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.

Have you ever noticed demo binoculars or scopes on sale, been tempted by the great price, and then thought to yourself, “Wait. What exactly IS a demo?”

A demo binocular or scope comes to us from the manufacturer, in good condition, and with all original accessories. Eagle Optics periodically gets demos from various manufacturers, which are offered at significantly discounted prices. With the discounted price, you might expect to see a cosmetic imperfection on the rubber armoring. The lenses and optics are in working condition. While some warranties remain the same as with a new product, others vary, depending on the brand.

Remember, with all purchases from Eagle Optics, you have 30 days from the day you receive the product to try it out. If it doesn’t meet your needs, simply send it back for a refund. See the details of our Return Policy here.

A demo can save you money. But more than that, a demo price may enable you to move up to a binocular or scope you didn’t think you could afford. Check out our current inventory of  binocular demos and spotting scope demos, and check back often.  As always, the Eagle Optics staff is always happy to assist with any questions you may have regarding a specific binocular or scope.  Just give us a call!

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

As we swing in to spring, some Eagle Optics optics gurus are packing their bags and traveling to birding festivals around the country. We always bring plenty of gear–binoculars and spotting scopes in a variety of major brands–for you to try and compare. Tripods, too!

Is this your year to take your birding to the next level? Yes? Then, evaluate your birding optics. If your current binocular isn’t keeping up with your skill level, talk to us. We’ll take the time, whether at our festival booth, or over the phone from our home office in Wisconsin, to guide you to a binocular or scope that will help make you a better birder.

Then, plan on attending one of the many outstanding birding festivals in the U.S. in the coming months. With all the learning opportunities at hand (field trips, seminars, guest speakers), a birding festival can change your birding habits, sharpen your perspective, and give you skills and memories to last a lifetime. To find a festival near you, click here: http://aba.org/festivals/

If you happen to be at one of the festivals below, please stop at the Eagle Optics booth, say hello, and get your hands on your next best friend–your new binocular or scope. We’d love to see you on the road!

Whooping Crane Festival, Port Aransas, TX  Feb. 21-24
San Diego Birding Festival Feb. 28-Mar. 3
Canoecopia, Madison, WI, March 8-10
Birding Optics & Gear Expo, Columbus, OH,  March 23-24
Galveston (TX) Featherfest, April 11-14
Houston Audubon @ High Island, April 19-21
Chicago Audubon Eagle Optics Day, April 27
New River Birding & Nature Festival, April 29-May 4, West Virginia
Biggest Week in American Birding, May 3-12, Black Swamp Observatory, northwest Ohio
Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival, May 9-12, Homer, Alaska
Festival of Birds, May 16-19, Detroit Lakes, MN
Potholes & Prairie Birding Festival, June 12-16, Carrington, ND

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