8 MUST HAVE Accessories for BIRDING

In this video, I discuss 8 must have accessories for birding. I carry these in my backpack every time I go out. All of these accessories are lightweight and affordable, and should leave you with plenty of room in your backpack. I hope this has been helpful to you, and that these items will facilitate your outings. Happy Birding!
Binocular Harness ▶ geni.us/BkxGBL (This is the model I use. I am 6’1”. If you are shorter than 5’8”, I’d probably suggest a different model. Shop around for any brand/color/style you prefer, most are in a similar price range).
Peak Design Camera Strap ▶ geni.us/sluAsKY
Rite-in-the-Rain Notebook ▶ geni.us/r3SX
USB Powered Flashlight ▶ geni.us/IDwNbE (Not the exact model I use, but I paid way too much for the one I have. This is a less expensive, equally efficient option).
Portable USB Charger ▶ geni.us/v4Wtt (Again, different from my model. But a better price and better build).
Dry Sack ▶ geni.us/mOFMy (I own 2 of these, so dang useful!)
Microfiber Cloth ▶ geni.us/0kZax
Air Blower ▶ geni.us/40Wyu
Plastic Rain Sleeve ▶ geni.us/VvWJ
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Wide-Angle Lens ▶ geni.us/17-28
MACRO Lens ▶ geni.us/90mm
MUST HAVE Camera Strap ▶ geni.us/sluAsKY
Rain Sleeve ▶ geni.us/Stpy
Camera Bag ▶ geni.us/cRZgtj
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#Birding #BirdingTips #Accessories

[@StefanoIaniro]

3 MUST HAVE Accessories for Bird Photography: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipSadndnZZ6iopo

[@egis7908]

Here’s a ninth tip/suggestion: collect the small silica packs that arrive from any store selling electronic camera equipment. Once you have a few freely disperse them through out your bag. They work exceptionally well when you’re shooting in humid situations or where condensation could be an issue. I use about 5 in a moderate sized bag and a couple more in each pocket where electronics are kept. When I return home I empty the bag and give the silica packets a dry environment for a few days. Then they will ready for your next outing.

[@StefanoIaniro]

GREAT suggestion! These were life savers for me when I was in the tropics. So useful!

[@MorrisLess]

You can also dry them in the oven.

[@tdwilcox]

Great idea. I have a dry cabinet. I put my cameras and binoculars in .

[@LisaSaffell]

I always carry a trash bag to collect trash that others leave behind

[@StefanoIaniro]

That's a really good idea, but sad that you even have to do it. Don't understand how people can purposely leave their trash out 😔

[@anonymousviewer4750]

Come to my house, I have some chores you can do

[@thatcrazywolf]

Good idea, I will do the same but only like a grocery bag worth.

[@christianwetzel1862]

Thanks for the suggestions! I definitely need one of these binocular straps... To add something from my experience, I also wouldn't want to miss my thin, foldable and weatherproof pad to sit on without getting cold or wet. And instead of a flashlight I have found an LED headlamp (USB chargeable) which is super lightweight and small and keeps my hands free.

[@HeavyTF2real]

I call warbler neck “tanager neck” because I first experienced it trying to ID Thraupid tanagers in Peru Also having a good flashlight, or better yet a good headlamp, is extremely important if you’re actually doing research on birds, or if you’re also a herper/mammal watcher. Won’t help for bats at night sadly, you’ll want an Echo Meter for them.

[@brother_sothoth]

Wow! Thanks for this video! It really helped my with birding.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed 🙂

[@FollowThomas]

This trap is something what I need to get. I'm using harness but it's not perfect, this one is much better. Thank you for helpful tips. You have a cool helpful channel, following 🙂

[@madcat1007]

Zip loc plastic bags in different sizes are brilliant for waterproofing electrics.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Yes! Great addition!

[@petersaunders5308]

As well as a polythene rain sleeve I always have a large chamoix leather. This can be draped over the top to absorb water and wrung out regularly. It is also fine for drying droplets off the front filter before taking a shot. Just found your channel - so many great ideas delivered with genuine enthusiasm. Thanks.

[@Adventure.Ed.EcoFit]

awesome video man. i never thought about the flashlight, and the theme of keeping your equipment dry is definitely crucial!

[@StefanoIaniro]

After a year in the rainforest, it really drilled home the point for me 😂

[@rossenuzunov3860]

very useful tips for birding and bird photography - thanks a lot !!!

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thank you very much! Glad you enjoyed :)

[@StephenJStephen_Photography]

Some great advice Stefano. I keep and use virtually all of those items. For those of us in North America, you can buy eye glass cleaner in multi-packs at Costco. You get 3 large and 3 travel size spray bottles PLUS 3 decent size micro-fibre cloths. I keep a travel size spray bottle in my camera bag. The size is also smalll enough as carry-on when you fly.

