Review by Choice Review
The title of this book takes most of the mystery out of reading it. Barber, a past board member of the American Birding Association, unabashedly reveals her passion for all birds, and she gives readers a few details concerning some (40--a relatively small number) of the more critically threatened North American species. Habitats are given special consideration and rightly so--habitat preservation will do more good for species than the general public understands. As it is, habitat degradation places tremendous pressure on natural systems throughout the world. Main sections include "What Can Be Done to Help Birds" and "Helping Everyday Birds"; the latter includes a simple description of "good" and "bad" birds. Central to the book are accounts of individual species chosen for reasons provided in the preface. These accounts contain general descriptions, notes on known ranges and behaviors, comments concerning current conservation efforts, and the personal experiences of the author as she sought out each species. Overall, this is an interesting book, but it probably will not have great appeal outside the birding community. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through graduate students; general readers. --Paul K. Lago, University of Mississippi
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
