Spring is here, or almost, anyway, so it's time to dust off the spotting scope and get out to watch the early spring migration of waterfowl. Having done this for over thirty years (not going to say how much over thirty years), here's a tip for beginners on using a spotting scope all day.
To reduce eye fatigue and strain, keep both eyes open! This is easier said than done when looking through a scope, but with practice, it becomes second nature. Squinting one eye closed produces strain on the closed eye but not the open eye and leaves you with that cross eyed feeling and blurry vision. Keeping both eyes open is easier with eyepieces with large lenses and long eye relief, but it can be done with any eyepiece. If you can't manage the both eyes open trick, place your hand over the eye not being used, but do not squint it shut!
It also helps to use your master eye when you look through the scope. Most people do this naturally, but don't assume it is your right eye if you are right handed or left eye if you are left-handed. Some people (yours truly) are cross eye dominant. People keep telling me I'm a little weird. May be they are right.
