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It’s late in the month, but never too late to add new books to one’s bookshelf. We can’t always get out go birding as much as we’d like, but there are amazing books that can help us learn all about our favorite species and discover new ones right from the comfort of home. This month’s three books can provide you great birding getaways and inspiration from your coziest chair!

Note – Birder’s Bookshelf choices are not field guides;
find those books in the Field Guide Directory!

Life List: A Woman’s Quest for the World’s Most Amazing Birds

Do you want to travel the world to see all sorts of birds in diverse habitats and different countries? Phoebe Snetsinger did just that, eventually seeing thousands of species while raising a family, battling cancer, and dealing with the social issues of her day. Life List includes the social and historical context of her birding pursuits, with exquisite details that go well beyond feathers, bills, and field guides. Yet the book pulls no punches about how challenging Snetsinger’s birding was, and the strain it put on other aspects of her life – a lesson, perhaps, for modern day moderation.

While there are no guidelines in the book for organizing one’s own global birding adventures, it can still be an amazingly inspiring story for going beyond one’s small patch, local refuge, or other birding borders, whether mentally, societally, or geographically.

The Armchair Birder: Discovering the Secret Lives of Familiar Birds

Look at your backyard birds in a new way far beyond identification with this inquisitive book that explores the unique quirks of 40 of our most familiar species. Great details and expert insights offer a close examination of the Carolina wren, eastern bluebird, brown-headed cowbird, mourning dove, northern cardinal, wild turkey, great blue heron, blue jay, and more.

A couple of facets of The Armchair Birder can be mildly off-putting, including some slight political commentary (now outdated) as well as overly anthropomorphizing birds, but these can be easily overlooked for the great information the book covers. What’s more, being able to gain greater expertise without leaving one’s favorite cozy reading nook is a delightful way to be engaged in birding even when actually going birding may not be possible due to weather, finances, physical abilities, or other personal factors.

The Armchair Birder Goes Coastal: The Secret Lives of Birds of the Southeastern Shore

Enjoy a beach getaway from your own home or discover more about the birds all around you if you are actually at the beach with this second Armchair Birder book. As witty and quirky as the first volume, this beach-themed continuation weaves a variety of beach locations into birding exploits, covering the natural history of shorebirds, pelicans, terns, gulls, cormorants, spoonbills, and more. Beaches in various destinations are discussed, from North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico, adding even more of a travel element to your at-home birding.

Even better is the emphasis on conservation throughout The Armchair Birder Goes Coastal, stressing the need to protect these delicate habitats not just for the birds, but for ourselves as well. Combining expert accounts with personal observations, this book is a great way to enjoy the beach without any risk of sunburn or sand in unwanted places.

Check back in September for even more books to add to your bird-themed bookshelf!