Pete Dunne on Bird Watching: The How-to, Where-to, and When-to of Birding (Paperback)

~ Pete Dunne (Author) "Mr. Stefancik was standing at the blackboard, expounding upon the wonders of decimal points and fractions..." (more)
Key Phrases: North America, Pete Dunne, Cape May (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Judging by the great number of field guides in print, bird watching is among the world's most popular avocations. Dunne (Hawks in Flight) takes a new tack, providing novice birders and those thinking of taking up the hobby with a literate and exhaustive beginner's manual. The quirky and often poignant anecdotes sprinkled throughout the book also make for an interesting read for advanced birders. From the backyard to field trips and guided tours, the author provides valuable information that would take years of in-the-field effort to obtain. Dunne's advice on binocular design, specifications and uses is easy to understand, despite the technical data. There are also helpful suggestions on proper clothing and footwear, which take into account terrain, season and climate. The author explains such esoterica as why birders should never wear white as well as the finer points of proper bird-watching etiquette. There is an important section discussing a range of field guides and how to use them based on the essential keys to bird identification found in these compendiums. Additionally, this birding primer details the best sites for viewing particular species; where to find more information on bird watching; and how to move beyond the initial level of this fascinating pastime into the more sublime reaches of advanced birding. 100 b&w photos.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

To anyone with a modicum of interest in finding and identifying birds, Dunne is a well-known name. Director of the Cape May Bird Observatory in New Jersey and author of seven books on birding and numerous columns and articles for birding magazines, he is an articulate spokesman for the birds and those who pursue them. This new how-to book on the art and science of bird watching distills years of Dunne's experience and brings together hundreds of tidbits from his published columns. He describes how to attract more birds to the yard by feeding, landscaping, and providing water, then he moves on to the tools needed to see and identify the new additions to the yard, discussing binoculars and field guides and how to choose the best ones. The next chapters cover the fundamentals of birding. Birding ethics and the responsibilities of birders are covered in the final chapter. Scattered sidebars written by other birding experts offer insider's insights. Dunne has an affable, knowledgeable, and conversational writing style that entertains as it educates. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (March 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395906865
• ISBN-13: 978-0395906866
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #595,152 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for beginners -- buy this before anything else!, June 23, 2003

By	Edward K. Cheng (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

Pete Dunne does a wonderful job introducing the reader to the world of birding. He starts with the basics: field guides and binoculars, and explains how to choose among the various ones out there (there are so many that a beginner can easily become overwhelmed). As a beginner, I know that he saved me a lot of time and money on these two issues alone. Dunne then moves on to more advanced topics, such as basic birding techniques, where to go birding, and birding organizations. Inspirational anecdotes from his experience and other birders are peppered throughout, easing the reader into a specialized field while maintaining that natural curiousity about birds that all of us have.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for beginners, September 8, 2003

By	rah101 (Hampton, NH United States) - See all my reviews

I have both this book and "Sibley's Birding Basics." I think that Dunne's book is better for the beginner. It is written in a MUCH more engaging style, is not nearly as technical (e.g. in details of bird taxonomy), and has a lot more practical advice.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Broad introduction for the beginner. , April 3, 2009

By	Gary Sprandel (Frankfort, Kentucky) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Pete Dunne on Bird Watching : The How-to, Where-to, and When-to of Birding (Paperback)

Starting with backyard birding and bird feeding, Dunne proceeds to give the basics. What to look for in binoculars and field guides, clubs and tours, birding by ear, and hints for moving beyond being a beginner. I particularly appreciated the chapter on ethics and responsibility, and including the ABA code of ethics in the appendix a good idea. Written in a light but informative manner, Dunne is not afraid to tell stories on himself, such as accidentally stepping on a Sharp-tailed Grouse, and identifying a harrier at Hawk Mountain and the lesson's learned. Each chapter includes a useful essay by a `guest', such as Birding by ear, by Dick Walton, or "A birders guide to bird tour survival". Although geared for the beginner, there is useful information and reference for all.