Stokes Bird Gardening Book: The Complete Guide to Creating a Bird-Friendly Habitat in Your Backyard (Stokes Backyard Nature Books.) (Paperback)

by Donald Stokes (Author), Lillian Stokes (Author) "At its most basic, bird gardening is planting trees, shrubs, and flowers on your property to attract birds..." (more)
Key Phrases: nesting needs, bird gardening, suet cakes, Northern Cardinal, North America, Downy Woodpecker (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
This newest addition to the Stokes series offers beginners information on attracting birds to their property. Most of the book gives practical ideas on enhancing one's current yard, such as adding water attractions at different levels and increasing natural and artificial nest cavities. Lists of recommended trees, shrubs, and flowers are included but are not illustrated or as detailed as those in Stephen W. Kress's The Bird Garden (LJ 12/95). A third of the book is devoted to describing 103 bird species typically attracted to backyards and includes a color photograph with a description of habitat, food, and nesting requirements?information found in many similar books. Those who are well read on this subject will not find much new here, but the Stokeses are respected authorities with a PBS television show, and this reasonably priced title may be in demand. Recommended for public libraries.?Bonnie Poquette, Appleton P.L., WI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
The Stokeses, authors of 21 previous bird and nature books, offer bird-watchers and gardeners a basic guide to attracting birds. They begin with a chapter on planning and planting such a garden, reminding readers of the birds' four needs: food, water, nesting sites, and shelter (from rain, snow, sun, wind, and predators). The authors list flowers, shrubs, vines, and trees that attract birds, and they explain how to create a hummingbird garden. There is a chapter on eight easy things to do that will attract birds (for instance, creating a brush pile, letting dead trees stand, and providing nesting material in the spring) and one on "bird-friendly" lawns. Other chapters deal with bird feeders, birdhouses, birdbaths, ponds, and pools. The book also offers a list of 103 species of birds, describing their habitat, feeding, and nesting needs. The text is augmented by 170 color photographs, maps, and charts. George Cohen

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 1st edition (April 30, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316818364
• ISBN-13: 978-0316818360
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #443,559 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I hate to say anything bad about the Stokes, but..., January 30, 2002

By	Harry F. Clark (Waynesboro, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This book was a disappointment. I think it represents a classic example of a publisher using established authors' names to crank out a nice looking book that contains very little in the way of useful information.

The book has only 95 numbered pages to begin with. The first five of those are -- get this -- the title page, a page listing other Stokes publications, another title page. the publisher's information page, and the table of contents.

Okay. That leaves 90 pages for content, right?

Not really. The last 31 pages are given over entirely to glossy, full color bird identication photos. And approximately one third of the remaining pages are also devoted to pretty bird photographs. The book is almost entirely "boiler plate", in other words. What content there is is fine -- there just isn't much of it.

If information is what you want, get _The Bird Garden_ by Stephen Kress (The Nation Audubon Society) instead. It's much better.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for beginners, April 5, 2000

By	R. C. Dropkin (NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a wonderful starting point to help you learn about bird gardening. It starts with the four basic needs and then explains in a clear and simple fashion how to meet these basic needs, as well as other considerations. The book also has a small picture glossary of the most common birds and their "bio". This book is very well written, has charts that are easy to follow, full of gorgeous color photographs, and though they keep it short, it's crammed with helpful info!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good resource, August 10, 2002

By	merrymousies (Waterford, VA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

As with other Stokes books, this one is quite a good reference. Lots of nsights in attracting wildlife, specifics on prefered plants, etc. A good book to have on hand when landscaping or planting new gardens.