Book Description
Miracles and passion abound in this mesmerizing novelhailed everywhere as a masterworkthe story of a remarkable young womans sudden sainthood in the revolutionary-era Mexico of the late 19th century.
Customer Reviews:
Great book.......2007-09-20
Like many have said in their reviews so far, the story was very hard to start, especially for myself. I generally read from a different genre of fiction, and my wife told me that it was a must read. It took me a while to actually get into the story, and once I did, I could not put it down. Give it a chance, and you will not be sorry.
Fascinating........2007-09-18
Great book. Mythical and quite Latin in its writing, with lots of fantasy, but very grounded in some "rational" characters versus "magical" ones. Beautiful prose.
I Couldn't Finish It.......2007-09-10
I picked up The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea and I put it back down again after 100 pages. I just could NOT get into this book. I could not care about the characters. It should be easy to care about Thersea/Terista, but I couldn't do it. Obviously, I am in the minority of reviewers. This book has received so many good reviews that I can't help but think maybe it is me. Maybe I was not in the right mood to read this book, regardless, this is one of the very few books I have refused to continue reading.
The book seems to have a good story, but it is the writer's style that annoyed me to the point of putting it down. If the book is praised for its descriptiveness than apparently being descriptive is only about writing ten different ways to say the same thing. I could not feel the words to this book. I did not know what the characters felt. I knew that Treista was beat and thrown to spend the night with the pigs, but I did not know how the mud felt against her skin, what the temperature was like outside. What parts of her body hurt? How she felt about her aunt? These are the things I want to know when I read a book, these are the descriptions that carry me into a book and out of my living room/metra train. This is why I couldn't finish the book. With more showing than telling I never felt like I knew any of the characters and even worse, after 100 pages, I didn't care to know them.
Fabulous!.......2007-08-11
Great book! It has everything a great book could possibly include. Loved every minute. It dragged a bit at the end but generally was a wonderful reading experience. I miss this book.
A living work of art! The book breathes!.......2007-07-31
I finished it today at 12:56 P.M. It was the largest undertaking I have attempted with regards to reading a book. four hundred and ninety-five pages, plus a "must read" essay by the author at the end in the paperback edition.
I can tell you that I feel like I watched the story unfold, just as if I was right there on the ranch like one of the more senior cowboys. Someone that wouldn't say much, but would be privy to the occasional first-hand conversation or much second-hand retelling from Segundo. I dare not assume to think the author's thoughts, but I confidently put forth that this is his very goal, as it probably is with all of his writings. At least that has been my experience. This is my fourth book by Luis. He wants you to walk right next to him and/or his characters as they experience life.
I can not think of a better way to put it: Mr. Urrea paints pictures with his words in a way I can only describe as vivid, incredible, and detailed. He leaves little room for interpretation, which may not seem like a desirable concept at first, however, it is this ability which is the very essence of why I am drawn right into the scene! The author covers the tiniest of details, so that a person can smell the smells, see the different shades of the same colors, taste the tastes, feel the moment - good or bad, pain or pleasure, joy or disgust! It is simply incredible! It is the difference between a Thomas Kinkade painting and a similar painting by another. The latter may be a priceless work of art, but the way Thomas paints the light into his art makes it come alive to the point you have to stop yourself from reaching out and touching it; believing the experience is actually unfolding in the scene before your very eyes! This is the only way I can adequately describe what he does with words is to compare it to painting. Frankly, I dare say writing this way is the much harder task, which commands a deeper level of appreciation!
The life-long journey to write this book and the fact that it is historical fiction, right out of the author's own family's history, makes me appreciate it all the more. I feel like I have shared, not in the blood, sweat and tears of its research and writing, but the blessing of its culmination.
Sometimes I wish I could be a fly on the wall, as the author thinks aloud, so I could better understand the experiences as he recounts them to himself and the spirits around him, but then I realize with great delight, that the very thing I desire is in my hands, a carefully crafted journal written by the one who experienced it.
The healing of others continues in the Urrea blood line...
