1 comments about Build Your Own Aviary: A Birdkeeper's Guide to Design and Construction.

1. I've had a hard time finding anything written on how to constuct a small aviary. I've built 2 small aviaries with the help and assistance of this book.
   It confused me a little in the actual steps but I was able to figure out just how to make a module. That was the whole key for me to build the entire aviary. I just needed the few pictures(line drawings) and to be able to understand at least some of the instructions and I was successful.
   I've built 2 small aviaries and am thinking of building another.
   I just want more designs so I'm looking for more info too.
   There is construction of feeders and birdboxes also.

2 comments about The Complete Book of Austrailian Finches.

1. Lots of good pictures, great introduction to many of the Australian finches and their compability. Care, breeding, health, etc.



2. The book is a good guide, available with suitable photographs.
   However , a detailed feature on goldian finches , especially a chapter devoted exclusively to the breeding of gouldian finches would have been better. The book has enabled me to give the right light and shade conditions plus food supplements to finches. So far I have successfuly bred society finches and have even placed goldian eggs in society finches' nest.Results still awaited. But contrary to the fact that gouldians feed their first clutch , I wish to pinpoint that though a chick did hatch successfully from the initial clutch , the parent birds made no effort to look after it. This is in total contradiction to the details given in the book.

1 comments about Making Mobile Hen Houses (Golden Cockerel).

1. This is a good book. I have built two of the coops in this book. The only thing is I wish there were a supplies list. Other than that there are really some imaginative coops in this book.

5 comments about Australian Parakeet Handbook, The New (New Pet Handbooks).

1. I recently got my first Red Rump parakeet. Ordered this book to get good basic information on care and such. Felt it was a good basis all around book for all Australian parakeets. Went into many types of the Australian keets.



2. The only reason I gave this book 3 stars is because I simply looked through it briefly. I ordered it for a friend of mine who has a Pale-headed Rosella. I assume she finds it helpful. Sorry I couldn't be more specific!



3. THE NEW AUSTRALIAN PARAKEET HANDBOOK by Matthew Vriends, is a relatively technical volume covering "everything about purchase, housing, care, nutrition, behavior, breeding and disease' and a special chapter on `understanding the Australian Parakeet'
   
   Ever wonder where that blue or yellow budgie you own fits into the larger scheme of the Parakeet world? This book won't tell you. NAPH describes the whereabouts of selected parakeets native to Australia, not `Melopsittacus undulatus. You won't find `Budgies' in the index either, and the `Grass Parakeet is not the Budgie according to this book.
   
   Vriends book covers the so-called `broad tailed parakeets' ornamental birds you might encounter on a field trip and want to breed yourself, could you catch a pair. Vriends Includes descriptions of Nymphicus hollandicus known to most of us as the`Cockatiel' and he also writes about lesser known species such as Rosellas, Ring-necks and Red-rumped Parakeets, as well as the Yellow-vented Blue Bonnet parakeet which must be a sight to see in the wild. Vriends book is really a breeding and "birding" book comparable to those published by the Smithsonian on captive breeding programs for `threatened' birds held in captivity and/or finding them in their threatened habitats, and would make a good companion on your next trip through Australia to search the bush and back roads. In fact, one great shot shows an old guy with camper in the background, feeding a wild flock of Australian King Parrots with bright red heads (could this be the author?). The book includes many photos with poor captions and plenty of black and white drawings which I find offputting when trying to determine which species might be lurking on the fence post yonder.



4. This was one of the very few books that covered to any degree the rare species of bird that I recently purchased.

   I have also seen this title in a highly respected local bird farm library.

   Highly recommended for not extensive information on each breed, but short summaries on about every breed of Australian parakeet you need to know about.




5. Dr. Vriends is one of the formost authorities on birds, and this book is an excellent example of his knowledge in unusual species. It covers all Australian parakeets that are usually kept, and is currently the most comprehensive guide to these interesting beauties. Highly recommend this book for all who own or are considering owning Australian broad and long tailed parakeets.

3 comments about The Cockatiel: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet (Your Happy Healthy Pet).

1. This book is informative and well set out. Looking up a paticular part is easy. It has good pictures and is easy to read. It needs to expand a little more in the illness section as when my bird was ill, the symptons did not match any in the book. It is a good book for kids to start with as it goes through care of a cockatiel, diet and general day to day concerns. If you have a sick bird, another book on the shelf is recommended.



