Softcover, 128 pages, Published 2004
Customer Reviews:
The Best Book on Attracting Wildlife.......2007-06-07
When you read this book you know you are receiving good, high quality and accurate advice. David Mizejewski, the author, has sound knowledge and experience which he shares with us. After reading this book and following it's instructions, I was able to have my backyard certified a Wildlife Habitat.
Unlike some other books, this one doesn't give outdated information. Invasive or harm plants are identified and cautioned against. If a plant is invasive, beneficial native alternatives are suggested.
The book is full projects that are actually do-able. And not ones that require several power tools. So, read this book and learn about attracting birds, butterflies, mammals, reptiles and amphibians to your garden. And go on safari by steeping out the back door.
Wow alot in a small book.......2007-05-08
This book is WONDERFUL!! I took this to the local nursery so I could buy the right flowers, I noticed folks were looking over my shoulder. It's a great book for ALL your birds, butterflies and just remodeling your yard.
Each topic is condensed on one page, just the facts and photos. Each topic has a photo of some sort to help you understand the reading. There were topics that I would not have even looked up, but now I am glad I know more about it!!! The book is in A-Z format and doesn't used alot of
"tech. terms" I don't understand, and that's great!!! It has receipes on making birds treats and some really great ideas on how to even tame a few wildlife birds and such! A MUST FOR ALL NATURE LOVERS!!! JT
Nice overview, but not helpful otherwise.......2005-09-22
This book outlines several topics, one or two pages per topic, such as birdbaths, artificial ponds, etc., various topics that are all relevant, interesting, and just what you want... but it doesn't treat any one topic thoroughly or well enough. Well before I bought this book, I already knew a bit about how to provide habitats to encourage bees (for example). This book only gave a very rough overview of how to create one type of bee environment (how to make tubes to attract mason bees) but didn't even indicate that there are other types of bees (such as bumble bees... honey bees... various other bee species, each of which need their own particular type of home built for them), let alone give guidelines how to attract them. The most important thing, choosing plants that are bird-friendly or bee-friendly or animal-friends, it handles in a very superficial manner. True, it may list a few species of plants, but it hardly gives a comprehensive list. It doesn't say anything about the plants, such as zones, light/shade preference, etc. In summary, if there's anything you want to do, such as choose plants carefully, you'll need to buy another book. Beehouses? Buy another book or scour the internet. Yes, this book will motivate you, will make you feel, how nice it will be to build a butterfly-friendly garden. But it doesn't really give you what you need to do it, besides make you feel good about it. Do you want to build a birdhouse? Scoure the internet or buy another book. The only thing this book is good for, is to tell you the few topics you should start to think about. And that, you can get just by reading the Table of Contents. Oddly, it spends many pages describing home recipes for making bird cakes and patties, out of animal fat and seeds, that you can hang up in your garden -- a sort of Martha Stewart section slipped in the middle of the book there, as though this was the only "specific" information the author had at hand. I would suggest that instead of this, you buy a book that is positively overloaded with info like Degraaf's "Trees, Shrubs, and Vines for Attracting Birds" which lists a page per specie various plants -- start there. Then look up bee boxes on the internet. Etc.
Lots of great projects you can do with your kids.............2005-04-25
So you want to turn your big back yard into a wildlife refuge? The place to begin is with the NWF `ATTRACTING BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES AND OTHER BACKYARD WILDLIFE.' This book, part of the `Creative Homeowner Series includes all kinds of nifty ideas for making your yard creature-friendly. You will become interested in ridding yourself of noxious grass the upkeep of which is frustrating, a lot of work, and expensive, and probably a source of pollution in your watershed. The book explains the reason why you also want to rid yourself of invasive exotic plants and add native plantings to your yard. Many `exotics carry disease and many fail to nourish the local fauna that grew up with the native stuff. Birds, for example, find the berries from the native Dogwood much more nutritious than the fruit of the Kousa Dogwood. You want to strive for balance in your yard if you want more bird sightings. If you live far enough out in the hinterland, you may also find other creatures visit your yard (though I live in Arlington VA and my neighbor reports a raccoon is having a fish dinner every night from her pond, and I know I have smelled a skunk on many mornings).
