Birds Books

This is the first bird dog I own and every single item from the book which I have used in training has been on the button. The pleasure of seeing my dog behave as predicted in the field cannot be described, and would only be understood by other bird dog owners .
The success of this book is that it's easy to read, insightful and accurate in the advice it dispenses.
It makes it easy for the dog owner to move through that confusing and daunting task of training his dog from puppy to successful bird-dog without making a mistake.

I've read every birddog book I could find since getting my Brittany last year. This book is the best. Authors vary widely in their opinions on proper dog training and a lot of the advice out there is plain wrong. Based upon my experience, Spencer's advice is right on target. What's even better, the clear and concise writing in this book makes it a very easy to follow guide. The first 98 pages provide an overview of birddog hunting in the U.S., and descriptions of 10 birddog breeds. For the next 146 pages, every sentence explicitly helps you understand the how and why of each aspect of training from puppyhood to the dog's first season afield.

This is the first bird dog I own and every single item from the book which I have used in training has been on the button. The pleasure of seeing my dog behave as predicted in the field cannot be described, and would only be understood by other bird dog owners .
The success of this book is that it's easy to read, insightful and accurate in the advice it dispenses.
It makes it easy for the dog owner to move through that confusing and daunting task of training his dog from puppy to successful bird-dog without making a mistake.

I have read many books on training pointing dogs, and have trained with some very fine trainers in the past. While I do not agree with all the training techniques (such as the author's mannor of progressing from point, to steady to wing and shot), I found other useful information in every chapter. I was particularly interested in how the author described the way various breeds react to different training - for example, a Brittany will generally respond to a very soft taining hand and lots of praise; while a German Shorthair will (generally) respond to a stronger hand with less praise. This is important to me as I'm about to start with a GSP, having trained primarily Brittanies in the past. Another aspect of this book which I found both refreshing and educational, was that the author consulted with various professional trainers - both to provide their perspective of the breed they work with, and to give the reader other opinions. Most dog books give the reader only the author's opinion, and as anyone who trains dogs knows, opinions vary. This book has earned a place on my shelf next to what I consider to be the best of the best of gun dog training books. Also, it is an entertaining read.

This book is the best of the bunch so far. I have read several training books to work with my GSP, and this one has been the most enjoyable and most accurate. The purpose and methods are clear, and the results one should expect are also laid out nicely.

One of the really great things about this book is the unassuming tone of the book. The author is clearly a working man who has responsibilities that include things other than dog training. After reading most other books, I come away feeling guility, as though I am torturing my dog by not giving her enough of my time. This author clearly understands that not every man has several hours per day to dedicate to training. I also like the way the author spells out so many things, but is noticably short-winded on one area: discipline. Too many books I read lean to far to one extreme or the other. Wolters says beat your dog into submission. Tarrant says don't touch your dog, but feel free to hand out emotional abuse as needed. I think effective training lies somewhere in between, and this book lets the reader judge the dog and doesn't spend a lot of time with high handed preaching(personally, I find that grabbing my pup's scruff and giving her a deep-throated growl usually conveys my displeasure more than adequately without needing to hit her as Wolter suggests, or punish her by withholding her food as Tarrant suggests).

Anyway, the techniques are sound, I get the results I desire, and my dog and I have a lot of fun together in the process, so this book gets my vote for the best training manual I've read so far.

As a volunteer educator for one of the nation's leading Raptor organizations, I think this beautiful book is one of the finest Raptor surveys in print for young readers. This richly illustrated digest helps readers browse topics ranging from anatomy, behavior and habitat -- to binoculars, migration, bird watching and simple ecology. There are also enough profiles of common species to serve as a simple field guide.

The text is so concise and balanced, the book will be as fascinating to adults as it is to independent readers and pre-teens. Whenever I conduct interpretive tours for young people, there is no book I recommend as often or with greater enthusiasm. A must for the family library, and a treasure trove for visual learners.

My thirteen year old son got this book for Christmas after scouring local bookstores for it. He loves it. The pictures are beautiful and the information appropriate for his age.

I've been teaching raptor biology for two decades to all ages of humans, and this is the most thorough, attractively designed, and accurate kids-oriented book on birds of prey I've seen. Kudos to the Laubachs, who obviously did their homework, and produced both an activity guide and a reference book on all the diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey of the US and Canada. If you have a young raptor watcher in your life, Raptor! would be outstanding for ages 7 to 17, however, the photos and excellent natural history would render it enjoyable for all ages.

...and I've seen a lot of them! (maybe 30 or more different children's books on raptors and birds)

Many bird and raptor books for this age group are very basic and fairly sparse in detail, probably because they're written based on the assumption that most young readers would be overwhelmed by too much information. But my raptor-loving 7-year-old son poured over the library copy of Raptor! for many weeks, checking it out several times.