2. This book is not just for owners of cockatiels.

   When I first bought my pet tiel, this book was very helpful in discussing all the elements of owning a new cockatiel.

   Ms. Rach does a very nice job of outlining all the necessary steps in making sure your tile is healthy and happy.

   Various chapters in the book include nutrition, training, taming, purchasing, health, diagnosing sickness, cockatiel behavior and other helpful chapters.

   The book is enjoyable to read as Ms.Rach draws from her love and experience in raising these wonderful birds.

   What is distinguishing about her book and other books is her style of writing. You can really tell that she really loves these particular birds.

   The book does not delve into the subjects of breeding or other heavy duty bird type topics such as formulating your own bird seed diet, etc. But if you are a new cockatiel owner who needs a good basic book about how to take care of your bird, I would recommend this book to you.




3. This book is good, It dosen't talk to much on one topic, however it does talk about almost everything such as feeding, behaviour, history, taming (training) and more. However if you want a more usefull book that tells you what to do and how this isn't the book for you.

5 comments about Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds.

1. Scott Weidensaul writes precisely and eloquently about bird migration in "Living on the Wind", which was a nominated finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2000. In what is "perhaps the most compelling drama in all of natural history", an estimated 5 billion birds migrate annually, across continents and oceans, some without stopping to rest or eat for thousands of miles. Weidensaul tells us why birds migrate and how. He paints a picture of these extraordinary journeys and the birds that make them in North, Central, and South America. As some migrating birds are in crisis due to loss of habitat and disturbances in their breeding, stopover, and wintering grounds, the author examines the current threats to migrants and the controversies over their nature and significance.
   
   In three parts -Southbound, Hiatus, and Northbound- "Living on the Wind" examines the journeys of migratory birds, regales us with incredible stories of a variety of species, and tells us where they go and how they live in their wintering grounds. Weidensaul has endured the cold of Monterey Bay, tromped through Jamaica's acacia forests, counted the massive migration through Veracruz with blistered thumb, banded hawks in Argentina, stood in the midst of a "fallout" near the Gulf coast, and generally traversed North and South America to see and understand migrants. He recounts his experiences with a wonder and drama that made me long to visit some of these places myself.
   
   We also learn of birds that stay in their frigid climates, irruptive species that migrate only occasionally, birds who migrate south to wintry Vermont, and some species for whom habitat transformation has meant overpopulation, such as snow geese and Canada geese. I found especially fascinating the discussions of how migratory birds navigate, differences in the needs and fates of neotropical migrants and resident birds that co-exist in the same habitats, and the very preventable threats to migrants, such as feral cats. I was struck by how much has been learned about migrants in the past couple of decades through new technologies and broader study, but also by how difficult it is to pin down definitive data about these itinerant creatures. "Living on the Wind" is a treasure trove of information for birdlovers and thoroughly enjoyable for a general audience as well.



2. _Living on the Wind_ by Scott Weidensaul is a very ambitious book, one in which the author tried to convey both the science and the drama of bird migration in the Western Hemisphere, traveling for six years from Alaska to Argentina and speaking to experts as well as viewing close up an amazing variety of birds from the Arctic tundra to Central American rain forests.
   
   The book is divided into three sections. "Southbound" focused on the fall migration as well as topics on migration in general.
   
   Weidensaul stressed that one shouldn't view migration as moving away from something unpleasant, such as the cold, but rather as moving towards something beneficial, mainly an area where food is plentiful. Viewing migration as a simply north-south issue clearly shows a North American bias; birds in southern South America fly north to their wintering grounds, tropical birds fly relatively short distances but on migrations nonetheless in response to among other things the ripening of fruits or the blossoming of flowers, and many ocean birds undergo complex and intricate perambulations of entire oceans on an annual basis (the greater shearwater breeds in the South Atlantic but covers a 13,000 mile route every nine months, a route that includes going up past South America to Canada, then over to Europe in autumn, and then returning down the coast of Africa). Not all North American birds winter in the Americas; the bristle-thighed curlew nests in western Alaska but winters as much as 5,000 miles away in such Pacific islands as Tahiti, while the bar-tailed godwit winters 6,800 miles away from its Alaskan home in New Zealand (flying nonstop for up to five days).
   
