Backyard Birds of California: How to Identify and Attract the Top 25 Birds [Paperback]

Bill Fenimore (Author)

Book Description

Series: Backyard Birds Of...

BACKYARD BIRDS IS AN EXCITING SERIES of books that explores the top twenty-five backyard birds most commonly found in each state. It includes a profiled size scale that allows the reader to quickly identify the correct bird, and each bird entry is accompanied by a stunning color photograph and specific description, including identification marks, behavior, habitat, and nesting style-even the song the bird makes! As an added feature, author Bill Fenimore also provides expert tips for building the ultimate backyard bird sanctuary, from creating birdbaths and planting proper foliage to offering a bird's favorite foods.

Fenimore was awarded the Ludlow Griscom Award, the American Birding Association's highest honor.

Bird-watching is one of the most popular activities in the United States, with approximately fifty-one million bird-watchers nationwide.

Bird-watching is a $6 million business.

More than $400 million is spent each year on bird-related magazines and books.

The series will soon include all fifty states.

Author is a franchisee of Wild Bird Center, which has more than eighty locations in twenty-nine states.

Bill Fenimore is owner of the National Best Environmental Stewardship Award-winning Wild Bird Center franchise in Layton, Utah. He conducts seminars and workshops that educate the public about birds and their critical habitat needs, and he leads birding field trips for clients from around the globe.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Backyard Birds of California is a handy expert guide to identifying, attracting, and providing habitat for the top 25 wild birds most likely to be seen in yards and neighborhoods throughout California. Here is everything you need to know about creating the ultimate backyard bird sanctuary.

Includes:

u Bird identification marks

u Specific bird behavior

u Nesting and migration patterns

u Types of birdsongs

u Tips on bird baths and favorite bird foods

u Plants and trees to attract specific birds

u Easy bird index

Bill Fenimore has been an avid birder for the past fifty years. He leads birding trips throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, and he writes about birds and the outdoors. He is the owner of a National Best Environmental Stewardship Award-winning Wild Bird Center.

About the Author

Author Bio: Bill Fenimore is owner of the National Best Environmental Stewardship Award-winning Wild Bird Center franchise in Layton, Utah. He conducts seminars and workshops educating the public about birds and their critical habitat needs, and he leads birding field trips for clients from around the globe.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Gibbs Smith; Ill edition (March 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423603486
• ISBN-13: 978-1423603481
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 6.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #197,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #7 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Ornithology
  • #28 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Americas > United States > State & Local
  • #39 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > General

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A birder's beginning..., November 20, 2008

By 

Howard Clark Jr. (Clovis, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Backyard Birds of California: How to Identify and Attract the Top 25 Birds (Paperback)

One of the many "Backyard Bird" series, this is a handy little volume for backyard birders. Only 25 birds are described, all of which represent the most common species usually found in urban or suburban backyards, including the mockingbird, scrub jay, house sparrow, mourning dove, house finch, and three species of hummingbirds. In the introduction, the author provides details on bird identification and what "backyard habitat" provides for birds: cover, shelter, food, and water. For each bird, a page-long species account is provided along with a range map and a color photograph. Along with the account we also see a small diagram comparing the size of the bird relative to other birds (i.e., is it hummingbird-sized, or crow-sized?). The end of the book contains several useful discussions regarding birds, such as bird feeder information, bird-feeding preferences by species, predator threats (i.e., cats!), how to call birds in by "pishing," nest box ideas, and what backyard plants are best for attracting birds. The author recommends keeping a backyard bird list and to simply enjoy birding for what it is: a wildlife window and an opportunity to appreciate nature. The book shouldn't be the only field guide available to backyard birders. Within a few months of backyard bird watching, the attentive birder should start seeing species not in the book, and will have to eventually move on to more regional bird guides. But, the volume makes a nice "starter-kit" and is suitable for casual observers or the person that wants to know "what the heck is that bird I always see in my backyard?"

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bird book helps to know your birds, January 9, 2010

By 

S. Lucia "jazz girl" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Backyard Birds of California: How to Identify and Attract the Top 25 Birds (Paperback)

This book was very helpful to learn about the different species of birds that I see in my area. I can look them up & identify the type of bird & what attracts them. I recommend it to anyone who's interested in bird watching.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Backyard Birds of California: How to Identify and Attract the Top 25 Birds [Paperback], April 16, 2011

By 

GEORGE2 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Backyard Birds of California: How to Identify and Attract the Top 25 Birds (Paperback)

Recently retiring from construction, I have had the opportunity to see much of California's wildlife and vegetation over the last 50 years. I've settled in Redding, Ca. which is northern California. After settling in, I noticed the neighbors had humming bird waterers hanging out. I watched and noticed two or three different colored humming birds getting drinks. Of course I had to put out some waterers on my front porch. Started me wondering what the different types were feeding. A few neighbors down the street had bird feeders out hanging. So, of course I put out some birders. Now the were birds all the time coming around. After watching them for awhile, I noticed the groups changed as the season move on. I finally started looking for a book that would identify the birds in my area. When I came across "Backyard Birds of California: How to Identify and Attract the Top 25 Birds" [Paperback] by reading the reviews of varies books, I decided this was t5he best for me. It had pictures and localized to northern California. The books give good description about nesting, seasons, ranges and feeding. If it didn't have pictures of the birds in my locale I would not recommend it. I guess some people can identify a word description of birds, I can't. If you just want to know the birds in Northern California, look no farther. If you want to write a thesis on birds of California, this would not be a bad choice to add to your research library.

GEORGE2 a satisfied purchaser of "Backyard Birds of California: How to Identify and Attract the Top 25 Birds"