Chicago Botanic Garden

Education — Lenhardt Library

Current Books & Book Reviews

PHOTO: bookcover

David Allen Sibley.
Sibley's Birding Basics.
New York: Knopf, 2002.
paper, 154 p., ISBN 0-375-70966-5, $15.95.

As in his previous books, David Allen Sibley's newest is filled with detailed illustrations. While he does cover such basics as equipment, where and when to look, and so on, this is not a tome for the beginner. For example, while he discusses sketching in the field and how to draw "sounds" to assist wih identification, there is a great deal of information in the book on feathers in all of their variety. The author goes into great detail about their structure, types, colors and patterns.

For the new birder, this detail on feathers may be too much, too soon. But for the serious birder, this information can be invaluable, while either in the field or merely watching a bird feeder.

— Barbara G. Mahany, Volunteer, Library, Chicago Botanic Garden.