Backyard Birds: An Introduction

Sandy Campbell is a reference librarian in the Science and Technology Library at the University of Alberta.

Robert Bateman has watched birds since he was 8 years old. This book is
his invitation to other children to enjoy birds and birdwatching.
Illustrated with his remarkable paintings, the volume introduces 37
species and also contains sections on bird senses, the cycle of bird
family life, migration, and attracting birds to back yards.

The species are introduced in pairs. There is a full-page painting of
one of the species on the left. On the facing page is a smaller painting
of the second species and text that relates the two. Usually the birds
are similar species (e.g., barn swallows and chimney swifts). However,
other pairs are more surprising. For example, the mourning dove and the
wild turkey are paired because both have been hunted as game birds.

The text, often personalized with Bateman’s own experiences, is
necessarily brief and highlights unusual characteristics of the birds
(e.g., juncos have special blood vessels that prevent their feet and
legs from freezing). For all species, Bateman provides basic information
that includes length, weight, wingspan, voice, food, range, and habitat.


Although Bateman now lives in the Gulf Islands off the B.C. coast, his
selection of birds are those from his Ontario childhood. Many can be
found across the country; others, such as the indigo bunting, are seen
in Canada only in the far south and east of the country.

This book is a must-have for Robert Bateman fans, elementary schools,
and public libraries. Highly recommended.