Birds Of Toronto

This book is an introduction to the fascinating and increasingly popular pastime of bird-watching. Informative and colorfully illustrated, this attractive guide identifies those birds most likely to be seen in the city's back yards, streets and parks. Includes advice on the building of feeders and bird houses. An easy-to-use reference for the urban bird-watcher.

When Julia Zarankin saw her first red-winged blackbird at the age of thirty-five, she didn’t expect that it would change her life. Recently divorced and auditioning hobbies during a stressful career transition, she stumbled on birdwatching, initially out of curiosity for the strange breed of humans who wear multi-pocketed vests, carry spotting scopes and discuss the finer points of optics with disturbing fervour. What she never could have predicted was that she would become one of them. Not only would she come to identify proudly as a birder, but birding would ultimately lead her to find love, uncover a new language and lay down her roots. Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder tells the story of finding meaning in midlife through birds. The book follows the peregrinations of a narrator who learns more from birds than she ever anticipated, as she begins to realize that she herself is a migratory species: born in the former Soviet Union, growing up in Vancouver and Toronto, studying and working in the United States and living in Paris. Coming from a Russian immigrant family of concert pianists who believed that the outdoors were for “other people,” Julia Zarankin recounts the challenges and joys of unexpectedly discovering one’s wild side and finding one’s tribe in the unlikeliest of places. Zarankin’s thoughtful and witty anecdotes illuminate the joyful experience of a new discovery and the surprising pleasure to be found while standing still on the edge of a lake at six a.m. In addition to confirmed nature enthusiasts, this book will appeal to readers of literary memoir, offering keen insight on what it takes to find one’s place in the world.

"A writer's search for inspiration, beauty, and solace leads her to birds in this ... meditation on creativity and life"--

An insider’s guide to the best birding in Ontario, featuring thirty highly recommended sites. It’s no secret: Ontario’s rich natural landscape and diverse wildlife provides some of the most exceptional birdwatching Canada has to offer, attracting thousands of bird-lovers each year. In this user-friendly guidebook, local experts Mike and Ken Burrell show us why. Outlining thirty of their personal favorite spots at which to enjoy the province’s birding, they take readers on an avian tour from Point Pelee to Moosonee, Rainy River to Cornwall. Along the way, they draw from their extensive experience as professional birding guides and field biologists to share insider tips for spotting more than three hundred unique species, advice for exactly when and where to go for the best results, and helpful hints for finding rarely seen birds. Finally, they provide detailed instructions for accessing and enjoying each of the highly recommended sites. Ranging from beloved classics to remote hidden gems, many of these locales are within driving distance of Toronto, Hamilton, or Ottawa; some are even accessible on foot; and each is as spectacular as the last. With clear maps, beautiful color photos, and a wealth of useful information, Best Places to Bird in Ontario is an invaluable resource that will delight first-time and experienced birders alike.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.