Bird Watching for Dummies [Paperback]

Bill Thompson III (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 1997

Millions of people worldwide enjoy bird watching; it offers them a chance to get back to nature and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Bird Watching For Dummies covers all the basics of bird watching, leading you on a guided tour of the gorgeous world of birds. From identifying birds by sight and sound to making your own “life list,” you’ll find all the tips and advice you need right here.

Whether you’ve been bird watching for years or you’re just starting out, Bird Watching For Dummies has all your bases covered. It’s full of practical tips and proven advice to make your bird watching experiences as fun and rewarding as possible. It’s your first aid kit for finding, identifying, feeding, and even housing birds. Plus, there’s more:

• Designing a bird-friendly backyard
• Purchasing bird feeders, birdhouses, binoculars, clothing, and more
• Keeping notes and records of the birds you spot
• Joining bird clubs, taking field trips, and attending bird festivals
• Booking bird watching tours that fit your budget and expertise
• Choosing and using field guides

You won’t find a more straightforward and reliable bird watching guide than this one. Written by Bill Thompson III, and the staff of Bird Watcher’s Digest, it covers everything from backyard bird watching to field trips across the globe. No matter what your level of experience, this guide offers everything you need for unforgettable bird watching:

• Tackling pests and other feeder problems
• Bird-friendly gardening tips
• Optics and how to use them
• Birding by habitat and hotspots
• Songs, calls, and non-vocal identifying sounds
• Attracting and spotting hummingbirds
• Understanding the terminology
• Dressing for success
• And, 32 pages of full-color photos!

If you need help getting started in your new hobby, or you’re an old hand who just wants a quick-and-easy reference, Bird Watching For Dummies is the fun and simple way to stay up on all the latest in the world of bird watching. With unbeatable advice and practical guidance from the experts at Bird Watcher’s Digest, this handy resource is the only bird watching guide you need.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The talented staff of the popular magazine Bird Watcher's Digest wrote, edited, and illustrated this latest entry in the ubiquitous "Dummies" series, whose mock-deprecating titles attract a wide readership. Fortunately, this book, as with others of the series, is not as simplistic as its title, offering nearly 400 pages of often humorous, witty, and anecdotal but nevertheless excellent advice on a wide variety of topics: bird feeders, nest boxes, optics, field guides, birding hot spots, identification, web sites, birding festivals, plantings, et al. At times a too conceptual approach is frustrating. For example, there is plenty of information on optics and nest boxes but no details on specific models' dimensions in these respective areas. However, quality illustrations enhance a useful text. Despite minor flaws, this is highly recommended.?Henry T. Armistead, Free Lib. of Philadelphia
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover

"If I'd had Bird Watching For Dummies many years ago, my life list would have been much longer."
—Jimmy Carter, Former President of the United States

"This book is for me – a bird watcher and a dummy! Thank you Mr. Thompson!"
–Janet Leigh, Actress and Author

"Bill Thompson’s conversational style, humor, and great experience make this [book] an ideal place to start."
–Nicholas Hammond, Former Director of Communications, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, UK

If you’d like to get back to nature and join the millions of bird watching enthusiasts worldwide, let Bird Watching For Dummies take you on a private tour of the beautiful bird kingdom that will take your breath away!

Inside, you’ll discover how to:

• Design a bird-friendly backyard with bird feeders, houses, gardens, and baths
• Keep your bird feeders, gardens, baths, and houses free of diseases and other pests
• Locate sources for bird houses, feeders, binoculars, clothing, and more!
• Identify both eastern and western birds like an expert, from blue jays and barn swallows to hummingbirds and herons!
• Understand bird behavior and how to recognize birds by their songs
• Make your own "life list" by keeping notes and records of the birds you see
• Join bird clubs, take field trips, and attend bird festivals nationwide
• Book bird watching tours that fit your level of expertise and budget

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (September 22, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764550403
• ISBN-13: 978-0764550409
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #513,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

BILL THOMPSON III is the editor of Bird Watcher's Digest and the author of the Peterson Field Guide Young Birder's Guide to Birds of Eastern North America and Identify Yourself: The 50 Most Common Birding Identification Challenges. He lives with his wife, author and illustrator Julie Zickefoose, and their two children in Ohio.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best introductory book for bird-watchers so far!, November 24, 1998

By 

Dr. David M. Bird [e-mail] (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bird Watching for Dummies (Paperback)

When I accompany Rodger Titman, my ornithological sidekick, on leading a field trip of bird-watchers of all ages and experience, we usually find it prudent to split the group between us. After all, how many self-respecting birds are going to hang about with the harangue and hubbub of a humongous herd of humans?! Not just because Rodger is a much more experienced birder than me, I generally volunteer to lead the group of total neophytes. While we might not spot those rare, exciting species, I simply find it satisfying to turn people onto birding and to teach them the basic ingredients of such a pleasurable hobby. No question asked of me is ever judged in my mind to be "dumb"! Moreover, I have never referred to anyone in any of my groups as a "dummy". So don't be insulted if I insist that you rush out to your favourite nature or better book store and buy a brand-new book called Bird Watching for Dummies. Written by Bill Thompson III, editor of a classy popular magazine called Bird Watcher's Digest (BWD), Bird Watching for Dummies is probably the best book you're ever gonna read on this subject! Gosh, I wish I'd written it! Part of the award-winning ...For Dummies(R) series (remember Computers for Dummies?) published by IDG Books World-wide, Inc., this so-easy-to-read-that-it's-funny volume contains information on just about every aspect of bird-watching you can think of. Want some examples? How to design and maintain a bird-friendly yard with feeders, baths, gardens and houses. Where to obtain all your birding needs. How to identify both eastern and western birds from hummers to herons and even recognize birds by their songs. How to go beyond just bird-watching locally by participating in bird counts, tours and festivals. There's much more. What's really neat about Bird Watching for Dummies is that the text is broken up into nicely digestible, humorous tidbits so that you don't have to read it all. It's so understandable that you'd have to be a dummy not to learn something from it! If you're going to buy one bird-watching book in your lifetime, besides your favourite field guide, of course, this is the one to get. It's a bargain at $26.99 (ISBN 0-7645-5040-3). Trust me on this!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The dummy speaks, November 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Bird Watching for Dummies (Paperback)

I have thoroughly enjoyed Bill Thompson's book. It's rare when you can find a book that is so informational and completely entertaining as well. I love the sensitivity of the drawings throughout. I intend to use this book quite often; in fact I am currently building a bluebird nesting box. Birdwathchers most likely have the stigma of being eggheads, but this book certainly wouldn't lend credence to that (comparing a bluebird's love of worms to Homer Simpson's doughnut cravings is pure delight). Anyone at all interested in our feathered friends would enjoy reading this book.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, fun to read, every birder needs it!, May 28, 2001

By 

"ckellerman" (Arlington, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bird Watching for Dummies (Paperback)

I have never spent my money on a better book! This book got me into birdwatching and nature. In "Bird Watching for Dummies," Bill Thompson, III introduces you to his passion of observing birds. The book is filled with information and tips on which optics, field guides, bird seed, and books to buy, and very useful tips on how to observe bird behavior, identification, and attracting birds to your yard with food, water, shelter, and plants. If you are thinking about becoming a bird watcher, you must buy this book- if I could give it sixty stars, I would.