Happy New Year! May it be filled with birds and books about them. Here are a few to look forward to.
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Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America: A Photographic Guide
Steve N. G. Howell
January 3, 2012; Princeton University PressThis isn’t the flashiest group of birds, but one I’m fond of. I’m looking forward to studying this before going on my first Florida pelagic trip later this month.
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Cotingas and Manakins
Guy M. Kirwan and Graeme Green
February 4, 2012; Princeton University PressThis is an incredible group of birds that deserve a family monograph as good as this one is reported to be.
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The Bluebird Effect: Uncommon Bonds with Common Birds
Julie Zickefoose
March 20, 2012; Houghton Mifflin HarcourtJulie Zickefoose is an absolutely amazing writer. When you add in her equally amazing paintings, well, it just isn’t fair.
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How to Be a Better Birder
Derek Lovitch
April 22, 2012; Princeton University PressThere is no shortage of books like this, but I enjoy them, so I’m not complaining.
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The Young Birder’s Guide to Birds of North America
Bill Thompson III
April 24, 2012; Houghton Mifflin HarcourtThe long-awaited follow-up to The Young Birder’s Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
, a field guide I wish I had as a child.
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Bird Sense: What It’s Like to Be a Bird
Tim Birkhead
April 24, 2012; Walker & CompanyThis book examines “how birds interpret the world [and] the way the behaviour of birds is shaped by all their senses”, a subject I’ve often wondered about. I’m especially excited that Birkhead is the author, as he managed to turn a book on the history of ornithology into one I didn’t want to put down!
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The Armchair Birder Goes Coastal: The Secret Lives of Birds of the Southeastern Shore
John Yow
May 1, 2012; The University of North Carolina PressI enjoyed the first Armchair Birder, and expect to enjoy this follow-up as well, especially since the southeastern shore is one of my favorite places to bird.
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Hawks in Flight: Second Edition
Pete Dunne, Clay Sutton, and David Allen Sibley
September 18, 2012; Houghton Mifflin HarcourtThe first edition is a classic of bird-family guides. And with these three authors, I have no doubt this second one will live up to expectations.
Posted by Grant McCreary on January 3rd, 2012.
Well… it certainly looks as though bird watchers will have quite a variety of new titles from which to choose in 2012. The release of Bill Thompson’s Young Birders Guide will be especially welcome.
Thank you, thank you, Grant, for brightening a rainy winter day. I’m told an advance hardcover copy of The Bluebird Effect is on a UPS truck at this moment, headed here. I should probably put on a diaper. Don’t be surprised to find me stalking you on Facebook. ; )
@Julie: I can’t imagine how exciting that must be! I’m looking forward to it, too, although not as much as you are, I’m sure.
Hi Grant – it’s Nick from The Hipster Birders. I’ve made my New Year’s birding resolution to learn all about sparrows in 2012, and figured you would be the person to ask about what I should be reading. Any guidance at all would be appreciated!
Nick, here are all of my sparrow-related reviews. Of these, I particularly recommend the DVD (for general information and appreciation) and the photographic guide (for ID).
Thanks, Grant – this will be a big help!
You’re welcome. I forgot to mention that those sparrow book reviews were done a while ago, so I hadn’t included any scans of them. If you think some samples would be helpful, just let me know and I’ll get some uploaded.
I have a tiny little book my stseir sent me in her last care package and finally started reading it the other night. It’s called “A Hummingbird in my House…The Story of Squeak” by Arnette Heidcamp. It’s an easy read but have not been able to finish yet. This lady has actually had hummers come in her home. Evidentally, this one forgot to leave for the South and she saved it. It’s cool so far! Right now, he’s finding his special plants and sliding down leaves and all. Quite amazing.