North Carolina Birds
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • North Carolina Birds
  • Quick Guide
North Carolina Birds
James Kavanagh
Manufacturer: Waterford Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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  1. North Carolina Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide North Carolina Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide
  2. North Carolina Trees & Wildflowers (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press) North Carolina Trees & Wildflowers (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press)
  3. North Carolina Wildlife: An Introduction to Familiar Species (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press) North Carolina Wildlife: An Introduction to Familiar Species (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press)
  4. North Carolina Gardener's Guide, 2nd Edition North Carolina Gardener's Guide, 2nd Edition
  5. National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: The Carolinas (NG Field Guide to Birds) National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: The Carolinas (NG Field Guide to Birds)

ASIN: 1583550674

Book Description

North Carolina Birds, An Introduction to Familiar Species, is a must-have, reference guide for beginners and experts alike. Whether you're on a nature hike or in your own backyard, you'll want to take along a copy of this indispensable guide. The Pocket Naturalist(tm) series is an introduction to common plants and animals and natural phenomena. Each pocket-sized, folding guide highlights up to 150 species and most feature a map highlighting prominent sanctuaries and outstanding natural attractions. Each is laminated for durability.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars North Carolina Birds.......2007-06-12

North Carolina Birds I was very dissatisfied with this product. The price ws $11.00 and when I receive it it was just a folded leaflet and not a book as I had anticipated. The picture of the birds was drawn and colored instead of real life. Price was too high for what I received.

5 out of 5 stars Quick Guide.......2007-01-17

A very handy and on the spot guide when a new bird stops by
Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast: Common Birds, Crabs, Shells, Fish, and Other Entities of the Coastal Environment
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Great book
  • Serviceable and Entertaining
  • Interesting guide...
  • Some SERIOUS problems in the plates, otherwise ok
  • Incredibly accurate with astonishing photos
Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast: Common Birds, Crabs, Shells, Fish, and Other Entities of the Coastal Environment
Peter Meyer
Manufacturer: Avian-Cetacean Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Animals | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Zoology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
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GeneralGeneral | North Carolina | States | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
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  1. How to Read a North Carolina Beach: Bubble Holes, Barking Sands, and Rippled Runnels How to Read a North Carolina Beach: Bubble Holes, Barking Sands, and Rippled Runnels
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  3. Seashells of North Carolina Seashells of North Carolina
  4. Coastal Fishing in the Carolinas: From Surf, Pier, and Jetty Coastal Fishing in the Carolinas: From Surf, Pier, and Jetty
  5. Insiders' Guide to North Carolina's Outer Banks, 28th (Insiders' Guide Series) Insiders' Guide to North Carolina's Outer Banks, 28th (Insiders' Guide Series)

ASIN: 0962818607

Book Description

An entertaining, practical, reader-friendly guide to common plants, animals, and the physical environment of the NC/SC coast. Fully illustrated -- over 100 color photographs, plus additional diagrams and drawings with in-depth information on each subject. A beachcomber's handbook, a valuable companion for seaside explorers of all ages. Scientifically accurate, yet written in language the lay public can understand.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great book.......2007-07-16

WE took this to the beach with us this year and my kids used it every day. WE had so much fun with it. The pictures in the book are great for identifying shells, fish, etc. at the SC and NC Coast. We found a lot of the things pictured in the book. Easy to understand descriptions! I recommend this book to anyone ... especially homeschooling families!!!

4 out of 5 stars Serviceable and Entertaining.......2004-05-20

My goal in purchasing this book, which pulls together information about birds, shells, dune plants, and fish was to be able to pack one slim volume instead of the bag of field guides I usually took to the Outer Banks. After two trips to North Carolina in the last year, I have found that I still need to carry a couple of other references because this is not comprehensive in any one of its categories--and how could it be at 148 pages? However, Meyer's guide does manage to cover many of the specimens commonly found along the Carolina coast. Furthermore, it is written in a graceful voice that keeps you reading long after you've put a name to the beastie you found on the beach. It is not childish or simple at all, but it can be used by the entire family. It stirs wonder.

