Review by Choice Review
As the title suggests, Better Birding focuses on improving skills and becoming a "good birder." Aimed at advanced birders, the book offers new ways to think about identifying selected groups of species. It focuses on only 24 groups of North American birds, so it is by no means comprehensive. Armistead (American Birding Assoc.; Drexel Univ.) and Sullivan (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) emphasize a holistic approach toward identification and strongly encourage spending time observing and understanding a species. In addition to typical field marks, behavioral cues and habitat are discussed. Each chapter includes general information about the group in question, along with a "Hints and Considerations" section for differentiating species and an in-depth "Identification" section. Species profiles and a list of references follow. This is a lovely book; it is profusely illustrated with color photographs, a number of which show various views of similar bird species in flight on two-page spreads. A similar title is Kaufman Field Guide to Advanced Birding, by Kenn Kaufman (CH, Sep'11, 49-0269), which is more comprehensive in its coverage of the more problematic groups of birds to identify. Summing Up: Recommended. All natural history library collections. --Chad E. Buckley, Illinois State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
By using nine general groups of North American birds to offer advice on sorting among the species possibilities, the editors' plan is to guide people to be better birders, no matter which other birds they observe even those groups and species not included here. The very readable text is dense and replete with species information and advice on what one can see by taking a wider perspective while birding. Much of the text is about behavior, habitat, and GISS a general impression of shape and size. The entries include sidebars of natural history or taxonomic notes, often about relationships among species or specific characteristics of this group. Vagrant species are sometimes included because their characteristics are often confusing to many bird-watchers. The hundreds of photographs are interspersed with lovely portraits at the beginning of each group or subgroup. Some groups are augmented with double-page composite images of several similar species in flight in appropriate perspective. The differences one can see at a distance are noted in the long captions. For example, the first subgroup of Coastal Birds are the eiders. The elegant photo of a male Pacific Common Eider precedes general information about this subgroup, photos and discussion of plumage variation, hints and considerations when observing this subgroup, identification characteristics of the four eider species, and the double-page composite spread of the four species flying close by and at a distance against a seascape. Each subgroup concludes with a list of references. Though not a field guide, this is a well-produced reference for the novice and expert birder alike and a desirable addition to most libraries.--Scarth, Linda Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
In this instructive text, expert birders -Armistead (American Birding Assn.; research associate, ornithology dept., Academy of Natural Sciences, Drexel Univ.) and Sullivan (photo editor, Birds of North America Online, Cornell Lab of Ornithology) recommend a wide-angle approach to improving birding skills as opposed to a narrow "feather-by-feather" method. According to the authors, accomplished birders "zoom out" and practice GISS, a method in which they consider the general impression, size, and shape of the bird. They make use of other "big picture" traits as well, including habitat, range, and seasonability. The book features 24 bird species from the continental United States and Canada. The selected populations are intended to help readers gain knowledge in the authors' techniques. Not included are common birds such as the American robin or Northern cardinal, which are easily identified by nearly everyone. Each chapter provides background on the species, lifespan, and breeding habits, and a "Focus On" section with a brief list of the most pertinent traits on which to concentrate when learning about a particular group. Especially valuable are the many photographs showing similar birds for comparison, including pictures of the feathered creatures perching or standing, in the water, or in flight. Providing a foundation to improve readers' birdwatching abilities, the authors furthermore explain why birding is cool. VERDICT Recommended for all readers who wish to become better birders.-Dave Pugl, Ela Area P.L., Lake Zurich, IL © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
