Book Description

Covering all 835 species of birds recorded on the continent, including 116 accidentals, this is the first field guide to North American birds specifically designed to satisfy the interests and needs of the serious birder. Its three volumes contain, in all, 1245 full-color photographs, 193 paintings, 422 drawings, and 650 range maps, while 61 of the nation's top field ornithologists and experts contribute their special knowledge to the 370,000 words of text. Entries are arranged taxonomically according to the new American Ornithologists' Union classification.

This volume contains:

Old World Warblers and Thrushes, Mimic-Thrushes, Accentors, Wagtails and Pipits, Waxwings, Silky-Flycatchers, Shrikes, Starlings, Vireos, Wood Warblers, Bananaquits, Tanagers, Cardinals and Thier Allies, New World Blackbirds and Orioles, Finches, Old World Sparrows

Volume 1 contains:

Loons, Grebes, Albatrosses, Shearwaters and Petrels, Storm-Petrels, Tropicbirds, Boobies and Gannets, Pelicans, Cormorants, Anhingas, Frigatebirds, Herons, Ibises and Spoonbills, Storks, Flamingos, Swans, Geese, and Ducks, New World Vultures, Hawks and Eagles, Falcons, Chachalacas, Pheasants, Grouse, and Quails, Rails, Limpkins, Cranes, Thick-knees, Plovers, Oystercatchers, Stilts and Avocets, Jacanas. Sandpipers

Volume 2 contains:

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers, Auks, Pigeons and Doves, Parrots, Cuckoos, Barn-Owls, Typical Owls, Nightjars, Swifts, Hummingbirds, Trogons, Hoopoes, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, Tyrant-Flycatchers, Larks, Swallows, Jays and Crows, Titmice, Verdins, Bushtits, Nuthatches, Creepers, Bulbuls, Wrens, Dippers ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Searching for Vol. 2
If you have a copy of Volume 2 (Gulls, Terns and Skimmers) for sale, please notify me.

Kasieluka@aol.com

Where's volume 1 and 2?
Every serious birder should have the Master Guide. Unforntunately it is out of print and until the publisher decides to release it again so that one can have the complete set of all three volumes, it will leave a void in one's birding library. It might be out of date (1983), but the photographs for the most part as well as the text are extremely helpful when used in conjunction with other field guides. Sometimes it is the guide that will finally answer the question of what bird was that when the other guides have left you guessing. Here's hoping the publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, will release all three volumes again real soon! stormpetrel@msn.com

Once very good, now out of date
Despite the pitfalls of trying to accurately and completely represent abird species using just one or two photographs, the original 3-volumeAudubon Master Guide was a ground-breaking resource for intermediate toadvanced birding, with information on many rare and/or hard-to-identifyspecies. Unfortunately, the guide is really showing its age. I used to useit on every birding trip, but so many new species have been recorded, somany names have changed, and so many new resources have become availablethat the Master Guide has been collecting dust on my bookshelf for severalyears now. I now rely on such specialty guides as A Field Guide to AdvancedBirding, A Guide to the Identification and Natural History of Sparrows ofthe United States and Canada, A Photographic Guide to North AmericanRaptors, and A Field Guide to Warblers. I'm also anxiously awaiting therelease this year of the Audubon Master Guide by David Sibley (whichdespite its name will bear very little resemblance to this 3-volume set)and the forthcoming "back-to-basics" field guide by Ken Kaufman.

Best on the market!
I looked for a long time for the best book with photos not someones idea what the birds look like.Also it gives excellent data on identification, breeding, habitat and comparisons

best of any bird identification book on the market (3 vols)
the best of the best,be sure to get all three volumes, i have found these books to be the most accurate from florida to canada, and new jersey to california ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The quintessential parrot reference
It's unfortunate that this book is out of print, as it's a parrot fanatic's ultimate reference to parrots in the wild. Beautifully illustrated with full-color plates, it covers every known species of parrot, and some that are sadly extinct since its printing. It provides information on all aspects of psittacines in the wild as far as they are known, from size to range to breeding habits to habitat, but it's really the illustrations that make this book so valuable. If you're at all interested in wild parrots, this book is among the best.

Note the size!
If you are a collector of books on parrots, and simply must have them all, then by all means get this book. Otherwise, beware, this is a large book that does not fit on an average height bookshelf! It also has the look and feel of an older book, compared to some of the many fancy guides that have come out in recent years.

Parrots of the World,Raptors of the World,Sibleys guide of B
It's the most complet guide of parrots and raptors publicated in the world.

A reference book for school and for fun.
This has been a great book for reference. It is very organized. I wrote a report about a Scarlet Macaw and it was a big help. I hope bird-lovers everywhere read this book!

This is a great reference for parrot lovers of all ages.
My mother bought me this book for my tenth birthday and my appreciation of it has grown each year as I am now twenty. As a child I enjoyed it's fantastic illustrations and as an adult I've used it as a reference in my college research papers. I recomend it highly to anyone of any age with a love for parrots. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Must have.
This book is an absolute must-have for anyone who wants to draw these birds... or simply appreciates their beauty. These aren't simply glamor-shots, they're close-up detailed images, from a number of different angles. Every one is well lit, in crisp focus, and shows wonderful detail.

Excellent Reference
This wonderfully photographed book is an excellent reference for anyone interested in carving birds of prey. An extremely thorough series of photographs is included for each bird covered in the book. Additionally, patterns and other carving consideration are included for each specimen. The book concludes with a chapter on creating acrylic eyes for carvings, a chapter on carving and painting a kestrel, and a chapter exhibiting some of the authors carvings. Incidentally, the author's carvings are great.

Scholtz's other book, Carving a Red Tailed Hawk, does not do this book justice. This book contains better photographs and better carving.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in carving birds of any type.

Gorgeous photos, facinating ifo
This is a gorgeous book packed with large color photos of many beautiful live birds. Its intended purpose is as a sourcebook for artists, but it will universally appeal to any bird lover.

