Customer Reviews

Birding in the San Juan Islands

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This is a fantastic natural history guide to the birds of the San Juan Islands, not a replacement to a field identification guide, but a companion to one. Anyone interested in the birds of this unusual archipelago in Washington should get a copy. Its a great help in finding target species anywhere among the 175 or so islands, with detailed maps and driving directions to the hotspots. The species accounts also point you to the correct sites and habitats. Local species that present identification problems, such as hybrid gulls, that aren't addressed in the major field guides are covered. The checklist in the back of the book is combined with an extremely detailed seasonal status bar graph. What I appreciate most about the book is how it provides context to each species beyond the scope of a field identification guide. Each species' ecological role in the region is discussed, historical anecdotes are peppered throughout, behavioral quirks highlighted, etc. In conclusion, if you are the type of birder who wants to efficiently tick off as many species possible on your checklist, this book will help you accomplish your goal. And if you are the type of naturalist that wants a deeper understanding of how the birds you observe fit into the local ecosystem, this book will help guide you along the path of discovery.

Since we will spend a few nights on San Juan Island, this book appears to be a good reference with lots of interesting information. With our newly purchased Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Western N.A. which has lots of bird pictures, we feel prepared to delve into birding.