Why are field guides taboo in the field? (1 Viewer)

Colin

Axeman (Retired)

• Jan 9, 2003

• #21

I think it is OK to use a field guide in the field but as Ashley says, make notes first. While you root out your guide and start thumbing through it, the bird may well have flown and then questions like 'What colour were its legs?' start springing up and there is no answer cos you were looking through the pages for something like the bird you had only taken a cursory glance at (cursory, in as much as you saw enough to not be able to id it). So, the field guide has its place in the field but not as the first resort.

Colin

 

R

Regan

Member

• Jan 10, 2003

• #22

I have just been reading some old 'Bird Watching ' magazines from 2000. The readers letters were complaining then about the attitude and snobbery of some birdwatchers. Personally it makes me laugh, I take notes and a field guide, if I can't put a name to a bird it distracts me from the rest of my birdwatching. Especially if it's something I know I should recognise.

 

P

peter hayes

Guest

• Jan 11, 2003

• #23

I couldn't agree more, Kevin

 

digi-birder

Well-known member

• Jan 11, 2003

• #24

This is a very timely thread, as a colleague at work only asked me this very question the other day. I had earwigged that he was discussing the carrying of field guides with another colleague, and had a feeling that I was going to be asked the question. I promptly answered that I do carry one on birding trips - and I unselfconsciously use it as well.

I much prefer to check out the ID in the field rather than back home. I know that you should learn to take good field-notes, but I work in a different way to my more experienced colleagues, and probably some of you. Everyone has their own preferences. I just like to check it out while the bird is there. Of course, as Colin suggests, I take a good look first and try to pinpoint as many features as possible before it flies off.

On a number of occasions, other birders have sneaked a look over my shoulder when they haven't been carrying their own guide. So it can be OK to use a guide sometimes!

Diane.

 

Eddie

Well-known member

• Jan 11, 2003

• #25

I strike a happy medium in as much as I keep a field guide in the car. I can then check things out fairly quickly if necessary and I don't have to wait to get home. I would carry it with me but with scope, bins, notebook, dog phaser, flask etc I don't have enough pockets. I do agree that it is a useful piece of field kit. Yeah, definitely.


Ed

 

C

cjay

Well-known member

• Jan 11, 2003

• #26

The Collins Guide is Cool. If you have this with you, you are a "real birder" If this is produced in a hide people gather round to discuss the finer points of identification with you. The best example was the Baikel Teal at Minsmere.

Many hardened Twitchers were keen to have look. In the end the whole hide c. 20 birders/ Twitchers were busy passing the book round to check plumage details. & It was MY book.

If you have a field guide with you, you cannot string birds can you?.

When botanising I carry an Illustrated Field Guide & The Stace Excursion Flora so what is the difference. Hold your guides high above your head & shout Look at me!!

CJ

CJ

 

C

curlew

New member

• Jan 11, 2003

• #27

guides in field

i don't know about anyone else but I'm loaded with scope, binos and camera equipment. Do sketch field markings and check the guides at leisure. There are three main favorites here in the states. Peterson's, National Geo. and Shibley's. We have more specific texts on the sea and shore birds in my region.

 

P

peter hayes

Guest

• Jan 11, 2003

• #28

Curlew

Welcome to the forum. What sort of Curlew are you?

 

tafflad

Member

• Jan 11, 2003

• #29

Where , and how , I wonder , did these so called " snobs " , learn how to identify the birds that they are now familiar with ??. Surely , there was a time when most birds were " foreign " to them also . Personally speaking I find that the best place to learn of most things in life is via books , if that means consulting the book when in the field , then that is what I do . I see nothing wrong , or anything to be ashamed of , in doing that , if I`d had the time to devote to birding thirty years , that I have now , then maybe I`d have no need to consult the books , but alas there were more important things to do in them days . So its the books for me whenever the need arises , and if by chance you meet some guy , permanently perusing the field guides on you travels , just say , " good morning Hugh " , regards

 

Andrew

wibble wibble

• Jan 12, 2003

• #30

I find it useful to buy field guides for butterflies and plants too as it livens up your diary entries when you get home. I don't carry them, just make note of butterfly or wierd plant then look em up when you get home. It woul be murder carrying a field guide for all that grows or breeds in this country, never mind the earth!

