Wild Birds Of California [Paperback]

David Lukas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2000

California is a great place for wild birds and the people who enjoy watching them. Over 600 bird species--about two-thirds of the birds found in North America--inhabit, migrate, or visit here, especially the varied habitats protected within California's parks, forests, preserves, parks, and wildlife areas. This lavishly-photographed volume features usual and unusual birds in their wildland homes, throughout California seashores, deserts, mountains, wetlands, foothills, valleys, and chaparral country. The ever-present California Gull and the magnificent (and rare) California Condor are included plus 107 other species of wild birds. Extensive captions accompany more than 150 color photographs by some of Californias' premier bird photographers. Wild Birds of California is a tribute to the Golden State's tremendous wealth of wild birds and to the wild natural areas that sustain this abundance. These sanctuaries--nine National Parks, thirty-seven National Wildlife Refuges, eighteen National Forests and many other preserves, parks, and wildlife areas--protect exuberant concentrations of bird life and habitats critical to their life cycles.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The text by Northern California writer-naturalist David Lukas examines the environmental history of birding in the Golden State. He has written extensively on California's birds and the natural history of the state, with numerous articles appearing in Audubon, Birding, California Wild, Orion, Sunset, and Wild Bird. Lukas serves as naturalist-in-residence at the Squaw Valley Community of Writers, teaches bird classes for the Yosemite Association, Mono Lake Committee, Sierra Nevada Field Campus, and the Sierra Club's Clair Tappaan Lodge. He is the author of Watchable Birds of the Great Basin.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: University of Nevada Press; First edition. edition (June 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0944197620
• ISBN-13: 978-0944197622
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 10.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,739,935 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wild about Wild Birds of California!, October 15, 2000

By 

T. D. Powell (Redlands, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wild Birds Of California (Hardcover)

An outstanding book for two reasons: 1) The photographs by the 26 contributing photographers. Each one is a work of art; excelling in composition and use of color. Kudos on the photography in this book. 2) The text by David Lukas is not only informative and educational but thoroughly enjoyable reading. The text accompanying the photgraphs adds an interesting dimension to the image of the bird. Not the typical statement you would expect to read (and if you know birds, already know.) A great book to own or to give.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lush photography, excellent for novice birders, November 8, 2002

By 

Candace Scott (Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wild Birds Of California (Paperback)

The photography in this book is superlative and the main reason to purchase it is to admire the lush color photos of California's birds. However, I also enjoy the book because it allows me, as a novice birder, to learn to correctly identify various species. This book is much superior to an Audubon guide or a National Geographic Filed Guild to birds because each photo is huge and shows the birds to their best advantage. The photo of the elusive great gray owl is simply outstanding!

I recommend this book for anyone who has an appreciation of birds and wants to vicariously see them through this medium. It will definitely prompt every armchair birder to take to the field and spy these wondrous creatures in their natural habitat. There are several birds I saw in this book which captured my fancy immediately: the black oystercatcher and the Lazula Bunting, for instance. By seeing these photos, it prompted me to go out and beat the trails and shorelines to see each of these birds up close and "in person." A great book!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very nice, December 25, 2007

By 

Paul Bridges (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Wild Birds Of California (Paperback)

Note that this book is not a "guide" of any sort. No range maps, guides to the voice or plumage. No index or table of contents and the birds don't appear to be in any order. BUT, there are some really nice photos, a few that are truly marvelous, and the "gee-whiz" information with each photo adds a lot to the experience. It's hard to put down once you pick it up.