1 comments about Loon voice of the wilderness.

1. I have owned this book for many years. It opened my fascination with this most interesting bird. Although it is illustrated rather than having color photographs, the illustrations are excellent. Most important, it is the most informative text I have found before or since. I would definitely recommend it to anyone with a passion and interest in loons.

2 comments about Birding Illinois.

1. Every state should have a bird-finding guide this good! The author has done a superb job in presenting not only some of the more well-known Illinois birding locations, but also provides many areas that even most of Illinois' more experienced birdwatchers will find new and well worth exploring. Birders from outside of Illinois will probably be very surprised to learn of the variety of habitats and birds that this state has to offer once one leaves the seemingly birdless "corn and soybean desert" that many see from the interstates that crisscross the state. For instance,the chances of seeing a Mississippi Kite in southern Illinois are "good", as are such diverse species as Snowy Owl, Ross's Goose, and Connecticut Warbler! Illinois may be one of the best locations to see the elusive Smith's Longspur in the lower 48 states, and this guide will tell you when, where and how to see one! This long overdue site finding guide to Illinois' best birding locations is the first to cover the entire state in 25 years! And it is much more than a site guide! Only somewhat larger than many field guides, it is none-the-less easily manageable in the field (or in your car), and one should not be without this book while birding the states highways and byways. The author provides maps as well as written descriptions on how to bird the areas, but one of the best features of this book is the list of "key birds" to be found at each location at the beginning of each site account. In addition, the "Seasonal Distribution Charts" at the back of the book are the first of their kind for books on Illinois' birds, which attempt to cover the whole state, and make this an invaluable addition to this admirable reference work! The contributions from many of the state's most experienced birdwatchers and ornithologists from all corners of the state, guarantees the accuracy and thoroughness of the areas covered. Birders will find the sections on "Authors Favorite Sites", "Illinois' Specialty Birds", and the "Birding Calender" particularly helpful additions compared to the more normal bird-finding guides, and should make it a much more easy task in planning their birding trip, including exactly where and when to go to add that particular bird species that is still missing from their list! The well chosen photographs and exemplary line drawings not only make an aesthetically nice addition to the book, but give examples not only of some of the more typical birds to be found in Illinois but also show the diversity of avian life to be seen throughout the state. Not only is this book factually correct, but the well-written prose of this obviously talented journalist is very descriptive of the birds and birding destinations, and almost transports one to each birding hotspot. Aside from the usual typos and a few small errors in a few of the maps, this book is an excellent "read", and a MUST for EVERY birdwatcher traveling to or residing in the state of Illinois!



2. I bought this book not so much because I want to go birding, but because it lists over 110 bird refuges, conservation areas, creeks, forest preserves and tall grass praries, many of which I know I have driven by on the highway without realizing that just down a state or county road is natural habitat full of wildlife. Some of the areas covered will be familiar to anyone who has lived in Illinois (Morton Arboretum, Fermi Lab, Jackson Park, Montrose Harbor, Chicago Botanic Garden, Starved Rock State Park) but the others are probably new to most people -- Meredosia Wildlife Refuge, Midewin Tallgrass Prarie, Pecatonica River Forest Preserve, Kickapoo State Park, Mermet Lake, etc.

   The entries are divided into regions (northeast, northwest, west-central and southern) with each featuring a map of the area with directions, and a list and description of the birds that live or migrate through there. There are also black & white photographs and beautifully-detailed sketches of birds scattered throughout the text. The entries include walking or driving tours and information about the best time of the year to visit the site as well as general information on the conditions of the area (with instructions on when you need to bring your own water, insect repellant and food), what times of the year it may be closed and whether there are picnic/camping areas. In some cases the history of the area is given (for example, the fact that Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area and Forest Preserve is named after a Native American chief who lived there with his tribe in the 1830s). Each entry also includes the name of the park district that supervises the area and the nearest town.

