2 comments about Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds.

1. WOW, this book is fantastic! There are so many beautiful photographs of every bird in the world. There is also very detailed descriptions and various interesting info about each species. Each section is categorized by the Order name. Very well done, and very informational for a zoology major and aspiring ornithologist.



2. Christopher Perrins' Firefly Encyclopedia Of Birds provides extensive full coverage of all the bird families of the world, pairing this with the latest authoritative information, text by leading ornithologists geared for the everyday enthusiast, and beautiful color photos and art. Packed with color and detail, this is not to be missed.

No comments about Backyard Birds of New York (Backyard Birds Of...).

4 comments about Beastly Abodes: Homes for Birds, Bats, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife.

1. This book has good, clear instructions for many projects, from bird houses to toad houses, from woodworking to working with gourds and reeds. It also has helpful information about placement of houses and the ecology of selected species. We've already made 4 houses from it, all of which we were able to build quickly and successfully. There were one or two places where the directions lacked certain details, but in general the instructions had the right amount of specificity. The book has beautiful pictures of every project, and has inspired us to do more to attract backyard wildlife.



2. This book provides serveral varieties of houses for different animals. The instructions are well written and easy to do. Also, the book provides information about where to place the completed houses and why the houses will attract animals.



3. The most complete and innovative book on bird houses I've seen yet. Not only that, it has houses and other structures for bats, butterflies, squirrels, bees and toads. I especially like the variety and creativity of the "abodes" -- natural looking, not cutesy. The section on what each type of wildlife needs is especially welcome. I read this book in the library and had to make it part of my permanent collection.



4. This is one of the most enjoyable books I have ever had. There are lots of fun projects with detailed instructions. If you enjoy your animal neighbors, you should get this book.

3 comments about Birds of Minnesota Audio CDs: Companion to the Bird of Minnesota Field Guide.

1. I gave this item as a gift. She absolutely loved it. It is nice to find a CD of bird calls so one can know the sight as well as the sound of different birds.



2. I have dozens of different kinds of birds in my woods behind my home and the chorus is overwhelming. These 2 CD's are well indexed and Stan even has comments on the different songs many of the birds have. Example some are to mark an area, some are for mating and others are to warn of danger.



3. I bought the cd set after I purchased it's companion book (same title). It is very helpful tool to identify birds that you cannot see i.e. camoflouged by plant/tree foliage by matching the calls to the birds.

3 comments about Hummingbird Gardens.

1. 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!)



2. 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.



3. 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!

1 comments about The Birds, Our Teachers.

1. Since receiving this book as a gift last year, I've enjoyed browsing through the amazing photographs and reading the fascinating and inspirational text. It makes the perfect gift for any gender, interest level, or occasion. I'm so disappointed to find it out of print before I've had a chance to share this treasure.

No comments about Crane Music: A Natural History of American Cranes.

No comments about Why Ducks Do That: 40 Distinctive Duck Behaviors Explained & Photographed.

2 comments about Beyond Birdwatching: More Than There Is to Know About Birding.

1. Buy this book and laugh your head off or give it as a gift to any person you would wish to see with a laughed-off head. It's funny, actually... Plus, I can really recommend the one time magnification binoculars advertised in there, no more looking in the wrong side seeing everything so annoyingly small... Tea kettle tea kettle...



2. Took the recommendations and ordered this for a gift. What a HOOT! I plan on buying a copy for everyone in the family. All of us watch birds for fun. Ben Sill makes birding much more entertaining!

No comments about Seabirds: A Natural History.