[@swissbirder1651]

Good video, thanks for the tips. Regarding waterproofing, what about a waterproof cover for your whole rucksack, then just put everything in and cover it ? Again, depends on how much rain (rainforest!) and your proximity to shelter I guess. The main things I try to remember are a spare memory card and my water bottle/food. Cheers

[@StefanoIaniro]

Thank you! 🙂 That would work well too! Like you said, it depends on the amount of rain and also the type of cover. Sometimes they only cover the outside but the back is still exposed.

[@amandalaplante7319]

Great video! Don’t forget the bug spray (that’s a must in my camera bag)!

[@TheSavagederek]

Bins , Scope , Decent tripod and fluid head . Rucksack , waterproof clothing and warm clothing for winter . Decent shoes or boots . And a couple of field guides , particularly for the country you are in . A note book to note down what you see , a pen or pencil and a cleaning kit for your optics . You can also carry a small digital camera or phone adaptor to digiscope or phone scope . A guide to sites in your area or country is useful also to give you more places to visit .

[@sandrabosch4020]

Simple tips....thanks for sharing them.

[@StefanoIaniro]

No problem! Hope you enjoyed 🙂

[@RecordableID]

Good tips! Thanks

[@StellarLimpkin]

Great. I’ll keep these in mind when I go somewhere where it rains ;). Good morning from New Mexico.

[@shayndelshofar4648]

Thank you for sharing....

[@StefanoIaniro]

No problem 🙂

[@BirdinginMalaysia]

very good advice and recommendation.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Glad you enjoyed 🙂

[@bamsemh1]

I use headmounted flashlight 😊 hands are busy with the camera 😉

[@StefanoIaniro]

What accessories do you take with you in the field?

[@BioBush]

Food and water. :)

[@StefanoIaniro]

@@BioBush Very true!! I always have a bag of snacks too 😅

[@PauloBoute]

Brazilian Birds Videos: kzbin.info kzbin.info Enjoy & Subscribe! Thanks & Stay Safe!

[@quentinvanginhoven2231]

Well done, Stefano! Nice shirt! 😊

[@henrywitherington5429]

Cool man

[@MorrisLess]

If you want to conserve your cell battery, put it in airplane mode. If you need GPS, you can turn that on separately.

[@petercarbonell8580]

Though lens cloths are good, especially for water, I also carrying a Lenspen. It's compact, includes a soft retractable brush at one end, and the cleaning end recharges itself when you put the cap back on. This ensures you don't put the stuff back on your lens that you just took off. The set even includes a cleaner small enough to clean the eyepiece on binos and camera viewfinder. But you should buy the original ones. The knockoff brands are less than stellar.

[@StefanoIaniro]

I always wondered how those worked, I've never had the chance to ask someone who uses them. I will definitely add that to my bag. What brand do you use?

[@petercarbonell8580]

@@StefanoIaniro the brand is Lenspen. www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1058626-REG/lenspen_ndslrk_1c_dslr_pro_kit_w_micro_clear.html

[@GraniteChief369]

Garbage bag is always a good idea but waterproof backpack covers work better n take up very little space. Many are brown or green or camo so I can slip them over my pack n dump it when I mess around takin pictures.

[@adriansandry2783]

You forgot the most important item lightweight flask for tea or coffee. Hydro-Flask make some ultra-light Trail Series versions as well as their heavier models.

[@nancydenson3727]

Hi thanks for the accessories suggestions - do you have a recommendation for a tripod or monopod - there are a bewildering array of them from utterly cheap all the way up to 800-900 $ … we have gone through 3 piece of junk tripods that we just use at our windows and around the farm - they wouldn’t last 5 minutes in the field

[@Ikamchannel]

nice video 😊👍🇮🇩

[@turanturanturan]

Where did you get the amazing toucan shirt? :D Great tips btw, I have to get a rain cover asap and start carrying a dry sack with me. I actually once broke my newly bought camera in Malaysia more than 10 years ago. We went for a quick hike to see a waterfall and suddenly it started raining and being from Finland I didn't really know what rain means until I experienced it there. There was so much water in such a small time it was unbelievable. Well of course I had left everthing in a car and tried to cover the camera under my t-shirt.. the camera was soaking wet and obviously Canon 500d wasn't weatherproof enough. I got a new camera from isurance but I had to spend rest of the trip without it. So yeah, definitely useful tips. :)

[@StefanoIaniro]

That's the scariest thing! When you get those huge unexpected rainfalls it can literally ruin everything. And the shirt is from an awesome field station I worked at in Belize. Called the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society (TREES). The toucan is their logo 🙂

[@turanturanturan]

Stefano Ianiro Wildlife thanks! They're actually Threadless shirts and they might print + ship some of the stuff in Europe. I have to double check which products they handle here. It wouldn't really make sense to fund wildlife and environmental conservation by buying a t-shirt which would be tjen sent from another side of the world. 🙄

[@StefanoIaniro]

@@turanturanturan Hahaha that's so true. If you ever visit them in Belize, they have tshirts in the gift shop haha

[@azboat]

@@StefanoIaniro 0

[@moderneducationalstandard]

You know what I'm about to say. Berd Berd Berd, BERD IS THE WORD. Ahahahahaha

[@bamsemh1]

I'm wearing 1.7kg around my neck whenever I'm out trying to get my 10k steps and hopefully get some wildlife 😅 does the field book come as ebook or mobile app?

