Birding is among the most popular outdoor activities--especially in the Southwest, where hundreds of different bird species can be seen and observed. Now is the perfect time to join the fun and let our feathered friends astonish and inspire you. Award-winning author, naturalist, and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela has written best-selling bird identification guides for almost every state. In Stan Tekiela's Birding for Beginners: Southwest, he provides the information you need to become a skilled birder in Arizona, southern Nevada, New Mexico, west Oklahoma, west Texas, and Utah.

The first section of the book presents "how to" information. Learn the basics of bird feeders. Get to know your birdseed. Create a bird-friendly yard--and even make your own bird food with do-it-yourself recipes.

The book's second section is an identification guide, featuring 53 Southwestern birds that are most likely to be seen at your backyard feeder or near your home. The species are organized by color, making it simple to identify what you see. If you spot a yellow bird, go to the yellow section to discover what it is. Each bird gets a full-page photograph with notations about key field marks, or identification characteristics. The full-color photos are paired with information ranging from the bird's nest and eggs to favorite foods, as well as Stan's fascinating naturalist notes.

Give birding a try, and get started with the guidance of an expert. You'll be amazed by how much joy birds can bring, and you'll have a lifetime to enjoy them.