I'm delighted to let you know that our August 2010 issue is now available on newsstands. Here's the
table of contents. And here's a
list of stores where you can buy a copy for yourself.
Contributing editorsThe issue contains a really nice assortment of wit and wisdom from our contributing editors:
- Kenn Kaufman compares beautiful Baird's Sandpiper with Pectoral Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper. Subscribers can read this online. Read more about Kenn.
- Pete Dunne compares the status of the Osprey today, when the bird is so common that it's often taken for granted, to the dismal outlook that prevailed in the DDT-soaked days of the 1960s. Read online. Read more about Pete.
- Paul Kerlinger explains how Orchard Oriole and other birds may be expanding their breeding ranges in response to climate change. Read online. Read more about Paul.
- Eldon Greij describes three species from the crazy big-footed family Megapodes. Read online. Read more about Eldon.
- Julie Craves answers readers' questions about incubating, brood parasitism, and tail pumping. Read online. Read more about Julie.
- David Sibley discusses wingtip markings, forehead color, and overall shape of Caspian Tern and Royal Tern and tells why bill color remains an important field mark. Read online. Read more about David.
The August issue also contains the results of our most recent
Readers' Favorites survey and maps, tips, bird lists, and directions for four excellent birding hotspots:
Readers' Favorites
Associate Editor Matt Mendenhall lists the 25 locations in the United States and Canada that visitors to BirdersWorld.com recently voted their favorite places to watch shorebirds, and he profiles the location that was voted the favorite. You'll have to click to see what it is. All I'll say here is that it's in Florida -- and that I can't wait to go back.
Find out more about our Readers' Favorites surveys.
Tell us your favorite places to see owls -- you could win Nikon Monarch binoculars!
Hotspots Near YouWe took recommendations from local birdwatchers for the four birding destinations:
- Savannas Preserve State Park, Port St. Lucie, Florida, by Jamie Hansen.
- Governor Dodge State Park, Dodgeville, Wisconsin, by Steve Betchkal.
- Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, Arcata, California, by Jeffrey Rich.
- Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Kauai, Hawaii, by Hob Osterlund.
We've now profiled 96 birding destinations in "Hotspots Near You." Isn't that something? See all 96.
Highlights
True, the August issue also includes news about the BP-Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf (or as much as we could bear), along with new findings about ibises, interesting research about subspecies, a sweeping assessment of the hemisphere's birds from Partners in Flight, and our regular gallery of recent rare-bird sightings.
And yes, we did include a fun collection of reader-submitted photos -- a bedraggled Yellow-rumped Warbler, a pair of Red-eyed Bulbuls in Namibia, a vivid Scarlet Tanager, the Asian version of our Brown-headed Cowbird, a Killdeer pair in New York, and a special kestrel nest box built by a disabled U.S. Army veteran.
But if you ask me, the highlights of the August issue are the article about BGBY birding and a spectacular photo essay about tropical birds.
Big Green Birding Challenge
Guidebook author Diana Doyle describes her experiences and lessons learned during a year of BGBY birding -- that is, birdwatching without driving, carpooling, or otherwise using fuel. In 2008, she found 210 species within walking or biking distance of her home in Minneapolis. After you read this article, you'll be able to do the same.
Tropical treasures
A gallery of the best photos we could find of the tropical birds that birdwatchers want to see most -- including Cuban Tody, Red-billed Tropicbird, Hyacinth Macaw, Sword-billed Hummingbird, and what has to be the best photo of a Resplendent Quetzal I've ever seen. You can get a sneak peek by flipping the pages in "See Inside!" at upper left.
I hope you like it. Please let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you! -- Chuck Hagner, Editor
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