The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens [Hardcover]

Robert Burton (Author), Stephen Kress (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2002

Discover how to create a backyard bird sanctuary with the expert guidance of the National Audubon Society. Your backyard will come alive by applying these feeding and gardening techniques. Includes a photographic guide to the birds of North America, as well as the trees and plants that attract them. The ultimate resource for anyone interested in creating a bird-friendly habitat.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert Burton studied as a zoologist and is a well-established author in the field of “domestic” natural history. Among the many books he has written are Bird Behavior, Nature's Night Life, Ponds and Nature by the Roadside. As well as writing pieces for the RSPB magazine, Birds, Robert Burton has contributed a wildlife column to Popular Gardening and fascinating articles to other magazines including the Royal Horticultural Society's The Garden. He took over the popular Nature Note column in the Daily Telegraph his father's from his father Dr Maurice Burton. Coming from a wildlife-orientated family, Robert Burton has grown up with the concept of the garden as a sanctuary for birds and other animals. After traveling widely for his past studies, working at home has given him plenty of opportunities to observe the visitors to his garden.

Stephen Kress, Ph.D. is active in ornithology, wildlife preservation, and environmental education. He serves in a variety of positions at the National Audubon Society, including biologist, manager of the Society’s Maine Coast Sanctuaries, and director of its Seabird Restoration Program. Kress is also a research fellow at Cornell University and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maine. Author of The Audubon Society Birder’s Handbook and The Audubon Society Guide to Attracting Birds, Kress has also written many scientific papers on the restoration of seabirds such as puffins and terns.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Thunder Bay Press (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571451862
• ISBN-13: 978-1571451866
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #362,677 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #55 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Gardening & Landscape Design > Garden Furnishings

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

124 of 125 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful reference book May 7, 2000

By Ellen

Format:Hardcover

Before I purchased this book, I struggled to find something that I could refer to quickly when I spotted a bird at my feeder. Not only did this book provide me with basic features such as nesting habits, song descriptions, and typical diets of each bird, it also gave vital information on how to attract these fascinating little guys into your yard through the use of water, food, shelter, & shrubs and flowers. The photos are fantastic as well. I find myself referring to this book constantly, and keep it right by my binoculars.

136 of 141 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful baby pictures..... August 26, 2001

By Dianne Foster HALL OF FAME

Format:Hardcover

I recently purchased THE AUDUBON BACKYARD BIRDWATCHER, as well as WHERE THE BIRDS ARE published by the National Wildlife Federation and BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA from the Smithsonian. All three books have something to recommend them, and if you are an avid bird watcher or want to become one you will want all three. The Audubon book will have the greatest appeal to the backyard bird watcher who has neither the time nor inclination to travel to the wonderful sites listed in the NWF publication. The Audubon book is not exhaustive or even nearly so. For a more complete listing of birds, turn to another Audubon publication or the Smithsonian publication I mentioned above. Audubon offers complete listings of birds by geographic regions in other publications. You'll find only birds adapted to areas inhabited by humans in the AUDUBON BACKYARD BIRDWATCHER -- familiar friends like Robins and Finches, Pine Siskins and Chickadees. Each bird entry contains a photograph of the bird under discussion, sometimes in flight, sometimes posing and sometimes feeding itself or it's young. This book is wonderful for kids and I am using it to teach my grandchildren about birds just as my grandparents taught me!! The book contains sections on bathing, bird calls (including call notes and mimicry), and baby raising, and all are illustrated with many wonderful photos including some amazing shots of babies hatching, babies being fed, and babies launching into independence. Sections on bird pests, bird deaths, and bird rescues explain foiling predators, warning birds about glass windows, and banding and tracking birds. The child exposed to this book will learn someting about birds and life. Probably one of the most informative sections for the new birder or even old birders like me includes suggestions about what to grow in your own backyard to attract the birds. It's not enough to put out seed in a birdfeeder if you want diversity, though the book covers what to use in bird feeders. If you want to see anything other than seed eaters however, you'll have to provide other types of foods including bugs and berries. Usually where you grow berries, you'll have bugs. The book contians sections on hedging, vegetation variety, leaf litter (for cover, food, and nest-building), dust for baths, and water requirements. While the Audubon book isn't a gardening book per se, you'll find more information about building a bird friendly garden in this book than in most gardening books. I recommend the Audubon book as a teaching and instuction tool for the new birders and old birders alike. Oh--my favorite baby picture? -- the short-eared owls. If you don't think owls can come to your back yard guess again. I've had them in my backyard and I live 10 minutes from the White House. I won't tell you want owls eat. You just go right on thinking it's mice.

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars About the birds you see and how to attract more of them April 14, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

Bird profiles, behavior guide, nesting, eggs, curious behavior, songs, displays. Ways to attract birds to your backyard no matter what kind of area you live in... landscaping, supplemental feeding, water. The photos are fantastic and are very valuable to the backyard birder. Great book.