Binoculars are two telescopes mounted side-by-side and aligned to point in the same direction. They vastly magnify distant objects, making them appear much closer than they actually are. This effect is called apparent magnification. It allows a birder to pick out details not visible to the naked eye, such as the number of bars on a warbler’s wing or the daubs of color on a finch’s head. Binoculars come in a wide range of styles and prices, from simple, inexpensive models to high-end optics with all the bells and whistles. But regardless of their style or price tag, all binoculars share one common goal: to bring the natural world a little closer.