The introductory chapter illustrates common features of raptor anatomy. Detailed chapters follow on 17 major North American species with numerous color photos and line drawings with dimensions.

A practical application is included with a step-by-step section on carving and painting a finely detailed kestrel in wood. There are even instructions for making remarkable lifelike eyes from acrylic plastic.

The book concludes with a gallery of the author's own fabulous museum quality carvings. This is a great combination of nature photography and fine art.

Terrific resource!
Not only bird artists, but any bird lover would enjoy this book. The pictures are excellent, in focus and from all angles.

This book is often in use at my lab table.

Excellent technique & reference guide.
The book is a nice blend of reference photos & applicable techniques. Mr. Scholz is one of those rare "birds" who is confident enough in his work and in himself to be able to share his secrets freely. His work and his attitude is top notch. The hints and ideas he gives a useful to the beginner as well as the more advanced carver. The book is a joy to read or to use as a reference. The real kicker is the section in the back where some of his work is diplayed with a comment from Mr. Shcolz about each carving. His unpretentiousness combined with the quality of his work can certainly cause the aspiring carver to need a reality check! GREAT BOOK! ... Read more

Book Description

An award-winning nature writer weaves natural history and personal experience into the dramatic story of the last days of six North American bird species.

Journey with Christopher Cokinos to a time when flocks of Passenger Pigeons blocked the sun and Carolina Parakeets colored the sky--according to one pioneer--"like an atmosphere of gems."

Driven by a desire to understand the lives of these now-extinct birds and how and why they vanished, Cokinos excavates crumbling newspapers and forgotten reports. From Bird Rock in the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Louisiana's tangled bayous, he searches for those who loved the Passenger Pigeon, the Carolina Parakeet, and the Labrador Duck; for the people who stalked the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, the Heath Hen, and the Great Auk; and for those who tried to save them.

A compelling blend of science, history, politics, and memoir, Hope Is the Thing with Feathers draws on previously unpublished photographs and original documents to make these long-vanished birds come alive. Cokinos delves into the mysterious sighting of Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers in April 1999; the incredible plan to create new Heath Hens on Martha's Vineyard; and the astonishing possibility that these extinct birds could be resurrected through the science of cloning. Published to mark the 100-year anniversary of the shooting of the last wild Passenger Pigeon, Hope Is the Thing with Feathers is a wonderfully textured and ultimately uplifting narrative.

"This story--the ghost species still haunting this continent--is full of power and mystery."--Bill McKibben

Illustrated with 30 black-and-white photographsBibliographyIndex ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Perched in the soul...
...From the second line of the Emily Dickinson poem that both inspired Cokinos and gave him his title for the book. It is only natural that a poet would look to Dickinson and it is appropriate that it is this form which guides this book. HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS is indeed a poetic and lyrical description of the symbolic significance of six vanished species of North American birds.

The Carolina parakeet, Heath Hen, Great Auk, Passenger pigeon, Labrador duck and Ivory-billed woodpecker have with their passing come to represent for Cokinos a lot more than simply another group of vanished species. They are emblematic of lost time, effort, habitat, environment, and are missing slice of life. Poignant as his descriptions of their loss is, there is always an element of hope that suffuses each of his chapters.

Cokinos with this book successfully blends history with a little bit of biology and adds just enough personal observation and insight. The mix works and his writing is excellent. There is enough science here to satisfy those who wish to remain at a respectable distance. For those who don't mind getting close there is sufficient reason - through what these birds represent about our past and future on this planet - to allow them to come and perch in your soul.

Excellen Book with tons of information
Cokinos, an amateur birder, explores the life histories and conservation problems of North America's extinct birds, and then visits some of the famous zoos and nesting sites that marked the end of a species. Each section is filled with personal stories about the birds to give the reader a better feel for how the birds reacted to their habitats.

The book covers the Passenger Pigeon, Heath Hen, Carolina Parakeet, Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Labrador Duck and Great Auk. Every birder has seen large flocks of Cedar Waxwings practically stripping all the berries from a tree- but imagine a flock of 3,000 Passenger Pigeons (considerably larger than a Mourning Dove, and much noisier) flying into a forest and deciding to nest there. That would be a small colony. It was the most populous bird on earth just a hundred years ago- and now it's gone.

The book is filled with interesting, and sometimes witty stories that will keep the reader from closing the cover. Sometimes, though, Cokinos drags on with information that doesn't seem necessary to the rest of the text- but this, by no means, should discourage you from buying the novel. I definitely recommend it.

A wonderful book - definitely required reading
Although it chronicles several chapters of bull-headed human stupidity, this book also documents the painstaking efforts of the many people who worked hard to save these vanished creatures, and offers some hope that the future need not repeat the past. At times sad, but also funny, and even joyful despite the material.

One of the best books I have ever read...
This book touched me deeply, made me both laugh, made me cry, made me angry...and also made me marvel at the what nature created, that I will never see. Months later, this book still touches me, and I often think of the stories in it. I didn't think a book on this subject could be as engaging, interesting and sad. It took me into the lives of these birds, explained their demise, told me about the last of their species. This really is a story that should be required reading for everyone...something that shows us that our actions have costs, shows us how greed and selfishness can really hurt the world around us, permanently...

Interesting, well-written, for lovers of wild birds
For the most part, Christopher Cokinos' "Hope is the Thing With Feathers" is an excellent and comfortable book. The author's writing style makes reading this book almost effortless. The pages flew by almost as if I were watching a movie.

The book chronicles, from a very personal level, the author's research on some of America's more recently extinct birds: the Carolina Parakeet, Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Heath Hen, Passenger Pigeon, Labrador Duck and the Great Auk. I imagine that this book would only be of interest to someone who has, at the least, a passing interest in birds. Although the historical context is well represented, it's still a book about birds.

The book is 336 well-written pages with about 30 or 40 black-and-white photographs and drawings. The author included a selected bibliography, index and an interesting Frequently-Asked-Questions (FAQ) style interview at the back of the book.

