A Birder S Resource Guide

A highly visual guide to identifying birds in the field based on the important, unchanging features of size, shape, structure, and behavior Birding is an extremely rewarding and fun hobby, but some situations can be frustrating or unsuccessful because of a variety of challenging viewing conditions. This guide to identifying birds offers the holistic “birding by impression” method, which not only helps with these difficult conditions, but also develops an efficient mental identification process using left- and right-brain skills. It begins with a conscious assessment of a bird’s unchanging physical characteristics, including general size, body shape, structural features (bill, legs, neck, and wings), and behavior. Using this approach, birders can quickly assess all birds and distinguish new and uncommon species from familiar ones. They can then examine more detailed field marks to fine-tune the identification. Rather than a traditional field guide, this book presents an interactive how-to approach to a more complete identification process.

Stoeger's new 400-page Birder's Bible is a comprehensive guide to the exciting field of birding. In the pages of Birder's Bible you'll find fascinating and informative feature articles by respected experts in the field. Birder's Bible is the most thorough, one-stop source of information on birding with up-to-date specifications and current prices for hundreds of items including bird feeders and feeder accessories, bird food products, birdhouses, birdbaths and ponds, and much more. You'll find a comprehensive listing of birding optics-binoculars, spotting scopes and accessories-and a guide to birding field guides, checklists, life lists, journals, computer software and audio/video products as well. Whether you take to the fields and forests with spotting scope and life list of simply enjoy watching the feeding station in your back yard, you'll find Birder's Bible an indispensable guide, specifically created with the dedicated birder in mind. Key Selling Points Birding is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in North America. Incisive, informative feature articles written by some of the nations leading authorities on birds and birding. Product guide containing information on hundreds of items, ranging from spotting scopes to bird song CDs.

A fascinating look at what birds do and why they do it Both casual and serious birdwatchers can take their skills to the next level with this detailed consideration of bird behavior. This book makes it possible to move beyond identifying birds to understanding some of the underpinning and meaning to what birds do, how they do it, and why they do it. Written in an easy-to-understand style, with an abundance of photos illustrating the behaviors, the book shows how flight, molt, migration, feeding, predation, social behavior, courtship, and nesting shape birds' behaviors. Birds are everywhere, and easy to observe; this introduction to elements of bird behavior will connect readers more intimately with these remarkable and beguilingly perceptive animals.

Provides basic information about the biology, life cycles, and behavior of birds, along with brief profiles of each of the eighty bird families in North America.

The essential tools you need to become a better birder This unique illustrated handbook provides all the essential tools you need to become a better birder. Here Derek Lovitch offers a more effective way to go about identification—he calls it the "Whole Bird and More" approach—that will enable you to identify more birds, more quickly, more of the time. He demonstrates how to use geography and an understanding of habitats, ecology, and even the weather to enrich your birding experience and help you find something out of the ordinary. Lovitch shows how to track nocturnal migrants using radar, collect data for bird conservation, discover exciting rarities, develop patch lists—and much more. This is the ideal resource for intermediate and advanced birders. Whether you want to build a bigger list or simply learn more about birds, How to Be a Better Birder will take your birding skills to the next level. Explains the "Whole Bird and More" approach to bird identification Demonstrates how to use geography, habitats, ecology, and the weather to be a better birder Shows how to bird at night using radar, collect conservation data, develop patch lists—and more Offers essential tools for intermediate and advanced birders

A companion volume to the successful the Birder's Guide to British Columbia, this guide to bird-watching sites on Vancouver Island is essential to both beginner and expert bird-watchers. It includes comprehensive itineraries for day trips to some of the best birding areas in North America, and also offers information on habitats and seasonal bird sightings for each site. A checklist of species includes the best times for sightings and provides a quick reference guide with easy-to-follow maps that make planning trips simple.