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Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
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oxymom2002
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Posted: April 25 2005 at 10:50am | IP Logged Quote oxymom2002
I have been wanting to put together a selection of nature/field guides for us to use on our trips into the woods this summer. I went to the bookstore yesterday and couldn't decide which publisher was better/easier to use/had the best/most complete information, etc. There are also children's guides, but I worry that they won't have enough information/substance.

Obviously, while some of this is personal preference, the guides are not inexpensive and I would hate to get them out and realize they were hard to use.

We live in Iowa which appears to be in the Eastern region(!) in the books that are divided that way.

I know that the most important thing is to get outside, and we will (guides or no) but I would like to make an informed decision. Does anyone have any ideas?

Blessings,

Theresa

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julia s.
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Posted: April 25 2005 at 10:56am | IP Logged Quote julia s.
Hi Theresa,

I'm not an expert on guides and will probably follow this thread so I can glean from more experienced hikers and naturalists, but the one thing I can say about bird guides is get one where the pictures are drawn or painted like the Peterson guides. Birds move very fast and getting a good picture in the right lighting to identify them is very difficult and most of the photographed guides disappoint and frustrate from this perspective.

HTH.


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MacBeth
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Posted: April 25 2005 at 11:14am | IP Logged Quote MacBeth
I agree with Julia. Go for Peterson's Eastern Birds (east of the Rockies), or Stokes Guides.

Peterson's has field guide for kids, and I still recommend Golden guides for kids after all these years.

Another thing to consider is using a website or local field guides found at wildlife parks or preserves. Around here, many preserves have a list of the birds found in the area. These are lightweight additions to the kids' day packs.

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oxymom2002
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Posted: April 25 2005 at 12:40pm | IP Logged Quote oxymom2002
What about the guides for insects, trees, flowers, etc?

I would never have thought that the painted or drawn pictures would be better. Do you think this is true for other types of giudes as well?

Blessings!

Theresa

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