National Geographic Field Guide To Birds: Arizona & New Mexico And Washington & Oregon

Latest in Series of Handy Regional Guides to Birding

WASHINGTON (Feb. 15, 2006)--National Geographic, publisher of the authoritative bestseller “Field Guide to the Birds of North America,” introduces two new titles in its series of affordable, pocket-size, regional bird field guides.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS: ARIZONA & NEW MEXICO (National Geographic Books, ISBN 0-7922-5312-4, March 2006, $14.95) covers these two year-round birding states, home to some of the nation’s top sites, including the number-one spot for hummingbirds, plus a multitude of mountain and desert species, from the Elegant Trogon -- which resembles the Resplendent Quetzal of Central America -- to the high-speed sprinter, the Greater Roadrunner.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS: WASHINGTON & OREGON (National Geographic Books, ISBN 0-7922-5313-2, March 2006, $14.95) focuses on the diverse mix of coastal, mountain, forest, and plains species that make the Pacific Northwest a birder’s paradise. Avian standouts include the elusive Blue Grouse, the colorful, shore-dwelling Rhinoceros Auklet, the dramatic and powerful Canada Goose, and the Tufted Puffin, among many others.

Designed for both novice and experienced birders alike, and featuring as many as 175 birds apiece and nearly 300 photographs, illustrations and maps, these two informative guides are edited by Jonathan Alderfer, one of America’s foremost birding artists and noted field ornithologist. Chief consultant for the National Geographic Birding Program, Alderfer is a widely published author and field guide illustrator who is well known in the birding community for his expertise in North American birds. Alderfer also edited the ultimate reference to the avian world, “National Geographic Complete Birds of North America,” published in November 2005.

Each compact, easy-to-carry field guide provides quick access to specific facts and savvy advice. Every entry has a vivid photograph showing the bird in its native habitat. The birds are listed in order of their families, as approved by the American Ornithologists’ Union,
rather than alphabetically.

Other notable features include:

? A knowledgeable introduction by a local expert on where to look for key birds and what to focus on when they appear

? A regional map showing local birding hot spots in each state

? Quick identification tips highlighting a bird’s size, shape and markings

? Behavior, feeding patterns, calls, habitat and local site information

? Maps with year-round, winter and breeding ranges

? Field notes with amazing facts or extra tips such as telling related species apart

? Two indexes -- one color-coded for finding birds fast in the field, the other

? alphabetical by family, with check-off boxes for maintaining a life list

Future titles include “Maryland & Washington, D.C.” and “New York,” to be published in November 2006. The series already includes guides to Florida, California, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas and the Carolinas.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service estimates that 85.2 million Americans (25 percent of the population) are active bird-watchers, and 53 million are bird feeders.

Among the top birding spots in the country are the Florida Everglades; Point Reyes in California; Southeast Arizona; Rio Grande Valley, Big Bend National Park and High Island in Texas; and the Edwin B. Forsythe (Brigantine) National Wildlife Refuge and Cape May in New Jersey.

Contact Information

Penelope Dackis

National Geograpahic

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