Sibley's Birding Basics
by David Allen Sibley
Paperback; 192 pages; published Oct, 2002
Another
book from David Allen Sibley! Where does he get the
time? Has he been able to go birding lately? David,
if you’re too busy to go birding, you’re too
busy! This is an important book which completes a trilogy,
and should be used in companion with The
Sibley Guide to Birds and The
Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior.
However, warning! This book could be dangerous to your
mental health.
The late Eirik A.T. Blom, Contributing Editor for Bird
Watcher’s Digest, in his Jan/Feb BWD book review,
comments that this book is not for every “bird
watcher” (I prefer the term “birder”).
It seemed to me, as I began to read the book, that this
was a bit strong. I did begin to waiver a bit in the
latter part of the “Voice” chapter. Then came
chapters 13, 14 and 15. To quote my favorite college
football announcer, “Whoa Nelly!”
Sibley’s Birding Basics is a guide
to birding, not a field guide and does not address any
specific species identification. That is, this is a
how to bird and how to identify birds text book. Before
approaching this “basics” book, a beginning
or novice birder should become very familiar with their
field guide(s), especially the introduction sections,
and have spent some time in the field (a couple of years?).
After this apprenticeship, pick up Sibley’s book,
prepare to study, and away you go! Initially the chapters
will seem basic and redundant. Chapters such as “Getting
Started”, “Finding Birds”, “The
Challenges of Bird Identification” will cover everything
from equipment, “pishing”, keeping records,
taxonomy and field marks, to behavioral clues. About
now the reader (student) will realize the depth of this
book (course?).
The voice and sonograms section is an important chapter.
Proceed at your own pace. Sibley’s material will
be helpful to those with the ability to learn audibly
and already are somewhat familiar with bird calls and
songs. Though I think Cornell’s Ornithology Home
Study Course Voice Chapter (and CD) is more readable
and understandable, one will learn more how to identify
songs and calls in the field from Sibley.
Chapters 9, 10, 11 and 12, cover the subject of bird
feather and feather arrangements. Do you remember John
Schmitt’s feather lecture, every field guide introduction,
and the book TMBC has included from time to time, in
its monthly drawing, The Basics of Bird Identification?
Feathers and feather arrangements are the key to specie
identification.
Sibley then explores molt, feather wear, and age variation.
We are now into those areas which identify the age,
season, sex and more, and, within a species, separates
individual birds from each other. These three chapters
will be where I will be spending a lot of time this
coming spring and summer. Again, steady as you go.
Sibley’s Birding Basics is a needed
and important contribution to birding. Eventually, most
serious “birders” will own and study this
material. In the process it will greatly enhance our
knowledge of birds and our identification skills. Besides
the illustrations are gorgeous.
|