4 out of 5 stars Interesting guide..........2003-03-07

Being a transplant from Michigan, I had little knowledge of coastal animals and plants. I purchased this book to satisfy my curiosity. I'm not knowledgeable enough as the other reviewer who found the inaccuracies in the book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. The information is presented in a very interesting way and all the photographs are in color. I can't wait to spend more time on the coast and see some of the creatures myself. I'll definitely have this guide on hand. I also enjoyed the respect the author has for nature.

2 out of 5 stars Some SERIOUS problems in the plates, otherwise ok.......2002-08-07

Overall an ok book for a beginner. If you come into this as a naturalist you will likely be disapointed. There are some other serious problems that I was able to spot straight out.

Plate 40. "Auger Shells" One of the 'augers' is not only NOT an auger and it's not even from the Carolinas at all. It's the Common Vertagus (a certh) from the Indo-Pacific (likely from the Philippines).

Plate 54. "Oyster Drills". Contains several Murexes in addition to the drills.

Plate 59. Sundials. The figured Sundial is not The American Sundial (Architectonica nobilis) but rather the Clear Sundial (Architectonica perspectiva) also from the Indo-Pacific.

The substitution of shells from the other side of the world really shows sloppy work in this guide. The other major problem I have with the book is that it just isn't complete enough; it only shows a small fraction of the plants and animals that one finds on Carolina coasts. The naturalist who trys to depend on this book will likely be frustrated and will find that they need other guides. As an introduction for a beginner it is ok, short the above noted plate problems.

5 out of 5 stars Incredibly accurate with astonishing photos.......1999-01-04

For the past four years I have had a place at the beach. Dr. Meyer's book has become our bible. Using it, shells, shorebirds and seaside flora are easily identified by my family, friends and renters. Being an amateur photographer, I am in total awe of the skill of the other physician who took the pictures.
North Carolina Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • An Elementary Book, not a useful reference
  • N. C. Bird Watching
  • North Carolina Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide
North Carolina Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide
Bill Thompson III
Manufacturer: Cool Springs Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | North Carolina | States | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ReferenceReference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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  1. North Carolina Birds North Carolina Birds
  2. National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: The Carolinas (NG Field Guide to Birds) National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: The Carolinas (NG Field Guide to Birds)
  3. North Carolina Gardener's Guide, 2nd Edition North Carolina Gardener's Guide, 2nd Edition
  4. North Carolina Trees & Wildflowers (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press) North Carolina Trees & Wildflowers (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press)
  5. Month-by-month Gardening In The Carolinas Month-by-month Gardening In The Carolinas

ASIN: 1591861004
Release Date: 2004-10-20

Book Description

Like gardening, bird watching is a fast-growing regional hobby. Now, Cool Springs Press brings its proven method of successful state-specific gardening approach to bird watching guides. In collaboration with Bird Watcher's Digest, these bird watching guides provide accessible, credible advice.

The birds that frequent the backyards of North Carolina differ from the birds that frequent the backyards of Tennessee. In addition to unique descriptions, each bird profile includes a range map to identify each bird's North American distribution. One hundred birds are profiled, each with a color photograph, to ensure accurate identification. A seasonal section informs the reader of:
Migrating birds that can be seen during that season
The foods and plants that can attract those birds
Where to go to view year-round and migrating birds

Cool Springs Press's partner, Bird Watcher's Digest, has sold more than 4 million copies of their booklets on bird species, bird habitat, feeding, and other related topics.

