The Joy of Birding: A Beginner's Guide (The Joy of Series) [Paperback]

Kate Rowinski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 8, 2011 | Series: The Joy of Series

A colorful guide to recognizing, understanding, and appreciating our winged neighbors.

More than 50 million birders can’t be wrong. No matter where you live, you have the joy of hearing and seeing birds. This easy-to-use, full-color guide will provide you with the answers. Here you’ll learn how to identify different bird species by observing their body-parts, understand birds’ behavior and habits, get to know the birds around the home or a vacation spot, attract and make a good home for these new feathered friends, and much more! Designed especially for the home birdwatcher, but with information on destination vacations, this book teaches, “If you’re prepared to see them, they will come!” 100 color photographs

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kate Rowinski is a writer and catalog consultant, author of four children’s books, and co-author of L.L. Bean Outdoor Photography Handbook. She lives in both Yarmouth, Maine, and Charlottesville, Virginia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing (February 8, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616081228
• ISBN-13: 978-1616081225
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,952,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent choice for the novice bird watcher, September 14, 2011

By 

Leslie (Midwestern USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Joy of Birding: A Beginner's Guide (The Joy of Series) (Paperback)

As soon as I began reading this book I could tell author Kate Rowinski is someone who is enthusiastic about birds. As a hobbyist and not a biologist or researcher, she speaks to the novice bird watcher in a welcoming and easy to comprehend manner.

The book begins with the basics. Where do birds live, what do they eat, where do they nest, what do their different songs and calls mean; understanding the bird is your first step. There are chapters on bird identification, basic anatomy, bird feeding basics such as where to place your feeders and what to feed them. Yes, placement and types of food make a big difference in whether or not you will have birds in your yard. There are chapters on bird photography, how to make your yard a more friendly place for birds and information on binoculars and other field gear. All written in plain english.

One of the chapters lists the 25 Backyard Birds You Should Know. There are beautiful color photos of each bird and a few paragraphs of interesting facts and information. I have seen many of these birds in my yard or within a few miles of my house. These are birds that have a wide range across the US and southern Canada and are good choices to begin learning to identify. You don't even need a backyard to enjoy watching the birds, you can find them at a local park or nature area.

While I already have bird books, I'm always looking for new ones, especially ones I can recommend to others. I was impressed with the coverage of birding basics, the colorful photos and overall easy reading style. This is an excellent guide for the beginning birder. Add a good field guide and you will be on your way to identifying, enjoying and even photographing birds.

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly joyful book!, June 28, 2011

By 

J. C. Kritic - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Joy of Birding: A Beginner's Guide (The Joy of Series) (Paperback)

You can't say enough good things about birds, and this book helps you fill in any gaps in your knowledge. There's nothing more fascinating than setting up a feeder or a bird bath and watching what avian wonders visit your neck of the woods. With plenty of full-color photos, this book aids you in identifying different species of birds and has lots of useful information about habitat, activities, etc. If enjoying nature is one of your goals, The Joy of Birding is a wonderful companion for your flights of exploration!