After spotting a bird of prey in the sky a few times, he grew interested in raptors. Within a month, he had checked out every book on raptors in the children and juvenile section of our local library. Most of the other raptor library books were read only once and put aside. Not so with Raptor! -- there were plenty of interesting details for my son to soak up.

We eventually invested in his own copy, which he still enjoys re-reading 2 years later. All in all, an excellent book for this topic and age group.

Here young readers will be vry nicely introduced to raptors: the hawks, eagles, turkey vultures and more who keep our word clean by hunting and scavenging. Raptor! presents a lovely "kid friendly view" guidebook to raptors by the team of Christyna M. Laubach, Rene Laubach, Charles W.G. Smith to birds of prey which packs in activities, observation tips, sidebars of facts, and plenty of color photos to encourage young naturalists in grades 4-6. Suitable for both reports and leisure browsing, Raptors! is very highly recommended for school and community library shelves.

My 5 year old daughter recently became interested in eagles and this book is perfect in helping her learn more. Each page is dedicated to a bird, and information is written in small amounts so she actually reads everthing about a particular raptor and learns someting too. There are also "cool facts" on each page, and they are exactly that, cool.

If you love raptors, then this book is a great way to get you started learning about them. The drawings and full color paintings are superb. The information is more than enough for a good introduction, and if you like bird carving, then this is one of the best reference books you can have. I got one for myself, and gave the kids their own. It's not just a coloring book, the activities are designed to get the reader thinking and doing, especially observing nature and not television. Perfect for home schoolers.

This is the only children's book I've seen that does a comprehensive job portraying the richness and diversity of birds of prey that exist in North America...As a scientist, this is certainly the kind of coloring book I'd be happy to give my kids. And, as a raptor biologist, I'd be proud to give it to a colleague's kids.

Wonderful facts and great drawings! Excellent natural history information. Great fun for children of all ages.

Coloring books are not appropriate for library lending and are typically not featured here; but Raptors: The Eagles Hawks Falcons And Owls Of North America is a very fine educational guide and a highly recommended pick parents will want to pick up for their children and that librarians could utilize as a reading prize incentive for their summer reading program promotions. Color drawings of hawks, eagles, and owls accompany basic information on North American raptors, with complex and detailed black and white drawings kids can fill in. A simple, appealing coverage.

This book is delightful! Well written, with marvelous characters and a colorful background, it's like literary chocolate. Anyone who has had the priviledge of visiting Newfoundland, and meeting its friendly--but different--people will especially find this a treat. If you're tired of the daily grind, curl up with this one and prepare to enjoy your read.

A couple of years ago, my sister, who lives in Newfoundland, Canada, sent me this book. I put it aside but several months later I was sick, and picked up the book. I read it straight through in 3 or 4 hours...I couldn't put it down! The story is absolutely hilarious, and just recently has been made into a movie starring William Hurt. I have not been able to find this book in the US until now. I have loaned it to countless friends and they have all loved it. It is truly a good read. Get it!

Excellent book, even better than the movie, though the movie is excellent too. If you want to read a laugh out loud book this summer, this is the one!

I was born and raised in Newfoundland, but moved away a few years ago. This book brought back the punch of Newfoundland humor in such a way that it left me laughing out loud like a lunatic til tears were running down my cheeks. I always thought that the Newfoundland sense of humor was something that couldn't be put into words...something you had to experience first hand, and even then sometimes people don't get it. Somehow this author has pulled it off. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I'm greatly looking forward to it. Bravo Edward Riche!!!

I have given this book as a gift to many fellow restuarant/foodies and everyone has loved it. It's a short read...FIND THE TIME, you will LAUGH! If you enjoy Tim Sandlin, Tom Robbins, John Irving, then give Edward Riche a read.

A Must for Pheasant hunters and and a very informative book.

The strength of "Rooster! A Tribute to Pheasant Hunting in North America" lies in its pictures--of which there are plenty. Of course, what animal looks better in a photograph than a ringneck rooster with its bright plumage?

The text of the book is less impressive, and seems to stumble at times, but is nevertheless informative and readable for the most part. That is why I deducted a star from my rating.

Overall, this book is sure to be enjoyed by anyone who relishes in the unique experience of pheasant hunting.

If you love pheasants and pheasant hunting you will love this book. While it may seem a bit costly compared to other pheasant books, it is well worth its price. The large color photos are beautiful and the the narrative (chapters) of the book are well written and interesting. You will find yourself reading this "coffee table" book over and over. Being a pheasant and quail hunter, I would love to see a similar book called "Bobwhite." That's a hint to the authors and photographers of Rooster! It's time to tackle a new project.

