Dragonflies Through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America (Butterflies and Others Through Binoculars Field Guide Series)

Rating:
Summary: Dragonflies Through Binocular (Almost)
Review: This book was eagerly awaited by legions of dragonfly watchers, and Dragonflies Through Binoculars by Sid Dunkle is an good addition to the tools we need to help us identify the many dragonflies in North America. HOWEVER, the PUBLISHER has done many a reader a disservice by putting the idea into people's heads that with this book, a person can ID a dragonfly with binoculars. Even the more advanced Odonatist would have a hard time using the photos in the book to ID specimens in the field. For many species, you have to look at male genitalia, and of course, they are not shown close-up in the book. Furthermore, the photos are too small to show the pertinent features discussed in the text.
Pluses: Good synopsis of natural history, range maps
Minuses: photos too small, no keys, no close-up details of pertinent features, some species not shown.
Overall, even with its faults, this IS a useful book and if you are interested at all in dragonflies, go ahead and buy it.

Rating:
Summary: Dragonflies Through Binocular (Almost)
Review: This book was eagerly awaited by legions of dragonfly watchers, and Dragonflies Through Binoculars by Sid Dunkle is an good addition to the tools we need to help us identify the many dragonflies in North America. HOWEVER, the PUBLISHER has done many a reader a disservice by putting the idea into people's heads that with this book, a person can ID a dragonfly with binoculars. Even the more advanced Odonatist would have a hard time using the photos in the book to ID specimens in the field. For many species, you have to look at male genitalia, and of course, they are not shown close-up in the book. Furthermore, the photos are too small to show the pertinent features discussed in the text.
Pluses: Good synopsis of natural history, range maps
Minuses: photos too small, no keys, no close-up details of pertinent features, some species not shown.
Overall, even with its faults, this IS a useful book and if you are interested at all in dragonflies, go ahead and buy it.

Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: This is a great book - it opened me up to the world of dragon flies. They aren't as easy to id as butterflies but this book gives you a great resource. I used to find myself sitting out in the garden looking at butterflies and seeing dragonflies I'd wonder what type it was - this book helps - but I'm not very good at the id yet. Practice....

Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: This is a great book - it opened me up to the world of dragon flies. They aren't as easy to id as butterflies but this book gives you a great resource. I used to find myself sitting out in the garden looking at butterflies and seeing dragonflies I'd wonder what type it was - this book helps - but I'm not very good at the id yet. Practice....