Bird Watching for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: A fine birding primer for everyone, not just dummies!
Review: Like others in the hard-headed but helpful "Dummies" series, Bill Thompson's solid, funny and unerringly instructive birding primer is something you can't imagine being without, once you've had it in your hands. For a true novice, the book offers down-to-earth solid information, tips, and the fine example of an expert with humor and humility. For the experienced birding enthusiast, Thompson opens avenues to better optics, resources and tips for refining skills, and the gentle encouragement to take more patience, more study, and more pure joy in bird-watching. And for every birder, hours of pleasure, very solid information and great fun. Every time I pick up this book I like it more!

Rating:
Summary: A fine birding primer for everyone, not just dummies!
Review: Like others in the hard-headed but helpful "Dummies" series, Bill Thompson's solid, funny and unerringly instructive birding primer is something you can't imagine being without, once you've had it in your hands. For a true novice, the book offers down-to-earth solid information, tips, and the fine example of an expert with humor and humility. For the experienced birding enthusiast, Thompson opens avenues to better optics, resources and tips for refining skills, and the gentle encouragement to take more patience, more study, and more pure joy in bird-watching. And for every birder, hours of pleasure, very solid information and great fun. Every time I pick up this book I like it more!

Rating:
Summary: funny and factual
Review: Mr. Thompson has written a book that beginners will like for its information and clarity while more advanced birdwatchers will enjoy for it fresh insight and humor. The pictures and artwork will also be useful for everyone. Highly recommened!

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Summary: Only a dummy would be without Bird Watching for Dummies!!
Review: Not only is Bird Watching for Dummies well-written in an easy-to-read conversational style, but it's jam-packed with tips, ideas, and information for all levels of bird watchers. Bill Thompson covers every topic imaginable about birding--from how to get started identifying birds; how to attract birds with feeders, nest boxes, and landscaping; how to select binocluars, scopes, and field guides; as well as helpful info about birding tours, festivals, research, and birding on-line. If you have questions about birds and birding, this book has the answers! I plan to give copies to my birding friends and family members for Christmas and birthdays this year!

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Summary: A great how-to guide for bird watching and bird feeding!
Review: This book gave me the confidence I needed to become more active in birdwatching. If you want to attract more birds to your backyard, this book gives you practical how-to-do-it advice on birdhomes, plants that attract birds, dealing with squirrels and other "pests," feeders and foods, etc. Now, thanks to this book, I have the confidence to venture beyond the backyard, thanks to the down-to-earth encouraging tips about identifying and enjoying birds.

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Summary: A better title is Bird Watching By Dummies
Review: This book is full of erroneous information that will lead the new twitcher astray, promote competition rather than cooperation between birders, and discourage some of the finest moments of birdwatching -- those involving sharing new sights and sounds together. I recommend that if you want to watch birds, buy a bird book, a pair of binoculars, and go look at birds. One does not need to spend money on a book to tell you to do that. There are many good bird guides available; my recommendation is the Audubon Society's Guide to the Birds of North America, or Lars Jonsson's Birds of Europe and North Africa. Best of luck, and keep your eyes and ears open!

Rating:
Summary: The dummy speaks
Review: When I accompany Rodger Titman, my ornithological sidekick, on leading a field trip of bird-watchers of all ages and experience, we usually find it prudent to split the group between us. After all, how many self-respecting birds are going to hang about with the harangue and hubbub of a humongous herd of humans?! Not just because Rodger is a much more experienced birder than me, I generally volunteer to lead the group of total neophytes. While we might not spot those rare, exciting species, I simply find it satisfying to turn people onto birding and to teach them the basic ingredients of such a pleasurable hobby. No question asked of me is ever judged in my mind to be "dumb"! Moreover, I have never referred to anyone in any of my groups as a "dummy". So don't be insulted if I insist that you rush out to your favourite nature or better book store and buy a brand-new book called Bird Watching for Dummies. Written by Bill Thompson III, editor of a classy popular magazine called Bird Watcher's Digest (BWD), Bird Watching for Dummies is probably the best book you're ever gonna read on this subject! Gosh, I wish I'd written it! Part of the award-winning ...For Dummies(R) series (remember Computers for Dummies?) published by IDG Books World-wide, Inc., this so-easy-to-read-that-it's-funny volume contains information on just about every aspect of bird-watching you can think of. Want some examples? How to design and maintain a bird-friendly yard with feeders, baths, gardens and houses. Where to obtain all your birding needs. How to identify both eastern and western birds from hummers to herons and even recognize birds by their songs. How to go beyond just bird-watching locally by participating in bird counts, tours and festivals. There's much more. What's really neat about Bird Watching for Dummies is that the text is broken up into nicely digestible, humorous tidbits so that you don't have to read it all. It's so understandable that you'd have to be a dummy not to learn something from it! If you're going to buy one bird-watching book in your lifetime, besides your favourite field guide, of course, this is the one to get. It's a bargain at $26.99 (ISBN 0-7645-5040-3). Trust me on this!

Rating:
Summary: The best introductory book for bird-watchers so far!
Review: When I accompany Rodger Titman, my ornithological sidekick, on leading a field trip of bird-watchers of all ages and experience, we usually find it prudent to split the group between us. After all, how many self-respecting birds are going to hang about with the harangue and hubbub of a humongous herd of humans?! Not just because Rodger is a much more experienced birder than me, I generally volunteer to lead the group of total neophytes. While we might not spot those rare, exciting species, I simply find it satisfying to turn people onto birding and to teach them the basic ingredients of such a pleasurable hobby. No question asked of me is ever judged in my mind to be "dumb"! Moreover, I have never referred to anyone in any of my groups as a "dummy". So don't be insulted if I insist that you rush out to your favourite nature or better book store and buy a brand-new book called Bird Watching for Dummies. Written by Bill Thompson III, editor of a classy popular magazine called Bird Watcher's Digest (BWD), Bird Watching for Dummies is probably the best book you're ever gonna read on this subject! Gosh, I wish I'd written it! Part of the award-winning ...For Dummies(R) series (remember Computers for Dummies?) published by IDG Books World-wide, Inc., this so-easy-to-read-that-it's-funny volume contains information on just about every aspect of bird-watching you can think of. Want some examples? How to design and maintain a bird-friendly yard with feeders, baths, gardens and houses. Where to obtain all your birding needs. How to identify both eastern and western birds from hummers to herons and even recognize birds by their songs. How to go beyond just bird-watching locally by participating in bird counts, tours and festivals. There's much more. What's really neat about Bird Watching for Dummies is that the text is broken up into nicely digestible, humorous tidbits so that you don't have to read it all. It's so understandable that you'd have to be a dummy not to learn something from it! If you're going to buy one bird-watching book in your lifetime, besides your favourite field guide, of course, this is the one to get. It's a bargain at $26.99 (ISBN 0-7645-5040-3). Trust me on this!

Rating:
Summary: How could you not like this book?!
Review: While I read this book cover to cover, as I found its conversational style charming and entertaining, I find myself constantly refering to it. Nearly all the answers to my questions are found on its pages! Mr. Thompson's many years of experience as a birder and as editor of Bird Watcher's Digest serve the reader well, and his sense of humor makes even the most scientific information droll. In short this book has become a standard for me. It has taken an honored and well deserved place next to my Peterson Guide under my binocs!