Birding Sites of Nova Scotia: A Comprehensive Year-Round Guide for Birders and Other Nature Lovers

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

Due to its unique geographic position and diversity of habitats, Nova
Scotia has long been considered a birder’s paradise. More than 460
species are known to occur in the province, including 100-plus very rare
and vagrant species. Maybank offers information key to accessing this
wealth by providing a county-by-county guide to great spotting sites.

Maybank’s enthusiasm for his subject is evident in his upbeat writing
style and in his devotion to including details that birders will find
fascinating. While the emphasis is on bird spotting, the work pays
attention to other relevant points of each site, including scenery and
geographical features, cultural and natural-history highlights,
aesthetic quality, notable flora, whale-watching opportunities, picnic
facilities, washrooms, walking and bicycle trails, and facilities
modified for persons with disabilities. Even with all this information,
it is the birds that dominate the site descriptions. A system of icons
identify each as a probable location for spotting gulls, terns,
pelagics, migrants, shore-birds, seabirds, waterfowl, or breeding land
birds. This is supplemented by detailed notes highlighting what to
expect in the way of both usual and special seasonal appearances.

As birding cannot be separated from the total outdoors experience, the
book supplements the checklists for birds with checklists for
butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, amphibians, reptiles, and
mammals. Introductory notes alert the reader to weather patterns,
hazards, and seasonal highlights. The book has its own website.