Birding Books

This autobiography by the world's foremost birdwatcher is an inspiring story for everyone. Phoebe Snetsinger, at the age of 34, and after being diagnosed with malignant melanoma and given 6 months to live, dedicated herself to birding. For Phoebe this meant not only finding the birds, but learning everything she could about them, and then recording her experiences in great detail. In spite of recurrent episodes of her cancer, a gang rape in New Guinea, and many other misadventures, she succeeded in seeing over 8000 species of birds, a world record that may never be surpassed. She visited almost every area of the world several times, and tells her story with wit and charm. The book has many beautiful illustrations.

For anyone interested in birds this is a must read; others will enjoy reading the well written adventures of an intrepid lady.

Tragically, Phoebe was killed in a bus accident in Madagascar about 2 years ago, shortly after seeing one of her most wanted birds, a red-shouldered vanga.

This title is NOT out of print. You can purchase new, first edition copies through the American Birding Association's ABA Sales for $17.95 plus shipping. Call 800-634-7736 to order your copy today!

I yesterday recieved a copy of the book Birding on Borrowed Time written by Phoebe Snetsinger!
I start reading it after recieving it few hours later and finished it hours later. I have to admit she lived a life that was very intreshing as shocking.
The birded on a way she did, I don't prefer myself, almost all here trips where guidance tours and there was not the kind of adventure in it as I normally have during my trips abroad.
She was fortunate to have enough money and a tolerable family that suported here in many ways to archieve the breaking of the 8.000 species limit, and she did it on her own way.
What I found a point of critism is than in the 1997 and 1998 chapter somethimes you have detailed reports in several quests to find a single species and before these chapters only vaguely things where told about how she find the vairy species. The book would be much better if more details in here quest where written down in the first chapters!
Over all a very nice and intresthing book, and it's nice to read several times, and dream away what you're chances would be if you had the opportunity to travel that much all around the world.
Surely an document that gives an insight in the legend she became! An all the trouble she got to archieve the goal she was after!

Rick Soehren knows Hawai'i and its birds, and this site guide is a great help to visitors. Soehren describes, island by island, where to find Hawai'i's birds, and in the process gives the reader some of Hawai'i's avian history. The book is illustrated with good black-and-white photographs. I have used the book on Hawai'i and Kaua'i and have found it clear, accurate, and very useful.

Before our first visit to Hawaii I searched to find something that would serve as a useful guide for a trip that would permit only casual bird-watching. This book is really best for someone able to dedicate time to exploring the recommended hikes. Having said that, my main complaint about the book is that the illustrations are of little use to someone from the North American continent who is unfamiliar with Hawaii's birds, as the majority of readers probably are. After all, which would be more useful, good color photos of Northern Cardinals, or a photo of the 'Apapane? A photo of a Black-crowned Night Heron, or a photo of the 'I'iwi? The Birdwatchers Guide has very good photos of a male and a female cardinal and the heron, which are close to ubiquitous in the mainland USA, and none of the latter, which are totally unfamiliar to mainlanders. There are lots of black and white photos of things like people looking through binoculars, road signs, and trails, none of which are terribly useful to birdwatchers trying to ID unfamiliar species...

This is not a field guide with pictures to help you identify the birds. It is a wonderfully insightful reference to the diversity of birds that may be found within the state of Hawaii. It is far more than just a birdwatching guide. It gives one a feel for the plight of the native Hawaiian birds and the beauty of the state and its avifauna.

This is a very readable book with many great photos of chickadees. Since I'm quite familiar with chickadees it didn't have a lot of information I wasn't already aware of, but there were a few tidbits that I found interesting. Being an aspiring bird photographer myself I did enjoy the photographs. Anyone who is a fan of the chickadee would enjoy this book.

WILD BIRD GUIDES: BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE. By Susan M. Smith. 90 pages. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1997. ISBN 0-8117-2686-X (pbk).

Early this January, out of some obscure impulse, and although living in a fairly heavily built-up area, I decided to set up a birdbath and feeder in my miniscule garden. The feeder held a seed bar - sunflower seeds, mixed seeds, peanuts, oats; a fruit bar - banana, pear, apple, orange; and a 'calory' bar - honey water, and suet cake. It was an experiment. And it was wildly successful. My garden since has been filled with a constant stream of birds, both large and small, and their behavior provides a constant source of delight and interest.

Of the seven or so species which regularly show up, undoubtedly the most interesting is the Shijukara, Japan's near-relative to the Black-capped Chickadee. I was intrigued by the behavior of this distinctively marked tiny bird, with it's black cap and bib, which will boldly approach within a few feet of where I sit, grab a sunflower seed, fly off to a nearby branch, and then, while firmly holding the seed between its feet, noisily pound away at it with its beak to break it open. A desire to know more quickly led me to the present book by Susan M. Smith.

