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37-40 OB Vol5#1 Apr1987.Pdf 37 Book Reviews Birds ofthe Cottage Country. 1985. By William C. Mansell. McBain Publications, Kitcheuer. 208 pp., $7.95 (paper). As the author points out, the (1983). However, on some cottage country ofcentral Ontario occasions, birds are placed in odd be(;omes the destination for tens of combinations (for example, the thousands ofpeople every summer. placing of Homed Lark in the Many of these people have a chapter with mimids, pipits, casual interest in birds but need a waxwings and starlings). Mter source of regional bird information each family name, there is a brief to answer their questions. The list of that family's member species author hopes that this book will be arranged by abundance. A a reference for local birds that will drawback with this system is that I "be a last recourse to those looked in vain for definitions of arguments around the dinner the abundance ratings. For table", as well as an addendum to instance, what is the difference the four major field guides. The between "rather uncommon" and area encompassed by this book "uncommon''? This lack of includes the Districts ofMuskoka, definition causes some confusion, Parry Sound and Haliburton, plus or perhaps I disagree with the Algonquin Provincial Park. ratings; I am not sure which. For . Unfortunately, the Birds ofthe instance, according to my records, Cottage Country does not meet Red-breasted Nuthatch is not either of these aims very well. "uncommon", nor is Northern The book is made up of three Oriole "rather rare" in the cottage sections. It begins with a brief five country. Following this attempt at page introduction. Here, the abundance ratings, the family of purpose of the book is outlined, birds covered in that chapter is and an overview of the book's briefly described. Then follows a layout is given. Sadly missing from species by species account. The this introduction is any kind of species name is bold-faced and map ofthe area in question. The numbered; the number cor- final section is a useful chart ofthe "responds to the arrival/de"parture 310 species known to occur in the chart at the back of the book. region. Listed beside each species The most recurrent flaw in this are spring arrival and departure book is the repeated use of dates and fall arrival and misleading language which, to a departure dates. The bulk of the novice birdwatcher, will give a book, nearly 200 pages, is most incorrect impression of comprised of the accounts of all certain birds. The description of 310 species and their respective the Ruby-crowned Kinglet call families. The order ofthese sounding "as if the bird was families by and large follows the pulling nails from wood" will not 6th edition of the ADU checklist aid a budding birdwatcher in VOLUME 5 NUMBER I 38 identifying this bird. In the general The narrowness ofsuch a personal discussion of swallows, Mansell approach could have been avoided declares that "all swallows are through the better use of existing colonial in nesting habits". This is literature and records. A look at definitely not the case for the Tree the Ontario Nest Records Scheme Swallow, and rarely for the Bam or or the results of the Ontario Rough-winged Swallow. Some- Breeding Bird Atlas would have times, important facts about birds revealed that contrary to what are left out entirely. I can think of Mansell believes, Brown-headed few other birds that so readily Cowbirds have indeed parasitized remind me of a spruce bog as the many nests in cottage country. Olive-sided Flycatcher. However, Clearly, the most interesting Mansell makes no mention of sections of the book are the them around bogs. And I have yet numerous anecdotes the author to see a Brown Creeper on a cow recounts. There are some delightful tail! descriptions of approaching A major problem with Mansell's herons in canoes, watching young perspective on the birds ofthis loons learning to fish and finding region stems from the personal a Scarlet Tanager in October. Ifthe approach that the author takes. Birds ofthe Cottage Country had Most of his sense of the species' stuck to such a personal note it regional status appears to come would have been a much more from the birds he has seen at his interesting read. cottages on Rebecca and Pen This book attempts to straddle Lakes. I am not convinced that the line between personal these observations apply across the recollections on the one hand and region. Mansell's descriptions of an annotated checklist on the Northern Pintail and Gadwall other. The result is that it does imply that they are rare visitors neither very well. Therefore, this from the prairies. However, both book cannot be recommended as a species have nested in Parry Sound guide to the birds ofcottage . and Muskoka Districts as part of a country, either for the seasoned major eastward range expansion. bird enthusiast or the beginner. Chris Harris, 4-4175 Carnarvon St., Vancouver, B.c. V6L 2S3 Watching Birds: An Introduction to Ornithology. 