The only drawbacks were the very few occasions where the wonderful prose gives way to a dry, almost painful, regurgitation of historical fact. In addition there are some brief but awkward inclusions of political correctness that don't seem to fit with the overall text.

I would buy this book again without a second thought! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

A good guide for beginners.
This was either the first or second guide that I started out with when I was very young. I will always have respect for it. It contains full-color drawings of the most common birds that a person is likely to see. A total of 129 of the most common American birds is included. Text and range maps are also included in this pocket-sized guide. The drawings display spring plumages of adult male birds, and normally females or young if they are very different. The text is good and gives the common name, length, description, behavior, verbal descriptions of vocalizations, and sometimes abundance. The text also points out the differences between males and females, and related birds that are similar. This guide contains some nice introductory information. Some of the information deals with how to use the guide, how to identify birds, equipment, where to look, bird classification, and attracting birds. There are also two illustrations that detail the parts of a bird. I find all of the drawings throughout this guide to be pretty good. Most of the drawings share the same page as the text and range map, but a few of the drawings are on the right page, while the text and range maps are on the left page. This guide has some very useful information that is located in the back. For each bird that is illustrated, there is information dealing with migration, eggs, nests, and feeding habits. The back of the guide also contains a listing of scientific names for the birds illustrated and an index. I used to take this guide out with me when I first started birdwatching. I still have the older and also the newer edition. Whenever I would identify a particular species of bird, I would write all of the important information about it on the page. Even though I don't take this guide into the field anymore, it's not because I don't like it. I feel confident with the organization, drawings, and information; however, this guide does not contain all of the birds of North America--only the common ones. That aside, I still think that this guide is a good choice and starting point for beginners.

A great guide for beginning birders and children
This was either the first or second bird guide I ever owned. It's a birding guide that contains the most common species of birds that you'll see. The maps are good, the drawings are excellent, and the information on each bird is great. Greater starter guide for beginners and children. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Pocket Guide to the Birds of Britain and North-west Europe.
I checked this book out of the library prior to a trip to London, and now I'm going to buy a copy for my library.This is such a well laid out book, and the perfect size for the field.The information on the covers is particularly nice, with black and white illustrations of members of all the families so that you can quickly determine where in the guide to look for details.This is very helpful because there are many unfamiliar birds there that don't fit into the categories of birds we're used to in the states.And right inside the front cover is a color-coded index to help you quickly get to the section you need.I also liked the interesting facts about the birds that you don't see in many field guides.If you need a guide to birds for this area, this is definitely the one to have!

Pocket Guide to the Birds of Britain and North-West Europe
I ordered this book for a trip to Northern Germany and really lucked out.I read previous reviews, liked the format and size and gave it a shot.It was perfect for my needs. I recommend it highly.

Please let them publish one for North America!
Before our vacation in Denmark this month, I purchased this guideand based my selection on the 2 previous reviews and its small size. Boy, did I get lucky! This is one great field guide! Not only is all the pertinent information for each species located on one page, but that one page is also full of all sorts of interesting items (such as behaviors and flight patterns), written and/or pictured. If the authors would compile a similar guide for our North American species, it would surely replace my almost-worn-out National Geographic (my previous favorite)!

an excellent field guide
This is a very intelligently laid out guide for the field.Pictures, copy and maps are all on the one page; no thumbing from picture to map to copy, as with Peterson's field guide.No space is wasted, even the inside coversare full of information, and there is a color code index.This wasdesigned by persons who know what it is to hurry, in wind, rain or badlight, to identify a bird.

Haven't personally tried, but ranked very high on Usenet.
Visit rec.birds newsgroup and ask for the UK Field Guide FAQ.This is one of the winners out of many guides available. ... Read more

Book Description

Birds of Southern Africa is the best and most authoritative guide to the birds of one of the world's most fertile birding regions. Two hundred color plates comprising over 4,000 expert illustrations help birders to distinguish all of southern Africa's approximately 950 bird species. The illustrations have labels highlighting diagnostic features, and many birds are depicted in flight as well as still. Special attention is given to plumage variation by age, sex, and season.

The informative text, written by eminent ornithologists, is fully integrated with the color plates to facilitate use in the field. Detailed species accounts emphasize the essential characteristics of each bird, including information on behavior, calls, and habitat preferences.

All species names and divisions are in line with the latest recommendations of the International Ornithological Committee, while well-known and local common names are also included. Both beginners and advanced birders will appreciate the regional checklist, quick reference guides, and excellent family summaries. Up-to-date distribution maps feature dual shading to indicate areas of low and high abundance, while cross-referencing is made easy with color coding and a simple numbering system.

Absolutely up-to-date and both beautifully and comprehensively illustrated, this field guide is a terrific reference as well as a superb visual record of the rich variety of a region that is home to one-tenth of all bird species.

... Read more

Book Description

Slim and affordable, FEEDER BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA features Roger Tory Peterson's classic art in a larger format designed especially for the eighty million North Americans who watch and feed birds. This easy-to-use, at-a-glance guide simplifies identification by including only the birds that frequent feeders. And to make it even more convenient, the most commonly seen birds come first, followed by those that are harder to identify or that rarely visit feeders. Range maps, descriptions of birds and foods that attract them, and illustrations are on facing pages, so identification is fast and easy. The brand-new introduction covers important bird-feeding topics, including types of feeders and where to place them, birdbaths, kinds of food and when to feed, plantings that attract birds, and solutions to problems with squirrels and cats. A handy quick-reference list tells what kind of food each species prefers, and a feeder checklist provides a record of birds as they are seen. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Feeder birds without page turning
This is more or less a rehash of the peterson field guide. It has the same (enlarged) pictures that are in the original guide. In addition, it has the type of food that each bird is likely to eat as well as the range map next to the description. I suppose it's a little convenient to have all the feeder birds grouped together, but , other than that, I felt disappointed with the book. There was some (but not enough) information on actually attracting birds and setting up feeding stations. Personally, I found the Stoke's guide to attracting, identifying and understanding feeder birds to be more helpful. ... Read more

