I will buy this as well. The classic field guide with illustrated plates has become a bit of a dinosaur since digital photos have become the standard in guides as of late. I grew up birding with this type of guide so I am instantly attracted to it.
it looks like a very concise field guide, a "nutshell" way of identifying birds in the field or on-the-go. it's likely not a book for beginners nor intended to be the only book that is used to make difficult IDs.
With the advent of 'apps' it seems like this would have a very limited usage. Only for folks who have not made the transition to having their field guide on their phone or iPod.
Do I need another bird book? No, of course not. Will I buy this one? You bet! Some birders have not been able to identify the place for these Arlott 'annotated checklists' in their collections, but I am very taken with them. They are an excellent quick reference to the vast areas they cover (the previous 2 volumes cover the Palaerctic), a great place to scan first for that mega-rare whatsit that popped up in front of you, and just pleasant little volumes to thumb through when you are planning your next expedition or trying to encompass in your brain the 'big picture' on taxonomy and species diversity. Field guides? Well, very few of us do the Palearctic or the Nearctic in one go. But if I were, I would sure as heck take these little babies instead of 20 kilos of regional guides.
I love it. Can't wait to buy it.
ReplyDeleteI will buy this as well. The classic field guide with illustrated plates has become a bit of a dinosaur since digital photos have become the standard in guides as of late. I grew up birding with this type of guide so I am instantly attracted to it.
ReplyDeleteBut it's not an identification guide. It's an illustrated checklist. I remain perplexed by this series of books.
ReplyDelete@Rick
ReplyDeleteit looks like a very concise field guide, a "nutshell" way of identifying birds in the field or on-the-go. it's likely not a book for beginners nor intended to be the only book that is used to make difficult IDs.
GrrlScientist
With the advent of 'apps' it seems like this would have a very limited usage. Only for folks who have not made the transition to having their field guide on their phone or iPod.
ReplyDeleteDo I need another bird book? No, of course not. Will I buy this one? You bet! Some birders have not been able to identify the place for these Arlott 'annotated checklists' in their collections, but I am very taken with them. They are an excellent quick reference to the vast areas they cover (the previous 2 volumes cover the Palaerctic), a great place to scan first for that mega-rare whatsit that popped up in front of you, and just pleasant little volumes to thumb through when you are planning your next expedition or trying to encompass in your brain the 'big picture' on taxonomy and species diversity. Field guides? Well, very few of us do the Palearctic or the Nearctic in one go. But if I were, I would sure as heck take these little babies instead of 20 kilos of regional guides.
ReplyDeleteReview up at the ABA Blog.
ReplyDeleteSigh.
I agree with Rick. sigh indeed. I hate to think someone might pick this up as a first field guide instead of a Peterson, Sibley or Kaufmann.
ReplyDelete