This series of books from Cool Springs Press targets the beginning bird watchers for ten states.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars An Elementary Book, not a useful reference.......2007-08-09

I have recently moved to the mountains of North Carolina. So I was excited to see a book just for me. It is not too large and it has clear and lovely photos. It begins and ends with a lot of basic bird care, feeding housing, attracting, etc. and landscape information.
Alas, almost every time I turn to this book to identify a bird at my feeder or along a drive into town, that particular bird is not there. The birds that are included in this book are common to North Carolina, but there are so many more that are also common. Where are they?
I think there could have been less "padding" (such as, how to build a birdhouse) at the beginning and end of the book and more actual bird information to have made it a useful tool.

4 out of 5 stars N. C. Bird Watching.......2007-06-12

North Carolina Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide I was very pleased with this book. The pictures were very clear. They were a little smaller than I expected. But overall it was a great help in indentifying the species.

5 out of 5 stars North Carolina Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide.......2007-05-26

Beautiful pictures and very informative about the habits and sounds of the birds
Birding North Carolina: More Than 40 Premier Birding Locations (Birding Series)
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Disappointing
  • Glad I bought it
Birding North Carolina: More Than 40 Premier Birding Locations (Birding Series)
CAROLINA BIRD CLUB
Manufacturer: Falcon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | North Carolina | States | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ReferenceReference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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  1. A Birder's Guide to Coastal North Carolina A Birder's Guide to Coastal North Carolina
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  5. Birding Georgia Birding Georgia

ASIN: 0762731346

Book Description

Edited by Marshall Brooks and Mark Johns, this book features the best birdwatching sites in North Carolina as chosen by the members of the Carolina Bird Club. Full of practical information on where and when to go, how to get there, and what birders will see, this is a perfect companion for the glove compartment of a car.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Disappointing.......2007-09-14

The book has many birding sites throughout the state of North Carolina. My complaint is that the book does not contain maps of the sites. There are large maps with no detail. The birding sites are shown as a number on the map with no detail on how to get there. For that you must read through a paragraph of directions to multiple locations. It is almost impossible to use on the road. In order to use the book, you will need to research the sites on the internet and print a map. For reference, look at "Birding Georgia" by Giff Beaton (same publisher). This book has very good maps. Hopefully this book will add the maps in later editions.

4 out of 5 stars Glad I bought it.......2007-03-23

We're planning a trip to NC in the early summer, and wanted to know if there would be good birding in the locations we plan to visit. This book answers our questions and gives us all we need to enjoy our trip. The style is very easy and real-person-focused. I'm glad I bought this book and would recommend it to birding buddies.
National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: The Carolinas (NG Field Guide to Birds)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • a nice, easy-to-use, guide.
National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: The Carolinas (NG Field Guide to Birds)
Jonathan Alderfer
Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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  5. A Guide to the Snakes of North Carolina A Guide to the Snakes of North Carolina

ASIN: 079224186X
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Book Description

National Geographic Field Guide to Birds provides affordable, portable, reliable region-specific information, perfect for the novice or experienced birder. In each guide, an introduction by an expert birder from the region offers guidance on where to look for key birds. An opening section gives pointers on how to look for key birds and what to focus on when you spot them. Each guide features approximately 150 birds, grouped by family. Two indexes: one alphabetical and one color-coded help readers identify a bird quickly.

Each entry has a vivid photograph showing the bird in its native habitat. On the facing page, there is a list of bulleted points of field identification clues as well as behavioral and habitat information, and the best local places to find the bird. Special field notes give additional i.d. or behavioral information and detailed maps show the range of each bird's habitat. With comprehensive coverage of the region and valuable advice from experts, these user-friendly guides will quickly become favorite companions on the journey to lifelong birding.