Smith, who is a member of the Department of Biological Sciences at Mount Holyoke University, tells us that "the chickadee's ability to use their feet in food manipulation is relatively unusual among perching birds" (p.43). Somewhat to my relief, she also assures us of the propriety of feeders since, with the ongoing destruction of habitat and foraging areas, feeders provide an essential source of food and water in winter, and the survival rates of birds is far higher in areas which have them. Her book, a brief popular treatment with a scientific flavor, offers a fascinating digest of what is currently known about this remarkable bird and includes chapters on Reproduction, Winter Flocks, Diet and Foraging, Social Behavior and Communication, Surviving the Cold of Winter, Population Ecology, Relations with Humans.

The book is well-printed on high quality glossy paper, stitched, bound in a sturdy wrapper, and is stunningly illustrated throughout with full-color photographs.
But although well-written and richly informative, and although the author's love and respect for the chickadee are certainly evident, there is a complete absence of personal anecdote. Readers might consider supplementing Smith's account with the following less 'scientific' but more warmly human and anecdote-filled book:

HAND-TAMING WILD BIRDS AT THE FEEDER. By Alfred G. Martin. 144 pages. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania: Alan C. Hood & Company, Inc., 1963 and reprinted. ISBN 0-911469-07-9 (pbk).

Both Smith's and Martin's wise observations about the chickadee are truly impressive, and no-one who is at all interested in birds will want to miss either of these
fascinating books.

The black-capped chickadee is certainly one of the most beloved of birds; one of the more recognizeable passerines, it is readily found at backyards feeders during the winter, and its pleasant "chicka-dee-dee-dee" call is known to all who frequent wooded areas. It is only natural that this species should be the subject of one the first books in the Wild Bird Guides series. Filled with numerous excellent colour photographs, the text is somewhat sparse, usually consisting of 50 to 200 word captions to individual photos. Its 90 pages is somewhat less than other titles in the series. That's not to say that the text is not informative. It definitely provides one with an excellent understanding of the black-capped chickadee's lifecycle. Overall, a well written and informative book.

My wife and I can't wait to visit the sites mentioned in this great bird manual. Very clear and precise and in excellent condition.

Finally, a book with specific places to go for good birding by regions and then by state. This book has been so helpful. It tells what birds to expect where saving all levels of birders much time. It is a great companion to National Geographic's Field Guide.

Many an out-of-state birder wants a guide to local hot spots or a guide to finding specific species.
Perhaps this guide tries to do too many things and thus does all of them only moderately well.
Directions within specific areas are often general only. Similarly the species lists are too frequently vague regarding time of year or location. I think the internet with its rapid notification and very detailed locations, makes this printed reference seem doubly vague.
Within those limits this is a useful tool.

I bought this book, hoping to find information and charts about backyard birding, along with some practical information and tips. I am merely beginner. (Probably will never be an expert, but I can live with that)

While this book does include this sort of the information, I wish there is more of it. (yes, a data junkie I am) A lot of information listed seems to be rather general. What's there that I don't really particularly expect is that there is a lot of information about the history of backyard birding, agriculture impact on the bird ecology and ornithology schools.

Not to make fun of this, but perhaps in a charming way, I must admit the writing style is a bit old fashioned. It's rather a slow read, and yes, sometime it feels like my grand mother is reading it to me. "These days, they just don't them bird feeders like we used to..." While I would recommend this book in general, it is not the best source for concise reading and information go-to.

Backyard Birding In The Northeast United States by Elmer Waldemar Eriksson is an extensive and "reader friendly" guide for backyard birdwatchers. Covering the do's and don'ts of bird feeders and bird food; how to deal with squirrels; providing nesting sites; and a great deal more, Backyard Birding In The Northeast United States is a 120-page satisfying introduction to the wonderful and pleasant hobby of birdwatching in the northeastern region of the United States. Enhanced with numerous appendices from attracting hummingbirds, to James J. Audubon, to the possible life spans of North American birds, Backyard Birding In The Northeast United States has much of value and interest to offer birdwatchers elsewhere in the country as well!

As a Mom who enjoys birdwatching, and a Mom who wants her kid to enjoy birdwatching too, this book is a great way to help record a youngsters sightings and observations about birds. This log consists of many pages, that ask great observation questions concerning birds that are sighted. It also offers fun facts, games and projects. My son and I have a great time filling out the pages.

Easy to use and understand. Useful questions help develop accurate records. My granddaughter has used this every day since I gave it to her.