Book Description

At first sight just a small brown bird, the dunnock's unobtrusive appearance belies its extraordinary behavior and mating patterns. This book gives a full account of the mating systems of the dunnock or hedge sparrow, Prunella modularis, which include pairs, a male with two females, two males with one female, and several males with several females. Detailed observations, elegant field experiments, and DNA fingerprinting are combined to show how this variable social organization arises from selfish individuals competing to maximize their own reproductive success.Further experiments reveal how the cuckoo may thwart the dunnock's parental efforts.David Quinn's exquisite drawings provide a visual summary of the bird's behavior.All students of ecology, evolution, and animal behavior will want to be familiar with this work, which addresses the wider issues of the influence of ecology on mating systems and the evolutionary significance of conflict within and between species. This is the third volume in the Oxford Series in Ecology and Evolution, and the first in this series to address behavioral ecology. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether soaring or perched, diurnal birds of prey often present challenging identification problems for the bird enthusiast. Variable plumage, color morphs, and unique individual characteristics are just some of the factors bird watchers must consider when identifying the different species. In this authoritative reference, two of the world's top experts on raptors provide an essential guide to the variations in the species, allowing for easier recognition of key identification points. All the distinguishing marks described have been exhaustively tested in a wide range of field conditions by the authors as well as the colleagues and students who have learned from them.

Key Features:

*

The only complete photographic guide to North American diurnal birds of prey
*

Includes all species, common and rare
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Written by well-known experts
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Contains 365 photographs, each with an explanatory caption and supporting text describing all 43 species of diurnal raptors found in North America
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Features 14 discussions of specific problems in practical identification
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Complete set showing every plumage
*

Raptor I.D. problem section showing similar species side by side

Species List:
Turkey Vulture. Black Vulture. California Condor. Osprey. Hook-billed Kite. Swallow-tailed Kite. White-tailed Kite. Snail Kite. Mississippi Kite. Bald Eagle. North Harrier. Sharp-skinned Hawk. Cooper's Hawk. Northern Goshark. Common Black Hawk. Harris' Hawk. Gray Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk. Broad-winged Hawk. Short-tailed Hawk. Swainson's Hawk. White-tailed Hawk. Zone-tailed Hawk. Red-tailed Hawk. Ferruginous Hawk. Rough-legged Hawk. Golden Eagle. Crested Caracara. American Kestrel. Merlin. Aplomado Falcon. Gyrfalcon. Peregrine. Prairie Falcon. Crane Hawk. Roadside Hawk. Hawaiian Hawk. Red-backed Hawk. Steller's Sea Eagle. White-tailed Eagle. Collared Forest Falcon. Northern Hobby. Common Kestrel. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors
This is the best photographic guide to north american raptors available. The photos are very clear so you can see details on plumage. It also includes multiple photos of the species that have morphs, which is very helpful in the field. This is not a book I would recommend if you are using it for written reference. But I give it 5 stars for a field reference guide!

Useful field guide, shows variability of morphs
This is simply the best field guide for North American diurnal raptors that I have seen. Unlike some other photgraphic guides, it provides several images of each species in poses that one is likely to see in the field: perched and soaring from above and the side (showing field marks of top of wing and tail). It shows several examples of different morphs and ages for most birds. This is critical in understanding the variability in markings within a species. In addition, it has a section on field identification problems, detailing differences between similar looking birds. To my knowledge, there is no substitute.

However, the paperback version is somewhat cheaply produced. The publisher should improve the binding and the quality of paper for this book. Try not to get it wet.

Great place to start with raptor identification.
A good book to start your field and in hand bird identification specialty book shelf.

The pictures of birds flying over head are much improved over the paperback Peterson series book "Hawks" by Clark and Wheeler. ... Read more

Book Description

Birds of the Middle East is the first comprehensive field guide dealing exclusively with the birds of this region. It covers all species, including vagrants, found in the Arabian peninsula (including Socotra), Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Cyprus. Over 700 species are described in concise texts giving full details of the plumage and voice of all recognizable forms. Distributed maps appear opposite the plates and are annotated with details of each species status and preferred habitat. Four artists have prepared a magnificent set of specially commissioned plates that show all the forms described in full color. The authors have extensive ornithological experience in the Middle East spanning over thirty years of research into the identification, biology, and conservation of the many wonderful species to be found there. This authoritative book will be an indispensable guide to the visiting birder. It will also be a vital tool for those engaged in work to conserve and study the avifauna of the region, which is especially important for both the indigenous species and those which pass through it on their migrations between the Palaearctic and Africa.

Key Features:

*

The first comprehensive field guide devoted solely to the Middle East
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Every species is illustrated in color in all distinctive plumages
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Authors are experts, each with 30 years field experience in the region
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Serves as an entirely authoritative reference

Reviews (2)

Field Guide to the Birds of the Middle East
I would actually rate this book at a 4.99. The reason I did not give it a 5 is that the maps only show the breeding or summer range. Other than that the book is outstanding. The colors vivid and the artwork is exceptional. The plates have brief descriptions that you need in the field and in the back of the book the author goes into greater depth and gets really specific, this format is different than any other guide I have and I liked it. When and if it ever comes out in soft cover it should be the book to carry when visiting the Middle East.
Do not get caught without this field guide when traveling in this area, it is a must to have! The price is just right.

the best dictionary for birds in the middle-east
this book is the best dictionary for birds watchers to watch, recognize, identify & mapping the distribution of birds in the middle east region. birds watchers can learn a lot from the discriptions, wanderful and accurate drawings, distribution maps and details supply by the authors. The variety of birds species in this book is enormous! ... Read more