The beautiful photos in this publication will inspire you to plan and plant as well as spread peanut butter on your homemade `energy muffins' filled with cornmeal, peanuts and suet or vegetable shortening. You can decorate a Yule tree for the birds the kids might enjoy and/or build a pond with decorative plants. Or if you don't have room for a pond, try making a puddle or a muddy area (the kids will love this) or a container garden for small spaces. You will need to provide cover, which can also be beautiful (we have Cardinals nesting in a Pyracantha bush out front -- my Conure loves to watch them from his window vantage point). We planted Clematis for the butterflies and trumpet flowers for the hummingbirds, and Echinacea for the Finches. The Chickadee loves seeds on the Crepe Myrtle Bush and the Mockingbird loves the Holly.
This is a great book for learning how to attract wildlife (the kind you want) and grow native flora for your fauna, as well as engage in fun activities with your kids or grandkids.
Featuring 17 great projects along with a wealth of tips.......2004-04-03
Illustrated throughout with enticing color photographs, Attracting Birds, Butterflies, And Other Backyard Wildlife by David Mizejewski (Manager, Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program) is an exceptional and highly recommended homeowner's guide featuring 17 great projects along with a wealth of tips, tricks, and techniques to create gardens filled with wildlife sights, sounds, and natural wonders. Featuring advice for obtaining certification for a backyard habitat in the NWF's Backard Wildlife Habitat program, as well as more general suggestions from building amphibian and bee nesting houses, to finding native plants, avoiding West Nile Virus in the water provided for wildlife, butterfly feeders, and so much more, Attracting Birds, Butterflies, And Other Backyard Wildlife is a first-rate informational guide and a welcome addition to personal and community library Wildlife and Gardening reference collections.
Book Description
Learn the arcane yet effective art of pishing from a master. In this unique book and CD package, renowned birder Pete Dunne presents an illustrated workshop on how to attract birds by making precise and well-practiced hisses, whistles, chips, and squeals (along with some kisses and thumps) that almost guarantee spectacular success in the field. The text explains the hows, whys, and whens of 13 different pishes, including the basic pish, stutter pish, whisper pish, knockdown pish, screech-owl warble, sequential chip, and squeal. The soundtrack features audio demonstrations so you can compare your efforts to an expert's. Together, this book and CD will send you well on your way to becoming a pisher extraordinaire. This first-ever how-to book on this time-proven technique features 13 pish explanations and audio demonstrations by Pete Dunne
Customer Reviews:
The Manual for attracting birds while field birding.......2007-10-01
First of all "pishing" is making sounds to attract birds or wildlife. The sound has been likened to a distress call or a call note that birds use when identifying a threat. This has the effect of getting many birds of the area to collect around the source of the sound to the benefit of the person trying to spot and identify them.
I've been birding for 36 years and have been "pishing" for birds almost as long thanks to my mentor and one of Michigan's best birders, Doug McWhirter. Doug taught me how to pish and how to do the screech owl imitation just as Pete Dunne describes it in this book. Since I've done this for so many years I wanted to see if there were any new tricks in the book.
This is a short book, more like a manual with its' CD (90 pages in a small (6"x*8") size. It is readable and entertaining as anyone familiar with Pete Dunne's writing would know. He throws in lots of humorous examples in with the instructions. The book covers the advent of pishing in birding, the several types of pishing, when to employ the pish and when it will not be productive as well as ethical guidlines to pishing.
I was interested to learn the "knock down pish" something new to me. Despite excellent instructions I found that I am still not able to do Dunnes squeal and need more practice. I also found verification that grassland birds are hard to pish but may respond more to squeals and chip notes. The CD is very brief but has good examples of the sounds, pitches, and duration that are difficult to explain in type.
All in all a good little manual to help advance your birding skills
Wonderful guide!.......2007-08-03
I've read in several field guides that cetain birds are "pishable", and quite frankly I never quite knew what that meant.
I got this book and CD just before going on vacation to PA. I knew I'd have the chance to see lots of new birds and several of those were considered pishable.
