EBOOK
About
Derek Lovitch has worked on avian research and education projects throughout the United States, has written numerous articles for birding publications, and was a columnist for Birding magazine. He now owns and runs Freeport Wild Bird Supply in Maine.
The essential tools you need to become a better birder
This unique illustrated handbook provides all the essential tools you need to become a better birder. Here Derek Lovitch offers a more effective way to go about identification-he calls it the "Whole Bird and More" approach-that will enable you to identify more birds, more quickly, more of the time. He demonstrates how to use geography and an understanding of habitats, ecology, and even the weather to enrich your birding experience and help you find something out of the ordinary. Lovitch shows how to track nocturnal migrants using radar, collect data for bird conservation, discover exciting rarities, develop patch lists-and much more.
This is the ideal resource for intermediate and advanced birders. Whether you want to build a bigger list or simply learn more about birds, How to Be a Better Birder will take your birding skills to the next level.
• Explains the "Whole Bird and More" approach to bird identification
• Demonstrates how to use geography, habitats, ecology, and the weather to be a better birder
• Shows how to bird at night using radar, collect conservation data, develop patch lists-and more
• Offers essential tools for intermediate and advanced birders "Becoming a better birder requires practice, but Lovitch provides the tools for those willing to put in the work to be the best they can be."---Michele Berger, Audubon magazine "The goal of birding, of any hobby, is expertise gratia sua, and the only reason we do it is to do it better. This slender new volume by Derek Lovitch will help almost any birder do just that. . . . Lovitch is at his very best in the book's central chapters, where he offers detailed instruction in reading weather forecasts for finding birds . . . the skills we're taught in this book will make it even more fun--and make us all better birders."---Rick Wright, American Birding Association "This book will be most useful for intermediate level birders. The section on NEXRAD radar will be useful to all birders."---Ian Paulsen, Birdbooker Report "Birders of all backgrounds and skill levels are almost certain to learn something useful in Derek Lovitch's book How to Be a Better Birder. Can you become a better birder? This book offers a resounding 'yes' to that question. Refreshingly, this book is not filled with diagnostic plates and diagrams to study, but a 'whole bird and more' holistic approach to ID, and to the overall pastime of birding as well. As you will discover, the author offers a lot of ways on becoming a better birder that go beyond being able to correctly identify birds in the field."---Mike McDowell, Digiscoper Blog "How to Be a Better Birder is for birders who have moved from the beginner stages and want to hone their skills. . . . If you can identify most birds in your neighbourhood and want to learn more so that you can really enjoy the fun of birding wherever you go, then Derek Lovitch's book will be a useful guide to hours of enjoyment in watching our wild birds."---Rob Butler, Vancouver Sun "Birders at any experience level will find something of interest in this slender volume."---Penny Miller, A Charm of Finches "Derek Lovitch has written a book which is useful for birders at any level of proficiency from the beginner to the obsessive lister."---Dorothy Borders, Nature of Things "[How to Be a Better Birder] is written in a chatty, enthusiastic and accessible style which works well. Lovitch is a great communicator and it is hard not to be enthused by the examples provided of how to generate your own 'great days in the field.' . . . For those with a little less experience, this book provides a fabulous store of information and encouragement which will cer
The essential tools you need to become a better birder
This unique illustrated handbook provides all the essential tools you need to become a better birder. Here Derek Lovitch offers a more effective way to go about identification-he calls it the "Whole Bird and More" approach-that will enable you to identify more birds, more quickly, more of the time. He demonstrates how to use geography and an understanding of habitats, ecology, and even the weather to enrich your birding experience and help you find something out of the ordinary. Lovitch shows how to track nocturnal migrants using radar, collect data for bird conservation, discover exciting rarities, develop patch lists-and much more.
This is the ideal resource for intermediate and advanced birders. Whether you want to build a bigger list or simply learn more about birds, How to Be a Better Birder will take your birding skills to the next level.
• Explains the "Whole Bird and More" approach to bird identification
• Demonstrates how to use geography, habitats, ecology, and the weather to be a better birder
• Shows how to bird at night using radar, collect conservation data, develop patch lists-and more
• Offers essential tools for intermediate and advanced birders "Becoming a better birder requires practice, but Lovitch provides the tools for those willing to put in the work to be the best they can be."---Michele Berger, Audubon magazine "The goal of birding, of any hobby, is expertise gratia sua, and the only reason we do it is to do it better. This slender new volume by Derek Lovitch will help almost any birder do just that. . . . Lovitch is at his very best in the book's central chapters, where he offers detailed instruction in reading weather forecasts for finding birds . . . the skills we're taught in this book will make it even more fun--and make us all better birders."---Rick Wright, American Birding Association "This book will be most useful for intermediate level birders. The section on NEXRAD radar will be useful to all birders."---Ian Paulsen, Birdbooker Report "Birders of all backgrounds and skill levels are almost certain to learn something useful in Derek Lovitch's book How to Be a Better Birder. Can you become a better birder? This book offers a resounding 'yes' to that question. Refreshingly, this book is not filled with diagnostic plates and diagrams to study, but a 'whole bird and more' holistic approach to ID, and to the overall pastime of birding as well. As you will discover, the author offers a lot of ways on becoming a better birder that go beyond being able to correctly identify birds in the field."---Mike McDowell, Digiscoper Blog "How to Be a Better Birder is for birders who have moved from the beginner stages and want to hone their skills. . . . If you can identify most birds in your neighbourhood and want to learn more so that you can really enjoy the fun of birding wherever you go, then Derek Lovitch's book will be a useful guide to hours of enjoyment in watching our wild birds."---Rob Butler, Vancouver Sun "Birders at any experience level will find something of interest in this slender volume."---Penny Miller, A Charm of Finches "Derek Lovitch has written a book which is useful for birders at any level of proficiency from the beginner to the obsessive lister."---Dorothy Borders, Nature of Things "[How to Be a Better Birder] is written in a chatty, enthusiastic and accessible style which works well. Lovitch is a great communicator and it is hard not to be enthused by the examples provided of how to generate your own 'great days in the field.' . . . For those with a little less experience, this book provides a fabulous store of information and encouragement which will cer