Responding to burgeoning public interest (courtesy of COVID-19), well-known Prairie naturalists Trevor Herriot and Myrna Pearman have produced Backyard Bird Feeding: A Saskatchewan Guide, just in time for spring.
Published by Nature Saskatchewan, this colourful 112-page handbook covers everything you need to consider, from habitat, migration and the basics of offering food and water to dealing with a wide range of problems that may arise. Brief accounts of the 72 species most likely to be attracted to Saskatchewan feeders include information on identification, feeding preferences and behaviour through the seasons. The text is complemented by interesting informational sidebars and illustrated with photographs from 66 Prairie backyard bird enthusiasts.
It’s a timely arrival. Backyard bird activity abounds in spring with the return of seasonal residents, fleeting visits from migratory species and transitions in the lives of the bird species that stay year round.
Each having spent years learning about birds and sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with others, Herriot and Pearman decided to work together on this book not just to educate, but also to inspire. “… we offer this book out of concern for the future,” they write.
“We hope that, by connecting people to the birds in their neighbourhood, farms and gardens, this book will contribute to the work of transforming the way humanity regards and values the wild creatures with whom we share the earth.”
As Nature Saskatchewan president Ed Rodger points out, “the authors’ hope fits perfectly with our society’s mission to engage and inspire people to appreciate, learn about and conserve Saskatchewan’s natural environment”.
Proceeds from book sales will be used to support the organization’s ongoing efforts in the interests of nature.
Copies of the book are available for purchase through Nature Saskatchewan’s online store (https://www.naturesask.ca/store/en/publications/backyard-birdfeeding-a-saskatchewan-guide) and will be sold through a variety of retail outlets, including McNally Robinson Books, Wild Birds Unlimited, Early’s Farm and Garden and Turning the Tide in Saskatoon, DDK Pets in Moose Jaw and the Pharmasave in Esterhazy.
