National Geographic Birding Essentials: All the Tools, Techniques, and Tips You Need to Begin and Become a Better Birder

Bought this as a basic book for a novice birder. She loves it

This is an instructive manual. Not a bird identification guide, it's a "how to", like "how to" decoupage your bread box. It starts out at square one, what to look for, and how to buy binoculars. You want to see the little critters, up close and personal. And goes on, step by step from there. How to use that lovely guide, where to find that startling bird, how to know it when you see it. And unlike the afore said "Idiot Guides", it's beautifully illustrated with photographs and diagramed photographs as you would expect from National Geographic. The information is intelligently presented in a logical manner. There's even a section on field sketching and encouragement for keeping not only lists, but descriptive writing about one's sightings. This is the "how to" for observing nature, can't recommend it highly enough.

As a beginning birder, this is a perfect book. It is well and clearly written (imagine making the selection of binoculars interesting), full of tips on how to hone your eye in identifying birds. The photos and illustrations are beautiful, and the book provides perfect motivation to get off my duff and go look at birds.

As a novice birder, I appreciate the detail this guide offers, in terms of both the visuals and the useful points about what’s needed to get started. You’ll want a field guide as well, but this is a good source of general information.

This book is intended for birders just starting to engage in birding. It is great because it encourages people to get outside and fosters an interest in the environment. The more we can get youngsters interested in outdoor activities, the healthier they will become and the more our environment will be protected.

Easy to read with good info.

This book does a good job of what if sets out to do. It introduces you to birding and then goes on to explain how to bird better. The part on binoculars is good but it does recommend some very expensive brands. I find my Celestron binoculars work very well.

If you are thinking of taking up birdwatching as a hobby, and only want to invest in one book, get this one. The pictures are fantastic, the prose is easy to read, and it covers all of the basics.

This book is well written and has some great tips for beginners on birding. Covers a wide variety of topics ranging from bird identification, photography, and some environmental specifics that make it important for every bird watcher to know.

Nice book

Very good guide