For the Birds

Wesley is a rescued wild bird who the author, a biologist, raises from when he is just days old. O'Brien's insights into owl behavior, along with this very personal story (and absolutely adorable pictures!), make this an interesting and thought-provoking read. If you're interested in finding out about the diversity of birds, try Sy Montgomery's Birdology: Lessons Learned from a Pack of Hens, a Peck of Pigeons, Cantankerous Crows, Fierce Falcons, Hip Hop Parrots, Baby Hummingbirds, and One Murderously Big Cassowary. Montgomery examines each of these species, and you'll learn things and be charmed by the birds themselves.

Interested in what makes a bird watcher tick? Try these:

The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession, Mark Obmascik

The Big Twitch: One Man, One Continent, A Race Against Time, Sean Dooley

Birders: Tales of a Tribe, Mark Coker

The Life of the Skies, Jonathan Rosen

Interested in becoming a bird watcher? Check out the 598s at your local library for guides to birds of Colorado, the United Sates, or other places you might be visiting, as well as guides to bird songs and books like Sibley's Birding Basics by David Sibley, which will introduce you to the hobby.