North and South Carolina, a favorite among bird watchers, are homes to a wide variety of birds that live in the western mountainous terrain or the eastern shorelines.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars a nice, easy-to-use, guide........2006-12-17

This is a nice, simply guide to Carolina birds. A nice feature is the index by bird color (which also has little headshots of the birds) -- this makes it very easy to identify your backyard friends.
Compact Guide to North Carolina Birds
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Beautiful Book, Fantastic Illustrations, But Left One Important Bird Out!
Compact Guide to North Carolina Birds
Curtis G. Smalling , and Gregory Kennedy
Manufacturer: Lone Pine Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | North Carolina | States | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
BirdsBirds | Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ReferenceReference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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  5. North Carolina Gardener's Guide, 2nd Edition North Carolina Gardener's Guide, 2nd Edition

ASIN: 9768200030

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book, Fantastic Illustrations, But Left One Important Bird Out!.......2006-04-29

This is a very handy little book to have with you in the field during your bird watching times. Extremely high quality binding, water-resistant cover, pages are cut (rounded at top) nicely...all in all, an extremely well made book that is equal to the task of being outdoors with you while bird watching.

The illustrations are drop-dead gorgeous. Not Sibley 'illustratively' so, but for field work, and likely for the intended audience more than adequate. Cross-reference and quick search colors, though busy, is very nice, too.

I have but two quibbles with the book, one minor and one major. The minor one is that the amount of space they use for descriptions and notes on the bird is very, very sparse. I know, again, it's not a Sibley, but I would like at least more than a sentance or two. Small quibble.

What's not a small quibble is the oversight of leaving out the American Goldfinch, completely. This one I simply cannot understand. The authors state early on that they're highlighting some of North Carolina's '...most noteworthy birds..' and living in North Carolina, with five feeders, I think I've seen a ratio of about 50/50 in bird population at my feeders....and that's 50% American Goldfinch and 50% everything else!

I'm impressed with the book, overall. Certainly the quality of it is a nice touch. The lack of putting in the Goldfinch is still a mystery and one I think would give the intended audience an idea that the species isn't prevalent in the Carolinas and that just isn't the case.

Other than that, an excellent book for the beginner or a good addition to a seasoned Carolina birders bookcase.
A Birder's Guide to Coastal North Carolina
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • The Bible for Birding the NC coast
  • Great resource for birders in North Carolina
  • A classic
  • No pictures,no illustrations,no descriptions
A Birder's Guide to Coastal North Carolina
John O., III Fussell
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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North CarolinaNorth Carolina | State & Local | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
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  5. National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition (National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America) National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition (National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America)

ASIN: 0807844535

Book Description

A popular destination for bird-watchers from across the country, the coastal region of North Carolina is a seasonal home to approximately 400 species of birds, some of which are found more easily here than anywhere else in the United States. A Birder's Guide to Coastal North Carolina is the first guide to the prime bird-watching spots of the Tar Heel coast and nearby areas—including national seashores, national forests and wildlife refuges, state parks and game lands, and other public areas.

Written for both casual and serious birders, the book features detailed site guides to the entire coastal region, including the Outer Banks. John Fussell provides an annotated checklist, habitat information, and bar graphs indicating seasonal abundance for all regularly occurring species. The book also includes a chapter on the 140 most sought-after species on the coast. Fussell describes the best places and conditions—seasonal, weather, and tidal—for finding these popular varieties. Detailed maps of most of the major birding sites complement the text.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Bible for Birding the NC coast.......2007-05-15

Anybody that's at all serious about birding the fabulous NC coast needs this book. This will help focus efforts on the most productive, most reliable spots and will make figuring out where to go along the NC coast into a fun and rewarding experience. Fussell knows the NC coast like few others, and he shares that knowledge in fine detail, including very specific driving directions to some little known hotspots. Fussell tells not only where to bird, but when to bird and for what specific species. This book has not only helped increase my life list, but it's helped me really explore some of the places along the coast that are somewhat away from the maddening crowds and off the beaten path.

4 out of 5 stars Great resource for birders in North Carolina.......2003-01-12

This book is a wonderful resource for people who want to know where to go to find birds in North Carolina. It is detailed and thorough. It might be a bit intimidating for newcommers to birding but shouldn't be. It is a wonderful companion to a field guide for anyone lining or visiting in NC. A prior review by Chuck Riddle rated it low because it had no pictures. The reviewer apparently was expecting a field guide and unfortunatly rated the book based on his mistaken expectations.

