Field guides

[Erika Roper <>]

Hello everybody!

Thanks for the discussion! I finally have some time to reply. Sorry it took a while.

Firstly, the main consensus on which field guide is the best seems to be that there is no consensus! Each to their own I suppose. I am used to Simpson and Day as it is the only Aus field guide I have used, but I will endeavour to get my hands on some of the others to see what they offer. Though I can't help think why bother getting another Aus field guide when I could get an overseas, or group specific (like that parrots) guide instead. I know, I know, updated taxonomy, different info etc.

Geoffrey, I am secretly a crotchety old lady when it comes to technology, a disgrace to my generation! I would much rather use a book than an app (though I can see the benefits of having sounds on hand etc), and I just can't wrap my head around recording observations on a phone. It's a notebook and pen all the way for me! It sounds like your field guide collection is to be envied. Due to being a poor student for my entire adult life, I tend to only buy new field guides when I am going somewhere new on a trip (though I am unfortunately missing Peru and Kenya as I couldn't afford field guides at the time, and ended up borrowing from others). Friends and family are starting to catch on to my hints that field guides make good presents though!

Con, good tip with the lists! Not sure why that never occurred to me before as it would have made things a lot easier!

Martin, thanks for the hint RE: Canty's. I'll have to check there when I move back to Canberra.

Phillip, the Parrots of the World I am referring to is a small(ish) book in the same format as a field guide. I assume that you thought I was talking about the behemoth that is Foreshaw's hardcover Parrots of the World? Either way, I agree that if one was going to be travelling to an area/country where there were parrots, one would surely be able to find the relevant info in a country specific field guide. I doubt that I will ever take this book into the field. I did however spend a while pouring over my new book, remembering why I love parrots, and discovering how many species there actually are, and how much variation there is. I especially want to see the Ultramarine Lorikeet, however it would require a trip to French Polynesia, which may be somewhat difficult.

Thanks again for all the thoughts and ideas! Now I just need to get my act together with regards to digitising my lists, and reporting observations (I know, I'm a awful person, and a terrible scientist).

Erika

On 25 February 2013 18:52, Sue Lashko <> wrote:

Hi everyone

 

After all of those excellent responses, may I suggest to all new ACT birders that they purchase McComas Taylor's Field Guide to the Birds of the ACT which they can carry with them - it illustrates the vast majority of birds that you are likely to see in and around the ACT.  Also buy a field guide to cover all of Australia - I have the same favourites as Anthony.  Then when you see a new bird, note down its features, behaviour, etc, and try to identify it yourself using the ACT guide first with the Australia guide as support.  There is great satisfaction in doing this and it is the way most of we "middle-aged" folk learnt our birds.  This has become a bit of a lost art with so many people photographing birds rather than studying them closely with binoculars.  If you are still unsure of your ID, ask the chatline for help, but please, as Roger Williams did with his tricky robin at Kama, tell us what you think it is (and why).  Speaking with my teacher's voice, this is the way to learn.

 

Cheers

Sue

 

 

On Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 1:23 AM, Erika Roper <> wrote:

Hello all,

I recently acquired a new field guide (Parrots of the World, by Forshaw) and I began wondering about how others use field guides. Is it common for birders to annotate their field guides (i.e. add additional common names to species entries), and to note in the guide when and where they have seen a species? I was also wondering how many of you "study" before taking a trip to a new place, in order to memorise species that you may encounter.

I love field guides, and if I had the money I'm sure I would be buying new ones all the time. I suppose next on my list should be a current version of an Australian field guide, as my current copy (given to me by my grandma) is as old as I am (Simpson and Day, published in 1986)! Which reminds me, is it actually worth investing in an up-to-date copy? Any recommendations for which guide to get (author-wise)?

Thanks!

Erika