Whether you have a single bird feeder or are just launching your birdwatching efforts, you will find this book compelling. If you’ve played or are lucky enough to own Wingspan, the runaway hit board game, then you will definitely want a copy of this book.
Both the illustrations and the information about each of the 181 birds shown in Celebrating Birds takes their origin in the game. Illustrations are by Natalia Rojas and Ana Maria Martinez, who illustrated the board game. Text about each of the birds is straight from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, so you know you are getting great information.
Last year, almost about this time, I suggested birdwatching as something that could be started at home, and even pursued solitarily or with your significant other during a pandemic. Unless you live on the edge of the woods, chances are you would only see a dozen or two species. While that can be immensely gratifying if they come to your feeders frequently; sooner or later you are going to want to see more and different kinds of birds.
A perfect place to start would be this book. The illustrations are beautiful in their own right, and an evening could be spent just perusing the beautiful artwork. (I know, because I did it.)
My guess however is that certain birds are going to catch your interest and a field trip will soon be in order. While I traveled all the way to India to see the Sarus Crane, most of the birds pictured are all common to North America, so your travels need not be as epic.
Select a few that you’d love to see, find out where they like to hang out and plan a trip.
And while you’re traveling, there’s even a highway bingo kind of bird game you can play while you’re on the road. (pg.14)
Check out Celebrating Birds on Amazon or at the publishers, Harper Collins.