Introduction to Birds of the Southern California Coast (California Natural History Guides) [Paperback]

Joan Easton Lentz (Author)

Book Description

Series: California Natural History Guides | Publication Date: November 30, 2005

This easy-to-use, concise, informative guide is a must for anyone who wants to leave behind Southern California's noisy freeways and crowded beaches in search of the wild places where birds can be found. An excellent introduction, an indispensable regional guide, and a perfect companion for excursions from San Luis Obispo County to the Mexican border, it is designed to familiarize birdwatchers, hikers, naturalists, residents, and travelers with the appearance and behavior of 120 of the most common coastal birds.
*Features 120 superb color plates and lifelike habitat drawings that depict birds in their natural surroundings
*Sixteen maps show numerous birding sites accompanied by detailed directions
*Species accounts include information on the abundance and seasonal status of each bird and give intriguing natural history details
*Introductory sections describe the coastal habitats of Southern California, provide tips for beginning birdwatchers, and discuss the basics of bird behavior

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"Coastal southern California offers some of the best birdwatching anywhere. The best way to learn about the birds here would be to go on a field trip with Joan Lentz, but if you can't do that, reading this book is the next best thing. Joan shares her knowledge of birdlife with clear, graceful writing and with contagious enthusiasm, making this book the perfect introduction to the subject."--Kenn Kaufman, author of Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America

"Joan Lentz has a gift for making the complex world of birds and birding accessible to the beginner and the casual enthusiast, and through this gift she celebrates in this attractive volume the bird-rich coastal regions of the nation's most ornithologically diverse state. I hope and expect that Introduction to Birds of the Southern California Coast will expand the numbers of citizens who appreciate and strive to preserve our imperiled coastal habitats."--Kimball L. Garrett, Ornithology Collections Manager, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

"A 5th generation and lifelong California resident, Joan Lentz has the ability to communicate her extensive knowledge to birders of all levels. This book introduces a whole new generation of birders to the wonders of the southern California coast--it will be invaluable to birders of all levels of expertise."--Jon Dunn

About the Author

Joan Easton Lentz is a Research Associate with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. She also teaches bird classes for the Santa Barbara Community College Continuing Education Division and is author of Great Birding Trips of the West (1989) and Birdwatching: A Guide for Beginners (1985).

Product Details

• Paperback: 329 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 1 edition (November 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520243218
• ISBN-13: 978-0520243217
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #84 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Ornithology

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A dandy guide to coastal California birds. Nicely done, March 9, 2006

By 

Roger J. Buffington (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Introduction to Birds of the Southern California Coast (California Natural History Guides) (Paperback)

I live on the Southern California coast, and I wanted a book that would help me quickly identify the birds I am photographing, and tell me a little bit about them. This book does the job; it has excellent photos of the various bird species, and interesting write-ups about them. In the appendix there is a nice discussion of the various ecological parks and preserves in Southern California, and what types of wildlife one might expect to see there.

A good value.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More of the same, plus, February 24, 2006

By 

E. Dukart (Arizona) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Introduction to Birds of the Southern California Coast (California Natural History Guides) (Paperback)

Pretty much the same as most guide books to birds of the southwest region, with some added and better locations given. Well layed-out, good photos.

3.0 out of 5 stars helpful, but..., November 23, 2008

By 

Anne L. "seabird photographer" (San Diego) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to Birds of the Southern California Coast (California Natural History Guides) (Paperback)

The book is helpful, and easy to find categories of birds. It is not a complete guide, but since it says introduction, that is what it is.