5 comments about Owls in the Family.

1. My kids laughed out loud as they read about a young nature-loving boy w/ too many pets and his long-suffering parents who allow him to adopt two owls. They learned a lot too - about owls, northern Canada and a way of life from the not-too distant past. Very Gerald Durrell-ish in style and content. Suitable for young listeners (some pictures in our edition helped even our 3 yr old enjoy this) and older readers.



2. I first read this book more than 30 years ago, in grammar school. Even then, it was like a view into another world -- growing up in the big city, nobody I knew ever found and rescued orphaned animals or lived with a pair of owls and assorted other creatures on the tundra. I loved reading about the unique challenges of raising a pair of owls (including one that caught skunks to share with the family and one that was so afraid of flying that it never did learn). It was fascinating, touching and uplifting, and today it still is...



3. I might be in the minority, but I thought this book was simply - OK. It is clean cut, which is refreshing in juvenile literature. Unfortunately, I found it almost boring. Worse, as a novel writing teacher, I found the writing technique tended to "tell" rather than to "show." It is a quick-to-read book and lends itself to a great unit study of owls, so go ahead and get it, but don't hope for the best novel you've ever read.



4. Our reading group, The Picky Pickles, liked this book. We thought it had interesting scenes with animals and funny parts. The first chapter was a little slow, but the book got better and better as you read. We also liked how the animals were so attached to the people.



5. Great heartwarming stories about a boy, 2 owls and a dog. I recommend this for all ages. The cover markets this as a childrens's book, but adults who like animals will love this story too. A bird lovers' delight!

No comments about The Domestic Duck.

No comments about Chicks & Ducks As Pets.

1 comments about Ratite Management, Medicine, and Surgery.

1. I bought this book seeking for practical information on how to successfully raise ratites, mainly Rheas and Ostriches. However, it deals mainly on Ostriches and Emus (has 2 to 3 paragraphs on Rheas and no pictures about this bird). Its section on reproduction focuses on artificial incubation in a serious and straight forward veterinarian vocabulary (as does the whole book) but it virtually ignores the natural incubation process, which is used by most small ratite farmers. I do recommend the book if you are interested in the feed composition area, it brings lots of tables, graphs and tips on ratite feeding. Its section on ratite anesthesiology is also very complete. I do not recommend the book if you are an average farmer who didn't graduate in veterinary medicine and are looking for rpractical advice on ratite breeding as it is written in a technical vocabulary directed for Vets and therefore carries the technical terms and conditions necessary for a serious (but not practical for the average farmer) veterinary assistance at a ratite farm operation. The only chapter written in an average vocabulary is the one on Anatomy of Ratites, including drawings of the internal organs of all ratite birds, again, if you are not a Vet you may find it pretty difficult going beyond this point of the book.

1 comments about The Proper Care of Finches (Proper Care Of...).

1.   

   I found the number of topics covered too numerous and brief to be of any real value. Perhaps one exception is the chapter on Accomodations which introduces several good basic aviary designs. Although for the Finch Fancier there are enough excellent photos of various species to make this little book worthwhile to have on the shelf.

No comments about Rare Poultry Breeds.

1 comments about Training Birds of Prey.

1. Much the same as her previous " Falconry Care, Captive breeding and Conservation" - but was well worth doing as is underlines serious points and issues. On the whole a very good book with excellent information and photography. The author does as with the last book seem to have a very high opinion of herself and holds herself up as THE FALCONER in Britain today.

   I was concerned that the author also seems to put the notion across that her Falconry Centre is the only good one in the country and that everyone else is just either playing at it or only in it to make money - as if she isn't what with at least two books, courses, displays etc... I do believe that she holds the welfare of the birds as her highest priority, but this can only be maintained with adequate finance as is the situation with everyone else.