[@jpig123]

Any recommendation for an accessory to use with iPhone for amateur bird photography? I take pics through my binos but would love if there was a lens attachment I could use with iPhone!

[@alsonovando5066]

do another list of accessories but with more expensive gear! like a baller edition! lol

[@StefanoIaniro]

Hahaha I'll keep that in mind. Maybe include some Swarovski scopes and binos 😅

[@bamsemh1]

Action cams are weather/water proofed. Camera gear is weather/water sealed.

[@letsgobirding9246]

2:22 lol warbler neck, too real. My accessory is the coolpad 4g wifi hotspot for my phone. My ebird will NOT work on cellular for whatever reason so I need to plug into mobile wifi.

[@StefanoIaniro]

Oh that's interesting! I used to get a lot more glitches but so far the recent updates to the app have really helped. Every so often I'm forced to do an offline checklist though.

[@letsgobirding9246]

@@StefanoIaniro yeah sometimes my offline checklists don't let me ever pick a hotspot even when I'm online again later. I've had to reinstall the app several times, course I'm on android so who knows what the support looks like. But everything seems to run smoothly if I'm online when I start my list

[@StellarLimpkin]

I always bring a write in the rain notebook, and one time…. I sweat through it. I guess it dissolved the wax or something.

[@alvingnacia4847]

i got them all

[@ianunwin]

you can use the portable charger to charge the a7iii, using the usbc port, so weird you did not mention this !!!

[@StefanoIaniro]

Very true! I've definitely used it a few times for that when I'm filming longer videos

[@ArtistryMomentography]

I want your t-shirt..plz give me link.. seriously I want that

[@AbdulDean448]

serious question, where can i buy that tshirt

[@StefanoIaniro]

This is the tshirt/logo of the field station I worked at in Belize. They have an online store if you're interested in the shirt. The name of the station is: Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society (T.R.E.E.S). Type it in google and it'll pop up 🙂

[@Rolandapowell]

Stefano Ianiro Wildlife just order me a shirt.

[@frankiebrown2953]

Hey ! I live where TREES are

[@Patto2276]

Never heard them pronounced bye-noculars before.

[@somebodypeculiar]

All that stuff assumes you have a bag to carry it all. Have you ever tried birding without the bag? The phone can replace field guides and notebooks, and fits in a pocket. Just you and your binoculars. Liberating!!! I don't use a blower. I don't trust them to get all the grit off. Instead I use my tongue. Yes, I lick my lenses clear of anything three-dimensional. I can't apply enough pressure to scrape grit across the lens. I can feel when I've got everything. Lots of moisture to remove stuff that isn't gritty. Often down at the coast I can taste salt; really don't want that on there. Of course that has to be followed up by drying the lens with a microfiber cloth or even a tissue or paper napkin.

[@Javaman92]

You kept mentioning, "your bag" yet a bag wasn't a must have accessory? lol ;-)

[@pauraque]

Ok buuuut you actually don't need anything. Just your eyes and/or ears and you're pretty much golden. Except you probably can't id peeps, flycatchers, and you cant seawatch. Just don't feel pressured to buy these things, none of these are actually a "must have." If you have to buy one, binoculars will make the world of a difference.

[@debrapeasley2606]

I have to respectfully disagree. I've gotten caught in a sudden downpour with my camera and telephoto lens- not good. You can't shoot until your camera dries out. The cheap, plastic photo rain sleeve is essential.

[@pauraque]

@@debrapeasley2606 Oh yea sorry I live on the west coast. It doesn't rly rain here, ig I didn't think about that.

[@debrapeasley2606]

@@pauraque That's ok. Good thing camera gear likes the sun :-)

[@pauraque]

@@debrapeasley2606 haha true!

[@davebishop9954]

Your music blaring constantly is annoying. I turned off your video!

[@user-wv3in3bm8g]

I call warbler neck “tanager neck” because I first experienced it trying to ID Thraupid tanagers in Peru Also having a good flashlight, or better yet a good headlamp, is extremely important if you’re actually doing research on birds, or if you’re also a herper/mammal watcher. Won’t help for bats at night sadly, you’ll want an Echo Meter for them.

[@user-ow8hl6fw6y]

Action cams are weather/water proofed. Camera gear is weather/water sealed.