Showing posts with label birding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birding. Show all posts

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Book Review - BETTER BIRDING: Tips, Tools, & Concepts for the Field

BETTER BIRDING: Tips, Tools, & Concepts for the Field
It is a lot of fun to develop better birding skills through the years as it enhances your enjoyment. If you are able to study a bird and find field marks for comparison with a field guide, birding is fun. But if you cannot study a bird, and you get only a brief glimpse, birding can still be very fun. As they point out in this book, you have to get to know a bird, notice its behavior, listen for songs and even call notes, assess the habitat - all can lead you to identification. One of the multiple attractions of birding to me is being a "detective", observing and assessing the clues presented. You have to become good at observation - there is no substitute for that. This book states as its purpose:

"Our primary goal for this book is to help you develop a solid foundation for building your filed skills...By providing information about a bird's habits...a better chance of knowing a species..." And that is perhaps the crux of being a better birder - knowing the species.

Before I go any further let me mention the gorgeous photographs in this book (e.g. check out the breeding plumage Pacific Loon on page 28. Wow!). As a person who loves to look at beautiful birds, I enjoy this element of the book greatly.

If you do nothing else but read the Introduction to the book, you will learn things to help you identify more birds. I particularly like the caption for the Black-chinned Sparrow which points out that "many birds have a suite of other distinctive vocalizations that aid identification, including chip notes and flight calls". I have learned the value of these subtler vocalizations through the years - I tended to be dismissive of them as a younger birder. Now I know quite a few more birds just from recognizing the call notes - sometimes that is all you get!

After the Introduction, the book examines twenty four groups of birds in detail to give you a feel for getting to know a bird. I was particularly taken with the section on the Bristle-thighed Curlew. I spent the summers of 1979 and 1980 in remote NW Alaska (on the job) and I was incessantly searching for this bird among the many Whimbrels that occur there. After reading this section I realized I was not looking for the best field marks - you have to look at the streaked neck and breast contrasting with the plain belly and flanks - I did not know this! I saw a lot of great birds during those two summers so I can't complain, but I may have picked up a Bristle-thighed Curlew had I known what to look for.

All in all, I would say the book is a worthwhile addition to any birder's library. The photos alone are worth the price of the book!

I will conclude with a comment on an interesting section of the book (in the Introduction) - Why Birding is Cool. They pose the question: "What is it specifically that you like about birding?" They point out that birding is at least a pleasant activity and at times it is utterly thrilling. I agree wholeheartedly with that supposition. My thoughts are that what I love about birding is that birds are very, very beautiful to see, I enjoy the "detective" element of birding, and at times I love the "thrill of the chase" in finding an identifying Life Lister birds. It has been a life long passion that began at age 5 or 6 with the surprise discovery of the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (See The Passion for Birds Begins in a Wondrous Way) and has continued on for more than 50 years and 500+ species! 

Add this book to your birding library right now!

Feel free to post a comment below on the question: "What is it specifically that you like about birding?" Express yourself!

Friday, April 11, 2014

Birding Hotspots - Baxter's Hollow, Wisconsin


I recently got a newsletter from The Nature Conservancy in the mail called Wisconsin Update where they mentioned that they had added two parcels of land totaling 30 acres, to the Baxter's Hollow Preserve, bringing the total acreage protected at this "Baraboo Hills gem" to 5,615 acres (I found out later that this is the largest TNC holding in Wisconsin). When I saw this, I thought "Great!" because I love Baxter's Hollow. Right then and there I decided to write this post because if you are a birder, and you are in the neighborhood, especially in June, you should definitely head there (see maps shown below).

I would say the "glamour" bird to find at Baxter's Hollow is the Worm Eating Warbler. It is found, it seems like every year in late May-June in the area around the bridge over Otter Creek. Listen for the song (a trill), the bird is hard to see but is often heard. Two other notable species found in June (92 species of birds have been found breeding at Baxter's Hollow) are the Kentucky Warbler (heard loudly calling in the woods along with Acadian Flycatcher (explosive "peet-sah call)) and the Hooded Warbler. I personally enjoy hearing and seeing the pretty reliable and very beautiful Blue Winged Warbler (♫ Bee-buzz ♫) and the Lousiana Waterthrush (found singing along Otter Creek. Needless to say, brush up on your songs before you go - I recommend learning the Canada Warbler especially. Definitely keep your eyes out for the gorgeous Scarlet Tanager, I have seen them along the creek!

Enjoy your birding trip to this unique southern Wisconsin birding hotspot!

