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Rating: 
Summary: A magnificent journal that will last a lifetime!
Review: I bought this book in 1992 when it first came out, and entered my Life List up to that date. It's still my Life List journal for North American birds -- the most recent was a migrating Wilson's Warbler that stopped to rest here during this past week, probably because of the heavy rain. Getting the book out to make that entry today is what inspired me to write this review. Unlike the check-off lists in the back of the field guides, where there is barely room for the date the bird was seen, this handsome volume has the common and scientific names for each species, little check-off boxes for whether you saw it or heard it (or both), a line each for the date, location, and habitat, along with extra lines for any further remarks. The margins are nice and wide, too, allowing for yet more comments, and there's some blank pages in the back. I use those for my secondary list of birds we have seen on our hobby farm in Minnesota (87 species to date.) In the 12 years I've had my copy of this journal, I have entered plenty of notes. Paging through the book is a double delight, both for the fond memories and the gorgeous reproductions of 48 Audubon paintings. In addition to the artwork, there's a nice intro by Norman Boucher, some marginal quotations from Audubon's journals, and updated remarks about endangered species and subspecies. The order of the bird list follows the 1983 American Onithologist's Union (A.O.U.) Checklist of north American Birds. There's also an index, so you can locate a species quickly. The book itself measures 10 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches, with a library quality binding, a full-color textbook-type cover (i.e., no dust cover) and heavy glossy pages that will last a lifetime. It's a bit bulky to carry along on birdwalks, but that's not how I use it anyway. I keep this book at home on the shelf, safe from the many perils of the trail (such as today's rain!) When I sight a new bird, I transfer the entry from my field notes when I get back. I do find that fresh ballpoint ink smears on the slick paper if you're not careful, but this problem is easily solved. Simply insert a piece of typing paper between the pages until the ink dries. This is a small inconvenience compared to the permanence of the book. I plan to pass my copy down as a family heirloom.
Rating:
Summary: A magnificent journal that will last a lifetime!
Review: I bought this book in 1992 when it first came out, and entered my Life List up to that date. It's still my Life List journal for North American birds -- the most recent was a migrating Wilson's Warbler that stopped to rest here during this past week, probably because of the heavy rain. Getting the book out to make that entry today is what inspired me to write this review. Unlike the check-off lists in the back of the field guides, where there is barely room for the date the bird was seen, this handsome volume has the common and scientific names for each species, little check-off boxes for whether you saw it or heard it (or both), a line each for the date, location, and habitat, along with extra lines for any further remarks. The margins are nice and wide, too, allowing for yet more comments, and there's some blank pages in the back. I use those for my secondary list of birds we have seen on our hobby farm in Minnesota (87 species to date.) In the 12 years I've had my copy of this journal, I have entered plenty of notes. Paging through the book is a double delight, both for the fond memories and the gorgeous reproductions of 48 Audubon paintings. In addition to the artwork, there's a nice intro by Norman Boucher, some marginal quotations from Audubon's journals, and updated remarks about endangered species and subspecies. The order of the bird list follows the 1983 American Onithologist's Union (A.O.U.) Checklist of north American Birds. There's also an index, so you can locate a species quickly. The book itself measures 10 1/4 x 7 1/4 inches, with a library quality binding, a full-color textbook-type cover (i.e., no dust cover) and heavy glossy pages that will last a lifetime. It's a bit bulky to carry along on birdwalks, but that's not how I use it anyway. I keep this book at home on the shelf, safe from the many perils of the trail (such as today's rain!) When I sight a new bird, I transfer the entry from my field notes when I get back. I do find that fresh ballpoint ink smears on the slick paper if you're not careful, but this problem is easily solved. Simply insert a piece of typing paper between the pages until the ink dries. This is a small inconvenience compared to the permanence of the book. I plan to pass my copy down as a family heirloom.
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