Stop Phone Batteries Dying in the Cold

Digiscoping Common Redpoll

Common redpolls chowing down on thistle at a bird feeder.Ah winter! Where I live it can bring a host of species we can’t see any other time of year like snowy owls and redpolls. There’s a famous birding destination in Minnesota called Sax Zim Bog. This top winter destination, which hosts a bird festival every February is popular because it’s easily … Read More

Phone Skope Digiscoping Tips – Using Autofocus for Sharper Photos and Videos

Tips for Digiscoping with PhoneSkope

The Problem Using your smartphone for digiscoping can be fun and rewarding, but also challenging. One of the the more challenging aspects is locking the exposure and focus in on the subject you’re photographing. If your subject is not in focus, the resulting video or picture can be undesirable. Therefore, figuring out a way to optimize your settings is essential for … Read More

Do Amazing Things With Slo Mo on your Phones

Digiscoping Slo Mo with your phone

Are you one of those people who look at their phone and see all the settings and you’re just too scared to try them? You should get over that and start playing. One really fun feature is the Slo Mo which allows you to get slow motion video. You can do amazing things with and slow mo video and birds.The … Read More

Resolutions – What are your Birding Goals for 2018?

Binocular and Scope spotting

What are your birding resolutions for 2018? Since it is the time of year when people set resolutions, I was thinking about what some of my birding goals and resolutions might be for the next year. I’m happiest when I’m outdoors and getting a great shot of a bird. I had some great trips this year but didn’t feel like … Read More

It’s Christmas Bird Count Time!

Birdwatching at Coldwater

It’s that special time of year when National Audubon rallies birders all over North America to track winter bird populations with the Christmas Bird Count. These events are so popular with local Audubon chapters. The end of the day is usually capped off with a celebratory gathering at a bar or pot luck. If you’ve never participated in one, it’s … Read More

Big Sit For Birds

Happy memories from hunting

Warblers in the Fall Fall migration is in full swing in October all over North America. As the leaves change color, they make for a colorful background for warblers in the dark autumn plumage as well as the brown bird brigade of native sparrows. Hosting a Big Birding Party I usually host a big birding party for my park called … Read More

Birdchick – Castle Birding

Digiscope Birding vulture griffon

A White Stork with a nest on a church in Trujillo photographed with Swarovski ATX 65mm scope, iPhone 7 and PhoneSkope adapter.When birders get together and talk about their favorite places to go see birds you usually hear Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador…but me? I like Europe. Don’t get me wrong, going south of the Equator has lots to offer but … Read More

The Birdchick – Digiscoping Tips for Beginners

Digiscoping a Hummingbird

Digiscoping Tips Sharon Stiteler One of the big complaints I hear from people about digiscoping is how awful their photos look. My first question is always, “How many photos have you taken?” “Oh, maybe sixteen or twenty,” is the usual answer. That’s not nearly enough. For every great photo you see online or in print, there are anywhere from 20 … Read More

Phone Skope Digiscoping Tips – Digiscoping with Binoculars Part 1

Digiscoping with Binoculars

Folks often think that digiscoping can only be done with a spotting scope, but you can also digiscope with binoculars! I like to call this “digibinning.” Digibinning is super easy to do with your smartphone using a Phone Skope Adapter. All of our kits are two-piece, a phone-specific case and a optic adapter, which is either optic-specific or universal. In … Read More

The Birdchick – The Fun of Gator Farms

Birding for Wood Stork

The Fun of Gator Farms  Sharon Stiteler The best way to hone your smart phone photography skills is to find cooperative subjects. I know what you’re thinking, “Sharon, give me a break, birds are about as cooperative as a two year old.”  However, you can find situations where birds somewhat stationary or mildly predictable. One of those is a feeding station. Another … Read More