Why I recommend birding gear is not about brands or specifications. It’s about responsibility — toward nature, wildlife, and the people who are just starting their journey outdoors. Recommending equipment has never been about selling products for me.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!I’m a Nature Conservation Engineer by training, and I currently work in the field of nature conservation within a government institution.
My background is in nature conservation engineering, and I currently work within the field of nature protection and environmental administration.
My daily work involves regulations, administration, and decisions made far from the field — often necessary, but often limited by bureaucracy. This role gives me a clear view of both sides of conservation: the importance of regulations — and their limits when it comes to real, hands-on field experience.
Over time, I’ve come to clearly see the gap between how nature is managed on paper and how it actually exists in the field.
GoToBirding exists partly because of that gap.
You can learn more about my background on the About page, or explore how this approach is applied in my gear recommendations.
Between Administration and the Field
Working in conservation has given me a structured, scientific perspective — but it has also strengthened my respect for practical experience.
Rules, permits, and management plans matter.
But so do:
- quiet observation
- time spent outdoors
- understanding conditions, light, weather, and distance
This website is a way for me to stay connected to that side of nature — the side that first made me care about birds over 30 years ago.
Why Equipment Matters
While administrative work is essential, my connection to nature has always been built in the field.
Over more than 30 years of birding experience, I’ve learned that good equipment doesn’t make someone a better birder — but the wrong equipment can easily limit learning, comfort, and respect for wildlife.
Over decades of birdwatching, I’ve seen how:
- unreliable optics discourage beginners
- uncomfortable or fragile equipment shortens time in the field
- marketing claims often don’t match real-world use
That’s why I take equipment recommendations seriously. Responsible equipment choices also align with broader conservation principles promoted by organizations such as BirdLife International and National Audubon Society.
I don’t chase the newest releases.
I focus on reliability, usability, and long-term value.
How I Choose What to Recommend
My recommendations are based on:
- long-term birding experience
- careful research and comparison
- practical suitability for real-world use
- careful research of user feedback and reported issues
- a conservation-minded approach that values durability over constant replacement
I don’t recommend gear because it’s popular, I recommend it because it does its job without getting in the way of observing nature.
I do not test every product personally in the field, nor do I claim to.
Instead, my recommendations are shaped by accumulated knowledge, professional insight, and a deep understanding of how equipment is used by birders at different stages.
This website is, in many ways, a way to stay connected to the field — to the practical, thoughtful side of birding that first drew me to nature conservation.
Every recommendation is made with the same principle in mind:
respect nature first, choose wisely, and never let gear replace awareness.
About Affiliate Links
Some links on GoToBirding are affiliate links.
If you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. This helps support the site and allows me to continue building a space that connects experience, conservation thinking, and practical guidance. This does not influence which products are recommended — it simply helps support the work behind GoToBirding and allows the site to remain independent and ad-free.
These links never influence what I recommend — only how the site sustains itself and allows to remain independent and ad-free.
A Personal Note
This website is not a replacement for fieldwork.
But it is a way to stay close to it.
Between administration and conservation policies, GoToBirding keeps my connection to birds grounded, practical, and honest — and allows me to share that perspective with others who value nature beyond checklists and trends.
Trust is earned over time.
If this approach resonates with you, I’m glad you’re here.
— Lorand Vigh