5 out of 5 stars A classic.......2002-12-20

The quintesential birders guide to NC! Great maps, very accurate driving directions.

1 out of 5 stars No pictures,no illustrations,no descriptions.......2002-10-07

This book tells where along the North Carolina coast that you might see listed birds and what time of year. I suuppose if you knew all the birds and there characteristics it might help you get around the areas.
WINTER BIRDS: A Novel
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • affecting and grim
  • This story is more chilling than any horror genre tale/movie
  • Beautifully melancholy
  • very, very grim
  • Too Cold to Fly
WINTER BIRDS: A Novel
Jim Grimsley
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0684829916

Book Description

In Jim Grimsley's remarkable first novel,

Winter Birds, Danny Crell tells himself

his own story, and in doing so illuminates

the heartbreaking story of his father's violent

tyranny over his mother, his sister, and his three

younger brothers.

The novel begins on Thanksgiving in rural

North Carolina in a broken-down cottage the

Crell children have nicknamed "The Circle

House." Ellen Crell's attempts at a family meal

are thwarted and finally disastrously ruined

when Bobjay draws her into a violent quarrel.

It leads to a chase wherein Bobjay is the hunter,

Ellen the prey, and their five children are caught

in between.

Winter Birds is a haunting, unforgettable

portrait of an American family shattered by

violence, and of the lengths a woman will go to

keep her family whole.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars affecting and grim.......2006-08-05

The mood and tone Grimsley is able to evoke is stunning. While the plot wavers around somewhat and the characters act in inexplicable ways, the power of the narrative will touch a chord in your heart that will reverberate for years. I'm looking forward to reading more from this talented first-time novelist.

5 out of 5 stars This story is more chilling than any horror genre tale/movie.......2006-03-30

No Jekyll & Hyde monster movie could ever achieve the level of true terror that exists in this book. I disagree strongly with reviewers who have said the author is somewhat disengaged from the characters, that this story is an exercise in writing technique. Writing style was nowhere in my mind when I turned page after page, anxious over the fate of the Crells.

5 out of 5 stars Beautifully melancholy.......2003-10-18

Readers and reviewers have panned this novel as grim. But it is a celebration of the courage of Danny, a character who reappears (starring) in the novel "Comfort & Joy." We all know abuse happens - especially in situations of poverty. Compound that with the inherent abuse of an ignorant father against his small hemophiliac child and you have a definite "tear-jerker." Defying cliche, again, as he does in all of his novels, Grimsley shows the silent strength of the children who help their mother to dodge the father's brutality. You quickly envision the souls of 40 year olds trapped in the body of toddlers. It is something profoundly emotive. Something to be savored. Grimsley's talent lies in painting a psychological portrait of the characters. This can be a daunting task, but he does so with ease and fluidity. I recommend this book not because of its "tearjerker" plotline, but because of the inherent hope that rises from the strength of its characters. Much like his novel "Comfort and Joy," the writer seeks to ensconce desolation with strength and hope. It's a novel that is not grim; it is a novel that seeks to show the points of light in the pitch black of sadness.

4 out of 5 stars very, very grim.......2003-09-23

This book, a cringing, nightmarish, too-violent-to-not-be-real heart wrencher, is nevertheless beautiful and extremely transfixing. The story is told in an eerie second-person narrative by Danny Crell, one of five children in a family with an unbelievably abusive alcoholic father.

At the beginning of the book after meeting Danny's brothers (one of whom is a hemophiliac like himself), the reader is also introduced to Danny's fantasy world near the river adjacent to the family home (dubbed "the circle house" due to its spherical path of doors). Danny has imagined for himself a kind and attentive father he calls The River Man, who is described to appear somewhat like bigfoot. As the stories of abuse begin in flashback form, we see very little of Danny's River Man, yet it sometimes feels as though the story is being told by him: "Even with a new baby she watched you every minute, Danny, and you never stepped out of the house without her warning you to be careful."

