The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens

The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens
Average customer rating:

Excellent book for newer bird watcher.

Great pictures, information, poor selection of birds

Great book, informative on many levels

excellant book for the money

YOU CANNOT GO WRONG WITH THIS ONE

The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens
Robert Burton , and Stephen Kress
Manufacturer: Thunder Bay Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Gardening | Home & Garden | Bargain Books | Stores | Books
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General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Backyard Bird Identification Guide (T.F.H. Wild Birds Series)

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National Geographic Field Guide To The Birds Of North America, 4th Edition

National Wildlife Federation Attracting Birds, Butterflies & Backyard Wildlife (National Wildlife Federation) National Wildlife Federation Attracting Birds, Butterflies & Backyard Wildlife (National Wildlife Federation)

ASIN: 1571451862

Book Description

Discover how to create a backyard bird sanctuary with the expert guidance of the National Audubon Society. Your backyard will come alive by applying these feeding and gardening techniques. Includes a photographic guide to the birds of North America, as well as the trees and plants that attract them. The ultimate resource for anyone interested in creating a bird-friendly habitat.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book for newer bird watcher........2007-03-08

We found your book to be full of beautiful bird pictures and good information. A excellent book especially for the newer back yard bird watcher. An excellent addition and tool for anyones library. A beautiful gift.

Great pictures, information, poor selection of birds.......2007-01-23

I purchased this book for myself and our children to aid us in identifying the birds that are visiting our southern Arizona feeders. Unfortunately I found many of the birds we see were missing from this guide. It's got fantastic pictures, and excellent full page details on each bird which IS included, such as song, nesting habits and duration. I was very impressed with the guides on how to make your own birdfeeders of various types as well as the helpful guide in the back regarding landscaping for birds. Unfortunately, because it's not a regional book, it is proving to be less useful than I hoped. It's a great book to start with, but I think many birdwatchers, even casual ones like myself, will quickly wish for a more comprehensive guide.

Great book, informative on many levels.......2006-12-15

I am new to birdwatching and purchased this book along with Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America. The Sibley guide covers more birds, but the Audubon has all of the common ones that I see in my yard, and has actual photos of the book as opposed to the drawings in the Sibley guide. I find that I refer to both of them frequently, however the Audubon book is one that you can sit down and read, whereas the Sibley one is a true field guide with just a paragraph on each type of bird. The Audobon book is a great starter book, and not only contains information on particular bird species, but also has great information on bird behavior and things you can do to encourge more visitors to your yard. I have enjoyed this book so much I just purchased it as a Christmas gift for my sister who is new to birdwatching also.

excellant book for the money.......2006-08-12

Well illustrated, informative,helpful,perfectly priced.I recomend this book to amateurs and veterans of this hobby, this is a beautiful book easily worth the money.

YOU CANNOT GO WRONG WITH THIS ONE.......2006-06-23

I have been a rather serious birder for well over fifty years now and when I first saw this book (it was a gift) I almost felt insulted...back yard birder indeed! Well, I was wrong...I admit it. I have actually enjoyed this one far more that several of the many hundred or so more technical books on the subject that inhabit my shelves. This is a wonderful quick reference and is quite well organized. I have interested grandchildern and I not when they are here, which is almost daily, they reach for this volume far more than any of the others. Sharing my passion and hobby with them is great and this work is a wonderful help tool. Recommend it highly.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Eastern Region - Revised Edition

Average customer rating:

The BEST Field Guide
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Easter Region
Excellent tool for birders!
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Eastern Region - Revised Edition
north american birds

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Eastern Region - Revised Edition
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Turtleback

General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region (Eastern)
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Eastern Region - Revised Edition (National Audubon Society Field Guide)
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National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals: (Revised and Expanded) (Audubon Society Field Guide)
The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians

ASIN: 0679428526
Release Date: 1994-09-27

Amazon.com

Covering 508 bird species found east of the Rocky Mountains, the revised second edition takes into account changes in taxonomy and uses improved photography. At the heart of the guide is a set of 646 well-made color photographs whose subjects are organized by easily discerned characteristics (e.g., "chicken-like marsh birds," such as the clapper rail; "gull-like birds," such as the kittiwake; and "upright-perching water birds," such as the common murre). The photographs are then keyed to textual descriptions of the birds' appearance, range and habitat, nesting characteristics, and behavior. Easy to use and handsomely produced, this belongs in every eastern birdwatcher's collection. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

Introduced in 1977 and completely revised in 1994, these bestselling photographic field guides have become the birding bibles of more than four million enthusiasts. Virtually every bird found in North America is brought to life in a full-color photograph and with textual information on the bird's voice, nesting habits, habitat, range, and interesting behaviors. Accompanying range maps; overhead flight silhouettes; sections on bird-watching, accidental species, and endangered birds make these the most comprehensive field guides to birds available.

Note: the Eastern Edition generally covers states east of the Rocky Mountains, while the Western Edition covers the Rocky Mountain range and all the states to the west of it.

Customer Reviews:

The BEST Field Guide.......2007-10-17

This has to be the best field guide I've ever used. It's well organized and simple enough for a beginning birder. It's also crammed full of information for the more serious ornithologist. The photos are spectacular!

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Easter Region.......2007-09-17

The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Eastern Region is the most comprehensive guide that I have enjoyed in many years. It has clear, concise pictures of the birds of my region with a written synopsis of each bird's habitat. I recommend this book to any avid bird lover! It is an awesome book!

Excellent tool for birders!.......2007-09-16

This book provides excellent descriptions of the birds' physical appearances, lots of photographs, and maps of their winter and summer range. It is small enough that you could take it out birding, and has a durable cover. You will not be disappointed!

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Eastern Region - Revised Edition.......2007-09-09

My favorite bird watching book because all the photos are organized by color of bird and variety of birds. The plentiful information is carefully correlated but is not on the page with the photos. I prefer this when I am searching for the bird in my view. Handy is size and shape for quick browsing.

I also have the rocks and minerals guide and the guide for N.American trees.

north american birds.......2007-07-14

the best, most informative,with clear photos instead of drawings as in other bird reference books.

Audubon's Birds of America: The Audubon Society Baby Elephant Folio

Average customer rating:

A Good Companion
Spectacular
Why reorganize a symphony?
Beautiful volume of audubon

Audubon's Birds of America: The Audubon Society Baby Elephant Folio
John James Audubon
Manufacturer: Abbeville Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Artists, A-Z | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1558591281

Book Description

One of Abbeville's most spectacular achievements, representing the highest standards in fine art printing, now available at a more economical price.

This marvelous edition of Audubon's Birds of America displays all 435 of Audubon's brilliant handcolored engravings in exquisite reproductions taken from the original plates of the Audubon Society's archival copy of the rare Double Elephant Folio. Although many attempts have been made to re-create the magnificent illustrations in Audubon's masterpiece, nothing equals the level of fidelity or scale achieved in this high-quality edition.

Completely reorganized and annotated by Roger Tory Peterson, who was America's best-known ornithologist, and issued with the full endorsement and cooperation of the Audubon Society, this volume is the first to rearrange the plates in a more scientific order. Peterson's fascinating introduction places Audubon in the context of the history of American ornithological art and also reproduces a wide sampling of the work of Audubon's notable predecessors and disciples, including Peterson's own justly famous paintings.

This new systematic arrangement of the prints, complete with informative commentaries about each bird, made it possible to correct many of the problems or errors in Audubon's original edition that later scholarship revealed.

Other Details: 428 full-color illustrations, 435 duotones.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Companion.......2007-07-14

Having recently read the biography of Audubon, I was very interested in seeing the actual drawings. The book I read had a few of them in black and white, but I wanted to see a larger sample in color. I decided to see if Amazon had anything and was very surprised to see that they offered all of the original drawings in color for a very small price. I realized the book would be smaller than the original life size drawings, but was a little surprised to find that the book was so small. That is my main problem with the book. Otherwise - WOW. To see these birds in all their glory in full color is just breathtaking. Furthermore, when you consider the original size, to have shrunk them down and still maintain the detail and the beauty is quite impressive. One can appreciate the drawings without having read about Audobon's struggle to create and then publish them, but I would suggest this book as a companion to a good biography of Audobon. Once you have both, his accomplishment can be fully appreciated.

Spectacular.......2005-08-02

This book is spectacular. The images are breathtaking, and the quality of their presentation is nothing short of superb. Wow!!!

Why reorganize a symphony?.......2004-11-30

Let me qualify my remarks by first saying that I have not even seen this version. I have no doubt that the printing is of the highest quality, but I have a serious reservation about the organization of this book. Audubon deliberately mixed his birds in a non-taxonomic order to maintain a freshness and an element of suprise. I recently acquired a large format copy published by Welcome Rain, which follows Audubon's original order. The effect is a delightful romp through nature, full of suprises, drama and movement. He never intended it to be a catalog with all his ducks in a row, it was to be an experience. I have seen an abridged, small format edition of his paintings arranged in the standard, dull taxonomic order of a typical field guide and the effect is nothing like seeing them in the order Audubon intended. Rearranging the plates for convenience of listers diminishes this work, and to a certain extent, is a disservice to the artist. While I am happy to see that his work remains in print and is being reproduced at very high standards, I would hope that it would be viewed as a symphony, not as a random collection of notes needing to be organized alphabetically.

Beautiful volume of audubon.......2004-07-16

If you are a birder and you collect all the great bird books, your collection is not complete until you get this. A beautiful book, contained in a hard case, with excellent printing. A steal at $250 at its original price, now knocked down between $125 to $185. Get this book! A great tribute to Peterson and Audubon.

The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds

Average customer rating:

The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds
John K. Terres
Manufacturer: Wings
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior

ASIN: 0517032880
Release Date: 1995-09-27

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Western Region - Revised Edition (National Audubon Society Field Guide)

Average customer rating:

an overall decent field guide
Best Bird book on the market
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Western Region - Revised Edition (National Audubon Society Field G
Western Audubon Guide
species misidentified

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Western Region - Revised Edition (National Audubon Society Field Guide)
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Turtleback

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National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region - Revised Edition (National Audubon Society Field Guide)
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National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals: (Revised and Expanded) (Audubon Society Field Guide)
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders (Audubon Society Field Guide)

ASIN: 0679428518
Release Date: 1994-09-27

Amazon.com

A favorite of birdwatchers (especially those who prefer photographs to illustrations), this field guide, revised for 2000, accounts for the 544 bird species that live in the region west of the Great Plains. The clearly printed color photographs capture birds at rest and in flight; preceded by black-and-white silhouettes, the plates are organized by visually based, intuitive categories--"hawk-like birds," "pigeon-like birds," and "perching birds," for example--that make on-the-fly identification a fairly simple matter. The images are matched by clearly written text that describes a given bird, gives an approximation of its voice, and details its habitat, range, nests, and behavior. Sized to fit in a jacket or backpack pocket, this is a valuable companion for any birding outing in the region. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

Introduced in 1977 and completely revised in 1994, these bestselling photographic field guides have become the birding bibles of more than four million enthusiasts. Virtually every bird found in North America is brought to life in a full-color photograph and with textual information on the bird's voice, nesting habits, habitat, range, and interesting behaviors. Accompanying range maps; overhead flight silhouettes; sections on bird-watching, accidental species, and endangered birds make these the most comprehensive field guides to birds available.

Note: the Western Edition covers the Rocky Mountain range and all the states to the west of it, while the Eastern Edition generally covers states east of the Rocky Mountains.

Customer Reviews:

an overall decent field guide.......2007-05-30

As a general all round guide, this book is helpful and has a place in any naturalists library. The color plates are the best of all the bird guides.
The index cross-references the color plates with the descriptions making it pretty staightforward. The cover is a durable leatherette, the binding pretty good (although the color plates will loosen up with use). The Audubon guides are definitely a step up from the Peterson and Stokes guides.

Now for the criticisms. The descriptions are far too brief and vague. An example: for the Cooper's Hawk, the voice description is:

"A rapid series:kek kek kek kek kek". Mmmm . . . Doesn't help much . . .

The summary is also 3 sentences long . . . c'mon, did the editors get tired here or what?

The descriptions throughout are not much more detailed than this, especially the voice descriptions. And trying to print out the phonetics/sound of a birdsong has always seemed pretty futile to me anyway; the most effective way of learning the signature of a bird's song is to listen to a recording.

Except for overhead photos of most of the raptors, there are almost no flying photos of all the other birds. I think this could be a much needed additon to any future editions. Feather identification is a big part of birding.

All in all though, this is the first guide I turn to when I need to know.

Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts

Best Bird book on the market.......2007-01-13

My wife and I have been using the Easten Region Field Guide for years and found it to be the best. We recently moved to the western area and quickly realized that we needed the Western Edition. A great book for birders.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Western Region - Revised Edition (National Audubon Society Field G.......2007-01-11

Very good graphics and copy. Durable too.

Western Audubon Guide.......2006-11-10

A good book to take with you because of it's size but, to me, the photos of the birds are lacking. Although they do accurately display the bird they are lacking in detail and often, to us, don't show alternate views for better comparison and easier indentification.

species misidentified.......2006-01-04

I regret that I cannot recommend this book because it contains easily caught errors.

I suppose that misinformation in the text is not so important. Still, on p. 21 the book claims that "Every bird has a scientific name consisting of two Greek or Latin words." The author of this book, Prof. M. Udvardy, was a respected ornithologist who would never make such a mistake, so either it happened in the revision by J. Farrand or is due to an ignorant copy editor.

Much, much worse is the misidentification of photos, which of course is the heart of this field guide. For example, photo #172 purports to be a Pacific Loon in winter plumage, but as any birder worth his/her salt can see, this is clearly a Common Loon. Likewise, photo #175 is labeled Common Loon, and the bird shown is clearly not of this species.

A field guide should be 100% accurate in species identifications and also not promulgate misinformation about scientific nomenclature. With many alternatives on the market, this is a book not to buy.

--Jack P. Hailman (Fellow, American Ornithologists' Union and President, Florida Ornithological Society).

A Field Guide to the Birds: Of Eastern and Central North America (Peterson Field Guides)

Average customer rating:

Excellent resource
Quality Through and Through
The birder's bible
Excellent beginner book for myself and my sister.
Excellent guide to identification of birds.

A Field Guide to the Birds: Of Eastern and Central North America (Peterson Field Guides)
Roger Tory Peterson Institute
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin (P)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Birds | Field Guides | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

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Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Birds, Large Format Edition

ASIN: 039526619X

Customer Reviews:

Excellent resource.......2007-06-25

My grandma originally owned a copy of this book and regularly noted sightings of interesting/rare species. I bought my own copy several years ago and it has proved quite useful. The most interesting example was a Java Sparrow sighted in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I couldn't find out what it was from searching around online, but looking in the back of this field guide, under foreign/introduced species, there it was.

Quality Through and Through.......2005-10-11

I received this book as a gift and have used it constantly. I keep it on my window sill during the feeding season to identify the visiters to my feeder. The book's size and physical construction are excellent. As someone who is a novice it seems to be very comprehensive on the subject matter.

The birder's bible.......2005-07-19

Even when I lived in the city, I liked to feed and watch the birds (mainly sparrows and pigeons). Now that we live up in the woods, we're in bird paradise. Using this Peterson Field Guide for "Eastern Birds" plus a good pair of binoculars for visual identifications, and the "Birding by Ear Eastern/Central" CDs (Richard K. Walton and Robert W. Lawson) I've identified 42 species of birds in just over a month, as a casual observer for the Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas II project.

I have other bird books, but it is Peterson's Field Guide that I use most frequently. Roger Tory Peterson's 'system' "is based on patternistic drawings with arrows that pinpoint the key field marks." You don't have to have the bird in hand in order to make an identification. In addition to 136 full-color plates of Eastern birds (male, female, and immature, or summer and winter plumage if they differ markedly), there are also 390 three-color maps (first introduced in the 1980 edition).

The maps are absolutely essential for an amateur like me. If I've narrowed down a blurry little gray bird to X and Y, and Y never makes it north of the Mason-Dixon Line, I can be pretty certain that the bird is X. Here's an actual example on the utility of the maps: I was trying to distinguish a trilling song that could either belong to the Swamp Sparrow, the Pine Warbler, or the Northern Junco. We do see Juncos at our feeders in the winter, but this is July and according to Peterson's map, the Juncos spend the summer north of here, mostly in Canada. So I've narrowed the trill down to the Swamp Sparrow or the Pine Warbler (actually I'm positive we've got both as I've made tentative visual identifications. It makes sense since we live in the Pine Barrens which is dotted with numerous swamps).

This book begins with a generalized introduction to identifying birds by shape, distinctive features and behavior. Physically, it is tightly bound and just the right size to slip into a backpack. The pages are glossy and 'relatively' waterproof if you wipe them quickly dry. There is even a 'life list' up front where you can check off the birds you have seen.

Don't go birding without it.

Excellent beginner book for myself and my sister........1999-04-26

The Peterson field Guide to Eastern American Birds turned out to be the best birding book I've ever read. The book was well thought out and had the format that we needed in our suburban environment. The illustrations were concise and made identifying the birds extremely easy. We have a large population of Red-Winged Blackbirds and Mourning Doves, and its great to actually know what in the world we were looking at. It was great!

Excellent guide to identification of birds........1998-05-13

This is the best of the field guides for the amature birder in my opinion. I purchased a guide that had actual photos of birds in their habitats, thinking it would be the best, but it definately was not as good or as easy to use as the Peterson field guide. If you are looking for a good all around field guide to keep near your binoculars, this one is my pick.

The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians

Average customer rating:

time for an informational update
Reptiles and Amphibians Field Guide
Good For Wilderness Getaways
good for casual use
Edition needs refining.

The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Turtleback

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
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National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Fishes
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region (Eastern)

ASIN: 0394508246
Release Date: 1979-11-12

Book Description

Why are some frogs able to freeze solid and still survive? How can secretions from amphibians offer scientists clues for treating human ailments? What allows reptiles and amphibians to regenerate their limbs? Reptiles & Amphibians, an exciting new Explore Your World™ handbook, incorporates the Discovery Channel's unique authoritative approach and acclaimed visuals to answer these and other questions in a captivating blend of information and entertainment.

Reptiles & Amphibians features:
¸ Background information on evolution, anatomy, physiology, habitats, and life cycles of a range of reptile and amphibian families.
¸ A detailed look at how reptiles and amphibians survive-how they eat, move around, defend themselves, and combat temperature extremes.
¸ Examinations of metamorphosis, growth and longevity, and vocalization techniques.
¸ Practical advice on how to responsibly study reptiles and amphibians in the wild or care for them as pets.
¸ An identification guide to more than 160 of the most fascinating herpetological species from around the world, organized by environment.
¸ More than 300 full-color photos and illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

time for an informational update.......2007-09-30

As with all the Audubon field guides, the strong enduring points are the quality of the photos; the durable binding and leatherette cover; and the index that is organized and cross-referenced to the photos.

The descriptions are pretty staight forward; but, the summaries are woefully inadequate, even when this book was current. The anatomy, life cycle, and habitats are discussed for each species, albeit vaguely.

In the eventuality that there is an update . . . the details need to be fleshed out more; the range and distribution maps made more concise; and the descriptions of new species discovered plus expanded summations of each species would correct the deficiencies.

This field guide still has its place in the naturalists library, if only for the quality of the photos. For better information, however, you may want to look at the Peterson's guide.

Extracts: A Field Guide for Iconoclasts

The Cloud Reckoner

Reptiles and Amphibians Field Guide.......2007-01-05

I love these books and can't say anything else than that!

Good For Wilderness Getaways.......2006-09-23

Though I agree with others a revision is long overdue, and there have been a few new species discovered over the years; namely salamanders. I still find it quite helpful though, in identifying the lizard that just ran across the trail, or for that possible snake sighting. And as bad as my eyes are (Keratoconus), yes the maps could be larger, but I don't find them particularly hard to read. Except for certain species that have very small and restricted ranges. Then finding the little dot can be near impossible. Beautiful photographs. Gives one a better appreciation of these animals; that, along with years of watching the "Crocodile Hunter" God rest his soul.

good for casual use.......2005-03-07

I have a soft spot for these Audubon guides because the first field guide I ever owned was an Audubon, and it got a lot of use. However, I currently use the Peterson Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, and I have found that it is easier to use, and more descriptive than this one. There are two main reasons for this:
1) The Peterson guide has a brief description of each animal on the page facing the image of the animal and points out, sometimes with the aid of small arrows, the most useful identifying characteristics. Like the Audubon guide, it also has a page number you can flip to for more details about the life history etc.
2) The distribution maps in these Audubon guides are fairly small and vague, while the Peterson has a separate section for maps in the back that are much larger and more accurate. Of course it's impossible to say exactly what the range of almost any animal is, but I feel that this Audubon guide definitely has room for improvement. I do enjoy the photography, though; the Peterson uses illustrations, some of which are black and white.

Edition needs refining........2004-07-11

The contemporary edition of the Audubon Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians is decades old. Though it covers many species of snakes, salamanders, newts, etc., it is underrated because of the lack of updating. Some species names are known to be out of date, or invalid. However, even this cannot override the true quality of all the Audubon guides, including this book. Even though a newly revised and updated edition is way overdue, it still presents spectacular photographs of various species. The system is the same, with the description in the back of the book. The Audubon Guide to Weather has been revised and updated over the years and hopefully, this one will be also.

Birds (National Audubon Society First Field Guides)

Average customer rating:

Love it!
Fell Apart the First Day!
An excellent guide despite areas for improvement.

Birds (National Audubon Society First Field Guides)
Scott Weindensaul
Manufacturer: Scholastic Reference
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Insects: Insects (Audubon Guides)
National Audubon Society First Field Guide Mammals (National Audubon Society First Field Guide)
Reptiles (National Audubon Society First Field Guide)
Trees (National Audubon Society First Field Guide)
Wildflowers (National Audubon Society First Field Guide)

ASIN: 0590054821

Amazon.com

This book is part of a series of guides designed for adolescents interested in natural history and nature. The books are an excellent introduction to the Rocks and Minerals, Birds, Wildflowers, and Insects for children aged 8-18. Each guide is appropriately sized to fit in a field vest pocket. Readers who remember previous versions of these field guides from the 1970s that were dull and overly detailed will be pleasantly surprised. These books are arguably the most beautifully photographed and laid out field guides yet published for young people. Each book has an introductory section filled with interesting facts, descriptions of early naturalists, definitions of many of the terms used in the book, and a guide to using the field guide portion of the book. Best of all, the books also come equipped with laminated field "cheat sheet" cards, for quick identification while on the go, in any kind of weather. Each field guide features 50 common species with photos and brief descriptions of many more regionally occurring birds. Brief discussions of threatened and endangered species are particularly valuable. Great first guides for children and adults with limited natural history background.

The guide has excellent photographs and descriptions of common birds, and a few that are not so common. The photos have enough detail to distinguish tail patterns, eye patches and other features. Many national field guides are often East coast-centric, but this bird book would be very useful in all regions of the United States. An excellent beginning birder guidebook, for children and adults. --Merri Martz

Customer Reviews:

Love it!.......2007-10-13

I love this little book. It is so simple compared to the more extensive versions we have (where you can't find what you're looking for because of the sheer number of birds in the book). Some of the pics in this book are even better than our other bird field guides that cost way more money. It is simple yet provides several alternate photos to give enough info on similar species. I am very pleased with it and look forward to using with the kids for many years to come. Great price, too!

Fell Apart the First Day!.......2005-08-09

The content of this book is great, but the binding is JUNK! The whole purpose of a field guide is for it to be a handy reference tool you can flip through frequently. Too bad we now have to shuffle through a pile of loose pages to get at the information. Big disappointment.

An excellent guide despite areas for improvement........1999-07-11

This is, as the professional reviews profess, indeed a much more appropriate book for younger readers than the more encyclopedic, primarily textual guides on the market. The majority of hte book is devoted to a field guide of 50 different common North American birds organized by general shape and habitat (wading birds, ground birds, hawks & eagles, etc.). Each bird is shown in a large color photograph with two or three other similar species given smaller thumbnail photos and descriptions (adding another 125 birds). Although the guide does a good job of providing useful annotations by way or a map showing range and habitat by season, an identification capsul providing details useful in identifying the bird, and a bit about its behavior and diet, it misses two obvious points of interest, particularly to younger readers: a picture of a nest with eggs and a photo or graphic of a feather. Explorers coming across a nest or feathers and wondering what bird made it will find the guide of minimal assistance. Generally, a book well worth it. Hopefully, the next edition will be even better.

