for the BIRDS [Book Review]
The book “for the BIRDS: A Month-by-Month Guide to Attracting Birds to Your Backyard” was written by three sisters “Anne Schmauss”, “Mary Schmauss” and “Geni Krolick”. I found this book just as cute inside as it appears on the outside cover. The first 50 pages gets into the basics explaining the pro and cons of different seed types, bird suet, nectar, bird baths, and nest boxes that should be used in the habitat that you have created in your backyard. The rest of the book is broken down into a month-by-month explanation of expected birds that you would find at your feeder, suggested seed mixtures to be used and other backyard tips to improve the birds in your yard for that month.
This is a wonderful book for anyone having problems attracting birds to your yard and if you are new to bird feeding. This book is ever better for families with kids in teaching the children how to connect with nature. Some of my favorite parts of the book are the Kids Projects like “ Fill netting bags such as mesh onion bags with pet fur, wool, or very short yarn pieces and hang them from a tree branch. Birds will gather the soft materials to line their nest”. I also like that the authors included pages after each month to record some of your own observations. Not only will you be using this book monthly but you will find yourself looking back into the book to see what birds you had the previous year! The authors found a very creative way to keep this book on everyone’s counters throughout the year!
Obviously the authors couldn’t focus their book on one general area but it was designed to be universally used across North America. Generally . . . . it does cover birds that you would find in your yard and does repeat a few things in the month-by-month reports . Overall it is a great little book to have in your kitchen counter and a perfect gift for anyone that enjoys feeding the birds (or a gift for your neighbors if you want to improve the birds in their yard)! You can visit the Steward, Tabori and Chang website for more information on this fantastic book “for the Birds”!
One of my Chickadees gathering a sunflower seed
The publicity individual who contacted me about reviewing this book had kindly agreed to send me a second copy to give away to one of my viewers. I asked back in September for some suggestions on how to give this book away . . . . . multiple people suggested using a random number generator to decide who would get the book. So, comment below and if you’re the first person to comment your number 1 and if you’re the 10th person to comment your number is 10 . . . etc . . . ! I will use an online tool Friday evening to help me decide who will win the book!! Good luck and if you don’t win . . . be sure to get the book at your local bookstore.
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Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Ah, this looks like the PERFECT book for me! I was just wondering today if birds like to eat fruit in the winter time. I had put out some apples and grapes but didn’t get any takers. I bet the answer is in this book. A month by month guide sounds fantastic!
Thanks for reviewing!!
19 January 2009 at 7:38 pm
A new twist on feeder feeding. Cool.
19 January 2009 at 8:08 pm
I hope this book has something to say about heated bird baths. I’ve found that they add a whole new dimension to winter bird feeding.
19 January 2009 at 8:57 pm
This looks like a neat book. I think I’m going to give this a birthday gift for my cousin whom I’m trying to persuade to put up a feeder.
19 January 2009 at 9:20 pm
I love backyard birdwatching! That looks like a great book!
19 January 2009 at 9:51 pm
Looks to be a really nice book. That’s pretty neat you get to review books.
19 January 2009 at 11:53 pm
I don’t need the book, but it looks like a good one… If I win, give it to the 2nd place winner!
20 January 2009 at 6:38 am
What a great resource for someone beginning to bird. I can think of several people who would enjoy it very much!
20 January 2009 at 6:51 am
I’ll have to recommend this book to my friend’s father. He moved to NH from CT a few years ago and has been very frustrated that he hasnt been able to attract any birds – we’ve suggested everything we can think of. Maybe this book has the magic solution.
20 January 2009 at 8:51 am
Thanks for the review. I enjoy reading these books …I usually get some great tips.
Sherry
20 January 2009 at 9:36 am
though a long time observer, this is the first time in years that i have set up feeders.
looking forward to some “volunteer” sunflowers later this year. do most feed the birds all year long?
thanks for the review will go to my favorite bird shop and see about getting a copy~
20 January 2009 at 10:00 am
Am looking forward to getting this book – month by month nature books are the best!
20 January 2009 at 11:28 am
you can never have too many nature books in the home library! I’m always looking to add to the collection.
20 January 2009 at 12:27 pm
Great reading.
Will have to check it out sometime.
MOM
20 January 2009 at 3:05 pm
Sounds like an interesting book! One problem I have found with many books that are supposed to be universal across the US/Canada though is that a lot of things often don’t apply for the Pacific Northwest. Our ecology is different enough from the East Coast that there are some notable differences.
I have a book on landscaping for wildlife in the Pacific Northwest, but it would be nice to know more information on bird feeders and other ‘less natural’ ways to encourage birds to our yard.
20 January 2009 at 11:00 pm
What a neat book. It’s great when you find one you want to leave out all year round! The project you quoted from the book: “filling mesh bags with such things as wool, pet fur, string”. It’s so fun watching the birds pick their perfect treasure and fly away to their nest!
21 January 2009 at 9:29 am
Looks like a great book!
21 January 2009 at 8:54 pm
It does look like a great book. Hope you got your power back.
21 January 2009 at 9:58 pm
Sounds like a good book to share with visitors and the grandkids!
21 January 2009 at 11:54 pm
My BFF gave me that book for Christmas
.I do have lots of bird books, but LOVE this one..
woohoo
Love your Downy on the berries
deena
22 January 2009 at 11:21 am
Hi Mon@rch,
I always enjoy looking at new backyard birdfeeding books, but try to resist buying more because my bookshelf is already full!
22 January 2009 at 5:02 pm
Looks like an interesting book, if only I had a backyard!
23 January 2009 at 7:56 pm
sounds like a really cool book – since we moved into our house 7 years ago I have increased the species and birds we get at the feeders, but it has taken awhile. This year I had my first Pine Siskin. Last year we had a Carolina Wren but not one yet this years.
23 January 2009 at 8:15 pm
Thanks everyone for your wonderful comments on this book and I just had Young Naturalist J roll for me 1 out of 23 and came up with number 11! So “linda (number 11 comment)” you just won a free copy of this book! I will be emailing you regarding details!
23 January 2009 at 8:28 pm
What fun!!
25 January 2009 at 6:30 am