Guide to Backyard Birds - Softcover

Mancini, Julie R.; Higdon, Pam

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0764126873 ISBN 13: 9780764126871

Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Inc, 2004

Synopsis

This entertaining and informative book is a primer for bird watchers—both those who trek the countryside armed with binoculars and camera, as well as those less nimble nature lovers who merely keep a bird feeder near their kitchen window. Supplemented with color photos and illustrations, this book gives pointers on how to identify birds by plumage and shape, how to select appropriate binoculars and spotting scopes, the best times of day to watch for birds, and how to recognize and interpret birdsĀ' activities. There is also information on feeding birds, making a backyard attractive to birds, building bird houses and nest boxes, and much more. Supplementary information includes a list of rare-bird hotline phone numbers, web sites that offer information on wild birds, and a recommended reading list. Hundreds of color photos and illustrations.

About this title

From the Back Cover

[back cover]


Whether you trek the countryside with binoculars and camera or observe avian

activity from your kitchen window or patio, you’ll discover a wealth of information about birds and their traits in this entertaining book. You’ll also find advice on feeding birds, making your backyard attractive to birds, building bird houses and nest boxes, and much more. Colorful regional charts for both the United States and Canada will help you pinpoint information about birds in the area where you live A list of rare-bird hotline phone numbers, Web sites that offer information on wild birds, and a recommended reading list are among the many other features that make this book must-reading for every bird watcher.

Reviews

Bird watching, already vastly popular, is one of the fastest-growing outdoor activities in the U.S. Higdon and Mancini, both avid birders, writers and former editors of birding magazines, aim for maximum coverage in this sweeping survey with an exhaustive array of topics including basic anatomy, birding vocabulary, prime locations, feeding, pests, bird behavior, habitat, nesting and much more. Their geographic range is equally far-reaching. "Regional information features" provide lists of local bird species and migrants for 13 Canadian provinces and nine U.S. regions (although New England migrants are unaccountably absent). Of necessity, this mile-wide approach sharply limits the depth of discussion, resulting in a true beginner's guide. The elementary nature of the simply written text is reinforced by a layout with large type, bright graphic devices and many color photographs and illustrations. All this would provide an ideal introduction to birding for young children if the reading level were consistent with the rudimentary level of information. Unfortunately, it isn't. Adults who use this book to pique children's interest in birds will have to spend considerable time reading, explaining and elaborating on the material. That makes it suitable as a teacher's (or parent's) guide, but not as a read-alone book that invites independent discovery.
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Edition details

• Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Inc
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0764126873
• ISBN 13: 9780764126871
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Earle-Bridges Michele
• Number of pages: 198