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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Bird Flashguides Handy, Easy To Use And Carry

The wonder of birds will always be alive for backcountry travelers.

But now it’s no longer necessary to wonder about the names of birds you see along the trail.

The new Peterson FlashGuides (Houghton Mifflin, $7.95), which cover niches of birds such as Pacific Coastal birds, hawks and backyard birds, are built to go afield.

Of special note to backpackers is the Western Trailside Birds Flashguide. More than 100 species of birds most commonly seen along hiking trails in the western United States and Canada are compiled into sturdy 4-1/2-inch by 8-1/2-inch cards that are ideal for tucking into a belt pack.

The cards, which are connected in a laminated plastic cover, show identifying features of birds of prey, such as hawks and harriers, game birds such as ruffed grouse (What? No spruce grouse?) plus an assortment of owls, crows, jays, woodpeckers and dozens of songbirds.

The handy guide is likely to be taken along when weight-wary backpackers might leave a full field guide at home.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo