Birding Books

Point Pelee is considered by many as the best Birding Spot in North Amweica for many reasons.
Henrietta O'Neil has captured what makes this place so popular and a place where every serious Birder hopes to get to some time;and many others come back years after years.Some have made annual trips for as many as 60 years;while many Birders, who have visited each year for 20 years or so, are just "starting" what will be an enduring experience.
If you have been to Pelee in recent rears,you will recognize the author of this book,and probably even talked with her.She is that affable gal who operates the train to the tip;and without any doubt the most pleasant staff person in the park.
Point Pelee has so much history ,is spectacular for birding,;but beyond that; it is filled with a million stories,friendships and experiences as a result of all the people who have come to experience birds since the 1870's.
Henrietta has captured,not only the history ,but also,the spirit ,lore and the lure of this magical place.
If you are one of those who have been visiting Pelee for years or just thinking of going for the first time;this is a book that you will be glad you read, and one that will give you a lot of the background of the park,the birds and the people who have made Pelee what it is today.While some of the things and people are memories that are in the past;much of it is still there for anyone the least bit observant.At the back of the book,you will find an excellent set of 309 Notes;that show the vast amount of material the author covered in her resource. An index would have been welcomed if one wanted to find something in the book at a later date.A few notes while reading might behelpful for future reference. However;since the book is well structured into 11 sections,things should be easy to refind.
The photo on the cover shows Pelee from the days when the "tip" extended much further into the lake before all the erosion of recent years;however the photo of the author on the back cover,;is just the kind of smile she'll greet you with at the park.

I know this book is out of print and very difficult to find, but I really suggest you buy a used copy! The book is a collection of essays by Charles T. Flugum, written as monthly columns for the Community Magazine in Albert Lea, Minnesota from 1952-1964. The author was a farmer in Minnesota and the 137 columns depict the species of birds he observed on his farm and his experiences with them. The book is also sprinkled with some conservation techniques that Flugum used. This book is really worth the buy, especially for collectors of birding books. Enjoy!

Compiled and expertly written by dedicated ornithologist Norman E. Wolfe, Birding In Central And Western New York offers bird lovers an excellent and diverse variety of trails and water routes for seeing birds in the New York area. Maps, detailed instructions and landmarks, tips on where to go to find specific species of birds, basic keys for bird identification, and more make Birding In Central And Western New York a first-rate and confidently recommended guide for New York area bird watching enthusiasts.

This book contains a wealth of information. It is a little different from the birding guides I have previously used in that it is not a "go here, see this" format. However, the author is very thorough and knowledgeable. Each county is well covered. I just got back from Nova Scotia and it was my "bible".

Allen Benton is one of those for whom birds and their pursuit don't actually determine the course of a life, but cultivate a sense of wonder along the way. His book plainly conveys the role birds have played in engendering childlike joy that marks his kife as a scientist, teacher and writer--Mark Baldwin, Director of Education; Roger Tory Peterson Institute; Jamestown, New York

Birding Utah provides a comprehensive resource for finding birds in Utah. The extensive information provided should prove extremely useful for novice to expert birders, as well as any outdoor enthusiast.

The book includes 5 chapters and an extensive appendix of birding and travel information sources. It is scientifically accurate and well written in a casual style. Chapter One details the basics of planning a successful birding trip, which should be most useful to novice birders. The second chapter describes Utah's biological environment from a broad-scale description of topography and climate to a finer resolution of habitats. Reading this chapter should give you an intimate feeling of the biological organization and spatial qualities of the state. The majority of the book is devoted to chapter 3, a description of 112 potential birding sites grouped according to region. The sites range from potential day trips to longer overnight excursions. The amount of detail that is provided for each site makes this book much more than a birding guide, but a travel guide for nature around the state. Included for each site are a list of habitats, birds, best times to bird, suggestions on where birds may be seen, directions to the site, general area information, a map, potential hazards, nearest facilities, and camping locations. It is obvious that each site has been researched by the author. The fourth chapter is a listing of birds that occur within the state; and associated habitat type, the regional distribution, and seasonal occurrence within the state. In chapter 5, the author has selected 50 "sought after" birds and details where and when the birds are likely to be found, and the chances for viewing one of these species. This chapter is unique to this birding guide because it also includes fine-scaled distribution maps based on current habitat types.

My only criticism with the book is the manner in which it has been bound. For a field guide that is likely to get a significant amo! unt of use outdoors, I wonder if the binding will hold up very long. A more substantial binding would have been of great value.

Nature, birds have not been part of my reading interests, but Rhodes almost convinces me to read Audubon, and perhaps books about him, beginning with Rhodes', when published. I might try to find out why exactly the passenger pigeon went from 3 billion birds, one-third of all the birds in America, as Rhodes reports, to zero. They had no instinct for self-preservation? Their genes were dependent only on sheer numbers? Why weren't there many more predators of the air? Which would make the pigeons more alert to dangers from all quarters. No doubt the answers are easily available.

I've started to spend the summers in Eugene, Oregon to escape the heat in the Phoenix area. Eugene is in Lane County and this book is invaluable to plan birding trips from Eugene. It lists all the birding spots in the county and tells you what to expect at the different times of the year. It's a wonderful, well done book.

Intrigued by the Florida sandhill cranes, I wanted to find out more about these stately birds. Steve Grooms' book filled in some of the details about their nests, food, territory, love life, chick rearing, and other habits. Fascinating!
The book also covers the migration of the midwestern cranes and profiles cranes from around the world. The color photos are wonderful.

We recently moved to our neighborhood and surprisingly found that two bluebirds live in the area. We know how scarce they have been in recent years and want to help them as much as we can, to survive and proliferate. This book is exactly what we needed. It has everything we there is to know about bluebirds, from what to feed them and how to build or purchase a house that they may nest in, without fear of other birds disturbing them. It is a great book!!!