Boasting more than 220 full-color illustrations and maps, this is the perfect practical companion to the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. A must-have for birders everywhere, it’s as useful at home as on the road, pinpointing the best places to see more than 400 species of birds from coast to coast.
Beginners and casual birders will appreciate the introduction on birding basics, which offers expert advice on how to prepare for the field. Then it’s on to the heart of the book, organized into thirteen regions from New England to the Southwest. Each section begins with an overview map covering several states and showing major roads and hotspots. Next, each state has separate close-up maps that identify National and State Parks, bird sanctuaries, nature trails, and many other prime birding locations. Entries give clear directions to major sites along with notes on the birds you’re likely to find there, the best seasons and time of day to see them, frequent sidebars on subjects of particular interest, and much more. Each state entry closes with a list of additional key places complete with specific contact information. Finally, a comprehensive index cross-references each bird with every site where it can be found.
A veritable pocket atlas of avian information, this guide will be equally useful to the novice just starting a lifelist and the advanced birder in search of an especially elusive species or a new and unique place to enjoy this enormously popular activity.
Nice overview of good birding locations in the US I bought this book to help me narrow down places to go on a self-guided SoCal birding trip. I got “A Birder’s Guide to Southern California,” which is fabulous for the serious birder, but it has so many options that I was a bit overwhelmed and wanted some help figuring out the not-to-be missed places. This book helped. I checked out the listings in states that I know better (Missouri and Washington) and it did highlight some good spots. The places that I visited in SoCal were…
Here’s a hot tip, buy this book. You will love it! This is an excellent guide to use in planning your trips. By focusing on the best sites in each state it eliminates many sources of indecision. We consider it an indispensable addition to our travel planning. Small and concise it is both portable and utilitarian.
An Essential Guidebook for Planning Birding Trips! Most bird watchers get their start by trying to identify the birds in their own backyard. As their knowledge increases their love for their new hobby takes them further and further afield. I have visited many of the major birding hot spots in the US and abroad and it has always amazed me to see how far someone will travel a add a single, elusive bird to their lifelist (myself included!)As a birder’s wanderlust develops so does their need for a guide book that highlights the major…