Thank you for giving me and all of the world this part of you, Don Luis! Thank you for acknowledging our Creator by being the man that was given the five talents and set out with determination to bring the Lord back ten!
The Hummingbird's Daughter is a book that will challenge you, teach you, delight you, disgust you, and make you contemplate life.
Average customer rating:
- Beautiful
- I would like to locate a copy of this book..its wonderful.
- Old exquisite bird art reproduced with modern tech.
- Beautiful book of fantastical hummingbirds, many now extinct
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John Gould's Hummingbirds
John Gould
Manufacturer: Book Sales
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Hummingbirds Of The Caribbean
ASIN: 1555216617 |
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful.......2001-11-30
This book is awesome! If you love hummingbirds, you'll love this book!!! Hi gloss pages are *extra* nice. You'll like it.
I would like to locate a copy of this book..its wonderful........1999-02-14
I have been looking for a copy of this book for a very long time...its a wonderful book and very well illustrated. Would like information on how I may find a copy.
Old exquisite bird art reproduced with modern tech........1998-02-19
As many may know, John Gould(with the help of many) produced 418 hand coloured stone lithograph plates for his Monograph of the Hummingbirds which took 12 years to produce(1849-61). An original set sold recently for 1/4million dollars! At approx $100, this book gives a great deal of art bang for the buck! Albeit, the format is smaller and the exquisite hand coloring is lost to modern printing reproduction, it's a joy to own. Individual original plates are available at antique print shops($700-$2000 ea) and this book is your excellent reference for an contemplated purchase.
Beautiful book of fantastical hummingbirds, many now extinct.......1997-11-27
This is a beautiful coffee table book, filled with full-page illustrations of hummingbirds: some familiar, some fantastical, some, sadly, now extinct. Not just for hummingbird lovers. Anyone with an interest in nature will be delighted by some of these astonishingly wacky creatures. Each illustration is accompanied by a few concise paragraphs about the birds.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent resource.......2007-06-25
My grandma originally owned a copy of this book and regularly noted sightings of interesting/rare species. I bought my own copy several years ago and it has proved quite useful. The most interesting example was a Java Sparrow sighted in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I couldn't find out what it was from searching around online, but looking in the back of this field guide, under foreign/introduced species, there it was.
Quality Through and Through.......2005-10-11
I received this book as a gift and have used it constantly. I keep it on my window sill during the feeding season to identify the visiters to my feeder. The book's size and physical construction are excellent. As someone who is a novice it seems to be very comprehensive on the subject matter.
The birder's bible.......2005-07-19
Even when I lived in the city, I liked to feed and watch the birds (mainly sparrows and pigeons). Now that we live up in the woods, we're in bird paradise. Using this Peterson Field Guide for "Eastern Birds" plus a good pair of binoculars for visual identifications, and the "Birding by Ear Eastern/Central" CDs (Richard K. Walton and Robert W. Lawson) I've identified 42 species of birds in just over a month, as a casual observer for the Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas II project.
I have other bird books, but it is Peterson's Field Guide that I use most frequently. Roger Tory Peterson's 'system' "is based on patternistic drawings with arrows that pinpoint the key field marks." You don't have to have the bird in hand in order to make an identification. In addition to 136 full-color plates of Eastern birds (male, female, and immature, or summer and winter plumage if they differ markedly), there are also 390 three-color maps (first introduced in the 1980 edition).
The maps are absolutely essential for an amateur like me. If I've narrowed down a blurry little gray bird to X and Y, and Y never makes it north of the Mason-Dixon Line, I can be pretty certain that the bird is X. Here's an actual example on the utility of the maps: I was trying to distinguish a trilling song that could either belong to the Swamp Sparrow, the Pine Warbler, or the Northern Junco. We do see Juncos at our feeders in the winter, but this is July and according to Peterson's map, the Juncos spend the summer north of here, mostly in Canada. So I've narrowed the trill down to the Swamp Sparrow or the Pine Warbler (actually I'm positive we've got both as I've made tentative visual identifications. It makes sense since we live in the Pine Barrens which is dotted with numerous swamps).
