We link to vendors to help you find relevant products . If you buy from one of our links , we may pull in a direction .
Whether you are an avid birdwatcher or aspire to be one , it ’s the perfect time to buy a species guide . The exciting new “ National Audubon Society Birds of North America ” is nowavailable via Amazon .
From the Black - bellied Whistling Duck , with its red throwaway and pinkish legs , to Morelet ’s Seedeater , the tiny buff darling of the Rio Grande Valley , you ’ll find descriptions of over 800 North American mintage in this comprehensive volume .
Vermilion Flycatcher. Photo © Glen Bartley/VIREO. Used with permission.
In this clause , we conduct an in - depth reassessment of the National Audubon Society ’s most authoritative birding guide to date .
Let ’s see what ’s between the covers !
About the Society
Since 1905 , the National Audubon Society has operated as a nonprofit that seeks to protect wildlife and keep natural home ground . The members ’ primary focussing is birds of North America .
Over the years , the constitution has strived to educate the public and mold public insurance by increasing its body of members through local chapter , make a meshing of nature center and chancel , publishing informative guide , disperse nature programme , developing interactive apps , and present outstanding preservation and environmental efforts .
In keeping with its commission , the Society has updated several of its classic guides with the publishing of an challenging Modern work , the “ National Audubon Society Birds of North America . ”
Vermilion Flycatcher. Photo © Glen Bartley/VIREO. Used with permission.
This is an all - inclusive resourcefulness that comprise cloth from “ The Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding ” ( 1983 ) , “ National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds : Eastern Region ” ( 1994 ) , and “ National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds : Western Region ” ( 1994 ) .
This raw work is the collaborative drive of a prestigious chemical group of scientist and scholars who specialise in biota and taxonomy , expert observers and photographers , and the designers who arrange the material in a running and visually appealing form for publication .
First Impressions
I do it to review books . I ’m old school day , and the smell of smart ink on newspaper still thrills me .
If you read my inspection , you know that I like to jump aright into the midsection to form an initial impression before my deep nose dive .
This time , when I opened the book , my first glimpse fell upon a glorious Red - bob Hawk swoop down upon its target .
I was drawn in at once , and soon discover a user - friendly format with a well-to-do balance of textual matter and exposure , and a handy ribbon bookmarker to hold my place for subsequently .
Cover to Cover
This latest Audubon reference workplace is “ flexibound , ” with a top that is heavier than a paperback , but pliable , unlike a hardcover . As this category does n’t exist on many shopping web site , you may see it list as a hardback .
It measures 7.38 by 1.67 by 9.45 inches and consider a hefty 3.85 Ezra Pound . There are 912 glossy varlet and over 3,500 color photos .
The avian coinage are heel by taxonomic order , as per the American Ornithological Society . Similar species are grouped and presented in the sequence in which they develop on worldly concern .
So , the species description begin with the Anseriformes , or waterfowl , and close with the Passeriformes , or roost mintage , a subgroup of which are the songbirds .
Color coding on the Sir Frederick Handley Page edges aids in quick citation .
As more is learned about animals , taxonomy is continually updated . This new volume reflects the most current knowledge at the time of publication .
What’s In Store
The reader ’s avian escapade begins with a tabular array of contents that lists avian families , rather of taxonomic order , which is nifty , because if you ’re like me , you acknowledge your feather friends by their vulgar names .
Brief chomp of introductory information explain the Society ’s commission , how mintage are organized , named , and measured , where they hold out , territories , and migrant habits .
lector will detect an open invitation to enjoy the free Audubon Bird Guide app , a useful tool for field observation .
Further along there are general sections on conduct , feed , flying , and communicating , as well as designation , recording sightings , appropriate reflexion practice , and conservation .
The introductory material conclude with some coinage - specific section on “ Bird Biology Topics ” such as predatory behavior , coloration , and intelligence .
Do n’t skip this prefatory material !
It ’s the pathfinder to the guide , and pop the question not only an excellent wildlife overview , but provides key to the format to follow .
Robust Contents
Every first appearance provides the taxonomic order , crime syndicate , common name , and Romance name of a species .
For example , Passeriformes – Passerines , Western Kingbird , Tyrannus verticalis .
text edition sections are broken into the following category : Description , Voice , Nesting , Habitat , Range , Similar Species , and Conservation . You will chance this information presented systematically throughout .
The Conservation portion employs a pictorial key to mark a species ’ ranking from an environmental point of view . designation range from “ Least business concern ” to “ Extinct , ” with five categories in between .
In accession , you ’ll determine a small range function denoting where a species is likely to be found as a resident , in the summer , in the winter , during migration , and seldom .
The guide come up full round with the first one , “ Bird Families . ” Here the referee finds shortsighted synopses of group of related to species listed by order and common name , such as “ Columbidae – Pigeons and Doves . ”
I recommend reading this segment decent after the introductory material , as it completes the reader ’s general noesis and forms a foundation for the exploration of individual species .
An index is next , with cross - reference common and Latin names , and at long last , an extensive inclination of photo credits .
Impressive and Informative
With a resource like this , there ’s always something new to discover .
For example , in the tabular array of contents I found “ Goatsuckers , ” a family name with which I was unfamiliar . By interpret “ Biology Topics ” and specific accounting entry of various species , I soon became acquainted with these nocturnal predators .
My last bird book was a pocket field guide that had coloration drawing instead of exposure . I stockpile it with me until it was batter and rubber - banded together .
The new “ National Audubon Society Birds of North America ” is not intend to be a portable field guide .
Instead , it is the consummate desk character reference to North American razz , with high - caliber authentic representations of avian species , and as such , I give it high marks .
National Audubon Society Birds of North America
To supply “ National Audubon Society Birds of North America ” to your bookshelf , maneuver to Amazon to pick up your transcript now .
If you regain this article instructive , you may notice the follow revue ofgardening - bear on booksuseful :
© inquire the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more item . Product picture via Knopf . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Nan Schiller
