Bird Watching Gifts: Here Are 45 Ideas For Bird Lovers 

bird watching gifts

It is a common, well known and absolutely established fact that bird watchers are always wonderful and loveable human beings, and as such it is no wonder that people are always wanting to buy us gifts!

For a birthday, Christmas, Hanukkah, Earth Day or any other day – or just because – you may be looking for perfect gifts for that bird lover in your life, and so I’ve put together a list of the best birding gifts on the market today. I know I myself would be totally thrilled to get any one of these, and I’m sure the birder in your life would be too!

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Birdwatching Binoculars & Spotting Scopes

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A pair of high quality binoculars is the quintessential gift for bird lovers, and yet high quality does not necessarily mean high price.

Even for a birder who already had their own binoculars, any of the choices below – ranging from super-affordable to, well, a bit more pricey, would be a wonderful present and deeply appreciated.

And they can’t help but be impressed by the choice you made – each of these picks is not just the ideal size and type for bird watching, but the best choice imaginable at its respective price level.

Birdwatching Gifts Under 50 Dollars

Celestron UpClose G2 8×40 Binoculars

Celestron – UpClose G2 8x40 Binocular – Multi-coated Optics for Bird Watching, Wildlife, Scenery...
  • TOP QUALITY AND BUDGET-FRIENDLY BINOCULARS: A great pair of binoculars that combines top engineering features with an economical price....
  • EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS INCLUDED: Start your adventures today with this durable pair of water-resistant full-size binoculars. Accessories...
  • TOP AMERICAN OPTICS ENGINEERING: These 8x40 powerful binoculars provide you with multi-coated BK-7 prism glass that increases light...
  • A DURABLE AND COMFORTABLE BODY: The Celestron UpClose G2 8x40 water-resistant binocular will be your event, birding, or hunting buddy for...

Ridiculously inexpensive, given their image quality, construction quality and durability, the Celestron UpClose are easily one of the best values today in bird watching gear.

They are also, despite their low price, truly superb binoculars, with a clear and undistorted picture right to the edges and great color accuracy – just what a birder wants. 

For somebody just starting out, a young bird watcher, anybody whose binoculars may be getting a bit crusty and dusty, or even a serious bird enthusiast, as a backup or travel pair, the Celestron UpClose are a great gift.


Birdwatching Gifts Under 100 Dollars

Nikon ProStaff 8×42 Binoculars

Nikon PROSTAFF 3S 8x42
  • Multilayer-coated kenses for brighter images
  • High-reflectivity silver-alloy mirror coatings for a bright and clear view
  • Turn-and-slide rubber multi-click eyecups
  • Water Proof and Fogproof
 

People are surprised that you can get Nikon binoculars for under a hundred dollars, but in fact the ProStaff aren’t even the least expensive pair Nikon makes.

They are, though, significantly better than their opening-level portable binoculars, and significantly better than anything else I’ve tried in this price range – nearly perfect performance, in fact, in terms of brightness, clarity and color fidelity.

True Nikon optics, real Nikon material and build quality – the Nikon ProStaff are a great present for any bird watcher on any level.


Gosky Titan 12X50 High Power Prism Monocular and Quick Smartphone Holder

Gosky Titan 12X50 Monocular Telescope with Smartphone Holder - Waterproof Fog-Proof Shockproof Scope...
  • 12X50 High Power Magnification: 12x magnification, 18mm eyepiece and Light-Gathering 50mm objective lens, Gosky 12x50 high power monocular...
  • See True Colors: The BAK-4 prism and fully multi-coated (FMC) lens can increase light transmission and resolution, ensure true colors and...
  • Portable and Lightweight: Perfect size and compact design for users to hold or focus with a single hand. The monocular is lightweight for...
  • Universal Smartphone Adapter: With the included upgraded quick-alignment smartphone adapter, your mobile phone could be easily attached to...
  • IPX7 Waterproof: IPX7 Nitrogen-filled waterproof design and O-ring sealed optics provide waterproof, fog-proof, shockproof, and dustproof...

