Home » Plants & Animals » Birdwatching » Review of Raptors and a Little Bit More

Review of Raptors and a Little Bit More

© Mary Casey

I am always looking for new books either in print, or online, to use for reference when pursuing my hobby of backyard birdwatching. Fred Kane's online book, "Raptors and a Little Bit More", offers a wealth of knowledge about the birds he loves.

Most of the birds in Mr. Kane's book are raptors found around the world. From the wilds of Canada, to the American South, to Mexico and out to Europe, Mr. Kane's chooses birds for his ebook commonly found in the wild, and those on the brink of extinction.

One common bird, the barn owl, is described in great detail, along with its habits and traits. He tells the reader about the owl's food, how it hunts, and how to identify it. I didn't know the owl's eyes are fixed and can't move to the side, so it needs to turn its whole head to see what's going on in the periphery.

Interesting facts like the owl's eyes, pepper each bird's chapter. I learned about the Harpy Eagle, a very rare and endangered bird who weighs twenty pounds, and has a seven foot wing span. Mr. Kane presents the sad facts about the destruction of the magnificent bird's habitat, and offers ways we readers can help prevent further damage and loss of a great bird.

Aside from the chapters about specific birds, Mr. Kane has a heart-warming chapter on an old man who discovers birding with his family (Mr. Kane himself?), and a chapter on birding tips for beginners.

He recommends a beginner to start in the spring, to catch the spring migration. He gives tips on identifying, and finding birds. When going on a birding trip, Mr. Kane recommends bringing food and drink, along with a spare set of socks, and rain gear. I wondered about the socks until I tried looking for a blue-gray gnatcatcher in my own woods on a misty day. A nice pair of dry socks were a welcome feel to my cold and wet feet.

Along with socks and water, a great pair of binoculars and a field guide are musts for the beginner. He gives suggestions on what kind of binocular to use, and examples of field guides. I was happy to see that I owned one of the guides he recommends.

The set up of the book starts with the chapters of the specific raptors, and ends with the chapter on beginner birdwatching tips. I think I would like to see the chapter on tips first, followed by the specific birds, and end with the great story of the old man and the kid learning how to bird, and bond together closer as a family.