On my first day out birding in the Pocono's I tried the basic pish. And Wham! a Tufted Titmouse showed up. I kept pishing and a Black Capped Chickadee arrived. The Chickadee was so interested he flew out and nearly landed on my head. My kids were with me and they were quite impressed (they had been skeptical when we headed out). It was very satisfing to have my kids say "Mom, see if you can pish him out."
Not only did the birds respond to pishing but squirrels seem quite intrigued by it also.
This is a great find. I highly recommend it.
All it needs to be. .......2007-06-11
This book and CD provides all the needed information in a user friendly manner. One will definitely be an informed and able pisher after one or two reads/listens. The ethics of pishing are also covered, something the birds will appreciate. Finally, it is great fun! It is always good to hear Pete Dunne's voice (I have taken birding walks with him in Cape May). The book definitely improved my birding skills.
It gets results!.......2007-02-10
I received this book and went out birding the next day and tried pishing and it worked! The CD is excellent and the book is entertaining as well as informative. It takes practice to learn to do it well but it does get the birds' attention.
Amazon.com
A guide full of sensible and easy to follow advice for gardeners in all parts of the country who want to experience the magic of hummingbirds in their garden.
Hummingbird Gardens provides specific recommendations for the best varieties of flowers to plant in order to attract the elusive creatures, while integrating gardening ideas and designs with an informative introduction to the general habits, including migrating and nesting patterns, of hummingbirds.
Book Description
Of all the beuty a gardener can cultivate, nothing equals that of the hummingbird. Little wonder that millions of North Americans attempt to attract these spunky birds to their gardens. Hummingbird Gardens provides how-to information on feeders, plant combinations, and garden design. It showcases the continent's 20-plus hummingbird species. By breaking North American into six regions, the authors give tips that are tailored for gardeners in all parts of the United States and Canada.
Customer Reviews:
A wealth of informative text and spectacular photos........1999-10-26
Long, long ago - experience taught me the smoothest way through life is to "never make recommendations to anybody about anything." Sam and I have learned to qualify those don't-miss-it things encompassing: great places to eat, visit, read, watch, etc. For example, we now say, "The food was great the night we were there," or "You would love the movie if you enjoy such-and-such."
With all of those lessons in mind, I'm unequivocally saying, "Get your hands on Hummingbird Gardens as soon as possible." I don't think the co-authors, Nancy Newfield and Barbara Nielsen, have yet realized the true scope of what they have accomplished.
I knew Nancy was working on a book with somebody, but thought it was strictly for the southern Louisiana area. When Sam brought home my unexpected copy, it took only a few minutes of browsing for me to tell him something like, "Good lord, this thing is really, really good - and I mean good!" That's saying a lot for a person who is not easily impressed, and the more I read, the better it got.
Somehow, Nancy and Barbara truly did it all in Hummingbird Gardens by combining a wealth of well written, informative text with spectacular photographs of both the hummingbirds and the flowering plants so loved by these creatures. The beautiful birds and blossoming plants are well covered in their own separate chapters.
At the same time though, the content flows smoothly into pertinent regional information for those in: California, The Pacific Northwest, The Southwest, The Western Mountains, The Southeast and The East and Midwest. They so skillfully blend bird and bloom with helpful tips and enthusiasts' experiences that you will want to read on and on about other hummers in other gardens!
As far as I can determine, they left no stone unturned. All who open its covers will soon learn to appreciate the inclusion of subjects often left out of other publications. This one did not forget such things as: References and Further Reading (great bibliography), Resources (supermarkets for the hummers' favorite natural foods), and an excellent Index.
One last thing. Although Hummingbird Gardens was primarily done for the millions of us who simply love and enjoy these particular bounties of nature - I sincerely believe ornithology, as a whole, will gain as well. The professionals cannot be out in the field all of the time, thus what we see "our" hummers doing in our yards can contribute a great deal to the science. Meanwhile, we are very lucky, indeed, that Barbara and Nancy decided to share their knowledge and discoveries with the rest of us!