Book Description

A backyard can come alive by creating an environment with plants and spaces that attract nature's most interesting and friendly creatures. Colorful butterflies, uplifting songbirds, and lively toads can enhance the personal garden space, giving pleasure to nature lovers of all ages. National Wildlife Federation's® Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife provides over a dozen step-by-step projects for families to do together, making getting back to nature easy, educational, and fun.
... Read more

Reviews (3)

Featuring 17 great projects along with a wealth of tips
Illustrated throughout with enticing color photographs, Attracting Birds, Butterflies, And Other Backyard Wildlife by David Mizejewski (Manager, Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program) is an exceptional and highly recommended homeowner's guide featuring 17 great projects along with a wealth of tips, tricks, and techniques to create gardens filled with wildlife sights, sounds, and natural wonders. Featuring advice for obtaining certification for a backyard habitat in the NWF's Backard Wildlife Habitat program, as well as more general suggestions from building amphibian and bee nesting houses, to finding native plants, avoiding West Nile Virus in the water provided for wildlife, butterfly feeders, and so much more, Attracting Birds, Butterflies, And Other Backyard Wildlife is a first-rate informational guide and a welcome addition to personal and community library Wildlife and Gardening reference collections.

The Best Backyard Habitat Book!
This attractive book, filled with beautiful photographs and easy to follow hints on how to share backyards with wild creatures, is the best yet published. The book begins by explaining the importance of native plants in a given ecosystem, and it includes the enormous problems that can result when exotics (non-natives) are introduced. The information is then whittled down to backyard size. The section "Providing Water for Wildlife" includes instructions and photographs on how to create an elaborate or simple water feature, and it shows how to fashion a wetland from a gutter downspout. For those concerned about West Nile Virus, there is a fact sheet at the end of the section on how to reduce the potential for exposure.
Every aspect of backyard gardening for wildlife is covered. Whether you have a rooftop garden in the city, an urban condo with a small patio or a large rural yard, this book can help you develop a landscape that will attract more birds, butterflies and other wild creatures into that space. Your life will be enriched both by the process, and by the result.

Wonderful book
This book is attractive, well-written and full of helpful information. I especially like the segments throughout suggesting various family projects...this book will make an excellent gift for the gardener/naturalist! ... Read more

Book Description

Here is an accessible, informative, and highly illustrated book that offers a fresh view of butterflies in the East Coast states, from the Atlantic seaboard to the Appalachians. In addition to providing a wealth of facts and photos, the book is the first to furnish detailed and up-to-date photo-illustrated information on the host plants favored by particular species. With 234 full-page species accounts and accompanying range maps, plus more than 950 large-size color photos, it is an essential reference work for field observers, gardeners, educators, and conservation managers--or anyone interested in appreciating the lepidopteran world close at hand.

The introductory chapters detail the subtle ecology of the East Coast region, establishing a consistent ecological framework that enriches the individual species accounts. There is also an overview of current scientific literature and observational findings to help readers better interpret complex butterfly behaviors in the field, including seasonal movements, host plant and diapause strategies, defensive chemistry, and more.

The book is written by Rick Cech, a seasoned field observer who has spent years studying and photographing East Coast butterflies. His substantial first-hand experience with both the common and rare species in the region adds much depth and new insight to the commentary.

* 234 full-page species accounts and accompanying range maps
* 950 large-size color photos
* 215 photos of individual host plants and habitats
* 735 high-quality photos of butterflies and caterpillars
* Introductory chapters detailing the subtle ecology of the East Coast region
* An overview of current scientific literature and observational findings
* Descriptions of diapause and host plant strategies and defensive chemistry
* User-friendly with clear, concise text

... Read more

Book Description

In Mind of the Raven, Bernd Heinrich, award - winning naturalist, finds himself dreaming of ravens and decides he must get to the truth about this animal reputed to be so intelligent.

Much like a sleuth, Heinrich involves us in his quest, letting one clue lead to the next. But as animals can only be spied on by getting quite close Heinrich adopts ravens, thereby becoming a "raven father," as well as observing them in their natural habitat, studying their daily routines, and in the process painting a vivid picture of the world as lived by the ravens. At the heart of this book are Heinrich's love and respect for these complex and engaging creatures, and through his keen observation andanalysis, we become their intimates too.

Throughout history there has existed an extraordinary relationship between humans and ravens. Ravens, like early humans, are scavengers on the kills of great carnivores. As scavengers, ravens were associated with hunters they found in the north: wolves and, later, men. The trinity of wolf, man, and raven in the hunt is an extremely ancient one. In considering the appeal of the raven, Bernd Heinrich suspects that a meeting of the minds might reside in that hunting trinity.

Heinrich's passion for ravens has led him around the world in his research. Mind of the Raven takes you on an exotic journey--from New England to Germany, Montana to Baffin Island in the high Arctic--offering dazzling accounts of how science works in the field, filtered through the eyes of a passionate observer of nature.

Heinrich has a true gift; through his stories, his beautiful writing, illustrations, and photography, the ravens come alive. Each new discovery and insight into their behavior is thrilling to read. just as the title promises, the reader is given a rare glimpse into the mind of these wonderful creatures.

Reviews (19)

Mind of the Raven" is thought-provoking, comfortable reading
To compare this book to Heinrich's "A Year in the Maine Woods", is to compare apples to oranges. "Mind of the Raven" is more, a continuation of the thought-provoking analysis the author began in his earlier work, "Ravens in Winter". "Mind of the Raven" carries us many steps farther in understanding, as an intriguing account of the on-going evaluation of these impressive birds' mental agility and singular place in nature. Heinrich takes us not only to the woods of Maine, but to Germany, California, the Artic, and Yellowstone Park, while he examines those qualities which define Ravens as a unique but adaptive species in a changing environment. Heinrich shares with us the scientific and personal experiences which reveal Ravens both as individuals, and as members of a complex but flexible social order scientists are only begining to understand. "Mind of the Raven" is not a dry, technical journal, and while not "light" reading, it is certainly comfortable reading. Heinrich's writing style is refreshingly "open". The book is, in the end, as revealing about the process of scientific fieldwork, success and failure, and the perserverance of an inquisitive mind as it is about Ravens. I would recommend "Mind of the Raven" to anyone interested in the continuing studies of animal intellect and behavior. Additionally, I heartily recommend it to mature young adults with an exceptional interest in these study areas. Heinrich's book reveals that while travel, and many hours of observation in "tight places" may be required to answer particular questions within a given field of science, a great deal may also be learned in our own backyards, with patience and an eye for detail.

an artful piece on the science of ravens
Heinrich has managed a comprehensive and entertaining book on the behavior, biology and indeed, mind of the raven.

