The Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible: The A-to-Z Guide To Feeders, Seed Mixes, Projects, And Treats (Rodale Organic Gardening Book) Paperback – May 2, 2003

"The Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible" by Sally RothTrainloads of books, pamphlets and magazine articles have been written about backyard birding, bird housing and bird feeding. Unfortunately, a lot of them are not worth much and a great many contain a large dose of pure silliness, misinformation, and harebrained altruism. That is the reason why "The Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible" by Sally Roth is such a wonderful find.Roth's book is easily the most accurate, the most practical, the most useful, the most sensible, the most well-written and the most usable work on bird feeding out of scores that I have read over the passed half-century. Any birder at any level of interest will find this work interesting, entertaining, very useful and refreshingly down-to-Earth.I will, however, make two cautionary comments.First, Roth suggests seeking local information and answers from local chapters of the Audubon Society, the Sierra Club or The Nature Conservancy. My experience is that the accuracy and reliability of information from these three groups is highly variable. I have been very impressed with them in Michigan, favorably impressed with them in Arkansas, Kansas and south Texas, satisfied with them in Ohio and Pennsylvania and thoroughly disgusted with them in Florida. Just a "heads up".Secondly, as you read "The Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible", you will be rapidly overwhelmed with the urge to run out to the local equipment stores and buy all manner of feeders, building materials, tools, feed & seed, and potted plants, shrubs and trees. This can present problems, especially for apartment dwellers.

The author is a little fanatical in her pursuit of attracting birds to her yard. Maybe delete the "little." A fanatic, plain and simple. But she's an excellent writer and somehow draws me in to every single entry, whether "Juncos" or "Icicles;" "Gourds" or "Flowers for Birds." Not the kind of book you can sit down and read all at once, but great fun to have handy and peruse. I'm guessing, especially in an era when people turn instinctively to their computers, this is about as comprehensive a guide on the subject as anyone will ever again try to write. No reader in his or her right mind will go out and emulate Sally Roth on every point, but I have to say I'm inspired to try something new every time I dip in.

I barely got to look at the thing!I made the mistake of allowing my young nephew to glance through it a few days ago. The next thing I know he takes it home with him and won't bring it back to me. (Well, he 'would' because he's that kind of guy... but I think I am going to allow him to keep it.)Apparently this book had the remarkable effect of sparking in him a sudden interest in the hobby of attracting and feeding birds.Actually, all summer long we have been visited at our little place in the country by birds of all sorts and we have been feeding them everyday so they wouldn't get bored and go away, but my nephew didn't have any interest in them... that is, not until I let him look at this book.As I said, I did not really get to look at this book, but let's base my 5 star review on the enthusiasm it sparked in him. He says it is a great book because the information within is very interesting and very in-depth. He also loves the plentiful beautiful pictures which helps keep him attracted all the more to the subject matter.I am very pleased that a child growing up in today's sterile electronics-obsessed society can still find something very natural and positive to invest his time and interest in. Aren't you?

I was lent this book from a relative and I ended up buying one for myself and one for a neighbor. It has great pictures and makes it easy to identify your backyard birds. It’s colorful and loaded with suggestions on everything from making your own feeders to the best seed to use. It is a sturdy hard-cover book. Very relaxing book with good information on your backyard visitors.

This book is arranged in encyclopedia format with a short introduction. I would have like to have seen a little more of the introduction, but the book format has proved useful. We had a problem with birds trying to fly into our windows, and this book gave us the solution (bird netting on suction hooks.) It also lets you know, breed by breed, what to feed the birds. It also let me know why my mixed bird seed was disappearing so fast (and no, it wasn't squirrels, although the author does have suggestions for protecting your feeders if you need to.) This book was definitely worth the money.

After my pussycat died, I hung two suet feeders and a mixed seed feeder. I vowed no more cats after years of loving them because now I wanted to feed the birds. Well, they came in droves...and so did the squirrels. I like watching them too, but I knew I had to get some control so I wouldn't end up in the poor house. I just didn't know what to do. I bought The Backyard Feeders Bible and it is the best book!!! It is loaded with advice, examples, practical tips, and humor. My brother-in-law also bought a copy after looking at mine, and he's been an avid backyard birder for years. Whether you are just discovering the fun of feeding birds in your backyard, or have been enjoying this hobby for a long time, this is a fabulous source of information for everything from squirrel management to planting a bird-friendly haven. And, it's also an excellent read!! Sally Roth is now my "go to" guide!!

this is a beautiful book to have. I'm giving it away as a gift but wouldlike to keep it!