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jdostalik
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| Posted: Feb 18 2005 at 2:40pm | IP Logged
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I have several bird field guides that we have used over the years.
One of our favorites that was recommended by the fellow at our
local wild bird center store is the Stokes: Beginner's Guide to Birds. I
am about ready to buy a third copy (they keep falling apart on me)
and then suddenly thought, hey, maybe there is a better guide out
there in hardcover?! Something a bit more extensive would be good
as well...
We just basically need a good guide for watching birds in our yard
and at the park--nothing fancy--just sturdy!
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
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Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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Meredith
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| Posted: Feb 18 2005 at 5:14pm | IP Logged
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Jennifer, do you have a Costco near you?? We have found a very nice National Audubon Society Field guide to North American Mammals and I think they have a similar bird guide. It's in very nicely bound soft vinyl, great for taking with on hikes, etc. Check and see if they are available. HTH. 
Meredith
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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jdostalik
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| Posted: Feb 21 2005 at 2:57pm | IP Logged
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Meredith,
Thanks so much for your recommendation. We don't have a Costco
membership but do have one at Sam's. I will look there, if not,
there's always amazon!
Does anyone else have a favorite birding guide?? Please???
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God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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cathhomeschool
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Texas Bluebonnets
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We love the Peterson Guides. They require more effort than the Audubon books, but I think that they are often more specific, too. We have both types. (I'm a field guide junky.) We use the Audubon books to quickly look things up. I prefer the Peterson guides when I'm trying to make sure that I'm ID'ing something correctly (not a given, even then as I am no expert!).
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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MaryM
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| Posted: Feb 21 2005 at 4:59pm | IP Logged
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I really like The Sibley Guide to Birds. Its pictures are beautiful. You can look through it here at Amazon and get a feel for the format and content. Its similar to the Petersons but I like this linear format better. In addition to the perched pictures it has pictures in flight - both with wing up and wing down as well as pictures of the gender and juvenile variations. I also like that the geographic maps are on the same page as the birds not in the back. One complaint I have heard is that it does not have much description of behavior and habitat. I understand that there is a companion book Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior which is very detailed on this topic. From reviews I have read these are considered by some to be the new stnadard in bird guides.
The Sibley Guides are quite a bit more expensive than the other guides but it looks like they are offering discounted prices on Amazon. I would love to purchase Sibley but the price has always detered me - we just keep checking it out from the library.
Another complaint I've heard is that it is not a practical "field" guide because it is much larger than pocket size, but for something to have around the house I think it is great.
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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MacBeth
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| Posted: Feb 21 2005 at 6:52pm | IP Logged
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I like both Sibley and Peterson, though I am partial to Peterson, as he was the innovator . Both, however, fall apart under normal use.
I have seen Peterson's in a leather bound format, probably from Folio. It is not readily available.
Audubon comes in a vinyl-covered form, but I find the photos harder to use than the drawings. I still have my Audubon guide from my college days (20 years!!), but I reach for Peterson's when I need help. I found an old cloth-bound Peterson's at a library discount sale.
My mother uses National Geographic, but she has the same issue--the binding falls apart with too much use.
Option 3--my favorite:
Memorize the Book!! 
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog 
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jdostalik
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| Posted: Feb 21 2005 at 11:11pm | IP Logged
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My mommy brain is too muddled for memorizing the book! 
But, hey, the kids can do it; they usually know the bird before I do--I'm the one who needs the guide! 
Thanks, Janette, Mary and MacBeth....You've given me some good advice so we can start to branch out (pun intended) and learn more about our feathered friends!
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God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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Topic: bird field guides
