Attracting Backyard Wildlife: A Guide for Nature-Lovers [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Bill Merilees (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1989

Voyageur Naturally is your one-stop resource for books about nature and country sports. We have one of the largest selections available for both adult and young adult and readers. Zoos and aquariums, natural history museums, gift shops, sporting book retailers, and other booksellers all appreciate the depth and quality of our series and our commitment to providing up-to-date information from leading naturalists and scientists.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Creating a backyard garden that will attract and sustain agreeable wildlife becomes a delightful task with this informative guide by Canadian naturalist Merilees. Songbird enthusiasts will learn how to construct singing stations and grouse dust baths; urbanites are told how to convert balconies into more modest habitats. For the adventurous, Merilees recommends methods to lure insects and spiders ("least understood, most overlooked . . . yet among the most fascinating"), butterflies (enchanted by sun, fragrant flowers and watery "seeps"), small mammals and shy yet beneficial reptiles and amphibians (garter snakes). He frankly acknowledges the potential problems (and offers workable solutions) of attracting such a gamut of visitors--property damage, disease transmission, disturbance of the natural balance--but argues convincingly that nurturing wildlife rewards the effort of planting native species or building bumblebee nest boxes. Though neither exhaustive nor without bias--opossum, deer and wild geese are mysteriously neglected, and the domestic cat is maligned--this guide is richly imaginative. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This fine book stands out from the crowd of books on this subject because it is not overwhelmingly concerned with birds. In additon to information on attracting wildlife, there are also tips on controlling pests and how to perform wildlife first aid and handle orphaned animals. A list of helpful agencies and organizations is included. Chapters cover seasonal cycles; bird and animal houses and feeders; and the best food mixes and plantings for everything from butterflies and mammals to hummingbirds. There may be no other book that describes recipes to attract moths, or has directions on how to construct a bumblebee nest box, bat box, toad and bat lights, and artificial burrows for toads and rabbits! Highly recommended.
- Henry T. Armistead, Thomas Jefferson Univ. Lib., Philadelphia
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 159 pages
• Publisher: Voyageur Pr (May 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0896581306
• ISBN-13: 978-0896581302
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #862,172 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Wildlife Information, June 23, 2000

By 

H. Quade "harryq" (Baltimore,MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Attracting Backyard Wildlife: A Guide for Nature-Lovers (Paperback)

This book "Backyard Wildlife-A Guide For Nature Lovers" is an excellent resource book on bringing,and conservating for wildlife. From birds to frogs,and even plants.

This is a great book if you love nature,and want to give wildlife a place eat and live. This is a really great book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource, September 6, 2003

By 

merrymousies (Waterford, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Attracting Backyard Wildlife: A Guide for Nature-Lovers (Paperback)

I've been building my library of wildlife gardening books and this one is definitely an integral part of it. One thing I especially like is the tables - for example there's one on common backyard insects and spiders - it tells what they are (e.g. crickets) then what their needs are (e.g. sunny locationwith loose cover) and then what's so neat about them (e.g. chorus on warm summer evenings). The book is broken out into sections such as Gardens for butterflies and bugs, gardens for small mammals, reptiles and amphibians; and then there are specific seasonal gardens for birds. There's even a chapter on wildlife for apartment dwellers. There are plans for building bird houses, setting up ponds etc. Very complete and lots of good clear writing.