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Backyard bird watchers may wonder how to attract birds to their yards. This book will tell them all they need to know on the subject -- and then some! Its 466 pages delve into such subjects as plant selection to draw birds (region by region in the U.S.), creating artificial ponds that will draw them, and setting up birdhouses and feeders. Other chapters (on land use history and ecological change) will appeal more to those in specialized fields; but this book's a great read for all.



Pros

• "The Audubon Society Guide to Attracting Birds" is full of drawings showing how to attract birds.
• The book treats numerous plants in detail -- and by region.
• Of all the books on how to attract birds, this book is one of the most impressively comprehensive.

Cons

• Many of the tips in this book are not geared to average homeowners wondering how to attract birds.

Description

• Written by Stephen W. Kress (2006) in association with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
• Illustrations throughout supplement the suggestions on how to attract birds.
• Tree and shrub transplanting tips help you implement your plant selection.

Guide Review - Book on How to Attract Birds

My overwhelming impression while reading The Audubon Society Guide to Attracting Birds was how detailed it is; here's a quick sampling of the kinds of tips you can find in this book:

• How using garden mulch around trees and shrubs can attract birds.
• How tolerance for weeds such as crabgrass can help you attract birds.
• How to create hummingbird gardens.

• How to revive neglected apple trees, the fruit of which attracts birds.
• How to attract birds such as purple martins by making gourd birdhouses.
• An example of recycling information offered in this book is that old Christmas wreaths "are an excellent support for nesting robins, house finches, juncos..." and others.
• Keep cats away from yards where bird watching is the ultimate goal.
• And install squirrel-proof feeders so that you don't waste birdfood.

The book points out that indigenous plants are considered preferable to invasive plants to attract birds. Specific indigenous plants are discussed, region by region, that U.S. bird watchers should grow; for example:

• Winterberry shrubs
• Hawthorn trees
• Dogwood trees
• American mountain ash trees
• Sumac shrubs
• Virginia creepers
• Shagbark hickory trees
• Trumpet vines

Using both common plant names and scientific plant names for easy reference, this book is a pleasure to read. Whether you wish to learn how to attract birds to a suburban house or to a vast forest, you can't go wrong with the Audubon guide.



Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.