Birds at Your Feeder [Hardcover]

Erica H. Dunn (Author), Diane L. Tessaglia-Hymes (Author), Dunn (Author), Erica Dunn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1999

In North America, between 30 and 40 million people purchase bird feed each year. Based on years of study and surveys, this book offers information on feedings habits of North American birds. Learn how a red-winged blackbird may not try a new food until it sees another try it first.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This superb book is distinguished from the dozens of others on attracting birds by its analysis of data from thousands of people who feed birds across North America and participate in Project FeederWatch, a survey begun in 1987 by Dunn and managed by Cornell University and other institutions. For the 93 most widespread feeder species, the authors present several pages of excellent commentary plus two range maps and four bar graphs. For each bird, there is textual and graphic information on its abundance (both geographical and through the yearly calendar), food preferences, behavior, habits, a drawing of the bird, and more. There is also some detail on birds and mammals found less frequently at feeders plus discussions of misconceptions about the perceived risks of feeders: concerns about dependency, disease, predation, and window collisions. A wealth of information is easily accessible here thanks to this massive cooperative programAa prime example of "citizen science." Highly recommended.AHenry T. Armistead, Free Lib. of Philadelphia
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Erica H. Dunn, a research scientist for the Canadian Wildlife Service, is one of North America's leading experts on birds at feeders. She founded Project Feederwatch and has written widely on the subject of bird feeding. Diane L. Tessaglia-Hymes is a graphic designer for the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, home of Project Feederwatch.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393047377
• ISBN-13: 978-0393047370
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,363,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Backyard Birdwatchers - this book is for you!, November 16, 1999

By 

Michael Bradstreet (Bird Studies Canada, Port Rowan, ON) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birds at Your Feeder (Hardcover)

I spent a few hours last night reading various parts of BIRDS AT YOUR FEEDER, and I wanted to write and tell everyone how much I'm enjoying it. I read all of the introductory sections and end chapters and about a dozen species accounts. I learned new things, always a pleasure, and was impressed with the design, graphics and friendly level of writing. It's a trick to present scientific results in a reader-friendly way and I think this book succeeds wonderfully. The real proof to me was that I caught my 16-year old son reading a book -- this book!

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Independently recommended, November 23, 1999

By 

Erica Dunn (Ottawa, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birds at Your Feeder (Hardcover)

Here's the complete review from `Library Journal' (15 Sept. 1999), by Henry T. Armistead, Free Library of Philadelphia: "This superb book is distinguished from the dozens of others on attracting birds by its analysis of data from thousands of people who feed birds across North America and participate in Project FeederWatch, a survey begun in 1986 by Dunn and managed by Cornell University and other institutions. For the 93 most widespread feeder species, the authors present several pages of excellent commentary plus two range maps and four bar graphs. For each bird, there is textual and graphic information on its abundance (both geographical and through the yearly calendar), food preferences, behavior, habits, a drawing of the bird, and more. There is also some detail on birds and mammals found less frequently at feeders plus discussions of misconceptions about the perceived risks of feeders: concerns about dependency, disease, predation, and window collisions. A wealth of information is easily accessible here thanks to this massive cooperative program--a prime example of `citizen science'."

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Attracting More Birds to Your Feeder(s), March 2, 2000

By 

Ben C. Lin (Bethesda, Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birds at Your Feeder (Hardcover)

In addition to very interesting and often unique summary information on different species of birds attracted to feeders, the book includes birdfood ratings and maps that are ideal for people who are trying to determine whether the foods, water, etc. that they offer for birds were found to be as attractive by other birdfeeders, and whether particular birds were attracted to feeders in their local rural, suburban, or urban area, or adjoining state. By examining various graphs, they can also tell: how many of each species typically come at one time; how frequently they may come between different periods watched by other birdfeeders; and whether there is any monthly variation in visits between November and April, when most people are feeding birds.