Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) - Nesting And Brooding Behavior Photo Essay.

Every book I recommend I usually own myself or at least have read it once and found it to be interesting or very useful. The reason I am providing links to the Amazon site is not only that I am almost always buying from them, but this site also provides a lot of extra information. Of course, I like to check eBay and other similar places before I buy, but I usually end up buying from Amazon as their price is, in most cases, lower than even those on auctions. Not to mention they are a fast and reliable service. This not only applies to books but also to some camera equipment. The best example is memory cards. We never have enough storage for pictures when shooting, do we?

Links to external sites of similar contest are those I use very often myself and found them to be very helpful in gathering information, but I can not be responsible for their contest.

Recommended Books and Links section is not a comprehensive bibliography but rather a personal choice of books, articles, and web links.

We are offering an exclusive MBB Photography
FREE version of the award winning Alexa Toolbar. With the toolbar you can search the web using their amazing search engine powered byGoogle™, right from your toolbar. CombinesGoogle™ search results with Alexa information. Dictionary, thesaurus, news, stock, and Amazon.com product search are also available. STOP POP-UP ADS!! No browser should be without this handy tool! The toolbar is loaded with useful information about every site on the web, like customer reviews, traffic rankings and web site contact information. This toolbar is a great way to surf the web because it constantly provides you with Related Links. It's a great time saver! Include Tell-a-Friend Button. Send cool sites to your friends without the hassle of copying and pasting URLs into an email.Click here to download.

Nightjars: A Guide to the Nightjars, Frogmouths, Potoos, Oilbird and Owlet-nightjars of the World

by Nigel Cleere, David Nurney (Illustrator)

The nightjars and their allies are amongst the most difficult of all birds to identify. Being strictly nocturnal and cryptically patterned in shades of brown, it is often necessary to rely on size, shape, habitat and voice to safely identify a species. The nightjars are by far the largest family in the order and are spread throughout the world. Some species have developed spectacular tails and wing adornments, but the majority are fairly uniform in appearance. They inhabit both forests and deserts and are ground-nesting. Many species are migratory. The forest-dwelling frogmouths of Asia and Australasia and the potoos of Latin America, adopt a less aeiral feeding strategy and nest on open branches or in tree crevices. The unique oilbird of South American nests colonially in caves, and the owlet-nighjars almost exclusively inhabit Australasia. This book fully covers this popular group of birds. The text has been thoroughly researched, both in the museum and in the field, and the plates depict feather-by-feather detail, allowing identification of all species, providing adequate views are obtained. As voice is so important in nightjar identification, an accompanying CD (priced separately) with the voices of many species will be issued simultaneously.

Nightjars and Their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes (Bird Families of the World, Vol 7)

by D. T. Holyoak, Martin Woodcock (Illustrator)

Nocturnal birds that were the subject of outlandish superstitions since classical times (it was believed they poisoned and blinded goats by sucking their milk), nightjars and the South American potoos, Australian frogmouths, Australian owlet- nightjars, and oilbirds which are their cousins, are still incompletely understood. Holyoak's magisterial compendium assesses the state of current research, providing bibliography, description, geographical variation, range and status, habitat, food and feeding, behavior, voice, field characters, breeding, conservation, and a list of references for every identified type. Each entry includes a distribution map and a b&w drawing of the bird. The b&w drawings and color plates are by bird illustrator Martin Woodcock.Book News, Inc.®, Portland, OR

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America

by David Allen Sibley (Author)

The Sibley Guide to Birds has quickly become the new standard of excellence in bird identification guides, covering more than 810 North American birds in amazing detail. Now comes a new portable guide from David Sibley that every birder will want to carry into the field. Compact and comprehensive, this new guide features 650 bird species plus regional populations found east of the Rocky Mountains. Accounts include stunningly accurate illustrations—more than 4,200 in total—with descriptive caption text pointing out the most important field marks. Each entry contains new text concerning frequency, nesting, behavior, food and feeding, voice description, and key identification features. Accounts also include brand-new maps created from information contributed by 110 regional experts across the continent.

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America is an indispensable resource for all birders seeking an authoritative and portable guide to the birds of the East.