An excellent resource.......1999-10-10
Including information from real-life hummingbird gardeners around the U.S., this book will be useful to virtually anyone in North America who's trying to create backyard habitat for these fascinating birds. The main shortcoming of this book is in the depth of coverage of the plants, particularly photos. There were not enough showing an entire plant (though more than enough of the birds themselves), and the one feeder illustrated contained dyed sugar water (a no-no and contradictory to the text). Novice hummingbird gardeners should cross-reference the plant names with national and regional gardening guides for photos and cultural information such as size and temperature tolerance.
Beautiful and Informative.......1999-08-06
This book has incredible photographs and gobs of information about these amazing creatures. It's an unabashed sales-job to get you to become a hummingbird gardener. (That's not a bad idea!)
Customer Reviews:
The Bluebird Bok.......2007-08-10
This book has great pictures and answered all of my questions re bluebirds. I love the pictures of the different nest types...it has enabled me to know what kind of bird is nesting in the bluebird box. Very helpful.
GOOD USEFUL STUFF HERE FOLKS! ONE OF THE BEST STARTER BOOKS I'VE READ!.......2007-07-04
This is certainly one you will want to add to your collection. Having been a birder for well over fifty years now, and a collector of books on the subject, I found this one to be well worth the cost. As pointed out by another reviewer here, some of the information in this book is quite basic. But that is okay! Everyone has to start somewhere and this is one of the best books I know to get that start. This is not to say that an "expert" will not be able to get anyting out of this work...that is silly. But, like any work on the subject of birds, this one needs to be supplemented by other books on the subject and field guides.
The photographs in this work are wonderful, some of the best I have seen and the text is clear and concise, which is sort of a trade mark for this writing team. There is a great amount of useful information in this relatively small volume, and with it, and a couple of the other recommended works here, you should be able to become quite an authority on the subject. This particular bird is a favorite of mine and I find any work that promotes it's well being a good thing. Recommend this one highly.
A good start.......2006-11-28
This is a good book for those who are interested in learning more about bluebirds and perhaps getting started with their own trail. It is mostly focused on the eastern bluebird but also discusses the mountain and western bluebirds, with plenty of photos. It also shows how to distinguish different types of nests so you can tell whether a house wren or house sparrow has taken over your bluebird box.
Great starter book for burgeoning bluebirder.......2006-02-25
Once you have a bluebird visit your backyard, you WILL be hooked...and you'll start looking for anything and everything to lure them back--it sounds crazy, but I think every bluebirder started this way! I read just about everything I could find about them on the internet, and you can find tons of information there, but sometimes I'd rather consult a book or two--The Bluebird Book is one of my two.
Actually it is pretty basic, and I thought it was too basic at times, but the further I read there was still a lot of good information about bluebird behavior, feeding habits, preferred habitat, nesting, nest boxes, predators of the bluebird, predator prevention, and what I didn't see anyplace else...bluebird language! But I think what kept me reading was the fantastic photographs--the photos will draw you in, and if you weren't too serious about doing the 'bluebirding thing', you will be after starting with this book. What it lacks in "complete reference" will certainly prompt you to take the next step of getting another more advanced book, pouring thru bluebird internet sites, or setting up a nest box or two in your yard. Just a note--depending on where you live in the US, parts of this book may not apply--but that is the same for other bluebird books also; don't get discouraged over it. Most bluebird books cover Eastern, Western, and Mountain bluebirds all at once, and what works in the east, may not work in the west, or south, for example.
The other book that goes into great detail on just about everything bluebird related is the Bluebird Monitor's Guide. This should be your next book if you can find it. Excellent stuff, expands on what you learned in the Bluebird Book, and lists many lessons and lessons-learned, easy and hard, from average folks who became very passionate about bluebirds.
After starting with the Bluebird Monitor's Guide, The Bluebird Book filled in a few areas and had some good detailed photos. And all the photos will have you wishing to have these beauties grace your neighborhood. Another note--there's also a Stokes video about bluebirding...I haven't seen it, but much of what I've read about it online is not very positive. Stick with this book and the Monitor's Guide and you will have plenty of solid information about bluebirds, setting up PROPER nest box(es), and providing a safe environment for a bluebird family, or any native wildbird family for that matter. Please be a responsible bird landlord!
