Re: Scope carriers
GREGORY.B.MILLER@bge.com
Fri, 13 Nov 1998 09:35:51 -0500
I have met a number of birders this year (several on Attu) who'll
swear by the TRI-PACK scope carrier. It's a triangle-shaped
backpack that mounts to two legs of a tripod. It's got padded
shoulder straps for comfort. It snaps off easily and offers a
pretty quick solution to getting the scope on a bird in a hurry.
I've seen the TRI-PACK in action and I am impressed.
The only downside is that you can't carry anything else. <look
out--major rambling ahead> But then again, maybe you would need a
24 ft. U-Haul if you want to carry all the supposedly
indispensable gear--you know--a couple camera bodies, lots of
lenses, film, extra camera batteries, lens filters, video camera,
cam batteries, cam cassettes, parabola, power pack, and
professional sound recording equipment, extra mics, tape player
and pre-recorded bird tapes for rails, owls, and all other
species that have ever responded to a tape of their own voice, cd
player and bird cds, extra batteries for the sound equipment,
tape player, and cd player, field guides from around the world
including those hefty volumes from South America so you don't
miss a rarity ID like Brown-chested Martin, a portable chair for
comfort on a rarity stakeout, breathable rain gear that actually
keeps you dry, comfortable, yet waterproof boots, gloves (just in
case), a hat with a wide brim, sunscreen--SPF 942, ChapStick, a
couple extra layers of clothing in case you change elevation
15,000 ft or drive 2,500 miles due North, several kinds of bug
repellents so you can ward off any pest known to mankind,
mosquito netting, lunch, low-fat snacks (ok. some HIGH fat
snacks, too), ice to keep your lunch cool, internet printouts of
the latest RBAs within 500 miles of where you are, printed
responses to RFIs to all the local birdlist forums and BIRDCHAT,
the latest birdfinding guides to your target area as well as
nearby geographical locations, special issues of Winging-It or
Birding Magazine with locations you might think about visiting
while on your birding excursion, an ABA directory so you have all
your RBA #'s handy and can call local birders with your current
rarity sightings or ask them questions, lens cleaners, other
identification books on trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, insects,
and mammals, just in case you have extra time and want to learn
more about the habitats in your new surroundings, a handheld GPS,
cell phone, alpha pager, laptop, the latest version of your
favorite listing software, several birding checklists, pencils,
sharpeners, paper, notebook, DeLorme atlases for 22 states,
state, county, and city maps, hand-scrawled directions to all
your target birds, and oh, don't forget your binoculars and telescope!)
Sorry folks. I got carried away...I travel light.
The TRI-PACK is available from ABA.
-Greg Miller
Lusby, MD