Birding for Boomers: And Everyone Else Brave Enough to Embrace the World’s Most Rewarding and Frustrating Activity is a book by Sneed B. Collard III. The publisher provides a good description: a friendly, accessible, and humorous guide to discovering the joys of bird watching. Beginning birders of all ages will get answers to every question they may have, like which birds like feeders, the difference between a finch and a flicker, or which birding app to use. The guide also helps birders plan everything from local explorations to exciting “bird-cations.” Late-bloomer birders will appreciate Collard’s personal insights and tips for overcoming aging-related challenges such as physical handicaps, poor hearing, or failing eyesight. Additional sections cover sharing birding with others and contributing to community science, habitat stewardship, and bird conservation. Appealing and light-hearted, Birding for Boomers will help a wide range of readers overcome any doubts and get started with watching, understanding, and conserving our feathered friends.
When one of my libraries added this book to its catalog, the title grabbed my attention. It was a quick read (232 pages) that gave an overview of many of the topics I struggled with as a new birder. I enjoyed the humour in his writing as well as the information conveyed. I wish he had gone into some areas in more detail but he does a good job of siting other sources for more information.
Submitted by: Judy Morr