Excellent Resource.......2005-08-09
The Bluebird Book was concise, informative, and easy to read. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in attracting bluebirds.
Customer Reviews:
A BOOK WELL WORTH OWNING - VERY HELPFUL!.......2007-07-04
This work, like most of those by Donald and Lillian Stokes is well written, informative, useful and simply a joy to read. The subject here, of course, is Hummingbirds. The authors also do give us several very nice pages (6) addressing orioles, a common visitor to feeders. The photographs in this book are quite good and the authors actually tell and show us their technique of photographing these amazing creatures.
Probably the most important chapter in this work is the one covering the types, maintenance and placement of the hummingbird feeder. Some of the other subjects well covered are creating Hummingbird habitat, Hummingbird gardening, nesting habits, flight behavior, amazing facts, Hummingbird myths and very importantly, the identification of these little creatures which are found here in North America. Each species is given due coverage and no area of the country is left out. I enjoyed the section devoted to the various kinds of flowers which are Hummingbird friendly. The Stokes have given us specific information here, seldom found in other volumes.
As to the identification of the various species found here, the authors have given us a great over view of the eight major species, their range, habits, migration patterns and some wonderful photographs to help in identification. The hardcore birder will of course want additional field guides, as several species, usually found in small pockets along our southern border are not covered. This is not major flaw though, as most individuals that are very much into the hobby of birding, already have a trunk full of guides. The authors have also included a very nice section on other resources, books, videos, companies that provide feeders, etc.
All in all, this is a very nice book to own and certainly one that you will want to add to your collection
terrific guide to flying jeweks.......2004-08-25
This is a very useful guide to attracting and caring for these hummingbirds, with great photographs supplementing text that is well-written and filled with wonderful advice and tips about feeders, habitat, gardens, identification and further resources. Sections also detail behavior, photography, babies and feeder problems. Nicely done and very helpful.
a bird in the hand..........2002-09-04
An outstanding reference. I especially enjoyed the "honey glazed ruby-throated dessert".
a guide book for the hummer lover.......2002-05-18
A great book for anyone who wants to attract and feed hummingbirds, it's packed with all the basic information you'll need, starting with choosing the right feeder for your area, the sugar solution to put in it, and the maintenance and cleaning of it, which the Stokes say: "We can't emphasize enough how important it is to take feeder maintenance seriously", as any mold or bacteria can be "risking the health, and possibly the lives", of these jeweled wonders of the bird family...and they show you the easy steps to be taken to keep the feeders clean.
There are also 6 pages on orioles, who can be seen sometimes at hummer feeders. It gives a "quick guide" to 8 species of these beautiful birds, with lovely photos to help identification. It also shows how one can set up feeders specifically for orioles, and the sugar solution to use, which is slightly different from that of the hummer mixture.
Chapters on the "Hummingbird Habitat" and "Gardening", give you a list of plants and flowers that hummers like the most, by geographical region. "Amazing Facts" truly is amazing. Among the many fascinating things you'll learn is that their heart can beat 1,260 times per minute, but can sometimes slow down to 50 beats per minute at night to conserve energy. There are other chapters on "Myths", "Baby Hummingbirds", and "Photographing Hummingbirds".
Nearly half the book is devoted to the identification of the different species, with photos, maps, behaviour patterns, and much more. Once you've identified your visitors, you'll get to know the idiosyncrasies of the species, and it's sure to add to the joy and delight of watching these miraculous little creatures.
The Stokes stroke their stuff..........2000-08-18
I was so impressed with the depth of the study, and the over-all content of this book, and yet it is very comprehensive. I am a new Hummer-lover, and I definitely recommend this colorful book to the newcomer because it is so thorough. I was able to easily identify the species that visit my deck every morning, and discover the variety of flowers they prefer, and even predict their behavior. This book is a veritible wealth of information on common and rare Hummers that has made me appreciate these beautiful and delicate little creatures even more that I did before! What an awesome Creator we have!