Majestically illustrated throughout with full color photographs by award-winning photographer Dale C. Spartas, Rooster! A Tribute To Pheasant Hunting In North America showcases the outdoor hunting experience in glowing and memorable terms. A most enjoyable visual and narrative tribute to the pheasant hunting experience, written with deep respect for the wiley and tenacious birds themselves, Rooster! A Tribute To Pheasant Hunting In North America is an enthusiastically recommended title for personal and community library collections.

This is a great read as well as a great visual book--it'll get you fired up to hunt!

I've met Dale, and he is just one cool dude! Dale puts a lot of heart in his work, and it really comes through. The section on Nebraska at the back of the book is very accurate, too. If you hunt Pheasant, this book is a must have!

My biggest problem with this book is that it is about a thousand pages too short. Great reference book for those that are new to the Ruby. Read it cover to cover and wanted more. Photos are as good as the book.

I just met Bob at the Audobon Hummingbird Festival near Memphis. He bands over 800 birds a year, and is such a giving caring man. Proceeds from this book help the Hummingbird cause. Fabulous pictures and full of information.

I've now collected a number of these little Wild Bird Guides. All of them are very good, this one the best I've read so far. As a "back-yard" birder, I see the same set of characters returning to my feeders, and it doesn't take too long before you want to get to know more about your new little friends. These guides provide more information than I've been able to ecrape together from various internet sources, and the photos are excellent.

The ruby-throated hummer is an absolutely amazing animal, and in this book you learn things like how these tiny creatures bulk up to 0.2 oz in order to accomplish the 600-mile flight over the Gulf of Mexico. There are countless other interesting facts about hummers in here - there's nothing very sweet about them, for example, no matter how sweetly they hover to feed.

Just the title for rounding out your knowledge of these fascinating creatures -

The ruby-throated hummingbird and I have quite the adversarial relationship. My stories of hummingbird encounters are becoming almost mythic in proportion, as I wage my battle to capture *the* perfect hummer photo. I have learned that unlike their Hollywood image as little gems from heaven, they are really rather nasty at times, especially to those of us wanting to photograph them! Mr. Sargent knows this, as is evident in his well-written text describing the behaviors of this bird. He uses words such as "mean spirited," "hot tempered" and "little bullies." I have seen all of these descriptions in action. This is part of what makes this book so enjoyable, because along with providing a wealth of detailed information about all aspects of the bird's life cycle, he does it with an endearing and humorous slant, showing at once his admiration for and understanding of the hummingbird's nature.

The photos that accompany the text are the ones I wish I could take, showing the ruby-throat in fighting trim as well as bedraggled from migration. I can only guess how many frames were taken to get the many included in this comprehensive book. In my dogged attempts to get even ONE photo this good, I've read every book I could find on hummingbirds, particularly the ruby-throats. This is by far the best one I have found. Not only does it inform, it always entertains, a rare combination in a birding guide.

If you're interested in ruby-throated hummingbirds, this book is definitely a must for your collection. Loads of information that is easy to understand and absorb. The photos are superb! To me, it's my "ruby-throated bible". Answers multitude of questions one may have regarding migration, feeding, courtship, etc. What a nice addition to my library! You'll enjoy it too!

The photographs are stunning, the text much less so. So I averaged 'wonderful' and 'ho-hum' and got four stars. It would make a great gift for an older bird lover or even for a mature child.

Prof. Martin Wikelski, Princeton University

Marie Read is one of the best nature photographers of birds. But she is also a most gifted observer of bird behavior.
Her new book highlights - in breathtaking photography - what we all should know about the behavior of our most common and beloved feathered companions.
This book is a winner for keeping kids entertained for hours, and a pleasure to read on a porch while observing a plain old American Robin.
Everybody should have this book! Its refreshing, entertaining, educative and fun.

Marie Read is a masterful bird photographer. She has an amazing ability to capture on film not only a bird behavior but a glimpse into the creature's inner life. The photos are accompanied by insightful commentary with clever, irresistable section headings, bringing to the page suggestions of the inner life of the photographer herself. I am a longtime fan of Marie Read's work, and this book surpassed expectations!

This book is fabulous! The photos are spectacular! The text is very well written. It is informative as well as entertaining. It would make a great gift for a bird lover or for someone new to birding. The book is very reasonably priced and well worth the money. Marie Read pays great attention to detail and the birds seem to come alive as you look at their photos. It is the best bird book I have ever seen!

Stunning photos peppered with accurate, down to earth descriptions of bird behavior and its significance. An exquisite book that moves freely from the coffee table to the desk

Lynley Dodd's mischievous feline is back... This time, Slinky learns how to master the doorknob... One of the great developmental milestones in any kitty's life! His partner in mischief is a parrot named Stickybeak Syd, who helps Slinky topple furniture, unravel scarves, tip over vases and generally wreak havoc. And the big twist at the end? The humans *don't* come back and put an end to the hijinks! Once again, Dodd crafts a nice, fun book, with a rollicking plot and an effective rhyme scheme... If your kid values meyhem, this is definitely worth checking out!