This book begins with a generalized introduction to identifying birds by shape, distinctive features and behavior. Physically, it is tightly bound and just the right size to slip into a backpack. The pages are glossy and 'relatively' waterproof if you wipe them quickly dry. There is even a 'life list' up front where you can check off the birds you have seen.
Don't go birding without it.
Excellent beginner book for myself and my sister........1999-04-26
The Peterson field Guide to Eastern American Birds turned out to be the best birding book I've ever read. The book was well thought out and had the format that we needed in our suburban environment. The illustrations were concise and made identifying the birds extremely easy. We have a large population of Red-Winged Blackbirds and Mourning Doves, and its great to actually know what in the world we were looking at. It was great!
Excellent guide to identification of birds........1998-05-13
This is the best of the field guides for the amature birder in my opinion. I purchased a guide that had actual photos of birds in their habitats, thinking it would be the best, but it definately was not as good or as easy to use as the Peterson field guide. If you are looking for a good all around field guide to keep near your binoculars, this one is my pick.
Amazon.com
A guide full of sensible and easy to follow advice for gardeners in all parts of the country who want to experience the magic of hummingbirds in their garden.
Hummingbird Gardens provides specific recommendations for the best varieties of flowers to plant in order to attract the elusive creatures, while integrating gardening ideas and designs with an informative introduction to the general habits, including migrating and nesting patterns, of hummingbirds.
Book Description
Of all the beuty a gardener can cultivate, nothing equals that of the hummingbird. Little wonder that millions of North Americans attempt to attract these spunky birds to their gardens. Hummingbird Gardens provides how-to information on feeders, plant combinations, and garden design. It showcases the continent's 20-plus hummingbird species. By breaking North American into six regions, the authors give tips that are tailored for gardeners in all parts of the United States and Canada.
Customer Reviews:
A wealth of informative text and spectacular photos........1999-10-26
Long, long ago - experience taught me the smoothest way through life is to "never make recommendations to anybody about anything." Sam and I have learned to qualify those don't-miss-it things encompassing: great places to eat, visit, read, watch, etc. For example, we now say, "The food was great the night we were there," or "You would love the movie if you enjoy such-and-such."
With all of those lessons in mind, I'm unequivocally saying, "Get your hands on Hummingbird Gardens as soon as possible." I don't think the co-authors, Nancy Newfield and Barbara Nielsen, have yet realized the true scope of what they have accomplished.
I knew Nancy was working on a book with somebody, but thought it was strictly for the southern Louisiana area. When Sam brought home my unexpected copy, it took only a few minutes of browsing for me to tell him something like, "Good lord, this thing is really, really good - and I mean good!" That's saying a lot for a person who is not easily impressed, and the more I read, the better it got.
Somehow, Nancy and Barbara truly did it all in Hummingbird Gardens by combining a wealth of well written, informative text with spectacular photographs of both the hummingbirds and the flowering plants so loved by these creatures. The beautiful birds and blossoming plants are well covered in their own separate chapters.
At the same time though, the content flows smoothly into pertinent regional information for those in: California, The Pacific Northwest, The Southwest, The Western Mountains, The Southeast and The East and Midwest. They so skillfully blend bird and bloom with helpful tips and enthusiasts' experiences that you will want to read on and on about other hummers in other gardens!
As far as I can determine, they left no stone unturned. All who open its covers will soon learn to appreciate the inclusion of subjects often left out of other publications. This one did not forget such things as: References and Further Reading (great bibliography), Resources (supermarkets for the hummers' favorite natural foods), and an excellent Index.
One last thing. Although Hummingbird Gardens was primarily done for the millions of us who simply love and enjoy these particular bounties of nature - I sincerely believe ornithology, as a whole, will gain as well. The professionals cannot be out in the field all of the time, thus what we see "our" hummers doing in our yards can contribute a great deal to the science. Meanwhile, we are very lucky, indeed, that Barbara and Nancy decided to share their knowledge and discoveries with the rest of us!
