This is BirdNode. I'm Dara Malas-Wolson, and I'm a naturalist with Montgomery Parks in Maryland.

A decent pair of binoculars can considerably enhance your enjoyment of birds.

Since there an important tool for bird watching, here's a crash course on how to use binoculars.

If you're picking up your binoculars for the first time, adjust your set to ensure the distance

between the two barrels lines up with your eyes. The goal is to get a uniform circular image

when looking through the lenses. If you wear glasses, roll the eye cups down for more comfortable viewing.

Next, find the diopter adjustment knob located on one of the barrels close to the eyepiece.

It's usually near the right eye cup.

Fine-tuning the diopter helps compensate for the differences between your eyes.

Finally, adjust the thumb wheel, also called a focus wheel, and the center of your binoculars.

Turning the wheel one way brings closer objects in the focus. Go in the other way, focuses on distant objects.

A professional trick is to look at the object with the naked eye first.

Then, bring the binoculars up to your eyes instead of scanning for objects through the binoculars.

Now, you're ready to watch the wildlife.

This week is Black Birders Week.

To learn how to participate, follow the hashtag Black Birders Week on social media and visit birdnotes.org.

www.blackbirders.org