>A Survey...
>
>I was sorting through my ridiculously large library of bird books,
>pondering a question posed to me about essential bird related references
>and it stuck me that I should do a survey.
>
>What are the 10 essential bird references needed for the Northwestern
>(Cascadian) Birder?
>
>I would greatly appreciate your top ten list. Preferably in order of
>preference.
>
>Please respond directly to me. I will compile the results and post them
>for all. I also plan an extended discussion available at my website
>(which would include brief abstracts and price lists).
>
>Thank you,
>
>
>--
>*********************************** We're all living in the future.
>* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * I'll tell you how I know-
>* mpatters at orednet.org * I read it in the paper 15 years ago..
>*http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters* -John Prine

Mike:

Here is my list. I will be a more limited than many people's simply
because I am not experienced enough with all the possibilities. I think
you may know what I am talking about, even if the title is not perfect on
all these. I have my library at home and my computer is at school. Let me
know if something does not make sense.

1) Nat'l Geo Bird Guide. Love it, esp. even with the odd colors on some plates.

2) Ramsey. Bird-finding in Oregon. This is so high up due largely to
sentimentality. It still is useful, even though Evanich has superceded it.
But it got me to a lot of places when I first started birding 11 years
ago.

3) Evanich. Title? Bird-finding Guide to Oregon? It does get me out to
new places each year and gives a reasonable idea of some things to look
for.

4) Wahl. Bird-finders Guide to Washington. Very helpful.

5) Harrison. Seabirds. A good reference for gulls, etc.

6) Hayman, et al. Shorebirds. An excellent reference book.

7) ???. Waterfowl: An Identification Guide. Very useful; it has helped
me a lot with birds in eclipse plumage.

8) Godfrey. Birds of Canada. Don't get up there much, or this might be
higher.

9) Ehrlich?. Birder's Handbook. Tons of interesting information about
N.American birds.


10) Gilligan, et al. Birds of Oregon. The only reason this is so low is
that I just looked at it at Costco, haven't even bought it yet. Looks like
it has a lot of good info.

I am mainly an Oregon birder and my preferences reflect that. I am curious
tio see what others think.

Cheers,
Tim

Tim Shelmerdine
Lake Oswego/Aurora, Oregon
shelmert at mail.clackesd.k12.or.us