TN-Birders: Here is more good information about Sibley's new field guides. It comes from a post by Gary Felton to the West Virginia bird list. Enjoy. Let's go birding.. Wallace Coffey Bristol, TN ------------------BEGIN FORWARD-------------- From: gljeinwv@xxxxxxxx <gljeinwv@xxxxxxxx> To: WV-BIRD@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <WV-BIRD@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Monday, March 31, 2003 7:21 PM Subject: comments on Sibley Field Guides >My complimentary copies arrived today and to add to Wendell's comments >below. From an >illustrative standpoint, I haven't found much of a change between the >illlustrations in these new >modular guides and his first NA guide. I was told that Sibley wanted to >correct some color >problems that existed in the first book and at least Clay-colored Sparrow >has been toned down >to where it should be. > >The maps have been revised and from what I've seen so far, are >considerably more accurate >overall. The rare range is now pictured as a gray area instead of with >green dots that he used >in the prior guide and I prefer the appearance now. > >Another improvement is more text for each bird. For example, he now >mentions in the text >block how to distinguish grebes and loons from one another when it's >applicable. I have seen >somewhat of a trade-off though. For example, there is now more >description in regards to the >appearance of empid flycatchers, but less voice description. Even given >the trade-offs though, >the expanded text is an improvement. The next release of his big NA >guide is supposed to >reflect the changes made in the modular guides. It's too bad that he >still hasn't included sub-species >names. > >And as Wendell mentioned, these truly are field guides in that you can >take them with you without >having to hire a porter. I'll now be packing the Sibley around instead >of leaving it on the back seat >of the car. > > >Gary Felton >Kingwood >GLJEINWV@xxxxxxxx >------------------------------------ > > >On Sun, 30 Mar 2003 10:20:43 EST WArgabrite@xxxxxxx writes: >> I got my advance copies of the new "Sibley Field Guide To Birds" >> yesterday. >> They have broken down the original book into two books. They now >> have >> Eastern and Western guides. They have also changed the size to 5" X >> 8" X 1" >> thick. As before the plates, description and map are on the same >> page. They >> have two birds per page. I think that I still like the Peterson >> Guide >> better; Peterson's plates, writing and the maps in the back are >> larger and >> that makes it easier on old eyes. But the Sibley's Guides are very >> good and >> are now a little smaller than the Peterson guide. >> >> Wendell Argabrite >> 111 Jefferson Park Drive >> Huntington, WV 25705 >> Cabell County >> wargabrite@xxxxxxx >> >> =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. ----------------------------------------------------- To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * TN-Bird Net Owner: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx (423) 764-3958 =========================================================