Books

OH has just told me that we have that book and promptly goes and gives it to me. He thought I had read it !!!

I think this would fit in Gear Guide too to be honest...

Ok, I've had a look at the Gear Guide and it's all about equipment i.e, scopes, binoculars etc. There is a post about field guides, but the replies appear to dismiss their effectiveness.

Maybe there should be a section in Gear Guides for reference style books, dvd's etc and another forum for more literary compositions. I don't think you could ever describe an anthology of poems about skylarks as 'gear', it would almost be sad to do so. I think birdwatchers are often seen as dull and worthy, and I think including great works of art, or literature as 'gear' would just compound this image.

I have only just started raiding the natural history shelves of my local library and found some real treats. Already,here, people have mentioned books I have never heard of and I find that exciting. I think it could be a good place for people to recommend work aimed at children, as this is a large part of the RSPB' current focus.

Anyway, glad to see a lot of mentions for Simon Barnes, '....Bad birdwatcher', a really funny book that works well alongside 'Bearded Tit'. 

Another book I'm enjoying is 'the wildlife companion' (a think book). It is filled with miscellaneous facts, poems, quotes, puzzles and all sorts of things to do with wildlife and each page number is followed by a fact concerning that particular number! Very enjoyable!

Bird watchers 'dull and worthy'?

I thought the media had us all down as rampant twitchers . I notice if there is a 'birdwatcher' in a major TV whodunnit then chances are he is the murderer or some sort of weirdo :(

:))

S

Hi,

I think Field guides come under gear, but something like Lars Jonsson's Birds and light comes under Books and art.

As for 'bad birdwatcher- I have spent 35 years getting to be a good one-  I read it once and haven't gone back to it :)

S

Effectiveness of Field Guides,

I guess a Field guide is like a steering wheel - It's only as good as the nut holding it :) 

W ith all the changes and advances in ID over the last 20 years the old guides reallly don't cut the mustard any more. There are plenty of excellent reviews in the birding press when new guides appear. It really comes down to how you use them.

:)

S

The Secret Lives of Garden Birds - Dominic Couzens .

Great book, nice easy read full of interesting facts. Bite size chunks, perfect for bedtime reading. I'e learnt so much from this book.

Great illustrations from Peter Partington.

Rockwolf said:

Another book I'm enjoying is 'the wildlife companion' (a think book). It is filled with miscellaneous facts, poems, quotes, puzzles and all sorts of things to do with wildlife and each page number is followed by a fact concerning that particular number! Very enjoyable!

I've got a book in that range "Birdwatcher's pocket companion",it is set out as the above book .

Littleowl 

This may be a wee bit off topic but here goes!

At the moment Im rerading a book called Journeys in the wilderness.

Its a complation of  John Muir's writings Its a fantastic read .

I would love to see half of what that man saw in his life time .

He realy is the father of conservation.

Oh aye and i love going round the second hand shops looking for real old books on Birding and the like.

Cheers

AL