I live in Zigzag, Oregon, but find your list to be very interesting. Last year
we bought about 2 acres about 1500ft up the side of Mt. Hood across from
the Sandy River. I didn't expect the birds to be so amazing! The upper
acre is approx 60 feet above the lower acre connected by a switchback
and so our eye level view starts a third of the way up the trees. Very nice
for seeing the birds. I had no idea the birds in the PNW were so
wonderful. The Western Tanager is gorgeous. We have Hairy and Pileated
Woodpeckers, Stellar's Jays, Rufous hummingbirds, Black-headed
Grosbeaks, Purple Finches, Oregon Juncos, American Robins, etc. One day
we saw a Hermit Warbler down by the creek. That was seriously awesome!
A bird with a yellow head!

I had the Audubon Guide to Western Birds and just bought Peterson's
Birding by Ear CDs and I bought the new NGS Field Guide. The only thing
I'm lacking is a pair of binoculars. I have read just about everything there
is on the web related to binoculars including a search of Deja News. My
price range is approx $200. I will be using them to see birds in the trees
around us, on the ground and at the hummingbird feeders. The furthest
distance on our property is 365 ft from one corner to the other. The
highest tree is less than 200ft. We are on a south facing slope, but we are
in shade by 5pm. We get sun in the tops of the trees until around 7pm this
time of year. Unless I get totally addicted to birding, most of my viewing
will be done on our property. I can't bare to leave it yet.

So, I figure I need a wide field of view. My husband and I wear glasses
so will need good eye relief. Anyone ever tried the Meade Safari Pro 8 x
42 (430' FOV, 19mm ER)? How about the Celestron Ultima 8 x 40 (347'
FOV, 19mm ER)? Any other suggestions? There are so many choices. I am
going to test some at stores in Portland. Anyone bought anything by mail
from Focus Camera? I believe there just might be more choice in
binoculars than there are types of birds! Can anyone help me narrow down
the field?

I'm trying to be patient and not make a choice I will regret, but I need to
see these birds. I saw one in a tree about 40 ft from me and up about
30ft. His call sounded like a cukoo clock, but he was just too far for me
to identify. So frustrating. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Nancy
Prime Images Photography
Zigzag, Oregon
http://www.primeimages.com