Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 224 pages
- Published by: National Geographic October 30, 2007
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 1426201354
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-1426201356
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Book Dimensions:
9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
- Weighs: 1 pounds
Product Description
Birding is the fastest growing wildlife-related outdoor activity in the U.S., with at least a million new birders a year estimated to join an already robust group some eighty million strong. For these beginning and intermediate enthusiasts,
National Geographic Birding Essentials is a must. Comprehensive and authoritative, yet engaging and user-friendly, it teaches readers how to begin and improve their birding what to look and listen for and how to make sense of what they see and hear. A unique visual component shows actual field guide pages and how to read them, while another compares the same bird in photography versus artwork and explains how to use both for species identification. National Geographic's quality photography is a major highlight of the book, supplemented by pencil drawings and full-color maps to give the novice and intermediate birder a full range of visual information.
Field Ornithologists Jonathan Alderfer and Jon Dunn have crafted a masterful guide, striking just the right balance of practical information and reader-friendly tone. Chapters discuss the pleasures of birding, equipment needed, how to read range maps, birds' physical features, how to identify birds, identification challenges, bird classification and suggested books and journals for building a fine birding library.
National Geographic has established a stellar reputation among birders with our blockbuster
Field Guide to the Birds of North America. The tradition continues as we serve an entry-level market that continually requirements the helpful, up-to-the-minute information found in
National Geographic Birding Essentials.
About The Author
Jonathan Alderfer is chief consultant for the National Geographic Birding Program and a widely published author and field guide illustrator. Most recently, he was co-author of the
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition (Fall 2006).
Jon L. Dunn is an expert on the identification and distribution of North American birds. He has a long history with the
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, having served as chief consultant on four previous editions and co-author on the fifth edition (Fall 2006).
Reader ReviewsNational Geographic's Birding Essentials has a lot of great information. However, it is a bit hit and miss (mostly hit), and I'll try to explain why. First, the "birding essentials" part is debatable. External bird anatomy is a good example here. Knowing which feather is "P3" on a variety of species cannot be put in the "essential" category. There is detail here that appears more appropriate for an ornithology book. Granted, this detail is presented very nicely: great illustrations and explanations. But essential? Most birders in this country do not use the National Geographic Birding Field Guide. They use one of the other well-know guides: Sibley, Peterson, Audubon, or the Golden Guide. Yet, in this primer, other than noting that other guides exist, nothing was mentioned. At the very least, it would have been appropriate to have a table detailing characteristics of these various popular guides. They aren't even mentioned by name. The section on binoculars was puzzling. I read Birding Essentials as a book more for beginners, and less for experienced birders (although I admit to learning a few things). Yet the authors really seemed to be promoting binoculars in the $1000 range. Why didn't they just use gold leaf on the cover? It is the rare beginning birder that shells out $1000 for a pair of binoculars. In fact, none of mine even approach the $200 point. Yet I've had great satisfaction watching the behavior of birds. One of the wonders of birding is that you don't need a SUV, particular clothes, a $1000 pair of binocs, and lessons. Birding truly is open to all. With all this said, in general, I liked this book, and thought it a well-priced volume to give as a gift to my birding friends. It is inexpensive and well-done (you'll save some money for those binoculars). It summarizes a LOT of information, it maintains the tradition of National Geographic"s amazing photographs, and, if you don't have an ornithology text laying around, it has detail as well. It is not overly large. You won't carry it around all day, but you'll throw it in the car. I can see a trip leader carrying a copy around to help with explanations. Enjoy your time outside.
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