Attracting Birds to Your Backyard: 536 Ways to Create a Haven for Your Favorite Birds (Rodale Organic Gardening Books) [Paperback]

Sally Roth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 8, 2003 | Series: Rodale Organic Gardening Books

Anyone can create a beautiful and colorful backyard that will attract many different species of birds. This comprehensive, A-to-Z guide will help serious and casual gardeners alike choose the specific plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees for attracting some of the best-loved backyard birds, including bluebirds, warblers, goldfinches, and cardinals. Readers will discover top plants for birds, profiles of more than fifty common backyard birds, special bird feeding and planting tips to attract specific birds, and other features making this book invaluable to gardeners and bird lovers alike!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Our newest favorite book about attracting birds to the yard and garden. Sally Roth's clear, down-to-earth writing expresses her hands-on involvement and her passion."--Sharon Dunn and Michael Dunn, owners of Duncraft

"A must for anyone interested in birds. I love it."--Jim Brett, curator emeritus of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

"An entertaining approach to attracting and learning about birds. The alphabetical approach--from acorns to zinnias--and short entries make it a perfect book to pick up and browse at any time."--Don and Lillian Stokes, hosts of PBS's Birdwatch with Don and Lillian Stokes and authors of Stokes Field Guides to Birds

"Attracting Birds to Your Backyard provides all the essential techniques and information for success in feeding, housing, and gardening for birds. Sally Roth has done a great service to backyard bird watchers."--Bill Thompson III, editor of Bird Watcher's Digest and author of Birdwatching for Dummies

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Attracting Birds to Your Backyard

Discover the pleasures of watching beautiful songbirds like goldfinches and cardinals with Attracting Birds to Your Backyard. You'll be delighted at how easy and fun it is to attract birds to your yard!

Here is what reviewers say about Attracting Birds to Your Backyard:

"Our newest favorite book about attracting birds to the yard and garden. Sally Roth's clear, down-to-earth writing expresses her hands-on involvement and her passion."--Sharon Dunn and Michael Dunn, owners of Duncraft

"A must for anyone interested in birds. I love it."--Jim Brett, curator emeritus of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary

"An entertaining approach to attracting and learning about birds. The alphabetical approach -- from acorns to zinnias -- and short entries make it a perfect book to pick up and browse at any time." --Don and Lillian Stokes, hosts of PBS's Birdwatch with Don and Lillian Stokes and authors of Stokes Field Guides to Birds

"Attracting Birds to Your Backyard provides all the essential techniques and information for success in feeding, housing, and gardening for birds. Sally Roth has done a great service to backyard bird watchers."--Bill Thompson III, editor of Bird Watcher's Digest and author of Bird Watching for Dummies

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Books (February 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0875968929
• ISBN-13: 978-0875968926
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,944 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Pets & Animal Care > Birds

More About the Author

Sally Roth is a lifelong naturalist and gardener and is the author of Natural Landscaping and Taylor's Guide to Ornamental Grasses. She lives in New Harmony, Indiana.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

122 of 122 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Something for everyone ... April 16, 2000

By Kat A.

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Whether you're a birder or a gardener, or like me, a little of both, you'll love this book! I'm a novice birder and I bought this book hoping to find ideas about feeding and gardening for birds. I found what I was looking for and then some. This book has refreshing ideas, is user-friendly, humorous and practical. You'll learn interesting facts about some of our most common birds, identifying them, attracting them and how to landscape to keep them coming back. This is truly one of the most delightful books I've read this year. In fact, I've purchased additional copies as gifts for family members. It's definitely a book to keep in your library to refer to over-and-over again. It's A-to-Z reference and color illustrations are extremely helpful. Ms. Roth has done a superb job.

59 of 60 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Gardeners as Well as Birders September 22, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This is a beautifully illustrated book that contains great information for gardeners as well as birders. The information about the various flowers, trees, and shrubs that attract birds is very useful. Instructions for building bird baths, water pools, shelters, and other bird attractions are included. The descriptions of the birds and their behavior make the book a marvelous reference. Well done!! A wealth of information and a delight to read.

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for getting started, then for keeping you going!! May 14, 2005

By C. Wallis Davenport

Format:Hardcover

My parents got me this book a few years back when I expressed an interested in attracting birds and butterflies to my yard. Who knew that I was beginning on a whole new way of living?

This book combines it all - a whole new way of thinking in its pages, laid out in A-Z format. There are things to do in every season, in every kind of weather, for every kind of person. If you like to bake, there are recipe for bird muffins! If you're a handiman - there are patterns for birdhouses! If you like to play in the mud - there's a special way to mix mud for your birds! If you have children - there are even ideas for things to do with your kids to get them excited about birds in the yard!

I just adore this book, and I refer to it all the time. In the fall and winter, I pick it up for ideas to keep the birds warm and happy during the lean months, as well as planning my spring garden for the springtime birds. I'd say this is also a good book for flower gardeners, as well. I'm not one of those vegetable gardeners, but I do enjoy my flower gardens - especially now that, with the help of Roth's book, I can make good decisions on which flowers will attract the most birds.

There is also good information about bird species in here (all in alphabetical order, of course!). She even tells you a bit about which birds are friendly and can be tamed to eat in the palm of your hand.

I can't say enough good things about this wonderful book. It has truly changed the landscape of my yard, from one of just grass and trees, to one blooming with flowers and flying with birds all throughout the seasons. Oh, yes, and there are butterflies, too.

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This one's a keeper! October 31, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This book is extremely reader friendly. I find myself looking it through it frequently and finding something new and useful each time. It's set up in such a way to make finding what you're looking for very easy. Great projects for birdfeeding. I love this book!

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars YOU CAN TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS! February 5, 2006

By D. Blankenship HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

I have been birding for well over 40 years now, have literally hundreds of books on the subject and spend a great deal of time in pursuit of this wonderful hobby. I am also an avid gardener and maintain a very bird friendly acreage. I recently purchased this book and I have to admit, right from the start, I actually learned things I did not know, got great ideas and had a wonderful time reading to boot. What more could you want. Ms. Roth has given us some wonderful illustrations and a text which is enjoyable, humerous and easy to follow. I am absolutely delighted to have added this one to my collection. The book is useful for anyone interesting in birds, nature, gardening or the simple pleasure of reading a good, well researched book. Recommend this one highly.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't be better--absolutely wonderful!!! January 20, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This book is loaded with practical info. about the most prevalent back-yard birds, including the type of food they like, nesting preferences etc., as well as key elements of their behavior. There are many wonderful suggestions for attracting birds and detailed instructions for implementing them, including wonderful & fun recipes. This is what the Audabon Backyard Bird Garden book should have been but isn't--so buy this one instead--useful, fun to read as well as to implement, wonderfully organized, and visually very attractive--a real winner!!!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, easy to read, unique ideas. June 21, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This book is great for the beginner bird-watcher or an old pro. The bird illustrations are clear and amazingly accurate. In addition, the author provides bird attracting basics and includes "recipes" that can be prepared as a family activity to provide a learning experience for children.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic book for the beginner February 1, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I bought this book without any prior knowledge of birding and it has helped so much. It is clear and concise, covers a whole range of topics (including different seeds and homemade recipes and birdhouse plans), and provides information about many of the more common species of birds.