Michigan Bird Watching: A Year-Round Guide (Paperback)

by Bill Thompson III (Author), The Staff of Bird Watcher's Digest (Contributor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

There are no state-specific books on how to appreciate birds and learn more about them. Like gardening, bird watching is a regional hobby, and the birds that frequent the backyards of Missouri differ from the birds found in Michigan. This series targets beginning and intermediate bird watchers from each Midwestern state.

The books are state-specific and highlight the birds that are found in each state. In addition to the profile, each bird entry includes a map to identity the specific range covered by the bird.

100 birds are presented via full-color photographs for accurate identification.

Full-color seasonal section informs the reader of: the migrating birds that can be seen that month, the foods that attract those birds, the plants that can assist in attracting birds.

Our partner, Bird Watcher's Digest, has sold more than 4 million copies of their booklets on bird varieties, bird habitat, feeding, and related outdoor topics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Cool Springs Press (March 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591861675
• ISBN-13: 978-1591861676
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #898,391 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended, October 27, 2005

By	E. A. Lovitt "starmoth" (Gladwin, MI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I was one of the participants in the second edition of "The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Michigan" and counted a total of 44 birds on my assigned patch of territory. This book features 100 of the 'most commonly encountered birds' that can be spotted in Michigan (not all of them breed here). Most, but not all of the birds appear in color photographs (one notable absence is the red-breasted nuthatch).

Before the listings for the individual birds begin, "Michigan Bird Watching" lays out the state's ecoregions, followed by very useful information on bird watching by season.

There are all sorts of useful lists in this book. "Michigan's Ten Best Bird Watching Spots," a page of "Resources for Michigan Bird Watchers," and "Ten Tips for Beginning Bird Watchers" are some examples.

There is a chapter on feeding and housing birds, plus other tips for attracting birds to your property. In the "Nest Box Tips for Landlords," I was surprised to learn that perches by the entry into the nesting box are unnecessary, and may even attract predators.

Instructions on how to use this book precede the hundred bird listings. Each full-page listing includes a color photograph, and sections labeled, "All about," "Habitat and Range," "Feeding," "Nesting," and "Backyard and Beyond."

I've only seen ONE of the birds in this book's "Michigan's Ten Must-See Birds" so I've got a long way to go.

If I could have requested just a few more items in this book, they would have been: male/female and or summer/winter color differences within a species; and photographs of the species' nests and eggs. Otherwise this is an excellent, fact-filled introduction to Michigan birds.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bird Watching, June 14, 2007

By	Jane Austin (Michigan) - See all my reviews

I highly recommend this book to anyone in Michigan with a Bird Feeder in their yard. This book is very informative and is easy to use. The birds in this book are definately the types you will see in your yard and on local waterways. We are thrilled with this product!

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BIRD BOOKS AND IDENTIFICATIONS, January 9, 2007

By	Linda K. Manikas "GRANDMA LINDA" (HARRISON TOWNSHIP, MI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

THIS BOOK WAS IMMEDIATELY HELPFUL IN IDENTIFICATION OF SEVERAL BIRDS IN OUR BACK YARD. I WILL USE THIS BOOK FOR THE YEAR ROUND MIGRATION ID.