A Bird-Finding Guide to Ontario. Rev. ed.

Description

477 pages
Contains Illustrations, Maps, Bibliography, Index
$24.95
ISBN 0-8020-6904-5
DDC 598'.07234713

Year

1995

Contributor

Reviewed by Janet Arnett

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.

 

Review

It would be hard to imagine anyone doing serious birding in Ontario
without this work. The subtitle says it all: it’s the unequaled guide
for suggesting likely spots to find specific species, while at the same
time providing detailed information on how to get to that spot and what
to expect on arrival.

The work gives general information on birds in the province: population
fluctuations, diversity, major habitat types and the species to be found
in each, seasonal changes, and migration patterns. The heart of the work
is an extensive document called a systematic list, the purpose of which
is to give the current status of each species that breeds in Ontario.
From these data and the accompanying bar charts, it is possible to see
at a glance whether, in any given month of the year, a specific species
is abundant, common, uncommon, or rare.

Against this background information, birding opportunities are explored
in 43 geographic areas. For each area there’s a map, showing main
roads and geographic features (lakes, marshes), and a detailed,
practical narrative giving travel directions, features to be aware of,
and notable strengths of the area from a birder’s perspective. When
appropriate, changes to a habitat are noted.

This volume is an extensive revision of the first edition, published in
the early 1980s. The author has a solid reputation as a birding
authority and brings credibility to this impressive work.

Citation

Goodwin, Clive E., “A Bird-Finding Guide to Ontario. Rev. ed.,” Canadian Book Review Annual Online, accessed March 29, 2024, https://cbra.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/2111.