The novel culminates on Thanksgiving Day with unimaginable horror and a final act no one would suspect. The resolution I was hoping for never arrived, perhaps making the work even more realistic. A devastating book, but one worth reading. I look forward to reading Jim Grimsley's other novels.

4 out of 5 stars Too Cold to Fly.......2002-09-09

There is no doubt that Jim Grimsley is an extremely talented writer. The language of Winter Birds is such that in places it can make you cry. Yet, in spite of this, there is an emotional sterility that pervades this book. I have noticed that many of today's writers equate seriousness of subject matter with seriousness of writing. Is this the [term] that writers fall into?

The subject matter of Winter Birds is one that has - thanks to [person's book club]choices - become cliched: family abuse. I do not mean to say that abuse in families does not exist or that it is not serious. I am saying that it has been written about to the extent that there is not much more to say about it. The shock value I found in Before Women Had Wings was emotionally overpowering. By the time I got to Winter Birds there was not anything that could be said or done that I did not expect.

As I say, Grimsley's ability to use language in setting a scene is almost equal to that of Lee Smith. But, language alone does not make for great writing. What should be an emotional experience simply becomes an exercise in writing technique. In Winter Birds I felt that Grimsley was an outsider observing what went on in the family he wrote about. Well, it may be that Grimsley has experienced some of what he wrote about. If that is the case, he has not dealt with his experiences or processed them fully. He was too detached, especially when he reached the point in the novel that was supposed to be the most shocking. When I read this part, I just felt that I had been manipulated through a weak effort to shock the reader into caring about and doing something about family abuse. I did not feel the pain the characters should have felt because the emotional link was not there. The book had fallen from the grace of writing to the skill of technique.

I own and will read [another book]...
Birds of the Carolinas, 2nd Ed.
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Birds of the Carolinas
  • birds of the carolinas, 2nd ed.
  • Like An Old Friend
  • don't bother
  • An Essential Reference
Birds of the Carolinas, 2nd Ed.
Eloise F. Potter , James F. Parnell , Robert P. Teulings , and Ricky Davis
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | North Carolina | States | United States | Travel | Subjects | Books
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  1. North Carolina Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide North Carolina Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide
  2. National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: The Carolinas (NG Field Guide to Birds) National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: The Carolinas (NG Field Guide to Birds)
  3. North Carolina Birds North Carolina Birds
  4. Birds of the Carolinas Field Guide, Second Edition: Companion to Birds of the Carolinas Audio CDs Birds of the Carolinas Field Guide, Second Edition: Companion to Birds of the Carolinas Audio CDs
  5. Wild Flowers of North Carolina, 2nd Ed. Wild Flowers of North Carolina, 2nd Ed.

ASIN: 0807856711

Book Description

The well-loved standard reference for bird-watchers and nature lovers in North Carolina and South Carolina, Birds of the Carolinas collects information on all avian species known to have occurred in the region since 1900. This thoroughly revised second edition describes more than 460 individual species, including 60 new species that have been recorded since the publication of the first edition in 1980. Updated entries for all species reflect the current status of bird life as well as major changes in taxonomy and nomenclature. Each species account indicates when and where the bird is most likely to be found in the Carolinas, its nesting habits, feeding habits, and descriptive information useful in identifying the species. Generously illustrated with nearly 400 color photographs, this comprehensive guide to regional birds and their behavior will quickly earn a prominent place on the bookshelf of every bird-watcher in the Carolinas.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Birds of the Carolinas.......2007-01-15

Overall, an excellent book - my only complaint is that the bird pics are a little on the small side.

2 out of 5 stars birds of the carolinas, 2nd ed........2006-07-01

The pictures were too small and some of the birds did not have a picture to wiew.

