Living as I have in the Chicago area these last two years, it sometimes seems hard to believe I've spent much of my life in more open and remote locations out West. In Nebraska, where I lived and did my birding for so many years, there are counties that would swallow a city the size of Chicago and all its suburbs and yet you could barely make it to 5000 people if you were to take a census.
In that wide open country, a spotting scope was as essential birding tool and on many outings, I spent more time looking through my spotting scope than my binocular. On the other hand, here in Cook County, a birder carrying a spotting scope is a relatively rare thing, especially in the local Forest Preserves. Chances are, if you see a gal with a funny hat, carrying a little
Kowa 663 spotting scope and tripod, having a blast counting feathers in a
20x wide angle eyepiece, it will be me. You Easterners may have doubts about using a spotting scope in the timber, but if you see me out there on the trail, stop and chat and I'll let you see for yourself.