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Rating: 
Summary: Book is excellent guide to NH birding and NH's quiet beauty
Review: I was told by somebody the other day, "why search far and wide for *birds*, for goodness sake?" in perhaps slightly stronger words. He may have a point in a way: some recent rare bird sightings in NH have included the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nashua's broken glass filled Mine Falls "Park" and just down the street from congested state highway 3 in Merrimack/Bedford ... and so on and so forth. Why go far and wide indeed! Following any of this book's 21 tours, and seeing any one of the more than 100 bird sites mentioned will give you the answer. You find that the serene beauty of the surroundings mentioned - along with the welcome quiet - encourages you to see and hear more. This search for the almost spiritual essence of bird watching is what makes this book special. Modestly called "A Standard ABA state birdfinding guide which provides thorough coverage for the entire state of New Hampshire" by the author, the locations are anything but standard. From the wails of terns and gulls at the seacoast of Odiorne State Park to soaring hawks at Mt. Kearsarge summit to the remote wilderness of the North Country's Connecticut Lakes, the book will take you to the silent beautiful spots to breathe, listen and enjoy.Just a couple of cautions: Each tour can take as long as three or four days to complete properly. You'll lose that "essence" in a big hurry if you decide that the seacoast is great, but maybe that trip down the Androscoggin River can be done by the end of the day! The areas that are mentioned are not always connected by major interstate highways. A good bird picture guidebook is recommended, such as "Peterson's Field Guides: Eastern Birds" if you want to actually identify birds. While we aren't particularly good at that (and often make fools of ourselves misidentifying bird species), it's still fun to try. Other books on nature and birding in New Hampshire can be found But I would highly recommend this book to add to your collection of books of northeastern natural sites.
Rating:
Summary: Book is excellent guide to NH birding and NH's quiet beauty
Review: I was told by somebody the other day, "why search far and wide for *birds*, for goodness sake?" in perhaps slightly stronger words. He may have a point in a way: some recent rare bird sightings in NH have included the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nashua's broken glass filled Mine Falls "Park" and just down the street from congested state highway 3 in Merrimack/Bedford ... and so on and so forth. Why go far and wide indeed! Following any of this book's 21 tours, and seeing any one of the more than 100 bird sites mentioned will give you the answer. You find that the serene beauty of the surroundings mentioned - along with the welcome quiet - encourages you to see and hear more. This search for the almost spiritual essence of bird watching is what makes this book special. Modestly called "A Standard ABA state birdfinding guide which provides thorough coverage for the entire state of New Hampshire" by the author, the locations are anything but standard. From the wails of terns and gulls at the seacoast of Odiorne State Park to soaring hawks at Mt. Kearsarge summit to the remote wilderness of the North Country's Connecticut Lakes, the book will take you to the silent beautiful spots to breathe, listen and enjoy. Just a couple of cautions: Each tour can take as long as three or four days to complete properly. You'll lose that "essence" in a big hurry if you decide that the seacoast is great, but maybe that trip down the Androscoggin River can be done by the end of the day! The areas that are mentioned are not always connected by major interstate highways. A good bird picture guidebook is recommended, such as "Peterson's Field Guides: Eastern Birds" if you want to actually identify birds. While we aren't particularly good at that (and often make fools of ourselves misidentifying bird species), it's still fun to try. Other books on nature and birding in New Hampshire can be found But I would highly recommend this book to add to your collection of books of northeastern natural sites.
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