[EBB Sightings] Bird Book Browsing

Birders:

Recently I visited a couple of Berkeley's finest used (bird) book 
stores, and opened a mail catalog . . .

As Debbie Viess posted previously, Moe's on Telegraph Avenue has a 
number of the late Howard Cogswell's books.  One that interested me is 
a workbook prepared for an ornithology course at UCDavis, and sent to 
him as a courtesy copy.  It provides a readable, comprehensive 
introduction to California's bird life, organized in an easily 
understandable fashion.  It looked good, but I left it for the next 
browser without noticing its price.  Black Oak Books on north Shattuck 
Avenue has a clean copy of Don Roberson's 1977 A Birder's California, 
at $30 -- a bit steep; you might try bargaining.  This is the book that 
first tempted me to explore California's principal birding locations 
during their respective best seasons, and thus gave me a kick down the 
slippery slope of chasing birds . . . so be warned.  This copy came 
from Alla Schmitz's library, for those who remember him.

Finally,  Edward R. Hamilton (http://www.edwardrhamilton.com/) offers 
Patten et al.'s Birds of the Salton Sea for $14.95.  UC Press published 
the book in 2003 at $65; this is the first time I've seen the book 
remainder-priced.  Now Hamilton has one fewer in stock.

Usual disclaimers apply . . .

Dave Quady
Berkeley, California
davequady at att.net