The Sibley Guide to Birds

by David Allen Sibley (Author)

More than 10 years in the making, David Sibley's Guide to Birds is a monumental achievement. The beautiful watercolor illustrations (6,600, covering 810 species in North America) and clear, descriptive text place Sibley and his work squarely in the tradition of John James Audubon and Roger Tory Peterson; more than a birdwatcher and evangelizer, he is one of the foremost bird painters and authorities in the U.S. Still, his field guide will no doubt spark debate. Unlike Kenn Kaufman's Focus Guide, Sibley's is unapologetically aimed at the converted. Beginning birders may want to keep a copy of Sibley at home as a reference, but the wealth of information will have the same effect on novices as trying to pick out a single sandpiper in a wheeling flock of thousands. The familiar yellow warbler, for instance, gets no less than nine individual illustrations documenting its geographic, seasonal, and sex variations--plus another eight smaller illustrations showing it in flight. Of course, more experienced birders will appreciate this sort of detail, along with Sibley's improvements on both Peterson and the National Geographic guide:

As in Peterson, Sibley employs a pointer system for key field markings--but additional text blurbs are included alongside the illustrations to facilitate identification.

Descriptive passages on identification are more detailed than those in most other field guides. For example, Sibley includes extensive information on the famously hard-to-distinguish hawks in the genus Accipiter (sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and northern goshawk), noting differences in leg thickness and wing beat that will be of use to more advanced birders. A section on the identification of "peeps" (small sandpipers) includes tips about seasonal molting and bill length. Confusing fall warblers, Empidonax flycatchers, and Alcids receive similar treatment.

As previously mentioned, ample space is given to illustrations that show plumage variations by age, sex, and geography within a single species. Thus, an entire page is devoted to the red-shouldered hawk and its differing appearances in the eastern U.S., Florida, and California; similarly, gulls are distinguished by age and warblers by sex.

Range maps are detailed and accurate, with breeding, wintering, and migration routes clearly depicted; rare but regular geographic occurrences are denoted by green dots.

The binding and paper stock are of exceptional quality. Despite its 544 pages, a reinforced paperback cover and sewn-in binding allow the book to be spread out flat without fear of breaking the binding.

Some birders will be put off by the book's size. Slightly larger than the National Geographic guide, it's less portable than most field guides and will likely spend more time in cars and desks than on a birder's person while in the field. For some it will be a strictly stay-at-home companion guide to consult after a field trip; others may want to have it handy in a fannypack or backpack. But regardless of how it is used, Sibley's Guide to Birds is a significant addition to any birding library. "Birds are beautiful," the author writes in the preface, "their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature." Pleasing, too, is this comprehensive guide to their identification. --Langdon Cook

Dual focusing with 3.5 and 14 turns

Sophisticated optics with 3 lenses (Apo-Televid) for colour-fringe-free viewing even under extremely poor light conditions and at high magnification

Waterproof, all-metal housing with partial rubber armouring

All eyepieces for Televid 77 spotting scopes can also be used on Televid 62 spotting scopes.

Choice of angled or straight viewing

Product Description

Experience directly the fascination of the world of animals and birds. Whether in the straight or angled version, the Leica spotting scopes Televid 77 and Apo Televid 77 guarantee close proximity to the subject and intensive experience from daybreak through evening twilight. When you are looking for a high-corrected spotting scope of the extra class, you'll find it with a Leica Televid spotting scope.Even the tiniest details are reproduced faithfully and with the very best resolution. And if you wish, you can even record such experiences on film by means of the Photo Adapter.Top-of-its-class spotting scope for professionals. With fluorite-containing optical glasses for images without color fringes and with unmatched sharpness. Near-focusing range down to 3.95 m (13 feet). Versatile applications by means of precision eyepieces with different magnifications.

The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior

by David Allen Sibley (Author)

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

From the creator of the seminal field guide, The Sibley Guide to Birds, comes another indispensable book for bird watchers. This veritable bible to the world of birds is the collaborative effort of 48 expert birders and biologists, who combine scientific accuracy and detail with an easily readable and well-organized format. How does a tiny chickadee survive subzero temperatures? How do flocks of birds synchronize their flights? How can an albatross cross miles of ocean without flapping its wings? Which bird brains are actually intelligent? It's all here in essays giving an overview of avian evolution, biology, and the aerodynamics of flight and in chapters devoted to the 80 bird families of North America, each one detailing taxonomy, habitats, feeding, breeding, vocalizations, migrations, and more. Concerned about declining populations, Sibley also discusses the conservation status of each species and the factors that threaten them. This fascinating source of information is destined to be a well-thumbed companion. -- Lesley Reed

Book Description

“Once in a great while, a natural history book changes the way people look at the world. In 1838, John ames Audubon’s Birds of America was one...In 1934, Roger Tory Peterson produced Field Guide to the Birds...Now comes The Sibley Guide to Birds.”