An excellent resource.......1999-10-10
Including information from real-life hummingbird gardeners around the U.S., this book will be useful to virtually anyone in North America who's trying to create backyard habitat for these fascinating birds. The main shortcoming of this book is in the depth of coverage of the plants, particularly photos. There were not enough showing an entire plant (though more than enough of the birds themselves), and the one feeder illustrated contained dyed sugar water (a no-no and contradictory to the text). Novice hummingbird gardeners should cross-reference the plant names with national and regional gardening guides for photos and cultural information such as size and temperature tolerance.
Beautiful and Informative.......1999-08-06
This book has incredible photographs and gobs of information about these amazing creatures. It's an unabashed sales-job to get you to become a hummingbird gardener. (That's not a bad idea!)
Customer Reviews:
A BOOK WELL WORTH OWNING - VERY HELPFUL!.......2007-07-04
This work, like most of those by Donald and Lillian Stokes is well written, informative, useful and simply a joy to read. The subject here, of course, is Hummingbirds. The authors also do give us several very nice pages (6) addressing orioles, a common visitor to feeders. The photographs in this book are quite good and the authors actually tell and show us their technique of photographing these amazing creatures.
Probably the most important chapter in this work is the one covering the types, maintenance and placement of the hummingbird feeder. Some of the other subjects well covered are creating Hummingbird habitat, Hummingbird gardening, nesting habits, flight behavior, amazing facts, Hummingbird myths and very importantly, the identification of these little creatures which are found here in North America. Each species is given due coverage and no area of the country is left out. I enjoyed the section devoted to the various kinds of flowers which are Hummingbird friendly. The Stokes have given us specific information here, seldom found in other volumes.
As to the identification of the various species found here, the authors have given us a great over view of the eight major species, their range, habits, migration patterns and some wonderful photographs to help in identification. The hardcore birder will of course want additional field guides, as several species, usually found in small pockets along our southern border are not covered. This is not major flaw though, as most individuals that are very much into the hobby of birding, already have a trunk full of guides. The authors have also included a very nice section on other resources, books, videos, companies that provide feeders, etc.
All in all, this is a very nice book to own and certainly one that you will want to add to your collection
terrific guide to flying jeweks.......2004-08-25
This is a very useful guide to attracting and caring for these hummingbirds, with great photographs supplementing text that is well-written and filled with wonderful advice and tips about feeders, habitat, gardens, identification and further resources. Sections also detail behavior, photography, babies and feeder problems. Nicely done and very helpful.
a bird in the hand..........2002-09-04
An outstanding reference. I especially enjoyed the "honey glazed ruby-throated dessert".
a guide book for the hummer lover.......2002-05-18
A great book for anyone who wants to attract and feed hummingbirds, it's packed with all the basic information you'll need, starting with choosing the right feeder for your area, the sugar solution to put in it, and the maintenance and cleaning of it, which the Stokes say: "We can't emphasize enough how important it is to take feeder maintenance seriously", as any mold or bacteria can be "risking the health, and possibly the lives", of these jeweled wonders of the bird family...and they show you the easy steps to be taken to keep the feeders clean.
There are also 6 pages on orioles, who can be seen sometimes at hummer feeders. It gives a "quick guide" to 8 species of these beautiful birds, with lovely photos to help identification. It also shows how one can set up feeders specifically for orioles, and the sugar solution to use, which is slightly different from that of the hummer mixture.
Chapters on the "Hummingbird Habitat" and "Gardening", give you a list of plants and flowers that hummers like the most, by geographical region. "Amazing Facts" truly is amazing. Among the many fascinating things you'll learn is that their heart can beat 1,260 times per minute, but can sometimes slow down to 50 beats per minute at night to conserve energy. There are other chapters on "Myths", "Baby Hummingbirds", and "Photographing Hummingbirds".
