Customer Reviews

Birds of the Blue Ridge Mountains: A Guide for the Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, and Neighboring Areas

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This book is an all-around treasure, for the beginning birder or the experienced ornitholigist, living in or near the Blue Ridge, planning to visit the Appalachian region, or even simply interested in this world-class region. The first fifty pages constitute an introduction to the Appalachian province and birding in general. The rest of the book profiles the birds of over 300 locations, where to go to see them, and how to get there. The book contains over two dozen maps, and even information about birding spots with handicapped access; an annotated checklist of birds; and a guide to contacts and resources for particular areas. It also features the drawings of H. Douglas Pratt. Part travel guide, part natural history, part handbook, this book is above all a joy.

I found this book to be for the birds. Extremely wordy and only a handful of black and white prints of birds. The format does not allow for quick and easy access to identifying bird species at a glance. It does not serve my need if I have to search through lengthy text to get information about a species that I can't identify until I see a color photo.
I'm sure the author spend much time in gathering information for this book such as which birds are found in what areas... however, unless you are an experienced bird watcher or ornithologist, this book may be difficult to follow without prior bird knowledge.