  |
|
|
|
Presents for Whale WatchersBinoculars, Telescopes, Hydrophones and Books
Advice about buying whale watching equipment as presents for other people.
Equipment for Watching WhalesChoosing Binoculars for Watching Whales and BirdingA pair if binoculars is almost a necessity for looking at whales from a boat. Magnification does not need to be above seven or eight times, and a lens diameter of 35mm or 40mm is OK in bright conditions. 7X35, or 8X40 binoculars are both good choices (and they would double for bird watching). These numbers are usually stamped onto the binoculars for quick identification in the shop. Other things to consider are ‘field of view’, ‘depth of focus’ and whether the optics are ‘coated’ or not. Being able to see a wide field, with a good depth in focus are best, but you get what you pay for! Coated optics produce clearer images. Waterproof equipment is obviously a great advantage at sea, and weight is also a consideration. A person who wears spectacles would also be beat with binoculars that can be used without first removing them, and this can only be ascertained by actually trying them out. Precisely which binoculars are best is such a personal decision that they are not really suitable as ‘surprise presents’. Choosing a Telescope for Whale WatchingIf whales are to be watched from the shore, then a telescope is probably better than binoculars. It is important to avoid ‘astronomical telescopes’ – which invert the image, the type (often called ‘spotting scopes’) is what you want. Magnification does not need to be above 20, unless there is a zoom facility, and a tripod or monopod helps keep the telescope steady. Equipment for Listening to Whales and Recording and Visualising SoundsIt is now possible to buy ‘hydrophones’ which are a type of underwater microphone. The best of these come as ready-to-use kits, and the sound can be recorded on a wide variety of equipment, including digital video-cameras. Some manufacturers also provide software to allow the sounds to be visualised and analyzed on home computers. Equipment like this would be much more suitable for a ‘surprise present’. Identifying Species and Reading About WhalesTwo sorts of books make suitable presents; those to be carried in the field, and those to be read at home or in the hotel. The first should be compact and preferably waterproof, to allow identification while still outdoors. Field-guides can be restricted to certain locations, or to the particular types of whales that are to be watched The second type of book can afford to be much larger, and cover topics other than the identification of species.
The copyright of the article Presents for Whale Watchers in Marine Biology & Oceanography is owned by John Blatchford. Permission to republish Presents for Whale Watchers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|
|
|
