~ AUDUBON BIRDHOUSE BOOK ~

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~ MARVELOUS MIDDLE-GRADE

MONDAY S.T.E.A.M. FEATURE ~

--  'AUDUBON BIRDHOUSE BOOK'  --

AUTHORS MARGARET A. BARKER &

ELISSA RUTH WOLFSON

~Post Includes:  Book Spotlight & Review~

   

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ABOUT THE BOOK {from Goodreads}:

Produced in association with the National Audubon Society, Audubon Birdhouse Book explains how to build and place safe, species-appropriate bird homes for more than 20 classic North American species, from wrens to raptors.
 
A visit to almost any home or garden center presents birders with numerous cute and colorful contraptions that are sold as bird homes. But the fact is, many of these products provide anything but a safe refuge for your feathered friends.
 
Each of the easy-to-build boxes and shelves within is accompanied by cut lists, specially created line diagrams, and step-by-step photography, making the projects accessible to those with even the most rudimentary woodworking skills.
 
In addition, this practical and beautifully presented guide is packed with color photography and profiles and range maps for the bird species covered—including titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, phoebes, swallows, waterfowl, and even kestrels and owls—to help the reader properly place and maintain the homes to attract birds.
 
And because these projects are the product of years of experience and field-testing, you can be sure you’re getting the best advice regarding proper design, safe construction materials, and correct home placement to mitigate exposure to elements, pests, and predators.
 
Finally, beyond the birdhouses, you’ll find out how you can contribute to the larger birding community and even enhance your birding experience with the aid of new technologies.
 
Build an Audubon-approved home for these species: Bewick’s, Carolina, or House Wren; Prothonotary Warbler; Eastern, Western, or Mountain Bluebird; Ash-throated or Great Crested Flycatcher; Tree Swallow or Violet-green Swallow; Juniper, Oak, Black-crested, or Tufted Titmouse; Barred Owl; Eastern or Western Screech-owl; Barn Owl; Northern Flicker; American Kestrel; Black-capped, Carolina, or Mountain Chickadee; Wood Duck; Hooded Merganser; Purple Martin; Mourning Dove; Barn Swallow; American Robin; House Finch; and Eastern or Say’s Phoebe. 

 

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MY REVIEW:

 

I originally borrowed this book from our local public library to read because of my strong and longtime interest in birds and bird watching. After I began reading the book, I realized what a perfect selection this is for families, classroom teachers, church groups, youth groups, and scouting groups to use as a launching point for some hands-on projects to work on together.

 

The first two chapters in this book provide a strong foundation for understanding why bird houses are so important. A discussion about climate change and how it impacts birds is followed by some ideas on how to garden to benefit birds.

 

In Chapter 2, I learned a lot about why migratory birds benefit from bird houses, too. There are several ideas given for how to protect birds from predators such as cats, snakes, and raccoons.

Chapter 3 provides information and building plans for more than a dozen bird species that are found around the United States such as wrens, bluebirds, owls, swallows, flickers, chickadees, ducks, warblers, etc. This chapter provides in-depth information about each species such as their range, field marks, voice, feeding, nesting, etc. Diagrams and stepped-out photographs are provided for an appropriate nesting box for each species.

Chapter 4 presents information about birds outside of boxes such as doves, robins, finches, phoebes, owls (burrowing), loons, herons, ospreys, etc. Plans for nesting shelves or platforms for these species are provided along with the same type of information mentioned in the previous paragraph about the habits, etc., of these birds. 

The final chapter of the book gives ideas on how to help birds in need. Symptoms of injury and illness are given along with simple ways people can help.

You probably won't be surprised to learn that the photographs in this book are excellent! Highly-recommended for families, classroom teachers, church groups, youth groups, and scouting groups.

 

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Find the links to read more great Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts from middle-grade authors and bloggers at Greg Pattridge's 'Always in the Middle' Blog.

 

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