Binocular Microscope for Owl Pellets (1 Viewer)

R

Roger P

Well-known member

• Nov 9, 2009

• #1

I've been using a borrowed binocular / stereo microscope to analyse the contents of owl pellets. The owner has to have it back very soon. I'm thinking of buying my own. Can anybody make any suggestions as to what make / model I should look at?

 

C

Cactusdave

Well-known member

• Nov 9, 2009

• #2

Depends on your budget. Bresser make a range starting around £200. Brunel microscopes also have a good range. Check out Ebay and Brunel's website. http://www.brunelmicroscopes.co.uk/stereo-tour.html

 

E

etudiant

Registered User

Supporter

• Nov 9, 2009

• #3

The small Zeiss 8x20s make a fine stereo microscope. Zeiss offers(ed) a stand which allowed for hands free operation, which is sometimes sold on Ebay for about $100.
Presumably any similar binocular would work as well.

 

C

Chris Oates

Why does a Black-headed Gull have a brown head...

• Nov 10, 2009

• #4

etudiant said:

The small Zeiss 8x20s make a fine stereo microscope. Zeiss offers(ed) a stand which allowed for hands free operation, which is sometimes sold on Ebay for about $100.
Presumably any similar binocular would work as well.

Click to expand...

Pentax Papilios'

 

J

JCLynn

Well-known member

• Nov 11, 2009

• #5

Just an addition to this thread.
Anybody deciding to 'have a go' at the owl pellet thing, my advice is to always, pick the pellets apart under water! This will safeguard you breathing in fungal spores that could be harmful.

 

R

Roger P

Well-known member

• Nov 11, 2009

• #6

Thanks all, although I'm probably even more confused at the range of possibilities.

Thank cheersm8, I always soak the pellets and dissect them underwater, I think you can do the job more thoroughly but hadn't thought about spores. Lighting / reflections can be difficult though.

Any one use a particlar 'scope they'd recommend?