His book expresses his struggles as a scientist to have what evidence he has abt the behaviour of these "wolf birds", accepted by the scientific community which continues to be conservative.

Expect to learn all and more you ever dared to ask about ravens. Heinrich's studies of ravens are long term and an accumulation of information fed from individuals who are simply curious about the birds to those who've spent their academic lives researching them the world over.

Additionally, Mind of the Raven allows a personal take and comment on the birds, some with names, others named in realtion to their tags. Otherwise, you will find that Henrich has very beautifully incorporated a reflection of the human behaviour and the misgivings of our existing scientific community whilst studying his feathered subjects.

I've never had contact with a raven. Heinrich's book is certainly motivating me to meet one soon. You'd want to read this whether or not you're into birds.

Intriguing Investigations into the Lives and Minds of Ravens
In "Mind of the Raven", biologist Bernd Heinrich delves into the behavior of ravens as individuals who might have a conscious choice, as opposed to taking a strictly behavioral ecologist perspective of those behaviors as being simply the results of evolutionary necessity. Heinrich strives to share the insight into the world of ravens which he gained over the course of nearly a decade of studying and interacting with ravens, both wild and captive, at his Vermont and Maine homes. "Mind of the Raven" isn't confined to the birds' intelligence or consciousness, although chapters on these fascinating and controversial subjects are included. The "mind" of the book's title encompasses all behavior and experience in these birds' lives. Heinrich details innumerable observations and experiments which he conducted on the subjects of raven feeding and educating their young, cooperation, hunting, adoption, dominance, sensory perception, individual recognition, communication, fears, interaction with other animals, caching, deception, play, intelligence, and emotions. Heinrich seems to possess an insatiable -and infectious- curiosity about these magnificent birds, which is demonstrated in his exhausting and endlessly inventive experiments. Heinrich's studies are as controlled and straightforward as possible. And although they sometimes raise more questions than they answer, they never fail to entertain or to impress the reader with the complexity and variety of raven personalities. It's nice to read a book by a scientist who has such an enthusiasm for his field of study, as well as genuine affection for his subjects. "Mind of the Raven" is a very readable broad account of the lives and minds of these large, clever corvids that have so populated human folklore and experience for thousands of years. I recommend it to any bird-lover, and those who have occasion to observe ravens will find Bernd Heinrich's insights especially interesting.

Fascinating insights into the life and mind of ravens
This is an amazing book. It's not an exaggeration to say that this is the most fascinating book I've ever read. I've always marveled at the idiosyncratic behavior of ravens, the sense of play that seems to pervade so much of what they do, and at their inventiveness. Reading this book takes me back the times I've sat in the mountains watching ravens. What an easy way to travel so far. And finally, after reading this book, I feel that I have at least a little insight into these incredible birds. I can't recommend this book too highly.

Corvid capers
Why do they hang from one foot, cavorting with a stick? Why are Maine ravens hesitant with a carcass while their western cousins gorge without fear beside wolves, coyotes or even eagles? Do they actually warn humans about predators, or are they opportunists awaiting the kill they hope to share? These mysterious birds, appearing in myths, legends, and, of course, Poe's lasting image, are Corvus corax - the Common Raven. Heinrich, who has studied these enigmatic avians for many years, shares his thoughts, achievements, frustrations and observations in this compelling narrative. In a series of invaluable accounts, crossing many countries and meeting many people, he shows us how much we have learned and need to study about these fascinating birds. No matter how strange reported raven behaviour may sound, he reminds us, "some raven, somewhere, actually did that".

Heinrich combines studies in the field with "experiments" performed in large aviaries. Although an avid runner, he loathes climbing trees. Of course, that's where ravens roost and nest. He climbs. He photographs. He steals eggs [to record parental response before restoring the eggs to the nest]. All of which provide him with more information on how ravens live. And think. Universally acknowledged as the most intelligent birds, ravens have demonstrated to Heinrich how little we understand that cognitive ability. This book's title is indicative of their behavioural variety. Chapter titles, ""Social Webs", "Vocal Communications", "Prestige", "Morality, Tolerance and cooperation" and "Play" [yes, ravens play, apparently for their own entertainment] speak volumes about how much has been learned about these amazing creatures. The text within them reveals we've only begun the quest for understanding. Whatever else may be derived from this informative book, Heinrich's plea for more studies is earnest and compelling. He is open with his admiration for the talents of his student assistants, but, clearly, there aren't enough of them.

Heinrich's study area reaches from Maine to anywhere. If you've ever watched a raven tearing at a trash bin, you'll understand Heinrich's hesitation at visiting "Jakob's" home in Germany. He was amazed to enter a neat, well-kept apartment instead of a scene of chaos. Jakob was as fastidious as his doctor owner. He even restricted his paper diet to junk mail. Among the wealth of accounts in this book, the most intriguing remains the relationship of ravens and wolves. It seems logical that ravens have learned to follow wolves. Evolution has taught them the advantages of following an effective predator. Heinrich, however, proposes this interaction works two ways with ravens guiding wolves to prey. He suggests that early humans, still killing quietly, may have cooperated with ravens in a similar way.

