Bird Watching Books And Publications

A great way for beginning birders, experienced birders, or anyone interested in birds to learn and gain knowledge is through reading.

There are a ton of great magazines, books, and articles available on birds. They even offer such publications to different countries as well. Many of the organization and societies listed in Chapter 6 either publish magazines are recommend great birding literature. So what literature is out there for you to enjoy and expand your knowledge with?

Magazines
The American Birding Association or ABA has been closely linked to Birding magazine since its debut in 1968. When you become a member of the ABA you will receive bi-monthly issues of Birding. The magazine prints articles on a broad range of interests in the birding community. The ABA supported magazine features topics that run from field identification to bird conservation. This is a great magazine for any bird enthusiast.

They National Audubon Society also offers a magazine simply titled Audubon. This publication features many articles ranging from birds, wildlife, conservation, plants, and more. You can basically find information and reading on any topic relating to the environment and the species that inhabit the earth. Very interesting reading and the magazine website even offers articles not found in the printed magazine, labeled as web exclusives. This magazine is definitely a wealth of knowledge and information found in this publication.

Journals
North American Birds is another publication produced by the American Birding Association.  This magazine has undergone a vast change of name in the past.  It may also be knows as part of Bird Lore, Audubon Field Notes, as well as American Birds. This is a journal for birders.  It provides readers with a summary of the ever changing view of North American's birding. This is a great resource for records, range, population dynamics, and many other items associated with the birding world.

Books
If you're looking for a good guide book then you might want to check out the ABA's website. They offer a ton of books at their online store. Even if you're looking for something else, you will probably find it there. They carry a variety of different birding books, guides, interesting stores, and travel related birding books. This is definitely a place to check when looking for a book on birds.

A book definitely worth getting is one I have mentioned earlier in chapter 5.  The book is Birding on Borrowed Time by Phoebe Snetsinger.  Snetsinger is mentioned during chapter 5 as becoming the first person to observe over 8,000 species. After her death the book Birding on Borrowed Time was published.  The book is an account of her findings as well as her adventurous travels through the world while battling a terminal illness. This book is filled with valuable birding information as well as a touching story of a woman who lived her life for every second she was given.

Newsletters
Winging it is not a magazine, book, or journal.  It is an informal newsletter aimed specifically at the American Birding Association members. This newsletter updates the members with any recent finding about birds and birding in North America.  It also follows the news in other parts of the world and communicates it to the ABA members. This newsletter is a membership publication and has been providing the ABA members with interesting and pertinent news wince 1989.

If you're looking for a younger perspective then A Bird's-Eye View might be what you're seeking. A Bird's-Eye View is a bimonthly newsletter that is written by members of the American Birding Association who are students. This newsletter is nothing to scoff at. The young group of writers provides readers with topics on identification, field skills, optics, artwork, news, and many other areas of interest. Definitely a great source of information and enjoyable reading with a younger generations twist.

Internet
As mentioned many times throughout the chapters of this book, the internet is a great source for information. This is basically true for any topic since we live in a world where the internet is considered an information super highway. If you have access to the internet then it's a great way to gain information on birding.  All you have to do is use a search engine, and with a click of the enter button your screen will fill with hundreds of websites, journals, and articles.  Pretty much anything that has to do with birds, bird watching, or birding will instantly appear.

Even if you veer away from many of the main web pages such as the American Birding Association or the National Audubon Society, there is still a lot of information out there.  Fellow birders are eager to share their knowledge and findings with everyone. If you have questions, there are online forums where you can post it and have someone answer it for you. This is especially great if you are someone who doesn't have the time to call organizations or go to local meetings or clubs in your area. The internet can be extremely helpful and informative to a birder, whether they lack experience, or if their novice in the field.

It just has to be remembered that the internet is a place where anyone can post information. Because of this, some of the information posted may be incorrect or have flaws in it. Even those with the best of intentions can be wrong about certain things. If you are looking for thoroughly researched information, then it might be wise to stick to a well known organization.