A wonderful and clever product from one of the top optics companies, and for a very low price, the Gosky Titan is an excellent monoscope, or spotting scope, for bird watching, which in itself makes it well worth the low price.

But it also includes a cell phone adaptor, allowing you to physically/optically connect the scope to your phone and take amazingly high quality pictures.

Much more powerful than your normal bird watching binoculars, the Gosky Titan brings the birds right up close, and the clarity and colors are just outstanding – a really great and unexpected gift!


Mid-Priced Birdwatching Gifts 

Vortex Optics Diamondback HD Binoculars

Sale
Vortex Optics Diamondback HD Binoculars 10x42
  • 10x magnification & 42mm objective lenses, these Diamondback HD binos are optimized with select glass elements to deliver exceptional...
  • Fully multi-coated lenses increase light transmission with anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces. Dielectric coating...
  • Adjustable eyecups twist up and down for comfortable viewing with or without eyeglasses. Center focus wheel adjusts the focus of both...
  • Rubber armor provides a secure, non-slip grip, and durable external protection. Binoculars are tripod adaptable allowing use on a tripod or...
  • Argon purging and O-ring seals provide water and fog proof performance in all environments. Rugged construction withstands recoil and...

In less than twenty years Vortex Optics has established itself as one of the true industry leaders in top-grade optics and optical products at reasonable prices.

They have also become one of the favorite companies among bird watchers, who rave about their binoculars – bright, solid, low distortion, great color fidelity and incredible detail.

It says something that in this highly competitive middle-priced category my first choice is not a Nikon or Pentax, nor a lower-line Zeiss or Leica, but the beautiful Vortex Diamondback – a true inside recommendation that will show you care enough to have really done the research, and a gift that can’t help but thrill the recipient.


Premium Birdwatching Gifts 

Zeiss Terra HD Compact Binoculars

ZEISS Terra ED Binoculars, 10x42, Grey
  • 88% LIGHT TRANSMISSION - SCHOTT ED - glass with a hydrophobic multi-coating provides optical clarity and precision in all...
  • COMFORTABLE, FAST FOCUSING - The large, smooth and easy-to-grip focus wheel makes focusing particularly easy and, most of...
  • COMPACT, LIGHT & ROBUST - With its its waterproof casing reinforced with glass fibers, the ZEISS Terra ED satisfies the...
  • ZEISS T* COATING - Guaranteed brilliant, high-contrast images, particularly in adverse light conditions and twilight. The...
  • A CLEAR VIEW IN ANY WEATHER - There are always exciting things to be seen in the world of nature, even in wet weather....

Ok, for Zeiss these are actually more mid-priced than premium, at least in terms of what they cost.

They are also, for just under five hundred dollars, the only binoculars in this range that offer a significant improvement over the wonderful Vortex Diamondback above – and in fact a pretty dramatic improvement at that.

A truly luxurious gift in every way, the Zeiss Terra have superior optics, a beautiful design, a new level of fit and finish and the real caché of the Zeiss name – whomever receives these beautiful binoculars will be mightily impressed before they even try them, and then they’ll be blown away!


Swarovski CL Pocket Binoculars

Swarovski 10x25 CL Pocket Binoculars (Green, Wild Nature Field Bag)
  • Rugged and Compact Design: The Swarovski 10x25 CL Pocket Binoculars feature an outstanding optical quality in a compact folding design. They...
  • 10x Magnification: These binoculars offer 10x magnification in 25mm objective lens and 294 feet field of view at 1,000 yards
  • For Comfortable Viewing: The CL Pocket Binoculars offer maximum viewing comfort, even for long periods, and fits perfectly in your hand
  • Twist-In Eyecups: The twist-in eyecups can be individually adjusted, ensuring that eyeglass wearers can also make the most of its large...
  • Includes: Also included with these binoculars is a matching field bag that keeps your CL Pocket protected and accessible anytime

While the Swarovski NL Pure Binoculars, at just a shade over 3000 dollars (!), are widely considered the best birding binoculars on the planet, you can actually get a pair of first-rate Swarovski binoculars for well under a grand – and they are without question the finest binoculars for birdwatching – or for anything – anywhere near this price, easily outperforming even much, much more expensive products.

