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| National Geographic Birding Essentials (National Geographic) | 
| Authors: Jonathan Alderfer, Jon L. Dunn
Publisher: National Geographic
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
Buy New: $4.41
You Save: $11.54 (72%)
New (47) from $4.41
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 205625
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 224
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 9 x 5.9 x 0.6
ISBN: 1426201354
Dewey Decimal Number: 598.07234
EAN: 9781426201356
ASIN: 1426201354
Publication Date: October 30, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: This book is in brand new mint condition, it is unused and available in stock for immediate dispatch. We deliver to all destinations World Wide. We specialize with UK deliveries, delivery Times are as follows: UK (3) Europe (6), USA (9) ROW (11) [Approximate Delivery Times after Dispatch]. Although book is in a new condition it may have been subject to some slight shelf ware and (or) a sticker from the publisher on the reverse of the book. Our Customer service is excellent and rest assured we will have a smooth transaction. If you have any Questions or queries please do not hesitate to get in touch with us and we will be pleased to assist you . MORE INFORMATION
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Product Description
Birding is the fastest growing wildlife-related outdoor activity in the U.S., with at least a million new birders a year estimated to join an already robust group some 80 million strong. For these beginning and intermediate enthusiasts, National Geographic Birding Essentials is a must. Comprehensive and authoritative, yet engaging and user-friendly, it teaches readers how to begin and improve their birding... what to look and listen for... and how to make sense of what they see and hear. A unique visual component shows actual field guide pages and how to read them, while another compares the same bird in photography versus artwork and explains how to use both for species identification. National Geographic's quality photography is a major highlight of the book, supplemented by pencil drawings and full-color maps to give the novice and intermediate birder a full range of visual information.
Field Ornithologists Jonathan Alderfer and Jon Dunn have crafted a masterful guide, striking just the right balance of practical information and reader-friendly tone. Chapters discuss the pleasures of birding, equipment needed, how to read range maps, birds' physical features, how to identify birds, identification challenges, bird classification and suggested books and journals for building a fine birding library.
National Geographic has established a stellar reputation among birders with our blockbuster Field Guide to the Birds of North America. The tradition continues as we serve an entry-level market that continually needs the helpful, up-to-the-minute information found in National Geographic Birding Essentials.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 Worthwhile book June 2, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Wonderful, informative, and easy to read! I haven't been bird watching for years & thought I would check it out again. This book was very helpful especially the section on binoculars.
The chapter on appropriate behaviors of bird watchers was great! These types of tips are needed before you join the Audubon Society and trek in the woods with experienced birders!
Great ref for anyone starting out or reviewing the basics.
A couple chapters were a bit too detailed (bird coloring for example) for my taste but I might go back to them once I get out into the field.
Worth the price and the photos (like all National Geographic publications) are spectacular!
 Idiots guide to birdwatching April 5, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is an instructive manual. Not a bird identification guide, it's a "how to", like "how to" decoupage your bread box. It starts out at square one, what to look for, and how to buy binoculars. You want to see the little critters, up close and personal. And goes on, step by step from there. How to use that lovely guide, where to find that startling bird, how to know it when you see it. And unlike the afore said "Idiot Guides", it's beautifully illustrated with photographs and diagramed photographs as you would expect from National Geographic. The information is intelligently presented in a logical manner. There's even a section on field sketching and encouragement for keeping not only lists, but descriptive writing about one's sightings. This is the "how to" for observing nature, can't recommend it highly enough.
EXCELLENT BOOK February 26, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
THERE WERE EXCELLENT HINTS FOR BIRDWATCHING I FINALLY UNDERSTAND BINOCULARS AND SCOPES - AND WHAT IS THE BEST FOR VIEWING
General-interest collections will find it a popular lend. February 3, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Beginners new to birding who want a simple overview of identification techniques and observation plans will find BIRDING ESSENTIALS the perfect starting place. It offers both beginners and elementary-level birders the tools to better their observations, and pairs fine color photos of common birds with tips such as understanding variations in bird color, key identification factors, parts of a bird, and much more. General-interest collections will find it a popular lend.
A pretty good introduction to "birding essentials"... November 12, 2007
25 out of 26 found this review helpful
National Geographic's Birding Essentials has a lot of great information. However, it is a bit hit and miss (mostly hit), and I'll try to explain why.
First, the "birding essentials" part is debatable. External bird anatomy is a good example here. Knowing which feather is "P3" on a variety of species cannot be put in the "essential" category. There is detail here that appears more appropriate for an ornithology book. Granted, this detail is presented very nicely: great illustrations and explanations. But essential?
Most birders in this country do not use the National Geographic Birding Field Guide. They use one of the other well-know guides: Sibley, Peterson, Audubon, or the Golden Guide. Yet, in this primer, other than noting that other guides exist, nothing was mentioned. At the very least, it would have been appropriate to have a table detailing characteristics of these various popular guides. They aren't even mentioned by name.
The section on binoculars was puzzling. I read Birding Essentials as a book more for beginners, and less for experienced birders (although I admit to learning a few things). Yet the authors really seemed to be promoting binoculars in the $1000 range. Why didn't they just use gold leaf on the cover? It is the rare beginning birder that shells out $1000 for a pair of binoculars. In fact, none of mine even approach the $200 point. Yet I've had great satisfaction watching the behavior of birds. One of the wonders of birding is that you don't need a SUV, particular clothes, a $1000 pair of binocs, and lessons. Birding truly is open to all.
With all this said, in general, I liked this book, and thought it a well-priced volume to give as a gift to my birding friends. It is inexpensive and well-done (you'll save some money for those binoculars). It summarizes a LOT of information, it maintains the tradition of National Geographic"s amazing photographs, and, if you don't have an ornithology text laying around, it has detail as well. It is not overly large. You won't carry it around all day, but you'll throw it in the car. I can see a trip leader carrying a copy around to help with explanations.
Enjoy your time outside.
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