 

C

curlew

New member

• Jan 12, 2003

• #31

Hi Peter,
hanks for the welcome. My favorite Curlew ranges between Bristle-thighed and Long Billed. There both remarkable to watch. Actually like the American Avocet in field watching. Come to think of it I just love em' all!

 

P

peter hayes

Guest

• Jan 12, 2003

• #32

Have you got any pix of the three birds you mentioned there? I'd love to see them.

 

C

curlew

New member

• Jan 13, 2003

• #33

Peter
where or how do you post jpegs?

 

W

WelshFalcon

Well-known member

• Jan 13, 2003

• #34

Just read all these messages with interest, as I class mself firmly in the categories "beginner" , "novice","dolt" and "idiot".

I always have my field guide out in front of me in a hide - together with my note book, flask etc.

I was in a hide full of twitchers once, who had received notification there was an unidentified wader in the area. By the time they had arrived, the bird had gone, so I had a "flock" of twitchers around me, one of whom took the book off me and they went into a huddle to speak in their odd language.

Bring your own guides, and leave me alone! People are afraid of being ridiculed - I am not.

By the way, what's the collective noun for a group of twitchers?

I have some suggestions, but they will get offended!

 

P

peter hayes

Guest

• Jan 13, 2003

• #35

Curlew

Email Green Fields: he'll tell you the best method!

 

Steve

Member

Staff member

• Jan 13, 2003

• #36

I think you will find the collective noun for twitchers is an Attitude!

 

P

peter hayes

Guest

• Jan 13, 2003

• #37

Very droll, Steve.

 

crispycreme

Well-known member

• Nov 25, 2003

• #38

It woul be murder carrying a field guide for all that grows or breeds in this country, never mind the earth!

Click to expand...

And yet, some of us do! Whenever we go out into the country, we bring both birding field guides, two butterfly guides, a tree guide, a reptile/amphibian guide, a mammal guide, a fish guide, an insect guide (thick book!), a wildflower guide, a fossil guide, a rock/gem guide... am I leaving anything out? Oh yeah, a weather guide and a star guide (in case we're overnighting). They're all packed into a tote bag, and lugged with us wherever we hike/camp/sightsee. Of course, most of 'em are left in the car, but they're at arm's length if needed! I guess I just love field guides!

 

L

logos

Well-known member

• Nov 25, 2003

• #39

The Collins Guide is Cool. If you have this with you, you are a "real birder" If this is produced in a hide people gather round to discuss the finer points of identification with you. The best example was the Baikel Teal at Minsmere.

Many hardened Twitchers were keen to have look. In the end the whole hide c. 20 birders/ Twitchers were busy passing the book round to check plumage details. & It was MY book.

Click to expand...

Ah, so everyone felt that the book confirmed the identification and stopped looking at the bird, rather ironic now that some observers in Korea have seriously questioned the true identity of said Baikal Teal.

Guides are just that, guides, they do not have all the answers.

Spud

 

E

Edward woodwood

Member

• Nov 26, 2003

• #40

Just to second what spud said above.....

guides are useful for most birds but the really hard species and species groups aren't that well covered in field guides (it's not really the point of a 'general' field guide) so the notebook and pencil comes out and then you refer to more specialist guides at home. After a while you might find you don't really need to carry a field guide and rely more on your notebook etc. Taking notes is for me the best way of learning.

I can hardly be bothered with a scope half the time and any extra weight is a pain. When abroad though, and lots of stuff is new, I continually have the field guide (and notebook) at hand.

on another point, I see more field guides than notebooks these days!!!