<p>My mom has recently asked for a good book about birds in Michigan for Christmas. She has a few bird feeders and wants to be able to identify them. Obviously, there are several and I was wondering if anyone had recommendations about publishers that they prefer more than others. </p>
<p>These two looked promising:
[Birds</a> of Michigan (Field Guides): Stan Tekiela: 9781885061607: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Birds-Michigan-Field-Guides-Tekiela/dp/1885061609/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387517478&sr=1-1&keywords=northern+michigan+birds]Birds”>http://www.amazon.com/Birds-Michigan-Field-Guides-Tekiela/dp/1885061609/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387517478&sr=1-1&keywords=northern+michigan+birds)
[National</a> Geographic Field Guide to the Birds: Michigan (National Geographic Field Guide to Birds): Mel Baughman: 9780792238744: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Field-Guide-Birds/dp/0792238745/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387517668&sr=1-2&keywords=michigan+birds]National”>http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Field-Guide-Birds/dp/0792238745/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387517668&sr=1-2&keywords=michigan+birds)</p>
<p>Or are they really all the same? I don’t know these things! LOL</p>
<p>A regional or national guide to birds is much more helpful, imo, because with climate change, migration patterns are being altered and she may see birds that shes never seen before!
Sibley is one of my favorites, sometimes with illustrations you can emphasize detail that is missed in a photo.
[Books</a> « Sibley Guides](<a href=“http://www.sibleyguides.com/about/]Books”>http://www.sibleyguides.com/about/)</p>
<p>The Peterson field guides are also good.
She may also be interested in an app if she has a smart phone. They usually include calls and you can share sightings.
<a href=“http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/peterson/[/url]”>http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/peterson/</a></p>
<p>She may even be interested in attending one of the Christmas bird counts.
I keep planning to do this. Maybe this year!
[Christmas</a> Bird Count | National Audubon Society Birds](<a href=“http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count]Christmas”>http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count)</p>
<p>Thanks for the tip, EK! Like I said, I don’t know anything about this and her request came TOTALLY out of left field lol. </p>
<p>I will look into those!</p>
<p>A great 1995 book by two Michigan authors (saw it just now used on Amazon- check further) is Kitchen Table Bird Book by Hamm and Mohrhardt. It also was great for Wisconsin. The authors mention Peterson’s and Robbins books as well. There is a Michigan Book Central division in Lansing mentioned. Check your local bookstores for books about birds found in your area to find smaller books most relevant to your mom. In a bookstore you can see actual books.</p>
<p>That’s true, wis. I will definitely look into that book. 
</p>
<p>Maybe I’ll just treat her to a shopping trip and have her pick out a book that she really likes. I feel like this is one of those things that you can’t really pick for other people :/</p>
<p>Good idea- she would likely enjoy the mother/daughter experience as well. I have seen other books for backyard bird watching over the years. Sometimes owning more than one book is useful as they tend to have different illustrations and information. It was nice to know when to expect various birds- summer/winter or all year round. I have now acquired some Florida bird books.</p>
<p>We were planning on going shopping on Saturday anyway so I’ll go ahead and see if I can find somewhere around here. She already knows all of her presents so I was hoping to surprise her with SOMETHING. I’ll find something else though 
</p>
<p>Is a general book store like Barnes & Noble best? Or should I try to find something more local? Or would even like a sporting goods store be good o.O? </p>
<p>She recently retired to northern MI and I think this is just giving her something to do. She’s not taking kindly to retirement. I foresee it not lasting long lol.</p>
<p>I like Kenn Kaufmann’s Birds of North American.
[Kaufman</a> Field Guide to Birds of North America: Kenn Kaufman, Rick Bowers, Nora Bowers, Lynn Hassler Kaufman: 9780618574230: Amazon.com: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Kaufman-Field-Guide-Birds-America/dp/0618574239]Kaufman”>http://www.amazon.com/Kaufman-Field-Guide-Birds-America/dp/0618574239)</p>
<p>People who like field guides, if they are anything like me, like more than one. 
I have lots of books that cover similar information, but they all have an additional perspective on something the others don’t cover.
So dont worry about not getting the perfect one.
She also might be interested in native habitat of the birds.
Since I took out all our lawn and replaced it with mostly native plants, it is attracting more wildlife as it matures.
You can create a certified Wildlife Habitat, even if you only have a balcony!</p>
<p>[Create</a> a Certified Wildlife Habitat - National Wildlife Federation](<a href=“http://www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Create-a-Habitat.aspx]Create”>Error)</p>
<p>B&N is a good place- they will have regional books along with the national ones. PS- what are we on the east coast doing up so late online? I’m sleeping in before finishing monthly cleaning- the kitchen is all that is left. Two people don’t create that much dirt except in the bathroom and kitchen.</p>
<p>Oh wow, that’s an awesome link, EK! I’ll be sure to pass that along. </p>
<p>Thanks everyone :)</p>
<p>I just googled that book again- mine is paperback, bought on sale several years ago. It may not be available at a reasonable price anymore. However, the Amazon site for a used copy had several other books listed, including some specific to Michigan. You may want to do an online search so you have a better idea when you get to a bookstore.</p>
<p>The Kirtland’s Warbler is endangered and has a small habitat near Hartwick Pines SP. If you search for Kirtland’s Warbler at Amazon, you will see the guides that mention it, and a whole book about it. My H bought bird guides for his iPad that he liked.</p>
<p>The Sibley guides are good, although H prefers the Peterson guidebooks</p>
<p>[Peterson</a> Field Guides(R)- Birds](<a href=“http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/peterson/birds.cfm]Peterson”>http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/peterson/birds.cfm)</p>
<p>I agree w EKs statement that most birders have several guidebooks.</p>