   The reader learns some birds are "complete migrants" (they entirely vacate their breeding grounds at the end of nesting season) and some are "partial migrants" (a portion of the population remains year-round). Most birds other than hawks migrate at night, partially to avoid predators (like hawks), to free up daytime hours for finding food, because the atmosphere is less turbulent at night, and because the chillier and damper night air can help cool overheated migrating birds and work to stem moisture loss. Thanks to human activity, many birds winter farther north than they once did, whether due to backyard birdfeeders in the case of finches or specially maintained refuges for waterfowl; this phenomenon is known as "shortstopping."
   
   The author spent a good deal of time discussing how birds find their way on migrations. A fascinating discussion, migration involves a genetic program, a time of migratory restlessness when the daylight diminishes to a certain point and the urge to fly in a certain direction sets in, coupled in some species with a innate time-distance or time-and-direction (or vector navigation) program, a set of genetic instructions that instruct the bird to fly a certain direction for a specific length of time, change heading, and then precede on another for a preset period of time. Those directions are determined mainly by celestial and magnetic orientation but research has shown that infrasound (extremely low-frequency waves of the sort generated by ocean surf, which can travel for thousands of miles) may play a role as well.
   
   Modifying this program though are a "hierarchy of orientation clues," which serve to refine a bird's navigation on subsequent flights, often enabling a bird to find specific breeding and wintering grounds with stunning accuracy. Clues such as learning geographic landmarks, olfactory, infrasound, and local magnetic clues help the migrating bird.
   
   The second section, "Hiatus," focused on birds and their wintering grounds, from stay-at-home year-round resident birds alongside frozen Hudson Bay to birds of steamy rainforests and the Argentine pampas. Many birds like warblers and tanagers really are tropical birds to begin with; an oriole might spend four months in its temperate breeding range but seven months in the tropics, while some Canadian warblers spend less than three months there. Some birds migrate only as far south as southern Canada or the northern U.S. to winter. Others, such as the northern finches, follow an erratic and very unpredictable pattern of migration known as an irruption, a pattern tied to seed production in their normal range that in bad years may send birds as far south as the Gulf Coast.
   
   The author discussed research on how faithful birds are to their wintering sites, debates over whether or not they are benefited by disturbed habitat, how flexible they are on their wintering grounds with regards to food and habitat, and how some species have completely different diets and habits on their wintering grounds (in some species the males and females will winter in different areas).
   
   Threats to wintering birds were well discussed, covering such topics as the use of pesticides in Latin American countries (tens of thousands of Swainson's hawks have died from pesticides in Argentina), habitat destruction, changes in coffee-growing practices (shade-grown coffee plantations still have a great deal of habitat for birds but sun-coffee or technified farms are "biological deserts"), and disease (wetland destruction has forced waterfowl and shorebirds into overloaded federal and state refuges, what one researcher called "bird ghettos").
   
   The third section, "Northbound," tracked the surge of migrants through the American Southwest, Great Plains, and the Gulf Coast. Topics of discussion often center on threats to migrating birds, including loss of hardwood forests along the Gulf Coast, a vital source of nutrients for migrating birds (increasingly usurped by industrialized pine plantations and beach homes), the loss of native grassland (a trend that is "nearly apocalyptic;" Iowa only has one-tenth of one percent left, while Minnesota has one percent left) which has caused grassland birds to decline faster, longer, and over a wider area than any other type, and the tremendous threats to breeding woodland birds due to forest fragmentation, opening up formerly deep woods to predators such as cats and also cowbirds, which are rapidly expanding their ranges and numbers and are a huge threat to eastern birds with no experience with brood parasites.



3. The detail and fluidity of this book amazes me. The author's passion for his love of birds shines through on every page. It's a work of love.
   
   I didn't begin to "bird" until my days in New Jersey (2000-2004) when I'd drive to the beautiful Jersey Shore and watch water fowl and migratory eagles, falcons and osprey nest along the banks of the braggish waters. I've been fascinated by raptors ever since, and the chapter "River of Hawks" had me longing for more.
   
   The author traveled all over North and South America, mixing in some travelogue with his more scientific paragraphs. His descriptions of Patagonia, AZ (p. 59) and Monterey, CA (p. 93) were right on target even for the non-birder.
   
   The time he spent researching, traveling, meeting with locals is astounding. He traveled to Mexico, Argentinia, Alaska, Canada, Jamaica and various places within the United States to watch the birds himself.
   
