The Bird Watching Answer Book: Everything You Need to Know to Enjoy Birds in Your Backyard and Beyond

There are more than 76 million birdwatchers in America - from casual backyard observers to seasoned birders. At some point, every bird-watcher has a question not answered in traditional field guides. How many feathers does a bird have? Do birds sleep while in flight? When such questions arise, birders turn to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the world's leading authority on birds and an information clearinghouse for bird-watchers of all levels. Now, the lab's most often-asked questions about bird behavior are answered in a concise, friendly volume, "The Bird Watching Answer Book," by the Cornell Lab's science editor, Laura Erickson. This handy little reference answers real life questions that have been sent to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology by birders of all levels from across North America. Erickson's expert answers give readers the companionship of a professional ornithologist as they observe their avian companions. The book's tone is friendly and accessible, even as the answers demonstrate a tremendous depth and breadth of knowledge. Many questions help birders keep their feathered friends safe and healthy - from the baby bird found lying on the sidewalk, to the flocks whose migration patterns can be disrupted by human activity. Some questions address bird quirks and curiosities, while others get to the truth about common myths, such as whether throwing rice at weddings is harmful to birds or whether albatrosses can actually stay airborne for two years. For every question, Erickson provides an answer that is practical, engaging, entertaining, and astute.

Commended for IndieFab awards (Nature) 2009

Laura Erickson is the author of several bird books, including The Bird Watching Answer Book, and is coauthor of Into the Nest. A recipient of the American Birding Association's Roger Tory Peterson award, she has served as science editor at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, an editor of Bird Scope magazine, and a columnist and contributing editor for Birdwatching magazine, as well as contributing editorial content to the All About Birds website. She produces For the Birds, a long-running public radio program and podcast, and lives in Duluth, Minnesota.

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