Birding Illinois Review

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(More customer reviews)Every state should have a bird-finding guide this good! The author has done a superb job in presenting not only some of the more well-known Illinois birding locations, but also provides many areas that even most of Illinois' more experienced birdwatchers will find new and well worth exploring. Birders from outside of Illinois will probably be very surprised to learn of the variety of habitats and birds that this state has to offer once one leaves the seemingly birdless "corn and soybean desert" that many see from the interstates that crisscross the state. For instance,the chances of seeing a Mississippi Kite in southern Illinois are "good", as are such diverse species as Snowy Owl, Ross's Goose, and Connecticut Warbler! Illinois may be one of the best locations to see the elusive Smith's Longspur in the lower 48 states, and this guide will tell you when, where and how to see one!This long overdue site finding guide to Illinois' best birding locations is the first to cover the entire state in 25 years! And it is much more than a site guide! Only somewhat larger than many field guides, it is none-the-less easily manageable in the field (or in your car), and one should not be without this book while birding the states highways and byways.The author provides maps as well as written descriptions on how to bird the areas, but one of the best features of this book is the list of "key birds" to be found at each location at the beginning of each site account. In addition, the "Seasonal Distribution Charts" at the back of the book are the first of their kind for books on Illinois' birds, which attempt to cover the whole state, and make this an invaluable addition to this admirable reference work! The contributions from many of the state's most experienced birdwatchers and ornithologists from all corners of the state, guarantees the accuracy and thoroughness of the areas covered. Birders will find the sections on "Authors Favorite Sites", "Illinois' Specialty Birds", and the "Birding Calender" particularly helpful additions compared to the more normal bird-finding guides, and should make it a much more easy task in planning their birding trip, including exactly where and when to go to add that particular bird species that is still missing from their list! The well chosen photographs and exemplary line drawings not only make an aesthetically nice addition to the book, but give examples not only of some of the more typical birds to be found in Illinois but also show the diversity of avian life to be seen throughout the state.Not only is this book factually correct, but the well-written prose of this obviously talented journalist is very descriptive of the birds and birding destinations, and almost transports one to each birding hotspot. Aside from the usual typos and a few small errors in a few of the maps, this book is an excellent "read", and a MUST for EVERY birdwatcher traveling to or residing in the state of Illinois!

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With Birding Illinois you can explore over 110 greatbirding locations throughout the state. Some of the Midwest's bestbirding occurs in the Prairie State, thanks to the rich variety ofhabitat that includes woodlands, wetlands, hills, sandstone canyons,savannas, prairies, cypress swamps, and sand dunes. You will also findgood birding on the expansive Lake Michigan shoreline and along theMississippi and Illinois rivers. Experience the rushing sound ofthousands of American Golden-Plovers coursing across the sky or meetthe yellow-eyed stare of an adult Bald Eagle looking over the IllinoisRiver. The book includes detailed site maps and bar graphs showingstatus and distribution.Author Sheryl De Vore is an expert Illinoisbirder and serves as the Chief Editor of Meadowlark, the quarterlyjournal of the Illinois Ornithological Society. She knows the richbird life in the state and where to observe it. Birding Illinois willprove invaluable when you plan your next birding trip.

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Birding Utah Review

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(More customer reviews)Birding Utah provides a comprehensive resource for finding birds in Utah. The extensive information provided should prove extremely useful for novice to expert birders, as well as any outdoor enthusiast.
The book includes 5 chapters and an extensive appendix of birding and travel information sources. It is scientifically accurate and well written in a casual style. Chapter One details the basics of planning a successful birding trip, which should be most useful to novice birders. The second chapter describes Utah's biological environment from a broad-scale description of topography and climate to a finer resolution of habitats. Reading this chapter should give you an intimate feeling of the biological organization and spatial qualities of the state. The majority of the book is devoted to chapter 3, a description of 112 potential birding sites grouped according to region. The sites range from potential day trips to longer overnight excursions. The amount of detail that is provided for each site makes this book much more than a birding guide, but a travel guide for nature around the state. Included for each site are a list of habitats, birds, best times to bird, suggestions on where birds may be seen, directions to the site, general area information, a map, potential hazards, nearest facilities, and camping locations. It is obvious that each site has been researched by the author. The fourth chapter is a listing of birds that occur within the state; and associated habitat type, the regional distribution, and seasonal occurrence within the state. In chapter 5, the author has selected 50 "sought after" birds and details where and when the birds are likely to be found, and the chances for viewing one of these species. This chapter is unique to this birding guide because it also includes fine-scaled distribution maps based on current habitat types.
My only criticism with the book is the manner in which it has been bound. For a field guide that is likely to get a significant amo! unt of use outdoors, I wonder if the binding will hold up very long. A more substantial binding would have been of great value.

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Thoroughly researched, well-organized, and clearly written, Birding Utah will better your chances of having a successful outing. Each description details habitat, specialty birds, best time of year and day to bird, birding strategies, and easy-to-follow directions. Featuring 100 birding sites, this guide also includes chapters on the state's diverse ecoregions and plant communities, discussing distribution and providing a checklist and bar graphs of nearly 400 bird species.

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Birding Northern California Review

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(More customer reviews)With the passion of a life-long birder and the precision of a former professor of engineering, John Kemper has written an exceptional, new site guide for northern California. Detailed information is given for 81 major locations from the Oregon border through Monterey, King, and Tulare counties plus the Kern River Valley in Kern County; Mono County and the White Mountains are included on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada
The book focuses on species of interest by listing "specialty birds" and "other key birds" at the beginning of each location description. Specialty birds include uncommon to abundant birds found primarily in the western United States, endangered or threatened species, and rare birds if the site is among the best for the bird. The text describes when, where, and how to the find the birds at each site, and this information was personally verified by John during two years of fieldwork preparing the book. Range maps and bar charts at the back of the book are cross-referenced to the best sites for each species and the time of year when each species occurs in different regions of the state. Readers will appreciate the easily readable, detailed maps and the clearly written site descriptions. Novices, long-time California birders, and birders from out of state planning their first or 100th trip to the state, will find the information needed to find the birds of interest to them and to plan successful birding trips.

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Where-to site guide to 81 of the best birding areas in Northern California including 294 individual sites and 102 maps.

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