Click for larger image

Birding for Beginners: A Comprehensive Introduction to the Art of Birdwatching
Sheila Buff
Photography by Richard Day
#UD4062 Paperback, 201 pages; 2010 $19.95
Members' Price: $16.96

  Whether you're traveling to an exotic bird habitat or just interested in better appreciating the avian wonders in your own backyard, Sheila Buff helps novice birdwatchers get the most out of the popular pastime of birding. Starting with where and how to find birds to identify, Birding for Beginners offers an engaging explanation of the basics-- the jargon used, the equipment needed, how to use a field guide, how to create and maintain lists, how to plan a trip into the field, etc. And, of course, the brightly illustrated pages are chock-full of detailed identification techniques, both visual and aural. There's even a primer on bird behavior, to give you an idea of what your feathered friends are up to when you're observing them. Armed with Birding for Beginners, new birdwatchers are well on the way to an impressive life list! And seasoned birders will want to give this friendly guide to potential birding companions of all ages. (AG)