Nearly half the book is devoted to the identification of the different species, with photos, maps, behaviour patterns, and much more. Once you've identified your visitors, you'll get to know the idiosyncrasies of the species, and it's sure to add to the joy and delight of watching these miraculous little creatures.
The Stokes stroke their stuff..........2000-08-18
I was so impressed with the depth of the study, and the over-all content of this book, and yet it is very comprehensive. I am a new Hummer-lover, and I definitely recommend this colorful book to the newcomer because it is so thorough. I was able to easily identify the species that visit my deck every morning, and discover the variety of flowers they prefer, and even predict their behavior. This book is a veritible wealth of information on common and rare Hummers that has made me appreciate these beautiful and delicate little creatures even more that I did before! What an awesome Creator we have!
Book Description
Robert Tyrrell, the world's foremost photographer of hummingbirds, has successfully captured on film the utterly fascinating day-to-day activities of our colorful North American species. Included among the 235 full-color pictures are never-before-photographed sequences such as nesting, molting, preening and territorial aggression, as well as an unprecedented portfolio of hummingbirds feeding from wildflowers.
Esther Tyrrell has written the accompanying illuminating text, by far the most complete and up-to-date information on hummingbirds ever assembled, which will make this book the definitive source for both scientists and the general reader for years to come.
This lavishly illustrated volume opens with an introduction to this lovely family of
Customer Reviews:
Stunning Photos!.......2006-05-06
Of course, everyone loves the feisty, peppy hummingbird with it's glorious colors. This book shows details that the average birdwatcher never sees. The close up photos, some in action sequence, are a delight and there are pictures even showing the nests made of cobwebs, feathers and lichens.
The text supplements the photos giving details of the author's observations on hummingbird behavior.
One section covers the different hummingbirds, giving each variety a two-page spread. There are several photos plus a listing of the field markings, range, breeding range, winter range, nesting, migration and habitat for each.
Additional graphics are quite useful, like the one showing the names for the body parts of hummingbirds. What a useful (and beautiful) book!
Unbelievable photography.......2000-12-29
This book conains the most amazing photography imaginable (the authors' companion book Hummingbirds of the Caribbean is just as wonderful). Dazzling colors and awesome stopped-action shots. I can't imagine how it was done.
Highest praise.......1999-03-16
The wife and husband team of Esther and Robert Tyrrell logged over 30,000 miles of travel to photograph and document the 16 species of North American hummingbirds. Using his own special high-speed strobe techniques, Robert has photographed the tiny colorful birds in a variety of activities flying, perching, and nesting. The book contains over 200 amazing photographs, reproduced in dazzling color. In her text, Esther has culled information from hundreds of sources and provides a comprehensive and well-written overview of the birds' anatomy and behaviors. A must for any bird lover!
Book Description
Increasingly, homeowners are recognizing the need to provide natural abode for those fluttering jewels of naturebutterflies and hummingbirds. Sally Roth offers a menu of irresistible plants plus organic garden design strategies to create backyard habitat.Discover tried-and-true techniques for selecting, using, and maintaining nectar feeders and attracting a broad range of butterflies by offering foods other than nectar. Easy-to-follow instructions detail fun projects like creating mud puddles for butterflies or setting up a mister so hummingbirds can bathe in flight. Youll find out how you can provide nesting sites and nest materials for hummingbirds.Readers from 5 to 75 will be thrilled by the sight of hummingbirds or butterflies enjoying the habitat theyve created for them. The book includes a field guide to the 16 hummingbird species found in North America and 75 of the most popular butterfly species, along with Roths entertaining and insightful guide to butterfly and hummingbird behavior.
Customer Reviews:
Great Resource!.......2007-05-15
This book was just what I needed to learn about attracting humming birds and
butterflies. This has been very useful for figuring out how to start my garden.
I am very visual, so the beautiful pictures in the book and the general text design layout
makes it easy to read.
Helpful and beautiful.......2007-02-08
This book is wonderful for anyone who wants to garden in nature's best interest.