This handbook is highly recommended to ALL North American birders and visitors, not just those in the west.
This is essentially three books in one. The first section deals with general birding tips, and is applicable to everyone.
The second, and largest, section deals with difficult identifications. This is very similar to Kenn Kaufman's Advanced Birding (Roger Tory Peterson Field Guides). The species covered are those that can be found in the west, but can also be beneficial to those of us in the eastern portion of the country. For example, each of the empidonax flycatchers are covered in great detail.
The last section is a general bird-finding guide to western specialties. This section won't be as detailed as those found in more specific guides, but are still helpful to those who want to find a good spot to see certain birds.

This is a great reference for all North American birders.

Serious bird-watching enthusiasts are known for traveling halfway around the world to see a particular species of bird. They are also great consumers of bird-related literature. Finally, advanced birders tend to spend a disproportionate amount of time focusing on superficially similar species that are hard to identify and/or find. This book will satisfy such birding enthusiasts who can use it to build a store of knowledge on bird habitat associations, seasonal patterns of bird abundance, and nuances of field identification by sight and sound. Mr. Zimmer makes it clear that his book does not intend to provide directions to specific sites in the West (from ND to TX and west, including AK). Rather, it seeks to provide generalizable information that can be used anywhere. As such, it is a novel and useful new volume with numerous black-and-white illustrations and photographs of similar species and sought-after birds. This is an accessible book for beginning and advanced birders living in or planning a visit to the western U.S.

This book is an absolute treat. I felt compelled to write a review because I couldn't believe it had only been written about by one other Amazon user.

Each "chapter" in City Birding is an essay about birdwatching in unexpected places, where man's environment (the city, a sewage treatment plant, a dump) has preserved (or remade) habitat for winged creatures.

The book features a variety of writing styles from a range of bird- and nature-lovers, including humor, interesting knowledge about birds, and a sense of wonder at the beauty and resilience of the birds featured. They are accessible and enjoyable, even for someone who (like myself) is not a serious birder. A few of the essays fit less well than others (the piece on Audubon in New Orleans felt like it belonged elsewhere) but overall it was a fine read.

I would especially recommend this book as a thoughtful gift to people who love birds or nature writing.

This is a series of first person accounts of birding (aka birdwatching) in urban areas in the United States. The writers are a number of prominent birders and nature writers, and with the inclusion of nature writers that are not necessarily birders, show a wide range of experience, skill, and approaches to birding. But the main theme is that it is in urban areas, where the mass of concrete, steel and glass make its residents not as attuned to the natural world in its midst. And, truth be told, an environment where a lot of people who consider themselves nature lovers would not think of as rich environments for observing nature.

The urban environments are a wide range. From the dingiest examples of urban blight known as New York-New Jersey harbor to backyards to urban parks. Some of the writers, are city mice themselves who delight in showing off their world. Some of them are country mice who are lost in the city, but discover some surprising corners (like Julie Zickefoose in Lincoln Park (Montrose), Chicago). Some are world reknown experts in bird identification. Some have no idea how to use binoculars. But all have the sense of wonder in the world around them, and write to communicate that wonder and joy.

I live in the middle of the city, and I have the privilege of walking to work amist tree lined streets and living close to two large (150 acres) urban parks, and many of the stories here hit close to home.

I bought this book as a gift for a friend who is an avid birdwatcher. Before I wrapped it, I glanced quickly through it and took a look at the BEAUTIFUL photographs of the great blue heron. However, as I read various lines describing the pictures, I began to look around for the associated text. Eventually, I just gave up and read through the entire book. Not being an ornithologist, I came to appreciate the true beauty and actual wonder of the great blue heron. Some of the details were specifically for ornithologist, e.g., the various stances and neck movements, but I enjoyed it and learned a lot as a layman.

An avid great blue heron researcher, this book by Hayward Allen captivates my undivided attention with each reading.

For three years now I've been mesmerized by this marshland creature. The elegant poise with which it carries itself. The superior "beat-the-bushes", stalking techniques have provided endless hours for relaxation within the confines of our great natural wetland areas.

The tedious research accompanied by the most fabulous photographs has made it #1 in my bird library. I've been privy to many of the same descriptive activites and marvel that for an amateur such as myself, I've experienced firsthand truly one of the greatest marvels of nature.

For 3 years I have followed their migratory routes throughout Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. My life shall never be the same. Thanks so much for this wealth of information about my all-time-favorite marshland creature!!!!

Sincerely,

heroness48@yahoo.com

It is very through and informative and I would recommend it to any one trying to identify birds.

A fine gem, summarizing the birds most likely to be seen in Kansas. Each bird gets a full page with photo and helpful information like how to recognize them, where to find them, and when to find them. The photos are excellent! New birders will quickly find a species without sorting through the clutter of a larger field guide. Experienced birders may glean details such as where and when to find target species.