Make a virtual visit to Baxter's Hollow now:


For more information:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Baxter's Hollow

Here is a birding report from WisBirdNet:

5/21/14 Baxter's Hollow (near Sauk City)

Enjoyed the serenity of this amazing birding venue from 7 am - 9 am,
noting:

- 2 VEERY (calling and singing)

- 1 YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (singing)

Best of the rest:

- 3 Acadian Flycatcher (heard vocalizing with typical "pi-ZZA"

- 1 Tennessee Warbler (heard singing)

- 1 N. Waterthrush (heard singing)

- 1 Scarlet Tanager (heard calling….not singing)



A Male Worm-Eating Warbler Singing a Territorial Song





 Portrait of a Hooded Warbler, Singing





Male Scarlet Tanager Video



Baxter's Hollow Regional Map

Baxter's Hollow Map
Baxter's Hollow State Natural Area

Directions

  • Take US Hwy 12 northwest of Sauk City, WI for 7.5 miles to intersection with County Hwy C (across from Badger Army Ammunition Plant).
  • Turn left (west) on County C and travel 1.5 miles to intersection with Stones Pocket Road.
  • Turn right (north) on Stones Pocket; drive 1.25 miles where you will enter the preserve.
  • Continue north and park at one of the designated parking areas along the road.


Monday, March 10, 2014

Book Review - Rare Birds of North America


Rare Birds of North America by Steven N. G. Howell

Right about the time I received a review copy of this book from Princeton University Press, someone on the Wisconsin Bird Net listserv thought they might have seen a vagrant bird called a Jackdaw. I looked it up in the book, and sure enough it was there. Now in this case, the person had some idea of what the vagrant could be, so they could have used the Internet to find information. But what if you see a strange bird you think is a vagrant, and have no idea what it could be? That is where this book becomes a "must-have" for the library of serious birders. Here is a resource that you can turn to in that situation!

First of all, the book is beautifully illustrated with 275 color plates by Ian Lewington. Below you can see the illustrations for the Bahama Woodstar, that show the male, female, and juvenile birds along with a "duller" plumage and a closeup of the tail. All of course go towards helping you identify your mystery bird.


Bahama Woodstar illustrations - page 271 Rare Birds of North America
In addition to the illustrations, the book has a Field Identification section of text to aid in your identification. Each species also has sections discussing the occurrence(s) of the birds both in time and geographically along with text on Habitat and Behavior

The book covers 262 species from the Old World, the New World tropics, and the world's oceans. It has birds that have only been seen once, so it is a very thorough guide to the vagrants of North America.

In addition to the identification of vagrants, which forms the heart and soul of the book, there is an interesting educational component to the book. One aspect of this is a discussion as to the 'why' of vagrancy. In summary, these theories are:


  1. Drift
  2. Misorientation
  3. Overshooting
  4. Dispersal
  5. Association (with other birds of a closely related species)
  6. Disorientation
  7. False Vagrancy (they occur more frequently than we know)
There are some excellent maps included that help explain some of the theories - very nice.

And to continue your education on the topic of vagrancy there is a seventeen page section, complete with data laden tables, entitled Where Do North American Vagrants come From?

I personally think this book fills a much needed niche. A lot of filed guides have 'Accidental' species and that is what we have relied on in the past for identification of these birds. But now there is a comprehensive treatise on vagrants in North America and I recommend it for your library.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Bestselling Books - Birdwatching

Here is the Top 20 list of bestselling books in the Birdwatching category.

Mouse over cover images for more information on the book...


By Joe Hutto

Turkeys, Joe Hutto writes, have gotten a bad rap for being, well, stupid creatures. In his account of a year spent studying a flock of wild turkeys in the loblolly pine woods of Florida, he aims to improve their reputation.




By Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer

The latest edition will include 300 new art figures; unique subspecies maps never before seen in a field guide; extensive migration information overlaid on species maps; field-mark labels on all artwork; text updates to include new species; reorganization reflecting taxonomic changes in the bird community; organization, readability, and increased page count with a fresh new design.




By Workman Publishing

Audubon Songbirds is the best-selling calendar filled with day after day of the familiar avian friends...Each month’s spread features a large photograph at the top of the page and dozens of smaller ones in the grid below. Text offers extensive information about the featured species. It’s a sighting a day, in full color and dazzling detail.





By Richard Crossley

This stunningly illustrated book from acclaimed birder and photographer Richard Crossley revolutionizes field guide design by providing the first real-life approach to identification. Whether you are a beginner, expert, or anywhere in between, The Crossley ID Guide will vastly improve your ability to identify birds.




By Stacey O'Brien



When adopted, Wesley could not have survived in the wild. O’Brien watches him turn into a voracious carnivore (eating up to six mice a day), an avid communicator with whom she develops a language all their own, and eventually, a robust adult who preens in the mirror and objects to visits by any other males to "his" house. She makes important discoveries along the way, and tells how the playful, reasoning, and loving creature she set out to save ended up saving her.




By Donald Kroodsma

Get to know birds by ear with this engaging, one-of-a-kind book. Discover seventy-five unique species from Eastern and Central North America as you enjoy their  sounds  at the touch of a button-reproduced in high quality on the attached digital audio module-while reading vivid descriptions of their songs, calls, and related behaviors.