   Note : Cover picture - Buzzard only held by one Jess 2nd page in - one of the jesses is not secured properly to the swivel, preventing the swivel from working properly.. Pages 78,79 and 81, these are surely unhelpful pictures to put on public view - a falcon shying away and hanging from the fist.The anti-hunting lobby would love this.

No comments about The Cage & Aviary Bird Handbook.

5 comments about Nest: An Artist's Sketchbook.

1. 
   As an avid Birder,I get as much enjoyment from books about birds as the birds themselves. With about 1200 bird books in my library,you would wonder if there is any book that could excite me at this point. Not so,this book stands out as much a work of art as does a bird's nest. Maryjo Koch's art shows her great love for art,nature and the fascinating world of birds.It is pure pleasure to turn the pages and enjoy her work.
   This is a large coffee table size book,15 by 11 1/2 inches,beautifully constructed with fine paper ,excellent printing and color rendition.To top it off,it has a beautiful cover displaying her work.
   It has always amazed me,with all the birds we see in our travels,how relatively few nests we actually see.This usually only happens in the winter after the leaves have fallen.Of course,if one pays attention during nest building and nesting,the birds themselves will lead you to their nests.Whenever I come across one,I try to figure out what species of bird built it.Usually,because one is familiar with the habitat and the birds that nest there,it is quite easy to determine which bird built it.What also amazes me is how each species builds a different nest;and within that species each nest is basically identical.
   Anyone who enjoys an artist who puts her heart,soul and skills into her work will be enthralled with this fine book.



2. I ordered this item on June 13 and still have not received it, two and a half months later. What's going on?



3. The Nest, by Maryjo Koch is a delightful work revealing the spirit of her subject (birds/nests/eggs) with remarkable attention to artistic detail. The text (except publisher notes and the forward) are handwritten or hand-lettered . . . all with charming variety of style and movement.

   On some of her drawings, she has left portions without color; thus, revealing the architecture of her black and white line art. At the side of several illustrations, she provides "brush smears" of colors with the name of the base paint colors used in the blends.

   The book is a fascinating blend of ornithology and beautifully executed art.




4. This is a gorgeous book, a rare combination of art and information. It's the sort of book that people love but rarely buy for themselves. It makes a wonderful and unusual new-home gift.



5. This exquisite book is perfect for those days when one can just lull in a hammock and enjoy nature. Maryjo Koch is a wonderful artist and naturalist. Her drawings are so lifelike you feel you could just reach down and pick up one of the beautiful bird's eggs that are in the book. The poems and quotations are an added plus. Wonderful book to have in a classroom to teach children about birds, their remarkable homes and nature.

3 comments about Birds of Argentina & Uruguay: A Field Guide.

1. This book served me well in Patagonia, Buenos Aires, and Iguazu Falls.
   
   Weaknesses: It's a bit big and bulky to easily bring along. Substantively, this book could be improved with larger maps and pages comparing similar species. With the biodiversity of this area, perhaps the only solution is to split the book in two.
   
   Strengths: Complete, good index, names of species in both English and Spanish.
   
   Given the alternatives, I'm still quite pleased that I bought and used this book.



2. This book is depressingly poor, especially considering its price. Some are touting it because the descriptions, images (paintings) and range maps for each species appear together. Bravo! That would be lovely if they were useful, but the maps are too small, the descriptions too brief and vague, and the paintings are (I'm tempted to say "hopelessly") amateuristic. Quality of the illustrations not withstanding, all good modern field guides depict similar (e.g., congenric) species in the same pose so key differences are conspicuous. This field guide seems to go out of its way to do the opposite, featuring as many poses as species, making it essentially impossible to determine essential field marks. There must be something better. If not, avoid Argentina and bird Afghanistan! The result is bound to be more positive.



3. It's an excellent field guide. The little maps with each bird showing the distribution area makes the identification fast and easy. Drawings are very good and so are id clues. I think that due to printing problems sometimes the colors are not so accurate (few cases). If you are coming to Argentina to watch birds, is a must (I'm not the author cousin).