The Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State [Hardcover]

Robert F. Andrle (Editor), Janet R. Carroll (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1988

This generously illustrated, easy-to-use reference gives instant information on 238 birds that are native to New York State. The core of the atlas is a series of accounts of each species, each account including a distribution map with possible, probable, or confirmed breeding. Facing each map is an explanatory page of text that covers a number of topics: abundance, historical and current distirbution, habitat, and nest description and location. On the same page is an illustration of the bird, often with its nest and young.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Cornell Univ Pr; 1st Edition. edition (August 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801416914
• ISBN-13: 978-0801416910
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.8 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,917,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid reference of breeding distributions, August 23, 2008

By 

Soleglad (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State (Hardcover)

Basics: 1988, hardcover, 551 pages, 240 species with breeding maps

This atlas is a good reference to all birds found to be potentially breeding in New York between 1980 and 1985. To those familiar with an atlas project, the focus of the book is data collection and documentation. It is not meant to be any sort of identification guide (see above review). However, to comment on the included artwork, each species account is accompanied by a very good black-and-white line drawing. These illustrations, often including the nest, are as equally good or better than most other atlases I've examined.

The state map for each bird is outlined on a full, large page. Within the state, one of three coded squares (blocks) identifies if the predefined area was found to harbor a breeding bird. The breeding codes were categorized as possible, probable, or confirmed. In all, 5,335 blocks were created to cover New York. Each was 5 x 5km and all but 12 were surveyed. Raw counts are given for the number of blocks in which the bird was potentially breeding along with raw counts (and percentages) for each of the three breeding codes.

The page of text for each bird includes the natural history of the species, such as the timing of spring returns, the distribution of the breeding range, and geographic boundaries. The breeding habitat and nesting preferences are also described in length. A good description is also given of the nest construction.

This book includes a few other features such as ten specialized maps of New York (e.g., forest types, forest coverage, river systems, ecozones, etc.); an appendix of ecozones with their descriptions; natural ecological communities; and, a table of the breeding season for each bird. This breeding season table includes data on egg dates, incubation duration, nesting duration, fledglings, and other information. A list of nearly 500 references is also included.

Lastly, a list of over 4,000 names is included for those who volunteered their field time and skills for the creation of this book. - (written by Jack at Avian Review / Avian Books, August 2008)

1) Atlas of Breeding Birds in New Hampshire by Ross
2) The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Vermont by Laughlin
3) Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia by Robbins
4) Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania by Brauning
5) Atlas of Breeding Birds of the Maritime Provinces by Erskine
6) The Summer Atlas of North American Birds by Price
7) Atlas of Wintering North American Birds by Root

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Atlas is indepth but illustrations lacking, April 20, 2005

By 

N. Couture (Troy, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State (Hardcover)

I was very disappointed in the black and white illustrations of the birds. This is key in identifying the species. Although the text of the atlas has very indepth descriptions and the maps show where the bird can be found in the state, many of the black and white illustrations are hard to make out and will make it difficult in identifying the bird. Too bad.