   The book ends with a checklist of birds so you can keep track of the ones you have seen, a list of extinct and endangered birds, the official form for reporting a rare bird, a bibliograpy and a list of federal, state and county contacts with phone numbers and addresses. This is a terrific reference book as well as guidebook. I'm grabbing my binoculars, a picnic lunch, this book and heading out to explore the rest of Illinois!

1 comments about South Carolina Birds (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press).

1. I was very disappointed in this product. It is advertised as a book, but it should have been a pamphlet!

No comments about A Birder's Guide to the Texas Coast (Lane/Aba Birdfinding Guide #413).

2 comments about Restoring North America's Birds: Lessons from Landscape Ecology.

1. There are few books that would rank as truely significant for North American ornithology, particularly integrating general ecological theory using birds as the mechanism for examples. Dr. Askins' broad paintbrush narrative leads the reader across North American landscapes focusing on conservation issues threatening migratory and resident bird species. With few exceptions all the major continental biological communities are addressed.

   What makes this treatise so inviting is the fact it is so well written that the weekend birder with casual interest in conservation issues is not overwhelmed with its technical content. Specifically, the myriad of research data is unencumbered by citations and given in a conversational manner. On the other hand, professionals, graduate students and land-managers could use this book in nearly a text-like manner due to exhaustive analyses, study summaries, and literature review it represents. The chapter notes, references, and index are alone worth the asking price.

   The subtitle: "... Lessons from Landscape Ecology" captures the major tenant of the book. As an example, Chapter 5 "Deep Forest Birds and Hostile Edges" covers: (1) spot-mapping (a method that researchers use for monitoring bird populations including density estimates); (2) population sources and sinks; (3) the history leading to the realization that (eastern) forest birds (mostly Neotropical migrants) were rapidly declining and not recovering; and (4) differences between natural forest mosaics (structure) and human-created habitat fragmentation. Discussion of fragmentation continues with edge effect that increases predation, decreases insect food resources, decreases forest interior (area), and most importantly place birds nesting near edges at high risk to brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds. Other chapters are similarly detailed.

   Illustrations by Ms. Zickefoose are superb (as always) and good introductions for each chapter. Too bad they are not in color but then the cost of the book would have gone up proportionately.

   I found the book informative, concise, and recommend it to anyone (professional, student or amateur) interested in landscape conservation issues, birds, ecology or any combination thereof. It should be "mandatory" reading for bird-banders and bird-watchers this summer - Tami, Marsha, Ingrid, Dana, and Lori, this means you.




2. This book addresses a good variety of topics pertaining to avian ecology and conservation. Some chapters are geared towards a particular region, while other chapters focus on more general restoration and conservation, yet all are interesting and well written. Of course you can take this information about bird habitat conservation and apply it to many other aspects of wildlife biology. I recommend this book for anyone interested in research for the protection of our natural environment, and the wildlife that depends upon it.

1 comments about The Megapodes: MegaPodiidae (Bird Families of the World).

1. Mostly dull grey and secretive, megapodes are hardly among the most popular birds to watch - though there are spectacular exceptions like the extraordinary Maleo of Sulawesi.
   However, their breeding ecology is like that of no other birds - like reptiles, they dig their eggs in the ground or in specially-built incubation mounds.
   This has always made them among the most interesting birds in my eyes, and I was always pleased to be able to observe individuals of the several species I saw in Indonesia and the Philippines. Most sightings were by chance, often on remote offshore islands or when hiking in rugged interior mountains. No less interesting - and far easier to locate - were their huge incubation mounds, or some well-known nesting grounds where they gathered in masses, like the beach near Simau village on Halmahera Island.
   But observing these shy birds in the wild was always a difficult task, so I was very pleased to be able to obtain all information about their life, status and taxonomy I could think of in this extremely thoroughly-written book.
   Highly recommended to anyone interested in this very special group of birds.

No comments about GRASSLAND GROUSE.

No comments about Arnie and a Housefull of Company.

No comments about Bird Life of Texas (Corrie Herring Hooks Series # 1).

No comments about A Catalogue of Books Ancient And Modern Relating to Falconry.