How about a Bird Book review thread?

I'm just getting into this malarkey. I've got lots of bird ID guides but not many 'how too' type books.

How about a thread to help eachother out and recommend books.

I've just bought "A Field Guide to Bird Photography by Steve Young"

My review would be this:

Steve deals with the subject as if the reader is completely new to photography, let alone bird photography. There is plenty about choosing a lens, picking a tripod etc. The book is almost exclusively related to film photography - I think it was published a while ago and digital wasn't an option then.

In terms of tips and advice it is OK, but for me there is not really enough 'how to' information. I'd like a book that says - "to get this shot you need to set you camera to......." and then away I go and try the same.

If you can pick it up cheap then fine. You can probably get all the answers you want from this forum though.

I, too, wish there is some book like that. I didn't know

1. "you should try to increase your EC when shooing a subject against a bright sky as bg because blah blah blah. Same when shooting in snowy environment."

2. "you should try to reduce your EC when shooting a coot that is majority black but has some white spots, due to yada yada yada."

3. "you should try not to underexpose when taking the photo just to gain shutter speed, then later boost the Exposure and/or Brightness in Photoshop because wala wala wala...."

4. "you can use extension tubes to magnify the humming bird in the frame if it is within the maximum focus range when using tubes."

5. "you should try to use Partial Metering, Center-weighted Metering, or Spot Metering when the light contrast on the warbler and the bg is huge because xxxxxxx."

6. "you should try to learn Ninja skill before approaching a Kingfisher, rather than crop the bejesus out of the photo to enlarge it in the frame because ...."

6. "you should try to walk zigzag when approaching an osprey because...."

7. "you shoud try NOT to create eye contact with the Red-tailed hawk when approaching because..."

8. "you should try NOT to walk around and wish for the birds to come to you. Instead, locate where the birds hang out, and wait there before it comes, patiently because......."

9 "you should try to shoot Portrait orientation when a Darter is posing for you to shoot its portrait because...."

10. "you should try to lower your camera, get an angle as parallel to the ground as possible when the loon is swimming in front of you because......."

....until i came to POTN and learned from other shooters. I don't think what i mentioned above are some advanced skills or techniques. Just some very basic things that beginner can try and experiment with. Perhaps POTN Birds forum can publish a "Shooting Birds the POTN way" Bird Photography Guide

RFLMAO.... Fee

Wow, you pretty much covered it all there Fee lol, well done mate. Fieldcraft is something thats rarely covered well in many photography books. I was thinking of doing 2 books this last winter with one on Bird photography and feildcrafts but never found the time. As you said yourself though there is a ton of information on this forum and I would think you'd find everything you want/need to know. If it hasn't already been said just ask about as with all the folks here someone is bound to know or have a good idea.

I'm definitely interested. Can i sign up now for a copy of the books? And i want your personal signature in there too.

Anyone want to by my book on Canadian history?