Blends gardening and wild animal management and observation.......2003-01-06
Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds To Your Backyard deserves ongoing mention as an outstanding survey of how gardens can attract desired wild birds and butterflies. From determining how native plants interact in the environment and help attract native visitors to understanding how to maintain a healthy environment, Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds To Your Backyard comes packed with tips which blend gardening and wild animal management and observation.
Book Description
This book is the first ever, comprehensive photographic guide to the identification of all 24 species of hummingbirds to be seen as breeders or vagrants in North America.
For all their startling colors, the speed of hummingbird flight and the often drab coloration of females and immatures make this group especially difficult to deal with in the field. The simple field marks are often poorly lit, hard to spot, or simply not shown by any particular individual under observation. But accurate identification of these popular and beautiful birds brings both real satisfaction and a welcome challenge to most birders.
Steve Howell, a well-known and respected bird tour leader and author, has made a particular study of the finer points of hummingbird recognition and has specially chosen over 200 stunning photographs to complement the information given in his text. Some species feature as many as 14 photographs each. A detailed introduction covers the basics of hummingbird anatomy and plumage variation, allowing the observer to effectively focus on points that are of value in the field. New field marks are provided and old myths dispelled in this ground breaking and essential new guide.
Key Features:
- Contains up to 14 full-color photos for each species, with detailed photo captions
- Detailed introduction covers fundamentals of hummingbird identification, including discussions of anatomy, plumage variation, and molt
- Comprehensive species accounts describe all plumages, compare similar species in depth, and discuss voice, displays, behavior, geographic range, and seasonal distribution
- Emphasizes difficult to identify plumages, such as females and immatures
- Features 200 stunning photos picked specifically to show identification criteria
Customer Reviews:
Hummingbirds of North America- Review.......2007-07-09
Um livro bastante técnico, exelente para biólogos e/ou ornitólogos.As informações são muito completas principalmente no que se refere às variações de plumagens que ocorrem dentro das mesmas espécies( machos, fêmeas e filhotes).Exelentes informações sobre a distribuição geográfica das espécies.
Hummingbirds - one of my passions............2007-05-13
I'm now able to correctly identiful many species of Hummingbirds. Great source of information. Very detailed book.
Steve Howell's photographic hummingbird guide.......2006-03-01
This is a very useful book for birders who want to be able to identify hummingbirds in the U.S. It includes photos and accompanying text for every hummingbird that you are likely (or lucky enough) to spot within U.S. borders. The text is particularly good, and the photos are shown large enough to be of use to the beginner/intermediate birdwatcher in addition to the experienced observer.
The Best Hummingbird Book Ever.......2002-03-30
At The Hummingbird Web Site and at the guest ranch we manage in the mountains in southeastern Arizona we are often asked what is the best hummingbird book. Here's the answer: Steve Howell's Hummingbirds of North America: A Photographic Guide. We refer to it almost daily. It sits in our office beside the three other bird books we would not be without -- the Sibley Guide, Jon Dunn's National Geographic Field Guide, and A Guide to the Birds of Mexico by - Guess who? - Steve Howell. Most of our guests are bird watchers on vacation. The book they were all talking about last year was the Sibley Guide. This year the book most often mentioned is the Howell hummingbird book.
Book Description
Covering 31 North American species, with more than 250 color photos and 33 maps, this is the most comprehensive field guide to hummingbirds. Introductory chapters cover the natural history of hummingbirds, ways to attract and feed them, and major hot spots in the United States and Canada for observing these fascinating birds. The 31 color plates illustrate 28 species, 7 hybrid combinations, 3 forms of albinism, and 4 species of sphinx moths often mistaken for hummingbirds. Species accounts provide in-depth information on plumage, molt, songs and calls, wing sounds, similar species, behavior, habitat, distribution, taxonomy, and conservation concerns. Detailed, up-to-date range maps show breeding, non-breeding, and year-round distribution, migration routes, and records outside expected areas of occurrence. For a few widespread migratory species, separate maps illustrate expected spring arrival dates.