If the person you’re buying for is really serious about birds, there is nothing I can think of that would serve them better, or thrill them more, than the superb compact Swarovski CL binoculars.

Cameras for Bird Watching and Bird Photography

No doubt about it – a camera is an expensive gift, and to get the wrong one can be a colossal waste of money.

To get the right camera, though – with real sophistication in exposure control and auto-focus, a long and sharp zoom lens, ease and quickness of use as well as highly flexible and powerful manual control – is to get something that will please and serve a birder more than maybe any other present.

And this sophistication, resolution and usability are all there in spades in these three perfect choices for bird watchers and bird photographers, ranging from the least expensive serious camera I’ve ever used to a fairly expensive high-end camera that is, despite its price, one of the best values available today.

Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera with DC VARIO 20-1200mm Lens

Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera, 18.1 Megapixel Video Camera, 60X Zoom DC VARIO 20-1200mm...
  • Point and Shoot Long Zoom Camera: 18.1 megapixel MOS sensor plus 60X zooms DC Vario lens (20 1220 millimeter and Power O.I.S. (Optical...
  • High Resolution View Finder and LCD Display: High resolution 1,170K dot view finder and rear touch enabled 3 inch LCD Display (1040 dots)...
  • 4K video Capture: 4K QFHD video recording (3840 x 2160) with three unique 4K ultra HD video pause and save 4K photo modes extracts...
  • Low Light Performance: Low light capture lets you enjoy photography during your nightlife again with impressive results; Note: Refer to user...
  • USB Charging and Wi-Fi Connectivity: Enjoy travel ready technologies like USB charging and Wi Fi connectivity to your mobile device; HDMI D...

An incredible value, the Panasonic Lumix looks, feels and performs like it should cost two or three times what it does, and ends up being a better bird photography camera than many models that are far more expensive.

With a fast, extreme zoom lens that can capture even distant birds up close, with high resolution, low distortion and beautiful color fidelity, the Panasonic Lumix FZ80 seems made for nature photography, and in particular for the birds.

This is the least expensive camera I would consider a serious choice for bird watchers, and while I know it’s not cheap, the FZ80 is a supreme value, and it’s hard to imagine anybody who wouldn’t be totally jazzed to have and use it.


Canon EOS 80D with EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 Image Stabilization USM Lens

Sale
Canon Digital SLR Camera Body [EOS 80D] and EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 Image Stabilization USM Lens...
  • Merging power, precision, and operability, the EOS 80D is a dynamic SLR camera for anyone's creative vision
  • Providing a comprehensive view, the EOS 80D camera’s Intelligent Viewfinder helps bring the thrill of SLR photography with each use
  • The Intelligent Viewfinder displays AF points and AF mode, has a grid display, a horizontal electronic level, plus numerous other points of...
  • For AF operation, the EOS 80D camera has a wide area, 45 point, all cross type AF system with low luminance performance to EV 3 and 4 types...
  • Use the EOS Utility Webcam Beta Software (Mac and Windows) to turn your compatible Canon camera into a high-quality webcam

With a lens that is fast and sharp, and zooms smoothly from a great wide angle to a nice telephoto, the Canon EOS 80D makes finding and photographing even shy birds a breeze.

But more than that, this ultra-popular, award winning and highly rated camera takes the best quality pictures of any camera in its price range, and is built like a tank.

Superb pictures, an ideal lens for birding, simple automatic use combined with the most advanced manual features – it is hard to imagine a better camera for a bird lover, or a better value in advanced digital photography.


Nikon D7500 20.9MP DSLR Camera with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens

Nikon D7500 20.9MP DSLR Camera with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens, Black
  • Class leading image quality, ISO range, image processing and metering equivalent to the award winning D500
  • Large 3.2” 922K dot, tilting LCD screen with touch functionality
  • 51 point AF system with 15 cross type sensors and group area AF paired with up to 8 fps continuous shooting capability
  • 4K Ultra HD and 1080p Full HD video with stereo sound, power aperture control, auto ISO, 4K UHD Time Lapse and more
  • Focal length in 35 mm [135] format equivalent to approx; 1.5x that of lenses with FX format angle of view

Without spending thousands of dollars (which you can easily do!), this Nikon D7500 is the best camera overall I know, and definitely the best for bird photography.

