Tuesday, July 31, 2018

211/365/Books

I finally bought the seventh edition of National Geographic’s Field Guide to the Birds of North America. I’d given it as a gift, and I thought I’d like the new tabs and the expanded information, and I do, but it’s changed the order of birds to reflect taxonomic changes (which is good and proper, I guess, but a little disorienting), and it’s thicker than I’d like, making it harder to carry in the field (at least for me). So I find myself grabbing my skinnier, worn, outdated third edition when I head out the door. And in case you’re wondering why I use National Geographic, it’s because the maps appear on the same page as the bird species, and Peterson’s didn’t have that (when I was first birding, anyway), causing one to have to cross-reference everything. Then Sibley’s came out, which is great, but again, too big (I have to check out the split editions). It’s good to have a lot of guides around. But I’m a lazy birder when it comes to what I will carry.

6 comments:

  1. Lazy schmazy. You're a skilled and passionate birder.

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  2. I was wondering why, actually. I have always used Peterson myself although a map right there would be helpful. Is Nat Geo photos or plates/illustrations? Because that's why I don't use Audubon.

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  3. The philistine in me wants to ask, "isn't there an app for that?"

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  4. I use Peterson’s because that is what I am used to. Although (and to answer Mali) I now use an app unless I am going somewhere with no cell coverage.

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