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I’ve finally created a Facebook page for The Birder’s Library. I’m still trying to figure out the best usage of it, so if anyone has something they’d like to see there, please let me know. Feel free to add a discussion, or comment on the Wall. You should be able to do that if you have a Facebook account and become a fan of the page. But everyone should be able to view it.

And please check out my status update to help decide what gets reviewed next.

The Birder’s Library is proud to team up with the 10,000 Birds Conservation Club to give away two great books – Falcons of North America and Prairie Spring: A Journey Into the Heart of a Season.

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  Falcons, by Kate Davis, is an overview of the biology and ecology of these charismatic birds, focusing on the six North American species. Accompanying the text is a ton of incredible photos, some of which are just unbelievable. Full Review

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  Prairie Spring is another great read from Pete Dunne. Dunne takes the reader along on a tour of the North American prairie in spring. Dunne is one of my favorite authors, and does not disappoint here. Full Review. Note: this is an advance reading copy paperback.

So how can you win them?

1. Be a member of the 10,000 Birds Conservation Club
2. Follow the instructions here

Membership in the Conservation Club costs $25 per year. Back in December, I wrote about the benefits of joining the Club. This is a great way for birders to do something to help birds in trouble. Plus, you get to enter great contests like this one! They’ve already given away over a dozen prizes, and have even more contests open right now. If you win just one contest, you’ll get your money’s worth. And even if not, you’ll be supporting a very innovative approach to help out worthy causes, namely the birds that we all love.

Here are some reviews that were posted back in December.

…I’ll finally be able to post my review of Birding from the Hip. I’d hoped to have done so last week, but computer problems keep popping up. If it weren’t for computers I wouldn’t have my job, but still, they can aggravate me to no end. In the meantime, just wanted to mention that I really enjoyed the book, and think it’s well worth a read.

Another thing that’s well worthwhile are the Watching Warblers and Watching Warblers WEST DVDs from Birdfilms. The video footage is just amazing; it blew me away. A full review is forthcoming. That is, if I can thwart my computer’s evil plans.

Huh? That would have been my reaction a couple years ago to the concept of birding and social media. Sure, I used some listservs and forums to get birding news, but the idea that Facebook could be useful for birders would have been laughable.

Not anymore. Social media – Facebook, Twitter, blogging, and the like – has been extremely useful for other industries and groups, and birding is no different.

If you’d like to find out what this social media thing is all about, and how it can be helpful to you as a birder, then you’re in luck. Gunnar Engblom has long been championing its use to birders, and he has now put together a 31 day Social Media workshop for birders.

The workshop is free, and will take the form of posts on his blog. I’m really looking forward to this, I’ve been needing a push to get off my butt and sign up on Twitter!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and that this new year will be full of new birds!

I had intended to use my time off work to finish some reviews, but between the holidays, out of town trips, and computer problems, that hasn’t really worked out. The computer issues especially may keep me from doing much until next week. Well, at least I can keep reading (and keep getting even further behind!).