Archive for the ‘Wildlife Books’ Category

Book Review: Why Birds Do That

Monday, August 9th, 2010

whybirdsdothatReview by Christine Smyczynski

Have you ever wondered why birds do the things they do? The wildlife book, “Why Birds Do That,” by Michael Furtman has the answers to 40 common questions that people have about birds.

For example, some birds stand on one leg because they actually find it relaxing and the reason birds bathe is the reason why anyone bathes: to get clean. If you’ve wondered why they can sit on high voltage wires and not get electrocuted, well, you’ll find that answer in the book. (Hint: it has to do with their small size.)

The book has over 100 color photographs to illustrate many of the questions and it is written in language that everyone can understand. The book will be of interest to avid birders as well as occasional backyard birders who want to know why birds act the way they do.

Some of the other bird related questions answered in the book include: why do they sing, why are their beaks different, why do they migrate, why don’t their feet freeze in cold weather, why do they fly, why do they eat what they eat, and why do they fly in flocks.

You can find “Why Birds Do That,” along with many other birding related books at USA Bird Supply.

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Books at USABirdSupply.com: A Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

By Christine A. Smyczynski
A Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies
One of the books featured on USABirdSupply.com is “A Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies: A Peterson Field Guide” ($21.99). This guide book features descriptions of over 500 species of butterflies, as well as 100 color photographs and 541 color paintings.

The original guide was written by the late Roger Tory Peterson, considered one of the world’s greatest naturalists. This revised edition was updated by several experts, including Michael O’Brien, Paul Lehman, bill Thompson III, Michael Diorgio, Larry Rosche, and Jeffrey Gordon.

This pocket size guidebook is perfect to take with you when you observe butterflies in the field. However, you can also use it to identify butterflies in your garden. If you want to increase the amount of butterflies in your yard, start by researching the types of plants and flowers that attract the butterflies you want to see. Refer to the guide to see which butterflies live in your region.

Then you can plan your garden, figure out how much room you need and the number of plants required. Some may be annuals, while other perennials. Butterflies like the sun, so be sure to choose a sunny location in your yard, as well as plants that like full sun. The area, however, should be sheltered from the wind. For the health of the butterflies, don’t use pesticides on your flowers or plants.

Now sit back, with your book in hand, and start watching for the butterflies.

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