Customer Reviews

The Audubon Society Guide to Attracting Birds: Creating Natural Habitats for Properties Large and Small

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What I love most about this book is that it combines everything that a homeowner, landowner, bird watcher needs to attract birds to their surroundings. After collecting many different books on bird feeding, gardening for birds, landscaping for birds and managing land for birds, I am thrilled to be able to recommend a book that "has-it-all".

With chapters that address forest, grassland and shrubland management, a landowner will find thorough advice on how to look at their property and the larger surrounding landscape in terms of bird habitat. Kress does not ignore the homeowner's interest in creating a backyard sanctuary for birds either. Highlights include a wonderful list of bird attracting perennials and annuals, a plethora of bird feeder designs, and a chapter on healthy habits to exercise in your yard and neighborhood.

The book has plant, tree and shrub recommendations by region for the entire United States complimented simply by pen & ink drawings. The drawings are simple and meant to give the reader a visual of the leaves, fruits and general shape of the plant. This guide should not be used as a field guide to identifying plants, trees, shrubs or birds. This book is a "guide to attracting birds" and should not be used in place of a true field guide to birds or plants. The lengthy resource list in the appendix will help readers find those field guides needed for identification and much more.

As a conservation educator, I recommend this book for bird enthusiasts, naturalists, landowners and gardeners. It connects our love of birds with our passion for the land while encouraging responsible stewardship of the natural world around us.

Very thorough reference for anyone looking to provide a backyard habitat for local birds. Things people as individuals can do. Plantings, feeds, birdhouses, it's all here. Writig style clear and consise.

This is a great book. It is complete, clear, full of valuable information, and nicely illustrated. The title is accurate; the book would be useful to a wide range of folks--from individuals with small yards to landscape managers in places with large properties.

This book condenses from previous Audubon publications and adds a wealth of new information as well. While it is an impressive effort, I have to wonder why such crude illustrations? Especially when it comes to bird & plant identification. Anyway, the price of admission to Mr. Kress' writings is entirely worth it. Within a week I've attracted Orioles and Bluebirds....Amazing! I just wish the visuals were as clear as the writing.

Whether you are a conservationist, a hobbyist, a teacher, or a gardener-- this book has relevant information for you. Also contains a very detailed and useful 'native plants' planting list for each of the regions. Pages upon pages of charts detailing this in an easy to use, reference book type format.

Additionally, graphics are very good-- shows how to build hundreds of different birdhouses/shelters, ponds/baths, etc. Dozens of projects from the Harry Homeowner to the carpenter.

A very good reference book, I will absolutely be referring this to friends and family interested in birding, feeding birds, improving their properties, or being eco-friendly. I will additionally be using it at work for restoration construction and engineering projects.