The Birdwatcher S Companion

Twitchers, birders, ornithologists and garden-tickers: there are many species of birdwatcher, and they’re all catered for by this unique book. From the serious (why vultures are dying out in Asia) to the bizarre (the parrot that can read minds); the informative (why waxwings have waxy wings) to the completely ridiculous (the avian footballing XI, starring Bobby Moorhen and Jimmy Grebes), 'The Birdwatcher’s Companion' takes the reader through a veritable aviary of notes, quotes, facts and stats. But 'The Birdwatcher’s Companion' doesn’t just contain fascinating snippets of information, it also offers extracts from the finest writing about birds over the centuries. Gilbert White shares space with Chaucer, while Flora Thompson nestles up to DH Lawrence. And like all the other books in the 'Companion' series, there’s a magnificent piece of statistical trivia to match each page number. The market for this book is huge: Britons are birdwatching like never before. The RSPB alone has over one million members, while sales of garden bird food topped the £100 million mark last year. Of the three leading newsstand wildlife magazines, two are about birds, and the ratings for Bill Oddie’s recent garden wildlife show, with its particular focus on birds, topped those of many soap operas.

For amateurs and seasoned birders, this quintessential A to Z guide provides accounts of the basic elements of bird life, as well as easy-to-access information on such subjects as physiology and anatomy, terms and jargon, definitions and etymology, and ornithological groupings.

Embrace your love of birdwatching, every day of the year! By nature, bird lovers are naturalists and collectors, and you know how easy it is to devote hours upon hours of time—a lifetime, in fact—to your hobby. Birdwatcher’s Daily Companion is a fun, sophisticated way to be newly inspired, every day of the year. Inside is insight into everything from how to identify look alike species to planting a hummingbird garden, planning birding travel, and so much more. Throughout the birdwatcher’s year, you’ll find: Mondays / bird-finding tips and techniques Tuesdays / all about species identification Wednesdays / ideas for birding excursions and travel Thursdays / learn to find and attract birds to your backyard Fridays / birds in history and mythology Saturdays & Sundays / birding projects and activities

The book contains illustrated accounts with stunning line darawings and supplemented with margin notes on equipment, birding techniques, intriguing biological trivia and travel information.

THE BESTSELLING BIRDWATCHING CLASSIC - 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION 'A delightful ode to the wild world outside the kitchen window - leaves you with the warm feeling that a shared love conquers all.' The Daily Telegraph 'A witty, perceptive book; thoughtful, instructive and full of simple wisdom.' The Daily Mail Look out the window. See a bird. Enjoy it. CONGRATULATIONS! You are now a bad birdwatcher. Anyone who has ever gazed up at the sky or stared out of the window knows something about birds. In this fun, eye-opening and inspiring book, award-winning nature writer Simon Barnes paints a riveting picture of how birdwatching has framed his life and can help us all to a better understanding of our place on this planet. How to be a Bad Birdwatcher shows why birdwatching is not the preserve of twitchers, but one of the simplest, cheapest and most rewarding pastimes around.

Covers the world of birds in detail and gives information on the techniques of successful birdwatching with color and black and white illustrations.

With over 1,250 alphabetically arranged entries, this is a comprehensive encyclopedic handbook for all lovers of birdlife in the United States and Canada. Illustrated with accurate and beautifully detailed drawings, this easy-to-use reference guide features complete lists of species and bird families, essays on conservation, bird anatomy, and behavior, and much more.