Birdology: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring the World of Birds
Acknowledgments This book would not have been possible without the help and generosity of many people I would first like to express great appreciation of my parents who were expert at creating gardens and habitats that attracted birds and other wildlife for providing me with an early start in bird watching and natural his tory experiences Kevin Byron’s wonderful photographs in this book were taken over the course of many years in a variety of habitats and sometimes in very difficult condi tions This book then is also his because the photos are vital to its design and presentation Kevin was also our systems manager organizing the produc tion details and communications Many thanks go to Dr Heinz Meng professor emeritus at SUNY in New Paltz New York for giving Kevin the opportunity over the years to observe and photograph peregrine falcons Professor Meng pio neered the first captive breeding programs to restore the peregrines We also very much thank June Ficker a federal bird bander at a local reserve for providing much help and patiently letting us watch and photo graph the banding process The Center for Wildlife a wildlife clinic and education center in southern Maine was generous in allowing photos to be taken
of birds in their care We hugely appreciated the exceptional garden sanctuary of our friends Dick and Jane who are mas ters at creating varied habitats for birds and insect pollinators And many thanks to my sister Sandy for reporting on birds seen to the south of us and mak ing sure we had the equipment to create wonderful dinners to sustain us on this project Thanks also go to Dean and Laura and Joyce who alerted us to sev eral photo ops We also thank our friend Myra in Utah who gave us the unique opportunity to observe and photograph the birds and plants of Park City Thanks and appreciation also go to Lisa Reardon senior editor at Chicago Review Press who guided us through the planning and development of this
Introduction With the recent concern about possible nature deficit emerging in children and adults there could be no better remedy than to experience the sights and sounds of the natural world Watching and listening to birds can provide feel ings of personal discovery and accomplishment and a rewarding outdoor experience North America has more than 700 species of birds and at least 9 000 are found around the world You can find birds in the city and countryside along the shore and in forests fields and backyards Birds are seen at zoos muse ums city parks and even in our homes as pets Birds appear on TV and in movies They fascinate us with their variety of colors patterns songs and activities and they astonish us with their flight capabilities Images and emblems of birds are historically impor tant as icons of strength and freedom This book is not a field guide so it does not focus on identifying species Instead the aim is to foster independent study through careful observation and hands on activities Parents teachers and students can easily participate in observing the birds around them the variety of colors and patterns the songs and calls and the activities of feeding preening cleaning or nesting Even professional field biolo
