Kate and I returned to Madison late on November 10th from the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. The festival was just as great as Ben and Kate had promised me. I arrived home on a birder’s high. It was fun being the new kid on the birding block. Under Kate’s amazing guidance and with the benefit of her well-used Sibley Guide to Birds, my life bird total for this festival was 57.

Lots of wonderful people—

The birding community delivered a warm welcome. Festival organizers Jan and Father Tom and their band of hard-working volunteers deserve credit and special thanks . It was especially gratifying to meet Nick Papadopoulos from Burning Hawk Philanthropic Wines, a new Eagle Optics Conservation Partner. Nick’s passion for this worthwhile project was contagious from the first moment he called me at Eagle Optics. The Burning Hawk Wine tastings each evening were the perfect platform for Nick to share these special wines and spread the word to birders from all areas of the country.

And butterflies galore—

I’ve always understood why butterfliers want a close focusing binocular, but seeing the massive numbers and varieties of butterflies allowed me to really get the benefit of a great close focus. The distinctive coloring and details of butterflies and dragonflies were mind boggling and my favorite had to be the Mexican Bluewing digiscoped by yours truly (OK-Kate helped). No wonder we sold so many of the Eagle Optics Ranger SRT 8×32 and the Pentax Papilo binoculars at the festival.

Kristin

Eagle Optics Staff

Technorati : RGVB Festival

Our first night in the valley found us with devoted bird lovers on a nighttime outing which yielded my first looks at Common Paraques, an Eastern Screech Owl, and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. I might have seen the owl and ducks by pure luck, but getting the Paraque was only made possible when the pro in our group encouraged me to look closer at what appeared to be a clump of dirt in the plowed field. The next morning was windy and not conducive to birding, but the 15-acre sanctuary of Frontera Audubon in Weslaco, Texas provided looks at the Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Plain Chachalaca, Inca Dove, and Great Kiskadee. I also got a real taste of what it was like to be among numerous butterflies. With Kate’s help, I was soon spotting Julias, Queens, Zebra Longwings, Brown Longtails, and White Peacocks.

The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge delivered my first encounter with Green Jays, or as Kate says, “the Vegas showgirls of birds”. We got a great look at groups of five Groove-billed Anis and juvenile Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. There was more, but we were most excited for Kate to finally see her first Malachite butterfly! She had been looking for a Malachite for three years and we must have seen close to two dozen while we were there. Kate had the most beautiful one perched on her finger when we realized we should have brought a camera.

The camera is packed for today! (Barn Owl photo taken at the festival).

Kristin

Eagle Optics Staff

Technorati : RGVBirding

The prize for November is a Zeiss Conquest 8×40 binocular. If you’ve never had the pleasure of looking through a Conquest, a description of amazingly bright isn’t an exaggeration. Open your Eagle Optics emails in December and you will be entered to win a Swarovski EL 8×32 binocular. Hold an EL in your hands and you will immediately understand why this binocular is designated as lightweight and ergonomically pleasing. Win either one of these binoculars, and you will learn firsthand why the premier performance of these European optics are high on everyone’s list.

Kristin

Eagle Optics Staff

Technorati : free binoculars

About a week after Kate and I return, Ben hits the road to attend the Festival of the Cranes from November 18-23. For 21 years the City of Socorro, New Mexico and the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge have marked the return of the cranes with this popular event. Highlighting the festival are tours to areas of the refuge not normally open during the year. Friends of The Bosque del Apache NWR contribute valuable time and energy to make sure you will return to this terrific festival in the future.

Saving money on Audubon Binoculars

Eagle Optics is having a blowout sale on Audubon Binoculars. Now is the time to pick up a great pair of binoculars or the Audubon Dimensions 80 Spotting Scope at all-time low prices. All of the products are brand new and come with a limited lifetime warranty. Start your holiday shopping early and save!

Kristin

Eagle Optics Staff

Technorati : festivals

So what did Christine learn? Here are a few of Mike’s tips:

• Find a location where your subject is most likely to reside and set up the equipment.
• Select a focal point and note surrounding elements, such as background colors and location of branches.
• Patience is a virtue. Birds will scatter when you first arrive, but are likely to return once they are comfortable with your presence.
• Persistence is vital. Some days won’t yield any good shots. Relish the days you get the good ones!

Eagle Optics offers tips and video to help you get started digiscoping. We are always ready to answer your questions at 1-800-289-1132 or info@eagleoptics.com.