Thus did The New York Times, in 1999, greet David Allen Sibley’s monumental book, which has quickly been established nationwide as the peerless, standard bird identification guide.

The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior is the new landmark book from David Allen Sibley. Designed to enhance the birding experience and to enrich the popular study of North American birds, the book combines more than 795 of his full-color illustrations with authoritative text by 48 expert birders and biologists. In this new guide Sibley takes us beyond identification, to show us how birds live and what they do.

Introductory essays outline the principles of avian evolution, life cycle, body structure, flight dynamics, and more. The 80 family-by-family chapters describe the amazing range of behavior dictated by birds’ biology and environment. Among the subjects covered and illustrated are:

--molts and plumages

--habitats

--food and foraging

--vocalizations and displays

--courtship and breeding

--rearing of young

--migration and movements

--scientific groupings

--introduced species

--accidental species

--anatomy

--flight patterns

--nests and eggs

--conservation

--global distribution

Accessibly written, superbly designed and organized, and brilliantly illustrated, The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior is an indispensable source of information on the avian life around us.

Canon 18x50 Image Stabilization All Weather Binoculars with Case, Neck Strap & Batteries

Canon's 18x50 IS binoculars incorporate an optical image stabilizer for shake-free viewing and minimal eye fatigue. This technology was first developed for Canon video camcorders and is now available in many of Canon's binoculars. The system employs a Vari-Angle Prism, dual transparent plates, independent vertical and horizontal sensors, and a dedicated microprocessor to continuously adjust the prism to maintain a steady image.

The 18x50 IS binoculars feature a water-resistant, shock-resistant rubber coating for a nonslip grip and better durability. If you get caught in the rain and still want to view, you don't have to worry about the optics fogging up. These binoculars deliver high magnification and wide-field viewing. Controls for focusing and image stabilization are centrally located and accessible by both hands. These binoculars provide long eye relief for extra comfort.

Product Description

With Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer, you can enjoy the full, remarkable resolving power of these binoculars without a tripod. You can even use the 18x50 IS from within a moving vehicle. The shake free performance not only enhances your ability to view fine detail but also reduces eye strain and fatigue.

Smithsonian Handbooks: Birds of North America -- Eastern Region (Smithsonian Handbooks)

by Fred J., III Alsop

Book Description

Published in association with America's preeminent authority, the Smithsonian Institution, this comprehensive handbook to the birds of North America: Eastern Region includes 706 species ---- all birds known to breed east of the 100th meridian on the United States and Canada, as well as regular visitors and vagrants to this region. The Smithsonian Handbook is the first identification guide that includes details of the bird's life history in a concise and user--friendly format. Each full--page profile combines a precise description, annotated photographs, and artworks to highlight the key field marks of the species in each plumage. Similar species are shown and distinguishing characteristics are noted. Further information on the bird's habits describes the typical song and other vocalizations, behavior, breeding, nesting, population, and conservation concerns. Typical flight patterns and nest locations and shapes are described with clear icons, and amplified in the text. Each bird's range during summer, winter, and on migration is clearly shown on a map.

Birds of North America: Western Region (Smithsonian Handbooks)

by Fred J. Alsop

Book Description

The winning photo-encyclopedic formula of the DK Handbook series, which have sold over five million copies, is taken to new heights in these comprehensive guides to the birds of North America. Created in association with one of America's leading learning institutions, the Smithsonian, Birds of North America are an absolute staple for any birder or ornithologist. Containing a superior visual format with more information than any other bird guides on the market, these books feature more than 700 species in the United States and Canada, each one receiving its own full-page profile along with a precise description and annotated photographs to highlight chief characteristics and other points of interest. An introductory overview for each species is followed by six important sections that no competitor to these books covers in full. With over 1,000 total photographs and a range map for each entry, these remarkable guides will have bird-lovers soaring! The 100th Parallel of Longitude is the dividing line between the Eastern and Western volumes.

Smithsonian Handbooks: Birds of the World (Smithsonian Handbooks)

by Alan Greensmith, Colin J. Harrison, Alan Greenspan

Book Description

Authoritative text, crystal--clear photography, and a systematic approach make this the most comprehensive pocket guide to birds of the world. Featuring over 800 bird species, this volume is designed to simplify the sometimes complex identification process. Whether in your neighborhood or in the wild, the Smithsonian Handbook of Birds of the World enables you to spot and recognize birds easily. Photo--Encyclopedic Approach: Each entry combines a precise description with an annotated photograph to highlight the bird's chief characteristics and distinguishing features. There are useful maps showing worldwide distribution, pictures of alternative plumage, and scale drawings of each bird. Color--coded, quick--reference bands giving at--a--glance facts complete every entry. Identification Made easy: For beginners and established enthusiasts alike, the Smithsonian Handbook of Birds of the World begins by describing anatomy and behavior to help identify different types of bird. A visual identification key then shows the major bird groups and guides you to the correct entries. Finally, a concise glossary provides a useful guide to the scientific and technical terms used in the book.