With a nice long lens, that’s super-sharp and has excellent color fidelity and low distortion, and a highly advanced auto-focus system, this Nikon is a birder’s dream come true, and it can also take full HD videos!

Unless the person you’re buying for is a National Geographic photographer, the Nikon D7500 is definitely a huge upgrade on what they’re currently using, and a professional level camera at an affordable price.

Books and Field Guides for Bird Watchers

In terms of actual value and usefulness for the average birdwatcher – not saying that the birdwatcher in your life is average! – there is probably no better inexpensive gift you could get than a nice field guide.

And so I’m including here not just the best general guide I know, but the best new area-specific guides as well.

The third book I’m including is, well, just for fun – a bit strange and a bit delightful, and sure to capture the heart of any bird lover.

The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America

Sale
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 7th Edition
  • Alderfer, Jonathan (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 592 Pages - 09/12/2017 (Publication Date) - National Geographic (Publisher)

The best general coverage field guide to birds you can get, National Geographic’s Birds of North America has superb, highly accurate and helpful illustrations, well made and fully up to date range maps and genuinely helpful information about over a thousand birds.

One of the most amazingly thoughtful and usable bird watching gift ideas, this field guide is also a beautiful book just to peruse, and – depending on how much you love them 😉 –  it’s available in a super-affordable paperback or a super-premium hardback!


Stan Tekiela’s Bird Identification Guides 

Bird Identification Guides
  • Amazon Kindle Edition
  • Tekiela, Stan (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)

Available for 23 states – so far, at least – these beautifully illustrated, warm and useful guides make bird watching more successful and more fun, and you can get them in both Kindle and paperback format – a wonderful bird lover gift!

Full of valuable and fully up to date information, and laid out to make both finding birds and identifying birds you’ve already found as easy as possible, this is a great series, from a man – Stan Tekiela – who really knows and loves birds.


Extreme Birds: The World’s Most Extraordinary and Bizarre Birds

Extreme Birds: The World's Most Extraordinary and Bizarre Birds
  • Used Book in Good Condition
  • Couzens, Dominic (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 288 Pages - 08/25/2011 (Publication Date) - Firefly Books (Publisher)

A close look at 150 birds the bird watcher in your life may never actually get close to, Dominic Couzens’ Extreme Birds is a photographic tour de force and an enormously entertaining – and at times quite shocking – book.

In an age when you can find endless lists of just this type on the internet, it is so nice to remember, and see first hand, how much more impactful a well printed physical book can be, especially when it contains so much fascinating information on each of these odd and provocative birds.

Bird Feeders, Bird Baths and Bird Houses

Bird feeders, baths and houses can be great mid-priced presents that can have a real impact on the person receiving them – beautiful, thoughtful and very valuable to a birder – and the amount and variety of birds the right ones can attract will be sure to delight your bird lover every single day.

But they can also be as difficult and intimidating to choose as a pair of binoculars or a camera, with questions about personal style, quality and actual effectiveness all big and important things to consider.

So I tried to make it a lot easier, with products that are not only great values at their prospective price levels, but effective and valuable ones as well, and with classic and timeless styles that will appeal to a wide variety of bird enthusiasts.

Well, maybe not the Plow and Hearth bird baths – they are less “classic and timeless” and more “fun and silly!”

Bird Baths

Gray Bunny Outdoor Pedestal Bird Bath Stylish & Elegant Faux Stone

Sale
Gray Bunny 29" Bird Baths for Outdoors, Tall Bird Bath, Stylish Design with Steel Ground Anchors for...
  • PREMIUM QUALITY: Outdoor pedestal bird bath that is lightweight and constructed from durable, frost and weather resistant high-quality PP...
  • LARGE DIAMETER: Measures 28.5 Inches in height and 20 inches in diameter which will hold enough water or food for your lovely avians and...
  • STYLISH AND DECORATIVE: Beautiful, intricately detailed neo-classical design that adds elegance to your outdoor space. This garden essential...
  • EASY TO USE: Easy to assemble with screw in parts - no tools necessary. Lightweight and highly portable yet stable. No wobbling - add sand...
  • ENTERTAINING: Place outside and enjoy watching a flurry of pretty birds through your window or from your deck or patio. A fun activity...