Kristin

Eagle Optics Staff

Technorati : new digiscoper

Kowa spotting scopes have a long history of delivering great performance, and the TSN 771 and 772 do not disappoint! You will be rewarded with remarkably bright images and exceptionally sharp detail as this spotting scope outperforms its sale price of $980. Generally a fixed power eyepiece transmits more light than a zoom eyepiece set at the same power and will allow a wider field of view—all features to enhance observation and digiscoping results. The view through the 25x long eye relief eyepiece will confirm this.

Free car window mounts.

Take advantage of this sale now and start enjoying the fantastic performance of the Kowa 77mm TSN spotting scope. As a special offer for Eagle Optics Blog readers, the first four customers who call and ask will receive a free car window mount. This provides an easy way to use a spotting scope from the comfort of your car. No purchase necessary-just a free phone call to 1-800-289-1132.

Kristin

Eagle Optics Staff

Technorati : Kowa TSN771/772 scope

Somehow the Sandhill Crane had luckily survived and reports again started coming into the Raptor Education Group (REGI) office. News spread of the bird coming to a creek at the same time each day. When Marge stopped to see the crane, she saw the arrow penetrating the bird from the back and exiting at the chest.

Wildlife rehabilitator, Nicki Christiansen, from the Wisconsin Rapids area organized 15 concerned citizens from all walks of life. Within an hour, a successful rescue attempt was accomplished. The arrow was safely removed from the crane in the field, and she was transferred to the REGI facility in Antigo, Wisconsin. With such fantastic care, she is gaining strength and REGI hopes to unite her with her mate and youngster this fall or next spring.

This story starts with one senseless act of cruelty and ends with many acts of kindness. Eagle Optics encourages everyone to become involved by volunteering or donating to your favorite wildlife conservation groups. The vital missions of REGI and others like them are making a difference each day and for years to come.

Kristin

Eagle Optics Staff

Technorati : sandhill crane

If you have had your eye on Swarovski’s mid-sized EL, you can save $250 by taking advantage of this one-time demo sale. These binoculars are reconditioned by Swarovski to be like new, come with all the accessories (including the Snap Shot Adapter), and with the same limited lifetime warranty Swarovski offers on new ELs. Once you’ve experienced the EL’s precise focusing system, superior light transmission, and unsurpassed edge sharpness you will wonder why you waited to treat yourself to a topnotch sport optic.

Don’t delay. Call Eagle Optics at 1-800-289-1132 or go to www.eagleoptics.com to order.

Kristin

Eagle Optics Staff

Technorati : Swaro EL 32mm sale

At the helm of this new venture is Nick Papadopoulos and his professional expertise of bringing people together to solve problems. Nick’s organization of like-minded individuals triggered a speedy response to finding a way to stop the annual loss of 174 million birds due to power line collisions. By collaborating with Windsor Vineyards, the vision of Nick and his many partners is underway.

You can read Nick’s blog for more information on how they hope to address urgent wildlife issues not just in California or the United States. Nick writes about groups and individuals who have already contacted Burning Hawk in regard to their work on saving wildlife. One such project that the Burning Hawk Wine Initiative hopes to help is the work of wildlife biologist Rick Harness. For the last two years, Rick and his colleagues at EDM International, Inc. have traveled to Mongolia Steppe to conduct studies to save the endangered Saker falcons and other birds from power line electrocution. In conjunction with the University of Mongolia, a project is under development to retrofit the power lines in Mongolia.

Save on wine and optics.

Windsor Vineyards is offering the Burning Hawk Wine for purchase online. Until the end of 2008, you can save 10% off your initial purchase by using the code phoenix08. You can make a difference by ordering Burning Hawk wines. You can also help spread the word by sending the names of local wine merchants to Info@BurningHawk.com. Nick tells me they will be working through state distributors to get these wines into local shops and restaurants. With your purchase of Burning Hawk wine, you will receive a five percent discount coupon which can be applied to your Eagle Optics order by calling us.

Kristin

Eagle Optics Staff

Technorati : burning hawk

Working from home—

A big writing project has allowed me to work from home the last few weeks. As much as I miss talking to the terrific Eagle Optics customers and working with the best coworkers one could want, I have enjoyed the opportunity for extra glimpses of my backyard visitors. Imagine my surprise when I looked up one day and saw a nest of robins sitting on a tree branch behind our basketball backboard. Lucky for these three baby robins, my son is focused on his football season. Lucky for me, digiscoping is work related!

Kristin

Eagle Optics Staff

Technorati : bushnell backtracker