Affiliate Disclosure

Last updated: July 19, 2026

BirdingPath is free to read, and we keep it that way by earning small commissions when readers buy gear through our links. This page explains exactly how that works, in plain language, because you deserve to know how a site you trust makes money.

The short version

Some links to birding gear on this site are affiliate links. If you click one and buy something, we may earn a commission from the retailer — at no extra cost to you. The price you pay is exactly the same. That commission funds the research, writing, and free Flight Path curriculum that make up the rest of the site.

Amazon Associates

BirdingPath is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We may add other affiliate programs over time and will keep this page current.

The rule that matters: money never moves a score

This is the important part. Our rankings and BirdingScores are produced by a documented, deterministic method described on our methodology page. We accept no payment, free product, or other consideration in exchange for a higher ranking, and brands cannot pay to change a score. When we change a score, we change it for every reader — never for a sponsor.

Because of that, a fair amount of our advice is “don't buy anything yet,” “the $90 pair is the right call,” or “borrow before you buy.” Those don't earn us much — and that's exactly the point. Trust is the asset; commissions are the byproduct.

What our links do — and don't — collect

When you click an outbound product link, you leave BirdingPath and arrive on the retailer's site, where their privacy policy takes over. The retailer sets its own cookies on its own domain (we never set or read them). We can see that a button was clicked; we cannot see your purchase, payment details, shipping address, or order history. See our Privacy Policy for the full picture.

Honesty about how we review

We research and analyze gear extensively — expert reviews, optical and product specifications, warranty terms, and large-scale analysis of owner feedback. We do not claim hands-on lab testing we didn't perform, and we say so plainly wherever it matters. Prices and ratings are pulled from public sources and refreshed on a cycle; always confirm the live price on the retailer's page before buying.

Video creators

The tutorials on our Watch pages are embedded from their creators' public YouTube channels. All views and credit go to them. Featuring a creator is editorial appreciation, not a paid placement.

Questions

If anything here is unclear, or you spot a link you think is mislabeled, email hello@birdingpath.com and we'll make it right.

Published by Hilly Shore Labs. See also our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.