"You see them every day, whether they are flashing through your yard, perching on a limb, or gathering in a puddle. They already share your neighborhood with you, but before you know it, they fly on in search of a hearty meal or a more suitable watering hole. That's because you-even if you are already one of America's more than 68 million birders-haven't yet taken the steps needed to make birds and butterflies linger in your garden. This unique and user-friendly guide shows you how. With 350 vibrant full-color photos and concise, informative text, Backyard Birding helps you maximize your home birding experiences and attract a wider variety of birds. It helps you make the right choices the first time-and avoid costly mistakes"--
You see them every day, whether they are flashing through your yard, perching on a limb, or gathering in a puddle. They already share your neighborhood with you, but before you know it, they fly on in search of a hearty meal or a more suitable watering hole. Thats because youeven if you are already one of Americas more than 68 million birdershavent yet taken the steps needed to make birds and butterflies linger in your garden. This unique and user-friendly guide shows you how.
With 350 vibrant full-color photos and concise, informative text, Backyard Birding helps you maximize your home birding experiences and attract a wider variety of birds. It helps you make the right choices the first timeand avoid costly mistakes.
| Acknowledgments |
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viii | |
| Preface to the Second Edition: A Tiny Miracle |
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xi | |
| Introduction: Nature at Your Door |
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xiii | |
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1 Backyard Birding and Butterfly--Watching Essentials |
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1 | (12) |
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1 | (1) |
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2 | (4) |
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6 | (2) |
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8 | (1) |
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9 | (4) |
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13 | (10) |
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13 | (1) |
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16 | (1) |
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17 | (1) |
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18 | (2) |
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20 | (3) |
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3 Bird Feeders and Optimal Placements |
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23 | (14) |
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23 | (2) |
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25 | (2) |
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27 | (2) |
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29 | (1) |
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30 | (2) |
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32 | (1) |
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33 | (4) |
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4 Neighborhood Watering Hole |
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37 | (10) |
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37 | (1) |
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38 | (2) |
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40 | (2) |
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42 | (5) |
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5 Nest Boxes, Nests, and Nesting Behaviors |
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47 | (22) |
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47 | (2) |
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49 | (2) |
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Species-Specific Box Requirements |
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51 | (2) |
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53 | (1) |
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54 | (2) |
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56 | (4) |
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60 | (2) |
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62 | (2) |
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64 | (2) |
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66 | (3) |
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69 | (18) |
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69 | (2) |
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71 | (1) |
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Host Plants for Eggs and Caterpillars |
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71 | (3) |
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74 | (2) |
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Common North American Butterflies |
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76 | (11) |
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7 Create a Wildlife Garden Paradise |
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87 | (40) |
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87 | (3) |
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90 | (21) |
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Trees and Shrubs by Region |
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111 | (12) |
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123 | (4) |
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127 | (20) |
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128 | (5) |
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133 | (3) |
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136 | (1) |
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137 | (5) |
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142 | (5) |
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9 Most Common Backyard Birds Nationwide |
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147 | (22) |
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147 | (4) |
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151 | (2) |
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153 | (4) |
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157 | (4) |
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161 | (4) |
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165 | (4) |
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10 Most Common Eastern Backyard Birds |
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169 | (16) |
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169 | (3) |
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172 | (5) |
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177 | (2) |
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179 | (2) |
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181 | (4) |
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11 Most Common Western Backyard Birds |
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185 | (20) |
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185 | (4) |
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189 | (6) |
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195 | (5) |
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200 | (1) |
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201 | (4) |
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12 Backyard Specialties Near the Borders |
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205 | (14) |
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206 | (3) |
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209 | (6) |
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215 | (4) |
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13 The Magic of Hummingbirds |
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219 | (14) |
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219 | (6) |
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225 | (1) |
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Hummingbird Plants by Region |
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226 | (4) |
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230 | (3) |
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14 Uninvited Backyard Guests |
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233 | (11) |
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233 | (1) |
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234 | (2) |
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Outdoor Cats: A Menace to Birds |
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236 | (1) |
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237 | (7) |
| Appendix A Seasonal Birding Checklists |
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244 | (4) |
| Appendix B Planting Zone Map |
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248 | (2) |
| Appendix C Quick and Easy Bird Reference Guide |
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250 | (16) |
| Appendix D Quick and Easy Plant Reference Guide |
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266 | (9) |
| Index |
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275 | |
| About the Author and Photographer |
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A birder since she spotted her first kingfisher in Girl Scout day camp, Randi Minetor has traveled the country to rack up a North American life list of nearly 500 species from Florida to Alaska. In her home state of New York, she participates in birding science endeavors including the 2000-2004 State Breeding Bird Atlas project, the Nature Conservancys lakeshore songbird migration study in the 1990s, and the annual Christmas Bird County for nearly twenty years. She has contributed to Bird Watchers Digest, and has served on the board of the Rochester Birding Association. In addition, she is the communications chair of the Genesee Land Trust board of directors, giving her considerable access to information about native species, habitat restoration and creation, and the greenest practices for maintenance of open spaces.
Nic Minetor has provided photography for more than a dozen books published by Globe Pequot Press on Americas national parks and historic cities. He is a full-time lighting designer/director for theatre, film and TV, currently serving as resident lighting designer for Eastman Opera Theatre and Mercury Opera in Rochester, NY, as well as for productions at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. He is also the lighting director for the PBS television series Second Opinion.