The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 (Awards))

Average customer rating:

Breathtaking!
A survey of his pioneering observational techniques
Bird Lovers Take Note!
An Exquisite Marriage of Art and Text
Spectacular!

The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 (Awards))
Jacqueline Davies
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein (Bccb Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award (Awards))
The Flower Hunter: William Bartram, America's First Naturalist (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 (Awards))
Carmine: A Little More Red (New York Times Best Illustrated Books (Awards))
Eliza and the Dragonfly (Ira Children's Book Awards. Primary)
One Small Place in a Tree (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 (Awards))

ASIN: 0618243437

Book Description

John James Audubon was a boy who loved the out-of-doors more than the in. He was a boy who believed in studying birds in nature, not just from books. And, in the fall of 1804, he was a boy determined to learn if the small birds nesting near his Pennsylvania home really would return the following spring. This book reveals how the youthful Audubon pioneered a technique essential to our understanding of birds. Capturing the early passion of America's greatest painter of birds, this story will leave young readers listening intently for the call of birds large and small near their own homes.

Customer Reviews:

Breathtaking!.......2005-03-18

My 5 children,ranging in age from 3-11 years,were absolutely captivated by this book. The author tells the story of a young John James Audubon and the illustrator brings the story alive thru rich mediums. This book is a perfect stepping stone to a variety of unit studies.

A survey of his pioneering observational techniques.......2005-01-03

John James Audubon loved nature and the outdoors as a child, and was determined to study birds in the wild rather than from books even as early as 1804. Jacqueline Davies' lively story of his youth and pioneering attitude will reach grades 3-6 with an excellent survey of his pioneering observational techniques. Drawings by Melissa Sweet provide lovely accompaniment to the story of the naturalist's early years.

Bird Lovers Take Note!.......2004-12-17

I loved reading this beautiful book with my nieces and nephew. There's so much to look at in the illustrations, and the writing flows naturally like the countryside Audubon explored. Children will be inspired to conduct their own investigations in the outside world after reading this. Each time you read this book, you find new things to look at and words to enjoy.

An Exquisite Marriage of Art and Text.......2004-12-16

Like a bird's song, the lyrical text by Jacqueline Davies is both simple and rich with undertones--the repetition of pattern, the careful selection of noun and verb, the staccato rhythm interspersed with longer musical lines. Paired with the exquisite collage art of Melissa Sweet, it is a perfect marriage. Children will love to pour over the tiny details in the illustrations. Teachers will revel in the biographical details of the text. All readers will come away with a feeling of enormous admiration for John James Audubon, whose passion gave the world so much knowledge and beauty.

Spectacular!.......2004-12-16

The Boy Who Drew Birds is one of those rare picture books that appeals to all ages. Young collectors will marvel when reading that Audubon's "Every shelf, every tabletop, every spare inch of floor, was covered with nests and eggs and tree branches and pebbles and lichen and feathers and stuffed birds . . ." Young artists may be shocked to discover that each year, on his birthday, John James removed the drawings on his wall that he had completed in the past 12 months, and burned them in the fireplace. All will be inspired by Audubon's inquisitiveness, his exploration of bird habits, and his ability to follow his passions (not to mention Melissa Sweet's amazing art). A beautifully written, gorgeous book!

Catesby's Birds of Colonial America (Fred W Morrison Series in Southern Studies)

Average customer rating:

Catesby's Birds of Colonial America (Fred W Morrison Series in Southern Studies)
Alan Feduccia , and Russell W. Peterson
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Artists, A-Z | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Mark Catesby"s Natural History Of America
Empire's Nature: Mark Catesby's New World Vision (Omohundro Institute of Early American History & Culture)

ASIN: 0807848166
Release Date: 1999-02-10

Book Description

With this lovely and informative volume, Alan Feduccia preserves the pathbreaking work of Mark Catesby, the English naturalist and illustrator who founded natural history and bird art in America. First published by UNC Press in 1985, the book features all 109 bird illustrations, 20 color plates, and the entire text from Catesby's pioneering Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahamas. Annotating Catesby's writings from a modern perspective, Feduccia discusses the perception of each species during the Colonial period, comments on its habits, and compares Catesby's observations with those of such other early naturalists as John White, John Lawson, Alexander Wilson, and John James Audubon.

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