BOOK REVIEW
Bill Oddie's Introduction to Birdwatching
Published by New Holland for Subbuteo Books - ISBN 84330 171 7 - £12.99
Where was this book fifteen or twenty years ago when I needed it? An absolute gem. You will find everything you need to know about bird watching from a man who has years of experience. Since this man is also Bill Oddie, the book contains lots of common sense, humour and even when mentioning 'birder words' like leucistic or aberrant, it is beginner friendly.
Bill covers everything from essential gear to twitching, or from bird behaviour to conservation. Photographs and illustrations add to the book's appeal, including a photograph of Bill pretending to be the heir to the throne! There is also a reminder in one of the chapters that bird watching is not really the correct term, since your ears are probably as important as your eyes. Whilst we are mentioning eyes, Bill also has a good tip for spectacle wearers.
Finally for those who are used to the IT age, there is a chapter entitled 'Bird in Cyberspace'. I cannot recommend this book too highly.
David Beattie