Synopses & Reviews
This readable, friendly guide is intended for bird watchers and nonand#8211;bird watchers alikeand#8212;for anyone who wants to enjoy nature right in his or her own backyard. and#160; The longtime editor of Bird Watcherand#8217;s Digest and author of numerous books on birds, Bill Thompson IIIand#160; has been feeding and watching birds forand#160;forty years. He has tried everything, and here he shares what heand#8217;s learned so that readers can avoid mistakes and skip right to successful bird feeding. He also debunks common myths about bird feeding: Does feeding birds stop them from migrating? Will birds starve if you leave your feeders empty after the birds have come to rely on them? and#160; In an easygoing and lighthearted style, seven chapters cover all the elements needed to attract birds to a backyard (food, water, shelter) and address special cases and problems (keeping bees out of the hummingbird feeder, preventing birds from flying into windows,and#160;and much more). The final chapter profiles theand#160;130 species that are most common at backyard feeders. No separate field guide is needed; itand#8217;s all right hereand#8212;everything a beginner needs to know to attract birds and then figure out what kind they are.
Review
These narratives, which cover much more than just birding, are rich, absorbing, and of great general interest. Highly recommended.
Library Journal
This selection of small gems ... displays many of Peterson's little-known interests as well as fascinating descriptions of birding adventures.
[Peterson] displays an elegant and precise writing style....this collection overall stands as a tribute to the joy he experienced through birding.
Publishers Weekly
Birdwatchers will love the book and non-birdwatchers who read it will want to join the ranks of birders.
Booklist, ALA
Synopsis
An easy-to-use field guide for new bird watchers, covering 300 of the most common birds in the US and Canada.
and#160;
Synopsis
"I love this book. It is fun to read, beautifully laid out, and accompanied by exquisite illustrations. The sections called 'Wow' and 'Remember' on each page will elicit 'I never knew that ' from many readers. This is a winner for the new birder from four to one hundred and four."
--Jane Alexander, actress and former board member of the American Birding Association What a new birder needs is a field guide that shows most of the birds he or she is going to see but doesn't overwhelm with rarities unlikely to be seen. This is that book. Covering 300 of the most common birds in the United States and Canada, this guide has just the right amount of information about how to identify birds, where and when to look for them, what they sound like, and how they behave. The New Birder's Guide includes easy-to-understand descriptions and maps, clear photos, drawings of common and interesting behaviors, and fun "Wow " facts for each bird, plus expert advice on identification basics, how to get started, and how to improve your birding skills.
Synopsis
What a new birder needs is a field guide that shows most of the birds shes going to see—so that shes not frustrated—but that doesnt overwhelm with rarities she almost certainly wont see. This is that book. Covering 300 of the most common birds in the United States and Canada, this guide has just the right amount of information about how to identify birds, where and when to look for them, what they sound like, and how they behave.
The New Birders Guide is based on the popular Young Birders Guide, with the same easy-to-understand descriptions, maps, clear photos, drawings of common and interesting behaviors, and fun “Wow!” facts for each bird. New in this guide is expanded information on birding gear, tips on improving birding skills, and why some “common knowledge” about birds just isnt true.
Synopsis
and#8220;I love this book. It is fun to read, beautifully laid out, and accompanied by exquisite illustrations. The sections called and#8216;Wowand#8217; and and#8216;Rememberand#8217; on each page will elicit 'I never knew that!' from many readers. This is a winner for the new birder from four to one hundred and four.and#8221;
and#8212;Jane Alexander, actress and former board member of the American Birding Association and#160; What a new birder needs is a field guide that shows most of the birds he or she is going to see but doesnand#8217;t overwhelm with rarities unlikely to be seen. This is that book. Covering 300 of the most common birds in the United States and Canada, this guide has just the right amount of information about how to identify birds, where and when to look for them, what they sound like, and how they behave. The New Birderand#8217;s Guide includes easy-to-understand descriptions and maps, clear photos, drawings of common and interesting behaviors, and fun and#8220;Wow!and#8221; facts for each bird, plus expert advice on identification basics, how to get started, and how to improve your birding skills.
Synopsis
A field guide to 300 of theand#160;most common birds of North America for kids ages 8 and up.
Synopsis
Covering 300 of the most common birds in all of the United States and Canada,
The Young Birderand#8217;s Guide to Birds of North America is loaded with color photographs, drawings showing typical behaviors, range maps, an easy-to-use checklist, fun facts, and authoritative information about each bird, its vocalizations, and its habitat.