A simple and effective birdbath that is quite inexpensive and yet really elegant and beautifully finished, the Gray Bunny is light but strong, and meant for years of outdoor use and enjoyment.

Fun Plow and Hearth Birdbaths – Forest Critters!

A really fun and really different gift, the Plow and Hearth bird baths are beautifully made and hand painted, and will last, and attract all kinds of birds, pretty much forever.

Alpine Corporation Galvanized Metal Vintage Bird Bath

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Alpine Corporation ORS684 Alpine Vintage Metal Birdbath, 22" L x 24" W x 35" H, Silver
  • OUTDOOR GARDEN DECOR: Traditional birdbath floor statue made from Galvanized metal and iron provides a sanctuary for all types of birds,...
  • DURABLE OUTDOOR ACCENT DECOR: Skillfully crafted from weather and rust-resistant iron, while sturdy, supportive legs provide stability for...
  • VINTAGE CHARM: 3 realistic bird figurines sit on the side of the basin to help attract and accommodate birds of all sizes to the shallow,...
  • CLASSIC AND CHARMING: Floor bird bath basin provides an elegant addition to your courtyard, patio, or yard, and gives your garden visual...

Alpine makes some of the finest inexpensive bird baths (and bird feeders) I’ve ever seen, and they are all worth considering – you can see their whole line HERE.

But they also make a more expensive galvanized metal bath which is so gracefully beautiful, so well made and has such premium fit and finish that it’s sure to please and impress anybody – when they receive it and for a long time to come.

Bird Feeders

XDW Solar Bird Feeder Mosaic Glass and Bronze

Solar Bird Feeder, Outside Hanging Birdhouse, Garden Lantern Light Bird-House Wild Hanging Outdoor...
  • 【Solar Light】: This bird feeder is made of bronze metal and 100% handmade mosaic glass pieces, support by strong enough post in the...
  • 【BEAUTIFUL GARDEN DECOR】: The bird feeder hanger is designed with vintage lantern shapes and hand made mosaic glass pieces, the cap and...
  • 【IP65 WATERPROOF】: The LED light will detect daytime and nighttime, turn on the switch on the solar panels and gather energy from the...
  • 【Easy to Use and Clean】: Dimension: 13" high and 7.5" dia.The squirrel proof bird feeders is easy to clean, you just to screw the top...
  • 【Garden gift idea】 A perfect and unique gifts for elderly women like moms and mothers-in-law on Thanksgiving and mother's day.

This distinctive bird feeder is a lovely thing to look at day and night, with its beautifully finished mosaic glass tube capturing the sun and its just-right solar light glowing after dark. This is also a well-designed feeder, easy to fill and suitable for all sizes and types of birds.


Nature Anywhere Window Feeder for Birds with Sliding Seed Holder

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Nature Anywhere Clear Plastic Window Bird Feeder for Outside - Clear Window Bird Feeders with Strong...
  • PREMIUM QUALITY UNIQUE GIFTS for bird lovers (and pet lovers!) See colorful wild birds from up close. Sit in your kitchen and have fun...
  • LIFETIME SUCTION CUP GUARANTEE. Four heavy duty suction cups using our groundbreaking EVERGRIP X4 technology ensure your birdfeeder is out...
  • NO SQUIRRELS! Ever seen a squirrel climbing a glass window They can't! Keep the feeder installed 10 feet away from ledges, gables and...
  • LIFETIME GUARANTEE and VIP SUPPORT: Like all Nature Anywhere products, if for whatever reason you don't absolutely LOVE your Birds-I-View...
  • NOTHING TO ASSEMBLE, a simple feeder for anyone who loves backyard birding & wildlife. Best gifts for elderly mom, gifts for dads and moms...

