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Review: “Birds of the Northwest”

Discover the joys of birdwatching with “Birds of the Northwest” 

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌ ‌ ‌

Birdwatchers throughout the Pacific Northwest can rejoice: the visual identification guide “Birds of the Northwest” just made birdwatching so much easier. Award-winning photographer ⏤ and author of over 175 field guides and other literature ⏤ Stan Tekiela shows just how easy it can be to learn about native birds. Based on his best-selling bird field guides, this condensed copy manages to cover 130 species of birds found in Oregon, northern California, Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. 

Readers can find key details about the birds and their behavior, such as which ones will eat from backyard feeders, how to tell the variation in a male and female bird and how to tell the difference between their counterparts. There is also an additional section on feeding birds, which are broken up into categories ⏤ Bluebirds, Chickadees & Nuthatches, Doves, Finches, Hummingbirds and Woodpeckers.

The guide is a very condensed pocket sized format, yet manages to go fairly in depth on the variation of identification marks for a bounty of birds. It has useful sections based on the main color of the feathers, going from mostly red, to yellow, green-blue, black and white, gray and fully black birds. Along the bottom of each page shows the average height of the birds in question and their silhouettes for quick comparison, and Tekiela gives brief descriptions of important characteristics for proper identification. 

He uses to-the-point phrases, like for the Pacific Stellar’s Jay, which is described as having blue streaks on its black head and a large crest. Normally, it’s around 11 inches tall and will eat from bird feeders. Learning to name and place birds is a timeless skill, and makes going outside that much more immersive. It takes patience and a handy guide, but in time, anyone can practice their birdwatching skills.  

Review: I would have to give this a 4.5/5 because the book is so handy and detailed, which makes it essential for beginner birdwatchers. Before buying this book, it was difficult to correctly identify each bird I saw since there were so many. After getting the guide, it’s become increasingly easier to find the right fowl. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu

Review: “Mushrooming Without Fear”

Be a fun-gi and safely forage for mushrooms with this field guide

Natalie‌ ‌Dean‌ ‌|‌ ‌Entertainment‌ ‌Editor‌

Nature-lovers alike can appreciate any field guide that is safety-oriented ⏤ especially one that is in-depth and provides full-color pictures. This quick read by Alexander Schwab is full of thorough information; “Mushrooming Without Fear: The Beginner’s Guide to Collecting Safe and Delicious Mushrooms” includes detailed steps on the proper way to hunt for these hidden gems in the area. 

Throughout the three main sections, the reader can explore the components of a mushroom and how to tell the difference in its anatomies — such as its gills, tubes, spines and ridges. Since there is such a variety of species and toxicity levels, it is important to go through Schwab’s recommended steps for positive identification. The guide breaks into sections for different types of fungi, which has a full overview and highly stresses their “safe method,” and consists of these guidelines:

  1. When first starting off, leave most mushrooms alone.
  2. Closely evaluate which specific markings are present, and keep in mind which identifiers are absent.
  3. Follow the rules and take the identification process step-by-step.

This safety method ensures that the forager will avoid deadly species or ones that can cause permanent damage, such as ones with gills, which are highly poisonous and should be avoided completely. Further in the book, there are eight rules that should also be studied before picking or consuming. 

Aside from the bounty of safety information found in this guide, readers can also check out the twelve types of mushrooms and their species — like the King Bolete, Chanterelles, Common Puffballs, Hen of the Woods and Bay Boletes. One especially useful part of the positive identification checklist is a scale of colors along the top of the page, which represents the correct color the cap should be when picked.

Other details on the checklists include the average size across the cap, what time of the year they make an appearance, their location and other tips. 

With the identification checklist readily available for each type of mushroom, there are also plenty of details for how to handle, store, season and cook them. Out of all the field guides out there on the market, this one is very beginner-friendly, affordable and definitely worth taking along while foraging. 

Rating 4/5 because I will now be spending all of my money on mushroom field guides. 

Contact the author at ndean17@wou.edu