Birdwatching

Judith Dunham
Discovery Communications, 2000. (Faradawn Distributors, Saxonwold,SA).
Price R159-95
ISBN: 1-56331-928-4
170x240mm, paperback, 224 pages

This is an American book and it focuses on bird-watching in the USA and Canada. This is a huge area, with a huge number (almost 50 million) people interested in birds. The bulk of the book explores 18 of the vast region's premier bird-watching locations, with excellent maps, ecological overviews, characteristic species, travel tips and prime spots. Among the featured locations are South Florida, Cape May, Southeast Arizona and Churchill, Manitoba. There are hundreds of outstanding photographs which should tempt many to plan a bird-watching trip. Baltimore oriole, bald eagle, northern flicker, roadrunner and burrowing owl are just a few of the avian delights.

The first quarter of the book (50 pages or so) is devoted to the craft of bird-watching, and will be useful to birders anywhere. Advice on preparing for the field, observation and identification techniques, and even 'birding on the road' make for good, informative reading.

This beautifully designed and presented book is highly recommended to anyone planning a visit to the USA (including Hawaii) or Canada, and who might have the opportunity to get out a see some birds. But be careful when you buy it, it may just tempt you to plan an entire birding holiday!

-Duncan Butchart-

Posted: Birds by CC Africa, Date: 22 November 2006