Customer Reviews:
ADD THIS ONE TO YOUR BACKPACK!.......2007-07-04
As stated, it is difficult to go wrong with and of the Peterson Field Guides. This work is certainly no exception. Do be warned though, if you are a beginning birder, that NO field guide can meet all needs. This guide, like others, must be supplemented with as many different guides as possible. In this case, I might recommend Howell's wonderful work.
That being said, you certainly need to add this one to your collection. This work covers the thirty or so species found in the U.S. along with several that may or may not be seen. The range maps are great, but again, another warning to the newcomer to this wonderful pastime. The range of many of birds found in the U.S. in changing, almost at a yearly rate. We can go on forever as to why this is occurring, but it never-the-less is. As the natural habitat of these amazing creatures is shrinking, so are the bird populations.
The photographs in this book are a bit small and the quality is not what I would like, but the photographs are quite adequate, particularly if they are supplemented with other guides. The information found in the text is quite informative and accurate, as are the range maps, as far as we know (see above paragraph). There is much good information in this book concerning behavior, nesting habits and feeding patterns. This is certainly a book I would not want to be without when out in the field specifically looking for this particular family of birds. Recommend this one highly.
Hummingbirds - one of my passions...........2007-05-13
Great book to teach us how to correctly identify hummingbird species. I can now identify several species easily & that's fun with about 30 some birds being fed by me in my garden. Great source of information.
A Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America (Peterson Field Guides).......2007-01-10
Excellent Guide to Hummingbirds! I bought the book for my sister's birthday. She loves it!
This little bird chipped off in brilliance.......2006-07-15
I've always thought that aliens visiting planet Earth would avoid the big geology that is the centerpiece of many of our national parks. All planets have spectacular geological features. Mars, for instance, has the largest (known) volcano in our solar system.
Instead, the aliens would concentrate on life exclusive to Earth. Among these unique creatures must be the jewel-like hummingbirds.
D.H. Lawrence writes of a world "where the humming-bird flashed ahead of creation" and "This little bit chipped off in brilliance...went whizzing through the slow, vast, succulent stems..."
Do you remember when you saw your first hummingbird? One of my earliest memories, half-seen, half-heard, is of a buzzing emerald of a bird hovering in front of the flat cup of a hollyhock, flashing its iridescent feathers only inches from my face. After that, nothing could persuade me there was not magic in the world.
Imagine yourself visiting this blue-and-green world and seeing a hummingbird for the first time.
Well then, back to business. This Peterson Field Guide fulfills its promise to deep-dive into the world of North American hummingbirds. I was particularly interested in Rufous Hummingbirds because I thought I had seen one at our backyard feeder. Only three Rufous sightings have been verified in this state, so being able to record another would be quite a coup.
According to this guide, it's not quite that easy. What I might have seen was a Ruby-Throat with pollen on her breast--or a hybrid Ruby-Throat. It's actually easier to verify the age and sex of a particular hummingbird than its species! Not only that, but hybridization between species is frequent--this book has photographs of "adult male Costa's x Anna's," "adult male Rufous x Calliope," "adult male Broad-tailed x Black-chinned" etc. etc.
So, back to the deck until I can photograph my green hummingbird with the orange-gold gorget. Meanwhile, I've read this book from cover to cover. It is packed with fascinating text on the habitats, feeding, territoriality, communication, courtship and nesting (the latter is strictly up to the female), migration, and life spans of North American hummingbirds. Even without the photographs, it would have been an interesting read.
With the photographs, this book is a gem. Most of the colored photos are included as aids to species (and hybrid) identification, but I think some were incorporated just for the sheer joy of viewing these little birds. The author, Sheri L. Williamson is one of North America's foremost experts on hummingbirds and has spent hundreds of hours in the field, observing and banding several thousand individuals of 16 species. The result is a book no hummingbird enthusiast will want to be without.
