14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love this book!, May 26, 2009
This review is from: Backyard Bird Secrets for Every Season: Attract a Variety of Nesting, Feeding, and Singing Birds Year-Round (Paperback)
Though we've always had a suet block hanging out back, and though I love seeing the cardinals and bluejays in the trees in our yard, I'm no birder. In fact, beyond those birds--and woodpeckers, goldfinch, and sparrows--I think I'd be hard-pressed to identify any other bird species, even those in my native upstate NY.
I get by with two basic bird identification books. I saw this book at Border's and bought it on a whim. My thought was to dip into it from time to time, reading little tidbits. But I can't put it down! I have read it straight through and am now almost at the end. It's fired up my enthusiasm to set out more feeders, and reassured me that I can do it without breaking the bank.
In fact, Ms. Roth gives several recipes for homemade bird mixtures and ideas of how to buy food inexpensively. She prides herself on her penny-pinching streak, and gives a lot of information on achieving good results (bird food, bird houses, flowers/bushes/trees) without spending a fortune at the fancy bird stores or nurseries.
She highlights several species you're likely to find in your backyard...or can entice to your backyard by putting out the right food and setting up the right landscape for them.
I'm finding this book a more enjoyable read than I'd anticipated, as well as a good reference book I can refer back to. I must admit her writing is a bit cutesy for me. Each section begins with some non-bird-related subject, which she then relates back to birding, so I thought a few times that 4 or 5 paragraphs could have been cut. But that's easy to overlook and it's not excessive.
This book is more folksy than scientific. But make no mistake: Ms. Roth is clearly an expert, with decades of experience. She's also done her research.
I would recommend this for novice to somewhat experienced birdwatchers, as a companion to a more straightforward field book that features more photos of each bird, male and female. (The one I like--definitely for the novice--is Stokes Beginner's Guide to Birds: Eastern Region (Stokes Field Guide Series).
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent and charming, February 17, 2009
This review is from: Backyard Bird Secrets for Every Season: Attract a Variety of Nesting, Feeding, and Singing Birds Year-Round (Paperback)
Right from the beginning, this book caught my attention. The author is a wonderful writer, and makes what could be a dull subject, very interesting. She has many tips on taking care of the birds. I simply adore this book!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Backyard Bird Secrets, June 25, 2009
This review is from: Backyard Bird Secrets for Every Season: Attract a Variety of Nesting, Feeding, and Singing Birds Year-Round (Paperback)
I purchased this book for my husband for Father's Day. He loved it!! So much information on nutrition, housing, etc. I bought two books from Amazon for the same price as one book from Rodale. I will always check Amazon before ordering books from someplace else.
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