The Bluebird Book: The Complete Guide to Attracting Bluebirds (A Stokes Backyard Nature Book) (Paperback)

by Donald W. Stokes (Author), Lillian Q. Stokes (Author) "We were on a country road in Maine, years ago, when we saw our first bluebird - a male perched on a small sugar maple..." (more)
Key Phrases: male eastern bluebird perched, female eastern bluebird, bluebird nest boxes, Monitoring Bluebird Boxes, North America, Attracting Bluebirds (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This guide to understanding one of America's best-loved birds covers buying or building bulebird nest boxes, establishing bluebird trails, landscaping for bluebirds, and keeping predators and competitors away. 84 color photos.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1st edition (April 15, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316817457
• ISBN-13: 978-0316817455
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #193,316 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Teacher Says It's The Best Bluebird Book She's Seen!, April 25, 2000

By	Sue Harnden (Dublin, Ohio) - See all my reviews

As a teacher, I was especially thrilled to share the collection of famous bluebird songs, poems and quotes in one of this book's chapters with my students. The photographs are outstanding. Most of all, this book is a wonderful comprehensive collection of bluebird information: from learning more about this gentle creature to building boxes and monitoring them. There is also a helpful Bluebird Nest Recording Chart for nest-monitoring enthusiasts. The authors not only share their knowledge but also their love for the "bird that carries the sky on his back."

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "A Beauty of a Bluebird Book!", November 22, 2002

By	Christina Packard (Sarasota, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is just one of the many popular bird books written by Donald & Lillian Stokes. The "Stokes Bluebird Book The Complete Guide To Attracting Bluebirds," in my opinion is one of the top Bluebird books now available. This page size glossy book, of 96 pages, has a as many color photos as it does pages.

The written material is both easy to read and understand. And will be as interesting, and as educating for the beginner as it will be to the expert. The photos not only are exceptionally beautiful, but help to visually explain what has been written.

The book is broken down into three sections. The Stokes write about the three types of Bluebirds. Then how you can attract the Bluebird by improving their habitat. And of course the best basic materials used with the Bluebirds in mind. Learn also about those birds who compete with the Bluebird, and also their predators. Then learn of the many areas of a Bluebird's behavior, like the how and the when of their breeding.

If you want an easy to read book with all the Bluebird basics, plus the beauty of large, clear, up close Bluebird and other photos. This is a book you will want to add to your library.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great starter book for burgeoning bluebirder, February 25, 2006

By	J. Muench (NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Once you have a bluebird visit your backyard, you WILL be hooked...and you'll start looking for anything and everything to lure them back--it sounds crazy, but I think every bluebirder started this way! I read just about everything I could find about them on the internet, and you can find tons of information there, but sometimes I'd rather consult a book or two--The Bluebird Book is one of my two.

Actually it is pretty basic, and I thought it was too basic at times, but the further I read there was still a lot of good information about bluebird behavior, feeding habits, preferred habitat, nesting, nest boxes, predators of the bluebird, predator prevention, and what I didn't see anyplace else...bluebird language! But I think what kept me reading was the fantastic photographs--the photos will draw you in, and if you weren't too serious about doing the 'bluebirding thing', you will be after starting with this book. What it lacks in "complete reference" will certainly prompt you to take the next step of getting another more advanced book, pouring thru bluebird internet sites, or setting up a nest box or two in your yard. Just a note--depending on where you live in the US, parts of this book may not apply--but that is the same for other bluebird books also; don't get discouraged over it. Most bluebird books cover Eastern, Western, and Mountain bluebirds all at once, and what works in the east, may not work in the west, or south, for example.

The other book that goes into great detail on just about everything bluebird related is the Bluebird Monitor's Guide. This should be your next book if you can find it. Excellent stuff, expands on what you learned in the Bluebird Book, and lists many lessons and lessons-learned, easy and hard, from average folks who became very passionate about bluebirds.

After starting with the Bluebird Monitor's Guide, The Bluebird Book filled in a few areas and had some good detailed photos. And all the photos will have you wishing to have these beauties grace your neighborhood. Another note--there's also a Stokes video about bluebirding...I haven't seen it, but much of what I've read about it online is not very positive. Stick with this book and the Monitor's Guide and you will have plenty of solid information about bluebirds, setting up PROPER nest box(es), and providing a safe environment for a bluebird family, or any native wildbird family for that matter. Please be a responsible bird landlord!