While other field guides might overwhelm kids who are new to birding, The Young Birderand#8217;s Guide to Birds of North America was created with help from kids. Bill Thompsonand#8217;s own son and daughter and their elementary school classes helped select the content. Kid tested, kid approved!
Synopsis
Roger Tory Petersonand#8217;s unique perspective on birding comes to life in these highly personal narratives. Here he relates his adventures during a lifetime of birding and traveling the world to observe and record nature. Though Peterson was widely known for his illustrations, this collection reminds us to reconsider his accomplishments as a photographer, for Peterson was nearly as passionate about photography as he was about painting. The essays and photographs included here were carefully selected by Bill Thompson III, the editor of Bird Watcherand#8217;s Digest, which ran the column and#147;All Things Reconsideredand#8221; during the last twelve years of Petersonand#8217;s life.
Synopsis
Second in a three-bookand#160;series on watching birds in the backyard: backyard bird ID, bird feeding, hummingbirds, bluebirds, bird houses, gardening for birds, etc.
Synopsis
Hummingbirds and butterflies are some of the most beautiful visitors to a backyard, but they can also be some of the most elusive. This second collaboration between the Peterson Field Guide series and Bird Watcherandrsquo;s Digest includes tips on how to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to backyardsandmdash;and how to identify them once theyandrsquo;ve arrived. Bill Thompson III and Connie Toops have decades of firsthand experience and have written the book in a fun, lighthearted style, providing both amateur and veteran nature watchers with need-to-know information, including where hummingbirds and butterflies live, what they eat, and the best garden plants to attract them. The species profiles of the 15 most common hummingbirds and 40 most common butterflies serve as a field guide, showing ranges, identifying marks, and preferred habitats. Full-color photographs and detailed drawings make attracting, identifying, and feeding these colorful creatures a snap.
About the Author
BILL THOMPSON III is the editor of Bird Watcherand#8217;s Digest and the author of many books about birds. He lives in Ohio with his wife, the author and illustrator Julie Zickefoose, and their two children. CONNIE TOOPSandnbsp;is a nature writer and photographer with more than thirty years of experience documenting natural history subjects. She is the author/principal photographer of nine nature books and frequently travels the country speaking on birding, wildlife gardening, and nature photography subjects.
Table of Contents
Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction xv
HUMMINGBIRDS
Chapter 1: What Is a Hummingbird?
Hummingbird Life History 5
Did You Know? 11
Myths Debunked 12
Chapter 2: Watching Hummingbirds
Finding Hummingbirds 17
Hummingbird Anatomy 19
Identifying Hummingbirds 19
Hummingbird Behavior 24
Chapter 3: Attracting and Feeding
Hummingbirds
Flowers versus Feeders 27
C hoosing a Feeder 31
Feeder Placement 33
General Feeding Rules 35
Ten Tips for Attracting Hummingbirds 36
Chapter 4: Plants for Hummingbirds
Planning Your Hummingbird Habitat 40
Bird-friendly Plants 50
Chapter 5: A Hummer Garden Plan
Regional Plant Lists 65
Plants for Container Gardens 86
Seasonal Progression of Blossoms 87
Chapter 6: Troubleshooting 88
Chapter 7: Hummingbird Species Profiles
Identifying Hummingbirds 98
Species Profiles 102
BUTTERFLIES
Chapter 8: What Is a Butterfly?
Butterfly Biology 120
Butterfly Life History 123
Did You Know? 132
Myths Debunked 133
Chapter 9: Watching Butterflies
Finding Butterflies 136
Identifying Butterflies 140
Butterfly Behavior 144
Chapter 10: Attracting and Feeding
Butterflies
Habitat Requirements 147
Chapter 11: Plants for Butterflies
Planning Your Butterfly Habitat 156
Butterfly-friendly Plants 160
Healthy Backyard Ecosystems 166
Container Gardens 167
Chapter 12: A Butterfly Garden Plan
Regional Plant Lists 170
Plants for Special Interest Gardens 206
Seasonal Progression of Blossoms 210
Chapter 13: Troubleshooting and FAQs
Predators 211
Hazards 214
Butterfly Conservation 218
Frequently Asked Questions 219
Chapter 14: Butterfly Species Profiles
Kindred Butterflies 223
Species Profiles 226
Appendix 1
Photographing Hummingbirds 268
Appendix 2
Photographing Butterflies 271
Resources 276
Photography and Illustration Credits 280
Index 281