Birder's World Magazine

In my most beautiful bird meme post, I mentioned that I really wanted to see a Wallcreeper.  The editor of Birder's World Magazine, Chuck Hagner, told me in his comment that his magazine would have a feature on Wallcreepers in the next issue (how cool is that?).  I replied that I thought the current (June 2006) issue, which features several articles on the functions and forms of feathers, was one of the best birding magazine issues I'd ever seen.  I'd like to expound on that for a minute.

First, let me say that I know Chuck -- I have birded with him and gotten drunk had drinks with him in exotic lands. However, I have birded, traveled, or been friends with at least one member of every editorial staff the magazine has had. I have written for several other popular birding magazines ("PBMs"), but most of my contributions have gone to Birder’s World.  This completely eliminates me as an unbiased reviewer of this publication, as well as makes this post sort of self-serving.  On the other hand, the main reason I have had such a long relationship with Birder’s World is because I've always considered it the best consumer magazine on birds.

Birder's World (BW) is a bi-monthly, and is the most sophisticated of the PBM. While the content is appealing to novice backyard birders, BW generally contains several articles of an in-depth nature, including conservation pieces and species profiles.  For example, BW went for a different angle on the recent Ivory-billed Woodpecker story, including an article regarding the hard questions that remained to be answed about the species, and two detailed articles on the controversy which called on a range of scientists.  The pieces are authoritative and thought-provoking, and unlike what is usually found in other PBM.

But BW is not arcane. Most issues feature a birding destination, and a bird-attracting/gardening piece.  Regular features are authored by household names in birding:  ID Tips by field guide author Kenn Kaufman; Birder at Large, essays by Pete Dunne of New Jersey Audubon; and the migration/bird locating Birds on the Move by well-known author and researcher Paul Kerlinger.  Other departments include a reader question column, news from the ornithological literature, book reviews, and a piece on a specific bird behavior or characteristic.  It's an impressive, well-rounded line-up.

One thing that often attracts people to BW in the first place is the outstanding photography, showcased by stylish graphic design. No other PBM can touch it.  Okay, I'll admit it.  Most of the bird literature I read are stiff scientific journals.  As an ornithologist, I've probably come across much of the material covered in BW.  But when an issue lands in my mailbox, I immediately go through it and look at all the pictures. It's always a visual feast for the eyes.

Go to your local bookstore and pick up the June issue of Birder's World.  You'll see what I mean.  You can subscribe from the link on my left sidebar (also self-serving!), which will be one of the few ads I will keep on Bootstrap when I go mostly ad-free this summer.

I can't wait for that Wallcreeper article!

Comments

[Patrick]

Wallcreeper is high on my list too! I can't wait to go to Europe someday to see one. I love BW. It gets me through my eliptical machine workouts very quickly. I was just reading the June issue this morning and I agree on the quality of the articles.

[John]

I took a look at the recent issues and this looks like an interesting magazine. Maybe I will switch over when one of my other subscriptions expires.

[Ellen]

We don't drink white wine, but our guests do, so on occasion, I have to buy white wine. Knowing little about it, I choose by the label. I look for the wine with the beautiful rendition of the European Wallcreeper. I can't remember the name of it, but as it happens, it is pretty good wine.

I also love Birder's World, but it is one of many subscriptions we stopped because it was
not getting read. As a result, we were wasting money, which is very scare, and paper.

Ellen

[Nuthatch]

Looks like we know what to get Ellen for her birthday, a gift subscription and some time to read it!

[Cindy]

I subscribed for many years and dropped Bird Watchers digest (too expensive, too many ads) but plan on renewing Birders World. I get no less than 5 mags a month and can't keep up as it is, but always enjoy this one.