I really like the concept of this book. Very few of my gardening for birds books are set up by the "how to attract birds by bird family" groupings. I wish it had a little more substance though.The first section contains three chapters with some general overview information on how the bird families are divided up, basics of bird needs, general thoughts on habitats, etc.The second section features chapters on the general bird families which include: woodpeckers, flycatchers, vireos, crows/jays; swallows; chickadee/titmouse; nuthatch; wren; kinglet; thrush; mimic thrush; waxwing; warbler; tanager; large finch; small finch; blackbird/oriole; hummingbird; gallinaceous (quail, bobowhite, etc.).Each family chapter includes an overview of the bird family, a brief summary of their range and habits, the plants they eat, a suggested mini garden bed plan designed to attract them, information on their eating habits, and a chart of the top few plants to attract them. It also includes brief paragraphs on their backyard fare, feeder foods, water preferences, and nesting needs.The third section covers the seasonal aspects of bird watching - noting general migration habits, overwintering, etc.The back has a chapter of resources for things like feeders, birdbaths, plants etc.Overall I don't think it was anywhere near as bad a book as some of the other reviews imply, but I will say it didn't have as much meat as I had hoped it would have. I also agree with the comment that mapped bird ranges would have been more useful. Plant lists are somewhat skimpy (except hummingbirds - that one is pretty extensive).I felt like I learned a good amount about each of the families and that was good (and educational). I didn't really feel like I learned a lot about how to attract them to my yard in particular. The book was well written and easy/interesting to read.So, I would say it is an interesting book to add to your bird knowledge library, but it doesn't really meet its objective of showing you how to attract particular families of birds to your yard.
- MsMarieH
I just started reading Sally's book, one of which I should have written myself, but am delighted in the way she has designed this topic. As a person with a forestry background, I have long advocated that the birds represent the plant community, however indirectly. That said, once one gets the needs of a particular species, which has been well brought about by the endangered species advocates, then a landowner can tailor approaches with managing property in order to attract those birds. Other wildlife is benefitted, too, but we do concentrate on birdlife. So, this a two pronged effort: pay attention to the plant associations, and then realize the wildlife management aspects resulting. Each of us can be an earth citizen, making a vital contribution on one's own land. I have a radio show and weekly newspaper column here in NH, "COUNTRY ECOLOGY" where I pursue these ecological profiles and whatever one can do to make things prosper. I formerly built over 11,000 bark-faced natural birdhouses during 14 years in that business, and was on the board of directors for NABS. I take care of two UNH natural areas on Squam Lake, where "On Golden Pond" was filmed years ago.
- David L. Eastman "DAVE EASTMAN, OL 23,-24"
I agree with the reviewer who said this book is of little use to anyone who knows much at all about birds. When I wasn't wanting to toss the book across the room because I was sick of the idiotic comparisons (sorting birds is like sorting socks, et al) I was saying to myself "no kidding."Plant sunflowers for birds. Plant tubular flowers for hummingbirds. There, I just saved you about $25 and a couple hours. Thank me by not supporting this author by buying this garbage.She also makes no mention of the fact that you can plant all the aforementioned goo you want but still some birds WON'T come to your yard. Why? They don't come to your part of the country. Other than hummingbirds, which the author list what hummers can be found where, the author makes little to no mention of the fact that some birds are rare to never seen in some parts of the country, plentiful in other parts. I really don't know how this author got this book sold because it lacks facts, research and anything else that makes it helpful for anyone other than readers who don't know that most all birds eat sunflower seeds. And if you don't know that, you probably can't read in the first place.
- J. Green "nose4news"
This book is exactly what I was looking for -- an engaging, practical description of how to attract specific birds to my garden. It sets the context for understanding what birds are attract to what foods and how you should arrange your garden to maximum effect. If you're eager to take immediate steps to increase the number and variety of birds in your garden then this is the book for you! I've already given it as a gift to several backyard birder friends.
