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Tips
Get the right gearA wide choice of birdwatching equipment is available, including binoculars, telescopes, tripods, books and clothing. You can get a good idea of what is currently on sale by looking at the advertisements in the RSPB's Birds magazine and the various news-stand birdwatching magazines. If possible, always try out binoculars and telescopes before buying them. A number of RSPB reserves hold optical demonstration events at which you can test a wide range of binoculars and telescopes and receive expert advice. Check the reserves events pages to find out when the next ones are. If you have limited arm strength or finger dexterity, choose light binoculars with good depth of focus. These minimise the amount of re-focusing you have to do to look at birds at different distances. Wheelchair users may need support for telescopes and sometimes binoculars. If positioning a tripod in front of a wheelchair is difficult, it may be possible to clamp a mount with a conventional pan-and-tilt head to the chair itself. There are several ways to do this for example, you can fix a monopod to the wheelchair arm with jubilee clips. Car window mounts allow you to watch birds from the car. These mounts are available from most major suppliers of optical equipment. Many birds can be identified by their songs and calls. You can learn these sounds from the various CDs and DVDs that are available and listen to the sound clips on the RSPB website.
Getting out and aboutBirdwatching with a group of like-minded people can be particularly enjoyable and rewarding. People with special needs often need practical assistance in getting to and around birdwatching sites. The RSPB has a network of local members' groups throughout the UK, most of which would be glad to help. Joining one of these groups is an enjoyable way of developing your interest in birds as well as supporting the RSPB's conservation work. The RSPB has a junior section called Wildlife Explorers, which organises a range of one-day events and longer holidays for its members. Most of the one-day events are suitable for children with special needs, and at least one of the holidays each year takes place at a centre with facilities for people with disabilities. In addition, there is a grant-giving scheme to help young people who are severely disabled or seriously disadvantaged by their social conditions to enjoy wild birds and other wildlife. Details are available from the RSPB. The Where to Watch Birds in... series of books, which covers the whole of Britain and is published by Christopher Helm, contains site-by-site descriptions of good birdwatching locations. These do not contain much specific advice for disabled people, but often tell you what you may be able to see from roads or car parks. The monthly magazine Bird Watching contains regular features on sites to visit, which usually includes some information on disabled access and facilities. RADAR can provide information on a wide range of activities accessible to the disabled.
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