Finally the book I've been looking for!!.......2002-03-05
This book is wonderful!! I just finished reading it. I'd been waiting so long for a hummingbird book with photos of the females and the immature birds. In the past, I've had so much trouble looking through art drawings of hummingbirds. Now we have photos of each bird to help with identification in the field.
This book is a must-have for hummingbird enthusiasts! Make sure to read the text too, because tons of fabulous facts and trivia are included. For instance, females of some species sing, and females outnumber the male hummers most of the time, but in one instance a female was killed and a male was seen feeding the babies she'd left behind! How interesting!
Book Description
When Noriko and Don Carroll moved from New York City to suburban Las Vegas, they found a tiny nest on a clothesline on their back porch. As the Carrolls settled into their new home, so did a female hummingbird they named Honey. For weeks, the Carrolls watched in fascination as they witnessed an event few humans are privy to-the birth and growth of two hummingbirds.
First Flight is the beautifully photographed story of Honey and her two chicks, Ray and Zen. In over 50 stunning, full-color close-ups, it captures the grace, the beauty, and the simultaneous strength and fragility of one of nature's tiniest birds.
Professional photographer Don Carroll's images of his tiny housemates are woven throughout with Noriko's charming narrative describing the mother bird and her developing brood.
Not just for bird enthusiasts, First Flight is a magical mix of hummingbird field guide, personal story, and new life taking flight. Readers will be captivated by the inherent drama as it unfolds in miniature, and they'll cheer as babies Ray and Zen make their own first flights out into a bright new world.
Customer Reviews:
Unbelievable.......2007-05-10
We enjoyed this picture-story of a mother hummingbird. Excellent photographs and clear text. A book every (humming)birdlover will enjoy.
Fascinating.......2006-11-10
This is a great book - I bought it for my mom and dad as they have lots of hummingbirds. But I had to check it out before I gave it to them. LOVED IT!!
BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE, BEAUTIFUL BOOK.......2006-09-24
This exquisite book is about loving and caring for what one loves. The Carroll's masterpiece springs from their love for Honey the Hummingbird as they daily devote themselves to watching her from her return from wintering in Mexico, the laying of two eggs in a nest on a clothesline which she had previously built and inhabited, the birth of her babies, which the Carrolls named Ray and Zen, and her nurturing of them until and after their fledgling flights.
Everything about this book is done with devotion and great care. The text, written by Noriko Carroll, is a perfect accompaniment to what seems to me genius level photographs taken by Don Carroll. There are special lighting effects as a background to many of the photographs, and Mr. Carroll explains in an afterword called "Photographics Notes" that a mirror reflecting parts of his flower garden was used to create these stunning effects. I plan to order another copy of this book, take it to a framer and request that several of the photographs be removed and framed, to be hung on a wall of my home.
The description on the inside of the book jacket cover is even unique. It is not the standard patois one usually reads. It is done with great care, depth and intelligence. It is the finest of its kind I have ever read.
You will learn a great deal about hummingbirds, and if you have a backyard feeder, you will find out the proper and best way to maintain it. You will become more aware of the hummingbirds in your yard and in your life. And, unless you have a heart of stone, you will end up loving them, if you do not do so already.
I heartily thank the Carrolls for their magnificent undertaking of introducing us to the life and ways of this wonderful bird and her offspring. It is their artistic skills, their intact sense of wonder and awe (which so many tend to lose in adulthood), and their capacity to love which has brought this book to us. Quite a gift!
Noriko and Don Carroll have done it again........2006-06-20
First, a wonderful memoir of their cat, "Happy Birthday", and now an even more surprising story, an example of patience, persistence, perception and love. The adventures of hummingbirds, an entire life cycle in vivid beautiful color, and amazingly intimate details (this from a new Yorker whose only contact with bird life is pigeons). I think you'll be as delighted as I was.
- Jay Maisel
Delightful!.......2006-05-13
A touching family portrait of hummers that is a feast for the eyes. I marveled at the technical wizardry of photographer Don Carroll and the simple prose by Noriko that did justice to this little wonder of nature. This book definetly stays on my coffee table!
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