- SKip
This is a gardening book describing what to plant to attract specific birds. Previously, I had seen lists of plants that the home gardener can grow to attract birds in general, but this book is different since it tells WHICH plants attract WHICH birds.The majority of the book is divided into chapters where various bird groups and their needs are discussed. I was keenly interested in what was said in the chapter for crows since we had serious problems with them in the past. Now I realize I was attracting them by planting corn and sunflowers. Since I can easily live without those plants, good-bye crows.Since we will be re-landscaping soon, I read this to see if my newly proposed planting would attract birds and what kind they would be. With some minor changes in my plants, I could probably attract newcomers to our yard. But after some research to see if those unfamiliar plants would grow in my area, I found they wouldn't.Then I came to the last chapter called "Regional Delights" (p. 356) where it discusses which birds can be found in each part of the country. Now, why wasn't this discussed at the beginning of the book so the reader would only need to look up birds that are in their region? I suggest that new readers check out this section first. If a new edition comes out, this section should be expanded with maps, as another reviewer suggested, and be moved towards the front.Thank you, Sally Roth, for all the effort it took to collect and organize the information in this book.
- Searcher
I found this book to be of little use to anyone other than those just beginning to be interested in birding. Many of the chapters could be combined into simply a chapter entitled how to attract birds. Many are repeates. This book is also seriously lacking in usable pictures of many of the birds that it discusses.
- Big Red
I thought this book was great! I am primarily a gardener, and getting in to birding as a result of all I'm doing in the yard. This book was excellent because for each type of bird, it told you what plants you could plant in your yard to attract them, what plants they would eat, if they would be likely to nest in your yard, what kind of plants they require for nesting, what the nest would look like, and what other kinds of general habitat they might like. I really had never thought about how birds need places to hide from predators, not just places to get food and have nests. It also had information like what kind of foods each bird likes, if you want to put out feeders, and what kind of feeders (if any) each kind of bird might be attracted to.It's not really a bird reference, this is more a gardening reference to attract birds. It does a very good job of giving you specific plant ideas for any kind of bird that you want to attract - I find that picking out specifics is often the hardest part!The only thing I wish this book did differently is to not include invasive plants, even if they aren't invasive all over the US. There are several plants in here that are causing significant habitat problems in Massachusetts, even though in other regions in the US they aren't such a problem. Fortunately, she does call out each plant that she mentions that could fall into that category, so you will know. I just wish they weren't mentioned at all!
- P. Callaway
My husband really likes this book and it is just what he wanted and will use again angain it was sent in record time so thanks
- Genevieve M. Sexton "concerned gen"
Lots of great color pictures and the food likes for each bird and what to grow in your garden to satisfy them
- Lawrence P. Merkel "LPGM"
I am baffled by the negative reviews about this book. It is an extremely useful reference if you want concrete ideas about establishing a bird-friendly garden. We are landscaping our yard from scratch after a major renovation to our house, and this book is exactly what I was looking for. As a couple of the reviewers mentioned, this is NOT a bird identification book, which is fine with me because there are zillions of those books out there. Instead, this is a gardening book. The author devotes a chapter to each of the most common bird families, gives some basic information about the natural habits and preferences of each family, and then presents an actual garden plan (with sketch) to attract members of that family. The garden plans are simple, which is great, and the author also includes a table of other recommended plants and their use for birds (food, shelter, etc.) The plant lists are not exhaustive, but the garden plans are a terrific starting point. This book is most useful for folks who already know the type of birds they'd like to attract to your garden. If you don't, get yourself a basic bird ID book that gives a list of local inhabitants in your area, and then use the BIrd-by-Bird Gardening book to figure out how to attract the species of your choice. The author does have a very casual, chatty writing style, which I have to admit gets a bit annoying, but if you ignore that, the book is loaded with great information. The only thing I felt uncomfortable with is that the author takes a somewhat less rigorous approach about the use of invasive plants than is environmentally responsible. Still, she encourages use of native trees and plants in each of her plans, and flags any invasive plants so you can choose not to use them. Overall, this book is great for folks who already have some knowledge about birds, and want specific instructions about what to plant to attract them. Very useful.
- SophieG
Rodale Books Bird-by-Bird Gardening
Bird-by-Bird Gardening shows readers how to lure their preferred species with bird-friendly features such as water, shrub cover, nesting plants, and feeders. The book also includes 19 garden designs for attracting specific bird families, as well providing water projects and feeder recipes for bird families. 1.10 inches tall x 7.70 inches long x 9.20 inches wide
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