Book Description
Bird watching is America's second most popular hobby after gardening. According to a recent survey, approximately 63 million Americans report that they watch and feed birds at home. With its beautiful four-color layout, The Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible is the ideal guide for beginning to intermediate bird watchers. And author Sally Roth's reassuring and friendly voice make this book a standout among the many more academic-style bird books currently on the market. Each colorful section is arranged alphabetically and addresses birds from each region of the country-even explaining the different food requirements for birds in different regions. Roth helps readers cut the costs of their favorite activity with economical tips throughout, from buying less expensive seed like cracked corn to using food leftovers as winter treats. Readers will delight in the color photos of the most popular feeder birds and will enjoy projects for making feeders, food mixtures, and 'food crafts,' such as birdseed wreaths.
Customer Reviews:
Help! He Won't Give Back My Book!.......2006-08-15
I barely got to look at the thing!
I made the mistake of allowing my young nephew to glance through it a few days ago. The next thing I know he takes it home with him and won't bring it back to me. (Well, he 'would' because he's that kind of guy... but I think I am going to allow him to keep it.)
Apparently this book had the remarkable effect of sparking in him a sudden interest in the hobby of attracting and feeding birds.
Actually, all summer long we have been visited at our little place in the country by birds of all sorts and we have been feeding them everyday so they wouldn't get bored and go away, but my nephew didn't have any interest in them... that is, not until I let him look at this book.
As I said, I did not really get to look at this book, but let's base my 5 star review on the enthusiasm it sparked in him. He says it is a great book because the information within is very interesting and very in-depth. He also loves the plentiful beautiful pictures which helps keep him attracted all the more to the subject matter.
I am very pleased that a child growing up in today's sterile electronically-obsessed society can still find something very natural and positive to invest his time and interest in. Aren't you?
EXCELLENT ADDITION TO YOUR BIRD LIBRARY.......2006-06-29
This one is just filled with excellent ideas. After years of birding you would think there would be no new ideas...wrong! I picked up quite a lot from this book. It is well organized, easy to use and easy to read and understand. I am glad I received it as a gift and recommend you get a copy if this is where your interests are. Overall, recommend this one highly.
Great Book cheaply made.......2005-12-18
The information contained in the book is great, one of the best bird books I own. To bad the publisher went the cheap way and produced a book using the hot glue binding process as opposed to a stitched binding. My copy has fallen apart!
Not well organized.......2005-12-07
I found this book to be very confusing. It is organized alphabetically... which makes no sense. There is no way to know what you need to know until you know what you need to know. It should be called the Bird book encyclopedia. A much much better book is the Audobon Backyard Birdwatcher. This book is not very colorful or engaging. I returned it.
Full of information.......2005-09-14
This book has answered so many questions for me. Reading this book is like talking with a friend who knows everything about birds and wants me to know it all too! The way it is set up alphabetically makes for an easy search and the pictures and diagrams are excellent. I will now have a more organized yard and happier birds.
Book Description
Increasingly, homeowners are recognizing the need to provide natural abode for those fluttering jewels of naturebutterflies and hummingbirds. Sally Roth offers a menu of irresistible plants plus organic garden design strategies to create backyard habitat.Discover tried-and-true techniques for selecting, using, and maintaining nectar feeders and attracting a broad range of butterflies by offering foods other than nectar. Easy-to-follow instructions detail fun projects like creating mud puddles for butterflies or setting up a mister so hummingbirds can bathe in flight. Youll find out how you can provide nesting sites and nest materials for hummingbirds.Readers from 5 to 75 will be thrilled by the sight of hummingbirds or butterflies enjoying the habitat theyve created for them. The book includes a field guide to the 16 hummingbird species found in North America and 75 of the most popular butterfly species, along with Roths entertaining and insightful guide to butterfly and hummingbird behavior.
Customer Reviews:
Great Resource!.......2007-05-15
This book was just what I needed to learn about attracting humming birds and
butterflies. This has been very useful for figuring out how to start my garden.
I am very visual, so the beautiful pictures in the book and the general text design layout
makes it easy to read.
Helpful and beautiful.......2007-02-08
This book is wonderful for anyone who wants to garden in nature's best interest.
Blends gardening and wild animal management and observation.......2003-01-06
Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds To Your Backyard deserves ongoing mention as an outstanding survey of how gardens can attract desired wild birds and butterflies. From determining how native plants interact in the environment and help attract native visitors to understanding how to maintain a healthy environment, Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds To Your Backyard comes packed with tips which blend gardening and wild animal management and observation.