By David Allen Sibley

Compact and comprehensive, this new guide features 650 bird species plus regional populations found east of the Rocky Mountains. Accounts include stunningly accurate illustrations—more than 4,200 in total—with descriptive caption text pointing out the most important field marks. Each entry contains new text concerning frequency, nesting, behavior, food and feeding, voice description, and key identification features. Accounts also include brand-new maps created from information contributed by 110 regional experts across the continent.




By Workman Publishing

A brand-new gallery calendar from Audubon, Birds celebrates species from North America and around the world in hundreds of sumptuous photographs that display every fine detail and jewel-like hue.




By Richard LeMaster

"The bill chart is the greates[t] feature."




By Larry Sheehan

Through evocative writing and two hundred gorgeous color photographs, the authors of The Sporting Life and Living with Dogs capture the beauty, intrigue, and fun of birding—at home, in the country, in the city, and out in the field—with a special focus on the nostalgic memorabilia that signals devotion to birds of all kinds.




By National Audubon Society

At the heart of the guide is a set of 646 well-made color photographs whose subjects are organized by easily discerned characteristics...




By Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer

Every North American species—more than 960, including a new section on accidental birds...




By David Allen Sibley

Beautifully detailed illustrations—more than 6,600 in all—and descriptions of 810 species and 350 regional populations will enrich every birder's experience.




By Sally Roth

Conveying an enormous amount of information on attracting, feeding, and observing birds, the entries vary in length from half a page to multiple pages for broad or complex topics such as the benefits of fruiting plants (trees, blueberry shrubs, strawberry plants, etc.) as a source of both food and shelter.




By Jerry Ligouri and Pete Dunne


The ultimate must-have guide for identifying migrant raptors, Hawks at a Distance is the first volume to focus on distant raptors as they are truly seen in the field...new information and approaches for identifying twenty-nine species of raptor in various lighting situations and settings. The field guide's nineteen full-color portraits, 558 color photos, and 896 black-and-white images portray shapes and plumages for each species from all angles.




By Jonathan Alderfer and Paul Hess

No matter where you live—in the country, city, a high-rise or house—this handy guide will quench your curiosity about the feathered creatures in your midst. It features 150 of the most common and interesting birds likely to be observed at backyard feeders, nesting nearby or just migrating through. An indispensable visual index of all 150 species appears on the inside front and back laminated covers, making identification a snap.



By Roger Tory Peterson

The best-selling field guide since 1934, the Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America is now in its sixth edition. With clear, succinct accounts of more than 500 species, accurate and beautiful paintings on 159 color plates, and 512 maps annotated with extensive range information, this is the most up-to-date and accessible field guide for bird watchers in eastern North America


From Peterson Field Guide - Atlantic Alcids


Bird Songs Bible: The Complete, Illustrated Reference for North American Birds

By Les Beletskey

From the best-selling Bird Songs series comes the most comprehensive bird book ever published. Bird Songs Bible covers the sights and  sounds  of every single breeding bird in North America nearly 750 in all. This utterly distinctive package features a state-of-the-art digital audio player that brings to life the birds' songs and calls with the touch of a button. Written by a panel of ornithological experts and produced with the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this indispensable reference features lavish illustrations of the birds and their habitats, scientifically accurate range maps, and detailed information on distribution, habitat, behavior, and vocalizations.





Bird Feathers: A Guide to North American Species (Birds Ornithology)

By S. David Scott and Casey McFarland

Kindle Edition

This guide teaches birders to use the characteristics of wing types and feather morphology to identify feathers - not only by species but also by their place on the bird's body. The introductory chapters give a detailed overview of the feather - how feathers developed, the parts of a single feather, and the variety of types of feathers on a bird. In the feather identification section, over 400 colour photographs show feather samples from 379 bird species from all over North America. Along with the wing type of the species and a map showing its range, several types of feathers are included for each bird; each feather is labelled with its type and its size.




The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession

By Mark Obmascik

Kindle Edition

In this entertaining book, Obmascik, a journalist with the Denver Post, tells the stories of the three top contenders in the 1998 American Big Year: a wisecracking industrial roofing contractor from New Jersey who aims to break his previous record and win for a second time; a suave corporate chief executive from Colorado; and a 225-pound nuclear power plant software engineer from Maryland. Obmascik bases his story on post-competition interviews but writes so well that it sounds as if he had been there every step of the way... By not revealing the outcome until the end of the book, Obmascik keeps the reader guessing in this fun account of a whirlwind pursuit of birding fame.

Featured Post

Citizen Scientist - Reporting Leg Flags

My brother was recently in Florida and had occasion to photograph a shorebird in winter plumage that he could not immediately identify. Whil...