Offsetting Heinrich's wealth of information is the style he uses to present it. While no-one should object to his highly personalised account of his research and interests, some of the details might have been shaded or omitted. It's fascinating to accompany his waiting for local ravens to descend on his prepared bait [a quarter of a dead calf or road kill groundhogs]. That the sequence began at 05:29 on the morning of 08 May is less compelling. Especially when that type of detail is repeated frequently. This lapse of interest-garnering is wholly overshadowed by the variety of experiences in many places Heinrich recounts. Additionally, his photographs and drawings illuminate further what he relates in the text. With an excellent bibliography to further anyone's reading, this is a treasure of a book.
[stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada] ... Read more

Book Description

The winning photo-encyclopedic formula of the DK Handbook series, which have sold over five million copies, is taken to new heights in these comprehensive guides to the birds of North America. Created in association with one of America's leading learning institutions, the Smithsonian, Birds of North America are an absolute staple for any birder or ornithologist. Containing a superior visual format with more information than any other bird guides on the market, these books feature more than 700 species in the United States and Canada, each one receiving its own full-page profile along with a precise description and annotated photographs to highlight chief characteristics and other points of interest. An introductory overview for each species is followed by six important sections that no competitor to these books covers in full. With over 1,000 total photographs and a range map for each entry, these remarkable guides will have bird-lovers soaring! The 100th Parallel of Longitude is the dividing line between the Eastern and Western volumes. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Gorgeous !!!1
While looking for a gift for an elderly relative who likes to watch birds but is not an avid birder, I happened upon this gorgeous book and was so impressed with it.

It is beautifully organized and illustrated. Birds are described by song, breeding habits, nesting, behavior, migration, population, flight pattern, conservation, as well as by the more obvious characteristics used for identification such as size, head, plummage, tail, markings, trill, and behavior.

Each page is laid out so nicely and with great clarity, and has space for notes on where and when the bird was sighted.

The silhouettes of the birds in flight was an interesting addition to the identification process.

The author(s) also included the variations within each species (variations due to sex, juvenile status, seasonal characteristics, and genetic differences).

One section contained the anatomy of a bird and another the orthinological terms, illustrated. Both were most interesting and added to making birds easier to identify.

Not really a field guide, not really a natural history guide
Once upon a time, people who wished to identify and learn about birds found few books from which to choose. Today, however, there are many, and the competition between them for birders' purchasing dollars is keen. I tend to buy just about any book that bills itself as a "guide to the birds of North America," however, so I recently picked up Fred J. Alsop III's new Smithsonian Handbook. There is much to appreciate and enjoy here, and I can recommend the book as a welcome supplement to anyone's basic bird guide collection (especially people living the western states). However, by itself it is adequate neither as a guide to bird identification nor as a supplemental source of information about bird habits and natural history.

This book is long (752 pages) and definitely hefty. No one but a true masochist would consider carrying it into the field. Consequently, in terms of helping with bird identification, this guide at best can serve as a supplement to other current field guides. In this capacity, the book will indeed be useful with respect to many birds. Each full-page treatment of a species includes lots of useful information, including key field marks, range, vocalizations, distinctive behavioral habits, nesting habits, and even flight patterns.

The key to whether or not this works for particular types of birds lies in Alsop's approach to bird illustration. Here, he relies mainly upon high-quality photographs. For most birds, particularly songbirds, this works adequately. However, as is just about always the case with bird guides illustrated with photos, the results are uneven. Some of the photos are spectacular, but a few are so-so. What's more important, however, is that Alsop's reliance upon a single large photo for each bird precludes adequate illustration of species for which inclusion of more than one picture is essential. This mainly includes species for which flight patterns are important, including gulls, terns, pelagics, hawks, shorebirds, waterfowl, swifts and swallows, and nightjars. This adds up to a lot of species.

Traditional field guides also provide additional illustrations to show immature or fall plumages. Alsop does try to include additional illustrations for some of these plumages, but these extra drawings mostly are so tiny as to be virtually useless. For some species, at least, he would have done better to limit some of the verbal information to accommodate more space for these additional illustrations.

One of the strengths of the book is Alsop's obvious commitment to providing the reader with information pertaining to each bird's behavior, nesting habits, and population/conservation. Because the author is combining this effort with identification material, however, the book doesn't measure up to certain others in terms of being a complete "natural history guide."

To his credit, Alsop includes some extra materials that are welcome and well-done. There is a section on extinct species (including the Ivory-billed woodpecker, which apparently may not be extinct after all), and also some "how to's" on birding as a pastime.

Overall, however, I can recommend this book mainly to people who really enjoy owning lots of bird books. A good strategy for birders generally is to purchase one (or more) good field guides for identification purposes, and then to supplement these with another good book that provides natural historical information. This volume certainly has its uses and contains lots of excellent information, but in trying to be both identification guide and natural history guide, it doesn't truly succeed in either function.

A true all inclusive guide...
This is a wonderful book; each page has a single bird on it with all related information to the bird i.e. migrations (map showing in color what time of year the bird is found where), feeders, identifacation with clear pictures, song of the bird, behavior, breeding, nesting, population, conservation, size, wingspan, family, species, nest identification tips and chart, and habitat locations. In my opinion this book would be classified as a "must have" for a lover of birds and especially for a novice just getting into birds it is a excellent identification tool.

