Good Birders Don't Wear White: 50 Tips From North America's Top Birders

Love the stories and the pictures make me smile. This is the first book; there’s a second book too. Same thing. Enjoyed them both!

I'm not a "real" birder. Real birders are fanatics, some to the point of being downright nuts. "The Big Year" movie could easily have been a documentary (I highly recommend it and the book, btw.)Good Birders Don't Wear White isn't 50 tips, it's 50 previously published articles from well-known birders - professionals who make their livings writing about birds and make their money endorsing binocs and bird tours - and the first problem is that if you subscribe to any of the remaining bird magazines, you may already know this stuff from having read these authors.I am NOT saying that this wasn't an enjoyable read, but that's because I'm serious about photographing birds for enjoyment and competition, and I know just enough to warrant more education. And there is humor in some of the articles: it's not as intense as some articles about "the rules of birding" or the fights between birders and photographers who always get in each others' ways because of different focal lengths.However, as I read the articles - sometimes for a second time - I kept thinking that if you try to make birding a profession, you might well scare away a hobbyist who would really enjoy birding. It is after all the second most popular activity in North America. (Walking is #1, but that's not fair since you have to walk to bird...) Yes, there are some conventions in birding, and there were some articles which gave good advice to novice birders, but even the title admits to being somewhat contradictory. There are times when you can indeed wear white like when you want to infiltrate a herd of snowy egrets. Just kidding.Yes I recommend the book, but I wouldn't make it the first. I think this should come after you're sure you like to go looking for birds, and just before your first group outing with a group of birding nuts. You can be squashed like a bug (verbally if not literally - but you will find out what a withering look is) if you jump up and down in your big yellow and blue outfit, and yell while running ahead of everyone else, "Lookit THAT bird! What is it????"

This is the cutest little book!It's fast and easy to read--a collection of amusing (and smart) essays that pretty much any birder will 'get.' Short works, that you can get through in a few minutes. Or set down.It wasn't my expectation that this would teach me much about birding, but that I might learn tid-bits here and there & in general be entertained, and I was. Especially by the info on cleaning optics...it was like having my late father, birder all his life & gizmo aficionado, lecturing me, again, for those pesky fingerprints...

Some sage advice with a great deal of laughter. A gift idea for family and friends. Great illustrations too. You’ll recognize many of the birding authorities.

Among these 50 essays there is something for each reader. Having sampled an essayist's voice, the reader can choose to buy this author's work, to go on that leader's birding trip, to read deeper into the subjects. For me, this mulligatawny is perfect: I may be replacing my Zeiss 10X40's, reconsider the effect of using my iBird calls, rethinking photos and weather patterns. I've ordered a bird distribution book for my area. I may or may not change my bird feeding setup. Perhaps I'll even advocate more. Maybe I'll even join a birding tour. All of this and more inspired by this book. And then there's the bigger philosophical question from this "Question Authority: Good Birders Sometimes Wear White": keeping context in mind- in birding and in life

For the experienced Birders, you might say, Been There, Done That, etc. On the other hand, you might like it, as it could back some Birding memories. For the rest of us, this is a funny read & provides some well needed Tips. In my case, I had no idea that people actually use iTunes recordings to (my phrase) trick birds to come in to an area. (So I tried it in my back yard, a Great Horned Owl came swooping in, yikes!!) Please get the book, its each Chapter is better than the one before.

This is collection of essays from some people who have been birding long enough to know that it is not just about checking off birds on a list. If you are a "lister" you may not think this book is for you because you already know all there is about birding. But the predominant theme in this book has to do more with enjoying birding more. If you take time to really watch the birds and not focus on your list you will become a better birder. At least that is what I got out of it.

Many famous birders share their anecdotes and imput on the world of birdwatching.I liked that it was in a short story format and I've been able to pick it up and readwhat I have time for without losing the story. Have learned some interesting facts.I've enjoyed reading experts viewpoints. Gave it a 4 as a 5 means 'I loved it' andthat was too strong a statement. I would recommend this book to other peoplewho are birdwatchers.

The accomplished share their thoughts and suggestions on how to be a better birder. Varied and applicable this is - a great intro to the joy of birding and what birders get out of it.

livre anglophone broché souple petit format récent (2007) de conseils pour l'ornithologie de terrain; sans introduction, chacun des nombreux auteurs différents (tous ornithologues américains confirmés) nous gratifient d'un article de 2 à 6 pages au style variable et traitant d'un point pratique (par ex comment partager une observation à la longue-vue); quelques rares illustrations sous formes de gravures n&b humoristiques en tête de chapitre; ce petit guide amusant et utile ravira tous les passionnés malgré son iconographie un peu légère