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Birding Wheels

Do you think it's crazy that anyone would ever base their decision to buy or rent a car on how well it functions for bird watching? Think again!

In 1996, when my wife Julie and I were choosing our first new car, we knew that we'd want one that would be good for birding trips. We take at least one such trip each month in our area, plus the occasional vacation trip, art show, or bird festival, which always seems to involve some bird-watching side adventure. We also were new parents to daughter Phoebe. If you are a parent or grandparent you know that adding a child to the family really tests the carrying capacity of the family car.

These factors eliminated all the tiny subcompacts, compacts, midsized sedans, and luxury sedans from our consideration. We'd rented these vehicles on many a far-flung bird-watching trip and realized that we'd test our sanity if we had to use them every time we went for a drive with our binoculars. Luxury vehicles? We can't afford them and we'd only ruin one if we had it.

We prefer to be up high in a vehicle for better visibility. And we like plenty of room around us for our bird-watching paraphernalia -- field guides, food, coolers, maps, bird-finding guides, etc. This narrowed our choices to minivans and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs). We took test drives in six large-capacity vehicles -- mostly minivans and SUVs (we live far out in the country, so hauling capacity and four-wheel drive are a necessity). We also evaluated each vehicle's fuel efficiency and and its ranking in Consumer Reports. Finally, each vehicle was rated using three additional criteria: comfortable ride, windows that are good for birding, and rear space for a spotting scope.In the end we chose a Ford Explorer for a variety of reasons. It satisfied all of our basic needs at the time for four-wheel-drive, cargo room, and comfy ride (for a truck). But what really hooked us was how easy it was to bird watch from the Explorer. The front windows were easy to see out of -- not angled so much that the view was distorted through binoculars, not tinted, easy to lower and raise -- and, glory be, our scope mounted on its tripod fit across the back seat. I can't tell you how wonderfully convenient this is. See a distant flock of ducks, stop the car, pull out the scope, and get it on the birds within seconds. No fiddling with extending the tripod legs (and pinching my fingers in the process), or attaching the scope to the mounting head. When Bird Watcher's Digest needed a reliable vehicle for travel to trade shows, birding festivals, and back and forth to our warehouse, I went back into research mode and discovered that the perfect vehicle for us was the Honda Odyssey minivan. It has great cargo room, a smooth ride, excellent windows, a backseat that folds into the floor, and automatic side doors that slide open at the touch of a button.,I had the birding vehicle of my dreams, and BWD's home office began fielding calls from interested people who'd read the Bird Watcher's Digest logo on the van as we passed on the interstate. We've gotten our mileage out of the Honda van, and then some. We've driven it more than 125,000 miles. And, yes, the spotting scope (or several) fits perfectly on the backseat or in the way-back cargo bin.

Supersizing your Rental

When Julie and I rent vehicles on our more distant bird-watching trips, we often get stuck with midsized or compact rental cars. Everything is out of whack. The knobs and handles are in the wrong spots, the controls confuse us, the slanted windshields are useless for birding, and there's the problem of loading and unloading the spotting scope.It can be hard to find a van or SUV to rent when you're traveling, but I always feel it's worth it if you're planning to do lots of hopping in and out of the vehicle. It's also good to have extra ground clearance for those good birding roads that always seem to be a bit rougher than expected.

A few other rental considerations: Avoid cars that automatically lock the doors when the car is put in drive. These cars "help" you lock the keys in the car when you leap out after a strange bird. In places where the sunlight is intense, many rental cars have heavily tinted windows, a bad thing for an avid bird watcher. If possible, inspect the car you've been assigned before loading up your things and leaving the rental lot. This will help you avoid problems (smoky interior, broken air conditioning, empty gas tank) that I've experienced when I've hastily left a rental lot in search of the trip's first birds.Some rental companies offer good rates (with unlimited mileage) for larger vehicles. When renting, ask for any special deals available (AAA members, frequent flyer clubs, senior discounts) for free upgrades. You may pay a bit more money for the rental and a bit more in gas, but being comfortable and happy while on your bird-watching trip is worth it.