Smithsonian Handbooks: Birds of Texas (Smithsonian Handbooks)

by Fred J., III Alsop

Book Description

The most comprehensive series of field guides to North American birds ever. This impressive collection highlights birds from all regions of the United States including localized areas such as the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest and New England.

Whether birding in the foothills of New England, the prairies of the Midwest, or the beaches of Florida, Smithsonian Handbooks are the most comprehensive field guides to North American birds on the market. Looking for the Great Blue Heron or the Piping Plover while visiting the Great Lakes? Desperate to find the rare Long Billed Curlew or the Marbled Godwit during a hike in the Cascade Mountains? There's no need to look any further! Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution, these amazing guides are an absolute staple for any birder or amateur ornithologist. Each local species receives its own profile, along with descriptions of habitats and annotated photographs that highlight specific characteristics and other points of interest. Take bird watching to new heights!

Smithsonian Handbooks: Birds of Florida (Smithsonian Handbooks)

by Fred J., III Alsop

Book Description

National Geographic Field Guide To The Birds Of North America, 4th Edition

by National Geographic Society (Author)

Book Description

Now in its fourth edition, the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America is the ultimate birder’s field guide. Sturdy, portable, and easy-to-use, it features the most complete information available on every bird species known to North America. This revised edition features 250 completely updated range maps, new plumage and species classification information, specially commissioned full-color illustrations, and a superb new index that allows birders in the field to quickly identify a species.

The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fourth Edition will continue to be a bestseller among the fastest-growing sector in the U.S. travel market—the nearly 25 million people who travel each year specifically to observe wild birds.

National Geographic Photography Field Guide

by Rulon Simmons (Author)

Book Description

In a single year, 25 million people will travel specifically to observe and photograph wild birds, spending 18.1 billion dollars on trips, equipment, and publications. And this dedicated population continues to grow each year.

Now, National Geographic offers novice to advanced birders and photographers a sturdy, easy-to-carry guide packed with the information they will need to take their best wild bird photographs. Author Rulon Simmons, a 30-year birder and award-winning photographer, joins Bates Littlehales, a 40-year National Geographic photographer specializing in birds, to offer specifics on finding and photographing birds, whether in the backyard or in the nation’s stunning national parks. Includes comprehensive information with full-color images on the right films and lenses to use; the best time of day to shoot; stalking, luring, and “posing” birds; range maps and birding hotspots; and a complete index. This excellent companion to National Geographic’s #1 selling National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America is the only book photographers will need to capture stunning images of wild birds.

National Geographic Guide to Bird Watching Sites, Eastern US

Includes a great mix of precise information and superb visuals with site descriptions, starred species lists, best seasons and vantage points, and travel and visitor information. 100 full-color photos, 8 maps.

Book Description

Guide to Birdwatching Sites Eastern U.S.

Discover the best places to see birds in the Eastern United States with National Geographic as your guide. Dedicated to beginning and intermediate birders, the National Geographic Guide to Birdwatching Sites takes you to the birding hot spots, both highly visited and lesser known. Features include:

* Special species lists, best seasons to visit, and insider's advice

* Detailed directions and 8 easy-to-read area maps

* Descriptions of birds and their behavior

* 193 vivid color photos and illustrations

National Geographic Guide to Birdwatching Sites: Western U.S.

by Mel, 1950 White, Mel Baughman (Editor)

For outings near home or far, in habitats ranging from forests to seashores, this guide includes site descriptions, starred species lists, best seasons and vantage points, and travel and visitor information. 100 full-color photos, 8 maps.

Book Description

Guide to Birdwatching Sites Western U.S.

Discover the best places to see birds in the contiguous Western United States with National Geographic as your guide. Dedicated to beginning and intermediate birders, the National Geographic Guide to Birdwatching Sites takes you to the birding hot spots, both highly visited and lesser known. Features include:

* Special species lists, best seasons to visit, and insider's advice

* Detailed directions and 5 easy-to-read area maps

* Descriptions of birds and their behavior

* 133 vivid color photos and illustrations