4 out of 5 stars Like An Old Friend.......2003-07-31

This is the first bird book I ever owned. I purchased it in the summer of 1999. Four years later, it's like an old friend. It starts out with a short introduction and a few pages on the problem of identification. Then it goes on to describe the various bird habitats in North and South Carolina. The largest section of the book, of course, is the species guide. I found it to be particularly helpful with woodpeckers and shore birds, of which there is a wonderful variety here on Hilton Head Island.

I'm still learning about birds, so I have not yet become proficient at differentiating between various warblers, for example, but this book has helped me identify a couple. Last summer, I searched the book front to back for a bird species I encountered in Pickney Island National Wildlife Preserve, and never found it. Turns out that the bird was a Golden Crowned Kinglet. The bird was listed in this book, but for some reason there was no photo. Strictly speaking _Birds of the Carolinas_ isn't the best field guide on the market, but I still use it and have thoroughly enjoyed owning it. I think you'll enjoy it, too, especially if you are a new hobbyist.

1 out of 5 stars don't bother.......2003-02-12

I ordered this book hoping to have help identifying the birds at the feeders in my back yard. This books wasn't much help. Most of the photos are tiny--all you see is a bird shape sitting in a bunch of bushes or trees. The photo of the cardinal and blue jay are excellent--but who doesn't already know what these birds look like? Also there was too much information on habitat and migration patterns. I suppose that some people would think this was important. All I know is that there are dozens of gray birds feeding my backyard and I still don't know what most of them are called.

I'm going to buy another book, hopefully with larger pictures.

5 out of 5 stars An Essential Reference.......2000-02-28

Birds of the Carolinas is an essential reference for the hobiest. It is particularly useful in identifying transients, and in differentiating between similar species based on habitat and time of year. The book contains excellent photographs of most (but not all) of the species referenced.
Birds of the Blue Ridge Mountains: A Guide for the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, and Neighboring Areas
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Not good for quick identification
  • The Birds and where to find them in the Blue Ridge
Birds of the Blue Ridge Mountains: A Guide for the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, and Neighboring Areas
Marcus B. Jr. Simpson
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:
  1. Birds of Shenandoah National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park: A Field Guide Birds of Shenandoah National Park, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park: A Field Guide
  2. National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition (National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America) National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition (National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America)

ASIN: 0807843636

Book Description

In this detailed guide to the best birding localities, Simpson describes more than three hundred sites, including recreation areas, overlooks, campgrounds, picnic areas, and hiking trails. For each site, he lists the species most likely to be seen as well as rare birds that the persistent birder might find; he includes notes on the plant life and geography of each site and provides information on highway access and accommodations as well as accessibility for the handicapped.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Not good for quick identification.......2007-05-16

I found this book to be for the birds. Extremely wordy and only a handful of black and white prints of birds. The format does not allow for quick and easy access to identifying bird species at a glance. It does not serve my need if I have to search through lengthy text to get information about a species that I can't identify until I see a color photo.
I'm sure the author spend much time in gathering information for this book such as which birds are found in what areas... however, unless you are an experienced bird watcher or ornithologist, this book may be difficult to follow without prior bird knowledge.

5 out of 5 stars The Birds and where to find them in the Blue Ridge.......2000-11-30

This book is an all-around treasure, for the beginning birder or the experienced ornitholigist, living in or near the Blue Ridge, planning to visit the Appalachian region, or even simply interested in this world-class region. The first fifty pages constitute an introduction to the Appalachian province and birding in general. The rest of the book profiles the birds of over 300 locations, where to go to see them, and how to get there. The book contains over two dozen maps, and even information about birding spots with handicapped access; an annotated checklist of birds; and a guide to contacts and resources for particular areas. It also features the drawings of H. Douglas Pratt. Part travel guide, part natural history, part handbook, this book is above all a joy.

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