Having lived with and loved cats, this was for me a delightfully familiar story of the playful mischief cats get into, with a fun twist at the end. I've enjoyed many of Lynley Dodd's books, especially this one and "Hairy Maclary Scattercat". My 5- and 3- year old girls have really enjoyed these.

This book is adorable. The rhyming text is fun to read aloud and the illustrations are hilarious. My 5 year old son LOVES Slinky Malinki and all the other Hairy MacLairy characters. It helps to have read "Hairy MacLairy From Donaldson's Dairy" in order to get the most out of the wonderful last page. LOVE the noses! :-)

Slinky Malinki, the cat reformed from the ways of night burglaring, is back and joined by a parrot named Stickybeak Syd. Together the two of them begin to raise a ruckus as they work their way through the house room by room. It is up to the black cat to jump and open each door. Then, togther, cat and bird play and make a shambles of what they find. But with the last door there is a sound on the other side. What can it be? The curious cat has to find out so taking a jump the door is opened.

Another wonderful story from the creator of Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy. Once again the author combines lyrical rhymes with repeated actions to create a fun-filled tale. Like with RUMPUS AT THE VET, this one has an open ending that readers can fill in with their own imagination. Fans of the author's books will appreciate and recognize the cameos that occur. All in all a fine addition to any children's collection. Check out Lynley Dodd's other wonderful books and see why she is often referred to as the Dr. Seuss of New Zealand.

Linley Dodd is a wonderful children's author and illustrator. This book is her best by far. Her characters are memorable and she doesn't dumb-down language. Children will learn vocabulary from her books-- bonus.
My sons (4 & 2) have enjoyed this book for years now. My 2 year old can't quite pronounce the title, but we know when he says "i-i-nky ma-inky" that he wants us to read it to him-- over and over! The mischief Slinky Malinki and Stickybeak Sid get into is just hilarious, going room to room wreaking havoc. The surprise at the end is just as fun! The rhythm and rhyme in this book is first rate, helping keep little ones interested.
Highly recommended for 18 months up.

First! let me say that I love, absolutely love The ABC's of Authentic Conversation ... from the get-go all the way through the alphabet to Z. Among my favorites: C, D, G, I (of course), K (toooooooooooo funny! and true), N, Q, S, T, V, W, and Z. I loved 'em all! It is a masterful volume that engages mind, heart, soul, and eye. Congratulations on a work of art.

What a wonderful and inspiring book. I never really thought about actually preparing for real conversation. Using the methods this book suggests is very helpful to deepen what we may think "just happens".

I found it very inspirational and think it makes a great corporate gift

The book is wonderful! I loved the helpful hints - and thought of lots of ways I will put them into practice for myself. The pictures are also fabulous and really capture the concept on each page. "I is for Intercourse" is a must for anyone interested in creating better conversations at work and at home!

Following just one "helpful hint" from this book helped me turn a disagreement at work into an all-out collaborative brainstorming session that basically changed the course of the entire project. Amazing. The ABC's help you know how to talk AND listen, and remind you that conversation is what makes EVERYTHING happen in your life. I'm going to put every one of the "helpful hints" to use.

Full page photos of numerous birds are faced by a page of details. What makes this item extra special is the included CD with the call or song of each bird. It's a rare treat to see, hear and read the why's of each bird. It's great.

The quality of the sound on the CD, and the photos are excellent. Our dog and cat thought we were playing the CD for them! Only wish it covered more than 50 birds.

The Songs of Wild Birds by Lang Elliott gives us glimpses not only into the romantic lives of birds, but into the author's life as well. Lang Elliott serves up a sumptious package: lucid, engaging, and informative text, knock-out photos, and a CD to listen to over and over again. Elliott takes the academic study of bird songs and broadens it to include the aesthetic. Bravo!

The close-up photos of wild birds in this book are simply breath-taking. It is not just a coffee-table book, though. The text conveys interesting information--even for someone who is well-read in ornithological literature--and the CD is superbly done. These are not the typical bird i.d. recordings, but carefully selected cuts which sometimes include rarely heard songs and calls.

Lang Elliott is among the best and best-known recordists of birdsong in North America. His new book, The Songs of Wild Birds, is a combination of words, images, and often spectacular sounds that will delight and intrigue birders and non-birders alike.
I particularly enjoyed the eery "quartet" performed by trilling Eastern Screech-Owls; the juxtaposition of eastern and western Winter Wren vocalizations is extremely informative and useful, as are the illustrations of dialect differences in White-crowned Sparrows.