Hi,
Yup, we have another book review. (Hey, if Princeton University Press (PUP) wants to keep sending me books, I'll keep reviewing them. If any other publishers want to send me books, I'll review those too. The more info the better...)
So, what have we got here? Well... it's a 5" by 7.5" 239 page field guide that covers 900 bird species. By a quick and dirty guesstimate, there are roughly 1,500 handsome individual bird depictions by the author/illustrator Norman Arlott. The preliminaries are taken care of in the first few pages. (Acknowledgments, Introduction, Area and Species Covered, Plates (symbols), Nomenclature, Identification, Distribution Maps, Map of the Region, and Bird Topography), That done, the tome cuts to the chase -- descriptions on every other even page, and images on the corresponding odd. Sweet... And the descriptions are consistent in their form as well: Name, Latin name, size in cm, Field Notes, Voice, Habitat, and Distribution. Add the perfunctory Table of Contents, Further 'Reading, and Index, and there you go. This is how to write a book.
But how does the book compare with its brethren, and who actually needs this puppy?
To address the former, I have four field guides before me:
- 'Birds of North America and Greenland' (Arlott, 2011)
- 'A Guide to Field Identification, Birds of North America' (Golden Press, 1983)
- 'A Field Guide to the Birds' (Peterson, 1947)
- 'Birds of New England' (Alsop III, 2002).
The competition really comes down to the first two -- for me, the last two miss the mark. (
A Field Guide to the Birds' shows its age, and '
Birds of New England' has too few photos.) I must have spent two hours fussing over the Arlott and Golden Press works trying to decide which one I'd first grab if an unknown bird popped up in the back yard. I liked Arlott's artwork over the Golden Press, but the latter shows mini maps for each bird's habitation, and I like that too. (ADDENDUM: '
Birds of North America and Greenland' also has the mini maps, but they are on the inside of the page close to the binding... I exercise care for fear of breaking the spine of the book.) Both books deal with North America and Greenland, though I think Arlott's is more comprehensive. Then again, Golden looks more rugged to me... I'm calling it a tie.
In the end I'd say buy both books, but buy the 'A Guide to Field Identification, Birds of North America' used. (AbeBooks sells the Golden used for under $4 including shipping.) See what you think.
As for the potential audience... These are obviously meant for the rough and tumble world of the field, but they'd equally be at home by the kitchen window for that quick ID while washing the windows. They'd be great for kids, seniors, and anyone with even the slightest interest in birds or the outdoors.
One final gripe about books of this ilk, and 'Birds of North America and Greenland' in particular. To date, I've yet to see this work in eBook form. And that's too bad -- even the author regrets not giving more extensive imagery to adolecent birds because of space limitations. Sooner or later, books like this are going to find their way onto the iPad, or the soon-to-be released Kindle Fire, and space will no longer be an issue. Let's hope it's sooner.
By the feeders,
CapeCodAlan
Cornell Ornithology Laboratory: Inside Birding
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Here are the same two trees down (with the massive maple -- a victim of Tropical Storm Irene in the foreground...) Oh goody... Two maples and a rock-hard cherry that all have to be parsed, then split (by hand) lengthwise for lumber.
