is fortunate to have programs in place to conserve these precious stopover habitats, but funding is limited, and they need our help. This birdathon is designed to provide a format to do just that.  In its inaugural year, GWB’s teams raised a total of $20,800. This year’s mission is to nearly double that, but to do that, we need you.

Please, click here, donate online, and help bolster the teams of the Great Wisconsin Birdathon. Each of us can make a difference. After all, it’s for the birds!

Nina Cheney
Eagle Optics Staff
Binoculars: Bring them. See what they bring you.

Kowa 77mm/88mm 25-60x Zoom Eyepiece This high performance 25-60x wide angle zoom eyepiece has 2 XD lenses and provides you with a generous 17mm eye relief. Kowa covers this eyepiece with a limited lifetime warranty.

Zeiss Conquest HD 8X32 Binocular An outstanding new mid-sized binocular for under $1,000. Made in Germany with the latest technology!

Celestron Nature DX (not pictured) A sturdy, well-priced binocular; perfect for the beginning birder. Choose from compact, 32mm, and 42mm models!

Celestron Granite 33 mm Binocular The Granite line expands to include 7×33 and 9×33 models, featuring generous fields of view, ED glass and a comfortable open-hinge design.


Celestron Regal M2 ED Angled Spotting Scope We’re impressed with this upgraded Regal scope. A remarkable choice if your budget is in the $500.-$1,000. range. Choose from 100 mm (pictured right), or 80 mm and 65 mm sizes!

Vortex Crossfire II Binocular
The new Vortex Crossfire is sharp, bright, value-priced, and backed by an unconditional lifetime warranty!

We invite you to check out what’s new at Eagle Optics. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff is always ready to listen to your needs, and help you find what you’re looking for, at a fair price. Our 30-Day Guarantee ensures you will have ample time to try your new purchase. Your satisfaction is our goal.  Always!

Nina Cheney
Eagle Optics Staff
Binoculars: Bring them. See what they bring you.

Thinking of upgrading your current binocular, or purchasing one to give as a gift?  Eagle Optics and the American Birding Association have teamed up to make a special offer: buy a binocular from this select list and get a 1-year membership to the ABA (a $45 value) for just $15. The membership is transferable: keep it in your name, or make a friend an instant ABA member! To add a $15 membership to your purchase of a binocular, use the coupon code ABAMEMBERSHIP during checkout.

What could be better? Get or give a new binocular, and at the same time, support THE organization in North America which caters specifically to recreational birders.  As a member of the ABA, you’ll receive a the stunning bi-monthly, full-color, award winning magazine, Birding, along with the new Birders’ Guides periodical series: informative topics focusing on optics, gear, travel, and more! Check out the ABA website for more great information found in Birding News, Listing Central, and the ABA Blog.  Stay informed about ABA Rallies, workshops, Young Birder programs, Birders’ Exchange, and birding festivals throughout the U.S.

When you join the ABA, you become part of a community of like-minded people, people who love and care about birds.  The ABA’s mission is to make birding fun and accessible for all by increasing your knowledge and skills, helping to conserve bird habitat, and making you a better birding citizen.  Our role at Eagle Optics is simply to help you choose binoculars so you can get out there and enjoy birds!

Discover all the resources the ABA offers, and enjoy a new binocular for yourself or a loved one.  It’s a win-win.  We’re always happy to help find a binocular for your taste and budget.  Give us a call!

Nina Cheney
Eagle Optics Staff
Binoculars: Bring them. See what they bring you.