The most ingenious products are quite often the most simple ones, and this is definitely the case with the Nature Anywhere clear window-mount bird feeder, which lets the bird lover in your life see birds close up without disturbing them or their feeding. Well made and durable, this feeder is very easy to mount, to fill and to clean, is squirrel-safe and keeps seeds clean and dry – a really ideal design,and a great gift!


Perky-Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone II Feeder Home with Chimney

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Perky-Pet 339-1SR Squirrel-Be-Gone II Home Style Bird Feeder with Chimney, Squirrel Proof Bird...
  • Keep Squirrels Out - When squirrels try to access the feeder, the weight-activated perch is pulled down, blocking access to the feeding...
  • Durable Design - The metal is finished with a powder coating, adding to the rustic finish, and ensuring rust resistance for all-weather...
  • Easy to Clean and Fill - The removable lid and large opening make the feeder easy to fill and clean. The windows also allow you to monitor...
  • Versatile Placement - This feeder can be hung or pole mounted for versatile placement anywhere around your yard
  • Large Capacity - Holds up to 8 lb of black-oil sunflower seed, mixed seed, hulled sunflower seed, or safflower seed

A delightful hanging bird feeder for birds of all sizes, the Perky-Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone II is a very well made and well thought out product, with all metal construction and a weight-sensitive perch that will shut down the food if a squirrel or other plump pest tries to feed. Easy to clean and to fill, it can also be pole-mounted, and is made for many years of use in any conditions.


JC’s Wildlife Large Flythrough Bird Feeder

JCs Wildlife Green and Tan Large Fly Thru Bird Feeder with Removable Seed Tray with Drainage Holes -...
  • Made entirely out of poly lumber. Won't crack, split, or fade. Will last for years and years to come.
  • Removable seed tray with handle which makes refilling super easy! Will hold approximately 8 cups of seed.
  • Made in the USA in Southern Indiana by skilled birders!
  • Can be pole mounted or hung! The hanger is removable and the bottom of the feeder can be mounted to a pole.
  • Dimensions: 17.5" W X 11" H X 10.25" D

A very basic “fly-through” bird feeder that is very easy to fill and clean, JC Wildlife’s wildly popular large feeder makes feeding safe, unthreatening and very easy for birds of all shapes, sizes and habits. Available in six colors, this feeder is made in the US, and can be hung or pole mounted – you can even get a squirrel-proof pole when you buy it.

Bird Houses

Bird houses are a bit harder to recommend – there are thousands and thousands of them and they are available in such a wide range of styles, from silly to fancy to plain and simple, so selecting the right one is a bit of a personal matter.

So what I’ve done here is direct our dear readers to three companies which offer incredibly well made and well designed birdhouses in a variety of styles, with the idea that you can peruse their product pages and find just the right look.

Whichever you choose, you can be assured that you’ll get a really premium – if not premium-priced – bird house that will attract lots of birds and provide wonderful accommodations for cavity-nesting species.

Miscellaneous Presents for Bird Lovers

Birding Journals

So many bird watching journals seem to be designed by people who haven’t ever really been out there watching birds, with poorly designed pages that provide too little space for the important information and don’t ask many of the right questions.

So for my two choices I’m offering two choices – the first a really well-designed birding book that allows a birder to create a meaningful log of their hobby, and the second a beautiful blank lined book sure to appeal to any bird lover, and which lets them fill in the details they find most important.

Personal Items – T-Shirts, Coffee Mugs, Bird Jewelry

Great inexpensive gift ideas for the birder who has everything (else).

T-Shirts

Coffee Mugs

Jewelry 

Bird Watching Gifts for Children

To close my 2022 guide to the best gifts for bird lovers, I thought it would be fun to look at a few select presents for younger bird enthusiasts – perfect bird watching gifts for kids who are just starting out or have already shown some interest.

I’m going to include a great bird watching book for kids, a pair of inexpensive but very high quality starter binoculars and a fun window-mount bird feeder that kids can decorate themselves.

And though there are tons and tons of each of these types of products available, I’ve selected ones that are particularly good choices, well designed and well made, and sure to spark any child’s interest!

Last update on 2023-03-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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