Apparently still a secret
As a 40+ year novice birdwatcher, and incurable lover of books, I have acquired numerous field guides over the years. Raised on Peterson, in recent years I have enjoyed the Audubon guides by Farrand. Looking for something newer, I was assured that "The Sibley Guide to Birds" was now the king of the hill. Next to Sibley on my dealer's bookshelf was this Alsop. I already knew the publisher-Dorling Kindersley. They have perfected the art of visual teaching. This same teaching technique works very well for a nature field guide. There is a single page devoted to each species. The page is well laid out but packed with the information you want. The illustrations are superb-better than the Sibley. This book is a masterpiece, and I think will become a well-loved legend. It far surpasses Sibley, Peterson, and other field guides at this general, comprehensive level. Despite its breadth, it would be perfect for a beginning birdwatcher of any age. It must be new-I can't find it reviewed anywhere! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Blends gardening and wild animal management and observation
Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds To Your Backyard deserves ongoing mention as an outstanding survey of how gardens can attract desired wild birds and butterflies. From determining how native plants interact in the environment and help attract native visitors to understanding how to maintain a healthy environment, Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds To Your Backyard comes packed with tips which blend gardening and wild animal management and observation. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the first paperback version of the second edition of the popular A Guide to the Birds of Panama. In the second edition, published in 1989, the authors expanded information on the birds of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras: approximately 200 new species were added to the material in the 1976 edition. Over 300 additional species, some of them Panamanian, were illustrated. Sixteen new plates were added, and three of the original plates were replaced by improved versions. Throughout the book changes were made to accommodate the explosion in knowledge of the birds of Panama and nearby areas and of neotropical birds in general. The basic sequence and systematics of the AOU 1983 Check-list were adopted. Also included in the revised edition was expanded and updated information on birdfinding in Panama, prepared with the assistance of two of Panama's best resident birders. The book also contains a special section outlining developments in Panama ornithology and conservation. "A sophisticated treatment of one of the world's richest avifaunas."--The Quarterly Review of Biology ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Best available field guide to the birds of Panama
Ridgely's guide is the best - and really the only - available field guide covering all the species of birds in the nation of Panama. While it is useful and serves most purposes, it has been over a decade since the second edition was released, and it is more than due for an overhaul and expansion. The most necessary would be the addition of range maps, that would make the book infinitely more useful in planning a trip. At the very least, there should be a single, detailed map of Panama, indicating the locations mentioned in the range descriptions! Also, it would be better to limit the scope of the book entirely to Panama, as Costa Rica and other areas to the north are covered by other guides, and the pertinent information for those areas in this book are scant, at best. Then, the isolated plates in the back need to be intergrated, as do the plates of Darien specialties, etc. Many species have been recently added to the Panama list, or split, etc, and those species need to be added. But, all this aside, this book should enable the identification of most Panama birds, and remains an indispensible resource for any birder traveling to that country.

No other choice
The major drawback is that the drawings of the birds described in the book are poor so that it is often difficult to use them for identification. The text is fine. However, it is the only book available, so you have no choice.

Bird guide
A nicely done guide. Well-illustrated, easy to use. Worked for me in Costa Rica...

A Review of "Birds of Panama: with Costa Rica, Nicaragua,...
This is a good, standard guidebook with beautiful bird plates. It is, however, somewhat awkward to have the plates divided into two groups at different places in the book. Three chapters ("Migration and Local Movements", Recent Developments...", and "Finding Birds in Panama") were especially interesting and helpful. The chapter "Finding Birds in Panama" was very accurate and useful to me. I wish I had purchased this guidebook before my earlier birding trips to Costa Rica. It is an important book for the entire region.

Beautiful and extensive text and color plates
A wonderful book, with full descriptions and habitats of birds, and excellent color plates. Also includes a checkoff table for birdwatchers. ... Read more

Book Description

The most complete collection of visual reference material on North American owls including over 700 stunning photos of 16 species of owls. Physical features offer insight into hunting, feeding, flying, and communication. Renowned carver Floyd Scholz presents the much anticipated follow-up to his best-selling Birds of Prey. In this new book, hundreds of stunning full-color photos and useful line drawings offer detailed studies of 16species of owls-from the tiny Elf Owl to the impressive Great Horned Owl. All are illustrated in full detail, with focus on body and wing design, plumage patterns, flight characteristics, and predatory behavior. Also includes a section on carving and painting techniques and a gallery of Floyd Scholz's finished carvings. A must-have reference for carvers, artists, ornithologists, naturalists-anyone interested in these magnificent birds. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Beauty of the owls
If you have even the slightest interest in owls or birds in general this is the book for you. The pictures range from full shots of the individual species to minute details in plumage and even comparative pictures of feet and wing shape. This is truly the most well put together collection of owl photographs I've ever encountered. It even has a section in the back for artists who wish to use owls in carvings and paintings. All in all, this is a fantastic book.

Owls by Floyd Scholz
I thought I had seen the best of the best when I first saw Scholz's "Birds of Prey". I was wrong! "Owls" stands alone, without peers. "Owls" is a rare combination of text, photography and advice. The pictures are amazing. The text is readable and informative. The advice and patterns alone are worth far more than the price of the book. The unbelievable amount of research that went into this book is evident from the dust cover clear through to the last page. The book is a must for everyone who enjoys owls be it artist, carver, naturalist, bird lover or simply people who enjoy fantastic books. Considering the size and quality of "Owls", it is a bargin!

Stunning!!!
Having used Floyd's previous reference 'Birds of Prey' since 1995, I've been eagerly anticipating the arrival of 'Owls'. The quality of the photography and variety of poses, including many extreme close-ups, makes this a first rate reference book for any artist as well as a stunning book for display on your coffee table. The saying that "A picture is worth a thousand words" has never been truer. Anyone who loves these beautiful creatures will be overwhelmed by the elegance of this book. I'll be purchasing a second copy for display, as the one in my studio will be occupied for a while.

Not Just for Carvers
Floyd's 'Birds of Prey' was absolutely the best reference book for wildfowl artists ... until he wrote 'Owls'.

There are more birds featured, and there are more photos of each bird. If you liked the photos in Floyd's first book, you'll love these photos even more. He also provides more detailed patterns for each bird.

I'm ecstatic to be adding this volume to my bookshelf, and it's going to make a great gift for several of my family and friends.

And, if you are a carver, Floyd's Vermont Raptor Academy (referenced in the book) is an experience you don't want to miss.

owls (floyd scholz)
THIS IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL BOOK THE PICTURES ARE STUNNING
BUT I THINK THE BOOK COULD HAVE HAD MORE TEXT.
ALSO AMAZON CLAIMS THE BOOK HAS 512 PAGES. THE COPY
I PURCHASE FROM THEM ONLY HAD 379 PAGES. ... Read more