Bill Thompson III

"I love this book. It is fun to read, beautifully laid out, and accompanied by exquisite illustrations. The sections called 'Wow' and 'Remember' on each page will elicit 'I never knew that ' from many readers. This is a winner for the new birder from four to one hundred and four."--Jane Alexander, actress and former board member of the American Birding Association What a new birder needs is a field guide that shows most of the birds he or she is going to see but doesn't overwhelm with rarities unlikely to be seen. This is that book. Covering 300 of the most common birds in the United States and Canada, this guide has just the right amount of information about how to identify birds, where and when to look for them, what they sound like, and how they behave. The New Birder's Guide includes easy-to-understand descriptions and maps, clear photos, drawings of common and interesting behaviors, and fun "Wow " facts for each bird, plus expert advice on identification basics, how to get started, and how to improve your birding skills.

Covering 300 of the most common birds in all of the United States and Canada, The Young Birder's Guide to Birds of North America is loaded with color photographs, drawings showing typical behaviors, range maps, an easy-to-use checklist, fun facts, and authoritative information about each bird, its vocalizations, and its habitat. While other field guides might overwhelm kids who are new to birding, The Young Birder's Guide to Birds of North America was created with help from kids. Bill Thompson's own son and daughter and their elementary school classes helped select the content. Kid tested, kid approved

This readable, friendly guide is intended for bird watchers and non-bird watchers alike--for anyone who wants to enjoy nature right in his or her own backyard. The longtime editor of Bird Watcher's Digest and author of numerous books on birds, Bill Thompson III has been feeding and watching birds for forty years. He has tried everything, and here he shares what he's learned so that readers can avoid mistakes and skip right to successful bird feeding. He also debunks common myths about bird feeding: Does feeding birds stop them from migrating? Will birds starve if you leave your feeders empty after the birds have come to rely on them? In an easygoing and lighthearted style, seven chapters cover all the elements needed to attract birds to a backyard (food, water, shelter) and address special cases and problems (keeping bees out of the hummingbird feeder, preventing birds from flying into windows, and much more). The final chapter profiles the 130 species that are most common at backyard feeders. No separate field guide is needed; it's all right here--everything a beginner needs to know to attract birds and then figure out what kind they are.