Must-See Birds of the Pacific Northwest

September 15, 2013

First-time authors Swanson and Smith have written a photographic guide to be consulted for familiarization, before the business of finding the birds begins. The book targets those interested in opportunities unique to Oregon and Washington, but it is specifically friendly to beginning and intermediate birders in those areas. This title is not a comprehensive catalog but rather offers a selection of birds the authors deem important to see, so they have omitted species that they find fascinating but which are either too rare to find reliably or too challenging for nonexperts to identify. Their equipment recommendations are sensible and take into account factors that a novice (or someone unfamiliar with the Pacific Northwest) might not take into consideration, such as the wisdom of purchasing waterproof binoculars. Coverage of birding ethics again deals with territory that a beginner might not consider, such as the need to limit recorded songs to lure birds and the inappropriateness of using binoculars to view birds on a private residence. Each entry includes information about food and foraging, pairing and parenting, migrations and movements, where to find the bird, and other birds to look for in the vicinity. The text is accessible: the authors keep jargon to a minimum, and all vocabulary is defined on the page. The color photographs are more utilitarian than spectacular, allowing readers to get a good look at each species so they'll know what to watch for in the wild. The book concludes with details on eight weekend birding trips. VERDICT Looks like a field guide, reads like a travel book. This accessible guide will appeal to less experienced birders as well as visitors to the Pacific Northwest.--Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole P.L., MA

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