   The book ends on a melancholy note, citing the need to preserve and conserve what natural habitat we have left in the world, not just for our feathered friends, but for fish and humans. No work on nature would be complete without a passage of hope that natural nesting areas and a habitat free of toxins will prevail.
   
   This book is a must-read. Like a few other reviewers have stated, my only recommendation would be perhaps a picture, even a black-white picture, of the many birds mentioned in this book.



4. The information on bird migration is absolutely engrossing. However, the language Weidensaul uses is even more enjoyable. I kept the computer dictionary next to me while reading the book to check the beautiful language used to describe bird behavior and their habitats. This book is inspiring and thought provoking even for non-birders like me (I am likely classified as a computer geek).



5. If you enjoy nature reading you will love this book. I am not a birder, but nevertheless found this book to be an eloquent and fascinating read. Weidensaul introduces and explores a world that occurs around us every day but that few of us know anything about. He writes extremely well. Overall, a wonderful book.

5 comments about The Parrot in Health and Illness: An Owner's Guide.

1. Although a useful book on parrot illnesses, it was a great shame and disappointment that the book was all in black and white. there were no colour pictures or photographs. once again a real disappointment!



2. Everyone with a parrot should have this book.

   Someday I want to get a hardcore book on avian medicine.
   Until then, this book is great, and at an accessible price.
   A really good job. My only criticism might be the figures
   which seem to be in a world unto themselves, and not in close
   synch with the text in the books. Not that they aren't
   interesting or informative, they just aren't integrated
   with the rest of the book.

   My real objection is the leadin from Amazon.com saying that

   birds are popular because they need so little care. What
   nonsense, and pity the birds kept by people who believe it!




3. There have been so many advances in avian medicine over the years that it's hard to keep up. This book is a valuable guide for all parrot lovers, and owners, who want to know the latest in avian medicine. In these eight chapters Doane covers in great detail everything you need to know to better take care of your companion parrot. There are chapters on picking an Avian Veterinarian, knowing the signs of a Well Bird and a Sick Bird, using proper first aid in the event of accidents, disease problems, avian surgery and there's even a chapter on dealing with the loss when a bird dies.

   This is the first in a series of books authored by Bonnie Doane, and it is excellent. It is a must that you have this in your personal library. There is also an excellent glossary included, and appendix on medications. Be sure to check out her other books, "My Parrot, My Friend", and "The Pleasure of Their Company." Highly Recommended!!!




4. When my scarlet macaw needed surgery, this book helped alleviate the concerns I had about the process. The communication between owner and avian vet is enhanced by the information presented by Ms. Doane. This is one of my favorite books in my bird-related library.



5. An excellent book. Gives you an insight to what a vet would look for. An excellent companion to "My parrot, my friend".

1 comments about The Complete Book of Canaries.

1. This book is arranged alphabetically to allow the rapid access of any information about canaries. Dodwell is an expert fancier who has been instrumental in re-establishing some of the old canary breeds in Britain. The book is richly illustrated with official breed standard sketches published by the CONFEDERATION ORNITHOLOGIQUE MONDIALE, modern photographs, and vintage Victorian canary breed illustrations. With very indepth and accurate information,this book will be of value to hobyists as well as lovers of interesting books.

No comments about Birds of Prey: Health and Disease.

3 comments about Conures As a New Pet (Tu-028).

1. ...the author of this book was the just publisher's secretary...the publisher is Herb Axelrod and under cross-examination during litigation against him Ms. Barrie said whenever Axelrod assigned her to do a book she just went to the library for references and then spent a week writing each one...testifying under oath she couldn't even tell the plaintiff's lawyer what a conure was!!...Axelrod ultimately was sentenced to 18 months in prison for tax evasion and Ms. Barrie is now working as a dental hygienist...I'd be careful about taking advice from any of her books.



2. This book was well written, provided pictures, and can generally educate the individual that is considering a conure as a pet. The information is broad, not nearly as focused on single companion bird situations as I would have liked. But, still a good educational and informative source.



3. this book is great!! myself i have a gold caped conure she is the greatest pet on earth! she is my bestest friend in the world this book told me about how these birds are with other people and the owners gold caped conure was the best one shure enough it was right!! and she is priceless she is the greatest im glad i chose her! thanks to this book i have her!!