If your one desire in life is to know if you are using binoculars correctly, you are in luck. I taught a binocular class at the University of Sydney. Using binoculars. Seems so easy. Right! Before I started, I asked the class how many of them had not used binoculars. One student raised their hand.

So let’s get started. Get your binoculars out. Make sure you have your neck leash (my made up term) on them and around your neck. This is so when you trip from looking at all those exciting birds and use your hands to catch yourself you do not drop the binoculars.

Now hold them with both hands as I demonstrate in the photos and flatten them. Once they are flat put them up to your face and bring them together until both eyes can see out and you have basically one image.

Next take them away from you face!! Maybe should have said that earlier. Turn the dial in the middle of the binoculars and the dial on the right eyepiece all the way the left. While you hold the binoculars up and focus on something in the distance, close your right eye or place your hand over the right lens as you see th person below doing. Turn the dial in middle to adjust your left eye to focus on the object. Now cover the left lens or close your left eye. Turn the dial on the right lens until the right eye can clearly see the object. All done! Oh yeah–open both eyes to see the birds. Once you have them adjusted you should only need to adjust the right one to clear your vision. I do not have much luck with this.

Now let’s look at laminated paper birds!! We set up paper birds outside around campus (In the pouring rain!) for students to find with their new binocular skills.

You should find what you want to see with your binoculars and then put your binoculars up to your eyes so you can still find the bird. If not you spend a ton of time scanning empty tree limbs looking for that beautiful bird you spotted.

Now go out there and use those new binocular skills!!! When I asked students if they knew the proper way to use binoculars, all of them said this was the first time anyone told them there is a way to use them.

Hard to say good bye to my peeps in Australia. So leaving with a hope that I will see them all again!!!