Birding Buddies Program

Are you interested in birds and want to learn more about them? Do you like watching birds? If YES is your answer, we invite you to join Birding Buddies. You will earn a pair of binoculars and be linked with a student in another country who is also interested in birds. Getting involved is easy.

How it Works

You may become a Birding Buddy by completing these steps:

1. Talk to your parents about the program and be sure you have their approval to take part.

2. Fill out the program application form.

3. Become a Birding Buddy by doing a few, simple bird observations. Click Here to take survey.

4. Send a photo of yourself to Joni@OpticsfortheTropics.org.  We may want to feature your birding activities.

When two pairs of binoculars have been donated, students will be selected from the Birding Buddies applications and surveys to receive the equipment.  Students will also receive the e-mail address of his/her buddy, so that they may communicate.

Who Sponsors Birding Buddies?

Optics for the Tropics is a group that provides quality optical equipment in the Caribbean and Latin America, where resources are very limited.  Optics for the Tropics created the Birding Buddies Program to reach out to young bird enthusiasts who may need binoculars.

Wild Bird Centers of America is a neighborhood store with a range of birding products.  The purchase of Birding Buddy binoculars will be made possible by Wild Bird Centers customers, who may contribute to this project when at the sales counter.

Alpen Optics is an optical equipment company that will be providing the “Compact 295 10x25 Waterproof Center Focus Binoculars” to Birding Buddies.

Environment for the Americas provides information about shared resources, such as migratory birds, in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.  EFTA will be contacting its partners in the Western Hemisphere to find young Birding Buddies.

Birds are fascinating creatures that can be seen around us every day, roosting and nesting on our buildings or feeding in our backyards.  They perform astonishing feats like flying thousands of miles each year without a map during migration.  Birds are easy to find and fun to observe.  Join the Optics for the Tropics Birding Buddies program today to learn more about the amazing world of birds and share your findings with your new friend!