Customer Reviews:
Good Book, Slightly Misleading Title.......2007-09-16
This book is subtitled "The complete guide to attracting, identifying, and understanding your feeder birds." While it is good at the "indentifying" and "understanding" parts, it leaves something to be desired in the "attracting" department. I had hoped for a book that would tell me what has a good chance of drawing specific birds, but except for hummingbirds, it really doesn't go into detail about the topic. It's still a good book as far as it goes; I simply don't think that it's much of a guide to attracting the specific birds you have reason to believe are in your area, but goes with a considerably more general approach.
Stokes BirdFeeder.......2007-01-09
You just can't go wrong with this one! For the home user, it really gives you a good amount of information with clear pictures.
Not stoked on Stokes.......2005-08-02
Disappointing. I was expecting an Audubon-style reference book, but got a simpler, very brief, nothing new, thin, magazine-sized tickler. I've heard good things about Stokes, but this book wasn't a winner. Was looking for more details about plantlife, positioning of shrubs, feeders, bird baths, landscaping etc, but book consisted more of bios on birds with a little bird-feeding info. at the beginning of the book. Save your money and go elsewhere. :-(
Good Book For a Beginner.......2005-02-14
As a complete novice to birding and gardening, I found this book a helpful starting point. It does not identify many species, but did help me recognize most of the birds coming to my newly purchased feeders. It contains only the most common birds, the Tufted Titmouse, Cardinals, Black-capped and Carolina Chickadees, etc.
It also contained helpful information as to what common birds favor what types of feeders and provided information on some bird behavior and how to buy binoculars.
The maps of where the birds are found are not very detailed. They also purposely leave out any information on birds some may find undesirable, like Starlings and House Sparrows, which can be aggressive and keep small songbirds away.
This guide is for the utmost, novice and does not contain extremely detailed information on identifying and feeding birds. The information is very generalized and only covers common backyard birds.
Nevertheless, it is a helpful introduction only for someone like me who knew next to nothing when I purchased it.
Great how-to guide for any backyard birder.......2001-11-12
The Stokes have put out several books on birds, and definitely know their stuff. It shows in this book, which has just about everything you could ask for.
One section goes over the different types of feeders, and the various seeds that birds enjoy. Hummingbirds get their own special mention, as do squirrel baffle techniques. There's even a section on bird behavior - what to watch for, what certain things mean.
Then the book goes into the common birds found at backyard feeders. There are lovely photos of each bird, a map showing where they tend to live, how to tell them from other similar birds, how they act, what they eat, and much more.
Customer Reviews:
Stokes Purple Martin Book.......2007-07-25
This is an excellent book. It's very informative. This is my first year to put up a Martin House. I learned a lot from reading this book.
Purple Martins.......2007-05-29
An excellent book with suggestions on how to attract and keep martins in your backyard.
Landord-ism 101.......2007-02-26
Twenty years ago the air above the narrow street outside our little row house in Costa Rica used to teem with swallows dashing about in the later afternoon coolness. I loved to watch their antics, finding in their effortless twists and turns a vicarious agility.
When we moved house and the swallows were no longer part of our end-of-day joys, I knew that I must someday remedy this situation by having a Purple Martin house that would persuade the similar martins to take us into their company.
It's March, 2007 in Indianapolis and a late snow lies on the ground. The Martins will be here within weeks if prognostications are accurate. From the comfort of my easy chair and a laptop bookmarked to several vendors of Purple Martin houses, I've read through the excellent Stokes Guide.
These people have a rare gift for understanding the bird in question but also for speaking to the level of the interested, reasonably intelligent novice, a reader who knows very little of the topic but is capable of getting up to speed with just a little help.
That assistance comes in the form of inviting prose and beautiful photos, all presented in an affordable format.
I know a whole lot more about Purple Martins than I did just an hour ago and am just about to order that house and telescoping pole. Heck, this frozen ground can't last forever and those newbie Martins will be looking for a place to call home.
We'll leave the light on.
