Subject: more birds 'n books
Date: Aug 30 19:38:15 1994
From: Lise Bixler - lbixler at CATS.UCSC.EDU


I just finished "The Bird Artist" - it's an incredible book.
My husband bought it for me because I had been raving about
Newfoundland after reading E. Annie Proulx's "The Shipping
News", which only has an occasional reference to birds (frozen
ducks raining from the sky, etc.) but which I heartily recommend
nonetheless. "The Bird Artist" is also about a lighthouse -
we were married in Pigeon Point Lighthouse (Pescadero, California)
so the book was particularly resonant for me.

Lise Bixler
lbixler at cats.ucsc.edu

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From: Shireen Gonzaga <shireen at STSCI.EDU>
Subject: Re: Houghton Mifflin books

>From Shireen Gonzaga, Baltimore.

just to add a little more to this. If I recall correctly, it's due to come
out sometime in 1996 ... well, it's certainly not anytime soon. Anyhow, she's
in England examining specimens at the moment so it's still partly in research
phase, I guess. Can't wait for the book to come out. I took one of her classes
in July at the Audubon Naturalist Society -- it was like drinking out of a
firehose! I was really impressed by her knowledge and eye for detail. If you
live in the DC area, I highly recommend this class.

Speaking of good books, try out "Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest".
I forgot the author's name (send me email if you need it), but the book
came out last year, I believe. Claudia W. and Gene Scarpulla, my two favorite
birder role models, both say "don't be misled by the title". Most of the
birds in that book can be seen on the East coast -- no need to quit the job,
pack the car and head to Oregon (tho' I'm tempted 8-}).

Take care, and good birding.

-- Shireen
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Shireen P. Gonzaga Internet: gonzaga at stsci.edu
Space Telescope Science Institute SPAN: stscic::gonzaga
3700 San Martin Drive Telephone: 410-338-4412
Baltimore MD 21218 Fax: 410-338-5090
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From: Adam Winer <awiner at US.ORACLE.COM>

The book was written by Dennis Paulson, and I can't recommend this book
enough. In terms of species coverage, the Pacific Northwest has seen
most of the species known to have occurred in the ABA area, and he
adds many species that _might_ show up; for example, Black-tailed Godwit
is included on the basis of a California record.

The text is superb and copious, describing habits, distribution,
subspecies, identification, all with extreme clarity and depth.
There are many photos in the book, all large color photos; he
also describes other sources of photographs for each species,
many times reporting things such as, "The photo in ____ is
described as in winter plumage, but is actually a juvenile
bird." There are graphs showing the occurrence of assorted
plumages, sections on "topics for further research", etc.
Really a _beautifully_ done book. I have to agree with
Shireen's friends: don't be misled by the title.

-- Adam