1977. By Roger F. Pasquier. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston (published in Canada by Thomas Allen & Son Limited), 301 pp.; $13.95 Paperback. Introductory texts on field another birdwatching "how-to" ornithology that are both worth- book! Therefore, it was with while and at the same time not pleasant surprise that I discovered overly technical are hard to find. a useful, informative and mostly Accordingly, it was with some accurate book. apprehension that I approached Pasquier wrote this book with Roger F. Pasquier's Watching Birds: two audiences in mind. As a An Introduction to Ornithology. Not teacher ofecology, he wanted to ONTARIO BIRDS APRIL 1987 39 place abstract ecological principles hummingbird have?), others strike in the observable, real world. And to the heart of matters. Particularly the world ofbirds provides ample interesting to this reviewer was the opportunity for the illustration of conservation dilemma posed by a ecological concepts. The other pair of Spotted Owls. The timber people for whom this book is value represented by the average aimed are birdwatchers. Many territory of these birds is estimated birdwatchers are keen to move at ten million dollars! beyond merely identifying birds to While mostly accurate, Watching understanding their roles in the Birds is marred by the occasional ecosystem. In brief, this book is mistake, often caused by the both a primer on birdwatching author's tendency towards making and a primer on ecology. absolute statements. Contrary to Watching Birds is an intimidating what is stated in the book, House 301 pages; the text,however, is set Finches in eastern North America in easy to read print and is do compete with another species, liberally sprinkled with attractive albeit the much maligned House black-and-white illustrations, Sparrow (p. 229), Kirtland's capably done by Margaret Warbler does breed outside of LaFarge. The text is divided into 15 Michigan (p. 238) and Yellow­ bite-sized chapters, each dealing breasted Chats will raise young with an important aspect of the Brown-headed Cowbirds (p. 187). study ofbirds. Topics covered Other inconsistencies are caused range from why people study birds by the book's age; published in and a basic introduction to 1977 it is already somewhat out of birding, through physiology and date. For example, the superior behaviour, to the current state of National Geographic Society Field the field. Also included is a Guide to the Birds ofNorth America foreword by the dean of is, obviously, not noted in the list birdwatching, Roger Tory Peterson, of field guides. Furthermore, the and appendices on further reading taxonomy used has been superseded and some major ornithological by revisions made by the AOD. and conservation organizations. More sadly, Pasquier's reference to Each of the chapters can be read 50 California Condors is no longer as a separate unit and provides a accurate, as only a handful remain. wealth ofinformation. Under­ While these minor shortcomings pinning each is a concern with are annoying, they do not effect the ecological principles and an overall value of the book. emphasis on the adaptive Watching Birds is a worthwhile significance of physiological addition to the bookshelves of features and behaviour." Pasquier anyone interested in birds and/or supports these larger themes with ecology. It is an ideal teaching tooL numerous specific, mostly North both for schools (senior secondary American, examples. These are of and junior college) and for interest to both amateurs and independent study. In addition to professionals. While some of the answering many questions. Pasquier information verges on the trivial poses many many more; Watching (how many feathers does a Birds provides the inquiring mind VOLUME 5 NUMBER I 40 with dozens of questions yet to be Pasquier makes a powerful answered. For birders, this book argument for conservation; hope­ will allow them to better fully this book will help to further understand bird biology and the this goal. ecological roles played by birds. Mark Gawn, 1045 Alenmede Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario K2B 8H2 OFO Announcements Field Trips 23 May 1987, Saturday: TORONTO ISLAND. Spring migrants for beginner birders. Leader: Glenn Coady (416) 5%-8109. Meet at 8:00 AM at Toronto Island Ferry Docks. 5-7 June 1987, Friday to Sunday: OFO ANNUAL SPRING MEETING­ LONG POINT. Organizer: Jon McCracken (519) 428-0019. Orientation meeting on Friday, 5 June at 8:00 PM at the Group Campsite, Turkey Point Provincial Park (see last OFO Newsletter (No. 11) for more details). 4 July 1987, Saturday: BRUCE PENINSULA Nesting Eastern Bluebirds, Brewer's Blackbirds, Sandhill Cranes. Leaders: Dave Fidler (519) 371­ 2919 and Tom Murray. Meet at Dave Fidler's house at 8:00 AM.
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