THE bird book.
This unique species lives in my car, nesting on the floor, ready to spring into service at a moment's notice. I hardly think of Sibley's as a book; it's more like a knowledgeable friend, always there, speaking clearly, telling no lies. You can even find Updates and Corrections on their website.
Besides the cheery Goldfinch cover, mine sports a dozen yellow post-it notes hanging out and inside a few pressed leaves from hikes.
If this sounds like a commercial for a book...it is. Everyone who ever wondered about a bird should get Sibley's, if only to put one over on one's friends with the newer terminology (Old Squaw Duck? No, no, it's a Longtailed Duck now)
There is a version for Western birds as well as a brand new pocket edition which I haven't seen.
8 comments:
Thanks for the information! The western version would be the one of interest (of course). Joy likes to keep a reference handy mostly for raptors but also other common birds of the area.
Hi Priscilla,
Friend of Cheryl, Kristen, Biddie, et al. Sibley's is the premier bird ID reference book. I used it about a million times a day when I became a park ranger in Florida. I had moved from CT to FL and had no idea what things were in that neck of the woods. What a life saver it was and still is.
I ordered the western version and hope to get it by Friday. It's one gift for Joy's birthday and our anniversary (both on the same day).
Hi Maureen, I've seen your comments many times. Welcome to my blog. Didn't know you were a park ranger. What an interesting job! I used Peterson's bird book for many years, then heard about Sibley's. Much better. I like the fact that it offers pictures from many angles of the same bird, and it has an informative introduction.
Happy anniversary, Oppy!
Along the bird topic...I had a sad event occur yesterday. I noticed a few days ago that a cardinal male & female were making quite a ruckus in the back yard. When I went to investigate I noticed that they disappeared into a fire bush along the house. I investigated later & discovered a nest with one baby in it.
I looked it up, and usually they have 3~5 babies...hmmmm. Yesterday morning I heard the commotion again, looked out the window & spied a huge hawk sitting in the maple tree near the nest. The cardinal parents were chirping wildly at the hawk. I ran outside & spooked the hawk away.
I had to run some errands, and when I came home I peeked at the nest. The baby was gone :( It wasn't fully fledged so it couldn't have flown away. I suspect that hawk had been plucking the babies one by one from the nest, and came back to get the last one after I left.
I know it's all part of nature, but I was saddened by the loss of the little one. I wonder if the parents will start over with a new clutch somewhere.
How sad about the cardinal baby. I guess we don't like to think that the majority of chicks that hatch do not survive. Hawks seem to be thriving everywhere. Do they have any enemies? How is the balance kept in the wild, I wonder?
I use my Sibley's a lot also - the edition I have is called "Guide to Birds" - think I should look for a copy that specializes in the eastern or south-eastern area of the US.
Well, Op - both a Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary to you (and Joy)!
Sorry to hear about the problem with your baby cardinals - I'm sure that happens here also - there are times that I've heard some really loud fussing from birds but they were hidden in the tree tops and I could never spot what was happening - I just made sure that my cats weren't around to bother the birds.
Biddie,
Tomorrow is Joy's birthday and our anniversary. She did that deliberately! If I forget one I'll have forgotten the other and I'll be in really REALLY DEEP DO_DO!!!!
So far I haven't forgotten! I ain't as dumb as I look!!!!! [grin]
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