Everything I wanted to know about attracting Purple Martins!.......2002-01-15
My husband and I invested in a Purple Martin House, but didn't have a clue how to entice them to our back yard! I have several of the Stokes bird books and have always found them informative, easy to use, and excellent photography. I found all of this to be true in their Purple Martin Book.The book starts with Purple Martin basics, how to attract, and something I hadn't even thought of, when to expect their arrival. Each section of their breeding range has a different date, the Gulf Coast being approximately Feb. 1st, so I need to get ready in a hurry! Also covered, is their behavior, selecting housing, egg laying to leaving the nest. Dealing with predators and parasites. I don't think there was a "stone uncovered"!If you just enjoy learning about birds, this book is a joy. For me, I am hoping in a few short weeks, I'll be a Purple Martin landlord!
An essential book for Purple Martin landlords.......2000-08-12
Educate yourself before you buy a Purple Martin house. Reading this book is a great beginning. Many houses sold are not suitable and you will end up with a sparrow house. The Stokes have thorough information and nice photographs in their book. I also recommend you join the PMCA (Purple Martin Conservation Association), Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro, PA, 16444 if you are serious about being a martin landlord.
Customer Reviews:
Helpful to someone moving south.......2007-07-13
I moved to Georgia 14 years ago, from Vermont. Talk about climate shock! I found THE BIRD GARDEN to be quite helpful in getting me started in Zone 7. It is certainly not a completely comprehensive book, nor does it pretend to be. The sketches of sample bird gardens based on the varying climate areas of the USA gave me an easy to follow template for turning my yard into a bird and butterfly sanctuary. The year I had twenty-six chrysalises on the side of my house, I knew I'd done something right. Creating a bird garden, after all, cannot help but benefit the other welcome species, too.
My (indoor) cats and I love bird-watching now.
Disappointingly sketchy.......2003-01-16
Steve Kress is a great ornithologist and I greatly admire the work he's done in wildlife species and habitat preservation--but this book is not one of his best achievements. Basic and sketchy, at best it might give you a few ideas, but you won't be able to really implement them from this book--you'll have to get much better and more complete references. Look on the audabon web site or other birdwatchers web sites for ideas, and donate the money you save from not buying this book to audabon.
Bring beauty and life to the garden!.......2002-05-11
As an avid gardener with an extensive collection of gardening and reference books, this is the most cherished and most consulted of any book in the house. It brings the garden to an interactive level and a site of much learning for adults and children! Inspiring and informative, The Bird Garden also carries the endearing beauty of presentation one would expect with an Audubon Society publication. Wonderful gift for gardener or birder alike. I keep a few copies on hand for birthdays and house-presents. Finally, with enough inspired souls...the birds and butterflies will stand a better chance in the world. Read all about it!
Hatch your bird garden using this book!.......2002-04-30
I have used this book in the winter and the spring of 2002, and the results have been more than I could have expected. The book is well written, nicely illustrated, and well organized. If you want to have one reference book on hand, then you would be wise to consider this one.
If you only buy one book on the subject..........2002-01-30
Make it this one. It's full of detailed information on all aspects of creating a garden that will attract birds. It's well written and clearly illustrated.
Books:
- North Carolina Birds
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
- Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!, The
- Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!, The
- Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!, The
- Projects for the Birder's Garden: Over 100 Easy Things That You can Make to Turn Your Yard and Garden into a Bird-Friendly Haven
- Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place
- Return of the Bird Tribes
- River Of Wind (Guardians Of Ga'hoole)
Books Index
Books Home
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Garden Design
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Attracting Birds to Your Backyard: 536 Ways to Create a Haven for Your Favorite Birds (A Rodale Organic Gardening Book)
Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds to Your Backyard: Watch Your Garden Come Alive With Beauty on the Wing (A Rodale Organic Gardening Book)
Taylor's Weekend Gardening Guide to Attracting Birds and Butterflies: How to Plant a Backyard Habitat to Attract Hummingbirds and Other Winged Wildlife (Taylor's Weekend Gardening Guides)
The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens
Welcoming Wildlife to the Garden: Creating Backyard and Balcony Habitats for Wildlife
