Birdwatching is for everyone. No other outdoor pursuit yields so much enjoyment of nature's ways with so little effort, and BIRDING FOR BEGINNERS is the ideal introduction to the pleasures to be found from birdwatching. All the essentials for the beginner to enjoy birdwatching are covered: equipment identification techniques field guides optics for birders birding by 'ear' and much more. Making this guide uniquely valuable for the novice are chapters on viewing bird behaviors such as feeding, flight, feather care, nesting, and migration so the birder understands not just what kind of bird it is, but what the bird is doing. Clear black and white illustrations as well as an exquisite four-color photographic insert, bring this exciting world vividly to life. In addition, a selection of appendices cover everything from birding organizations to birding publications. The most important qualification for birdwatching is a desire to do it--and BIRDING FOR BEGINNERS is just the guide to help make that desire a pleasurable reality.

Sheila Buff is the author of several birding books. She lives in New York State.