Birding Journal: Through the Seasons

I’m pretty new to bird-watching, so I decided to go on amazon and look for some products that would help me be better equipped to study nature and the birds around me. I looked into quite a few birdwatching journals and the price-point is what sold me on this one. I have separated my review into a few different categories which are the basis for my 5 star decision.Durability (5/5): the cover of this book is extremely rugged and can (and in my case has) survived getting wet both in the rain and some coffee spilling on it. The pages are not quite as thick as the cover, but they are thicker than that of normal books, I would compare them to the way most children’s books pages are designed. I took this book with me on many hunts (which means dropping it in dirt, getting caught in the rain, and even falling in some mud) and it is still in just as good condition as it was when I received it. Don’t confuse it being durable with it being indestructible. It is still a book and is not designed to be soaked or anything. Mine has been through some experiences but I have been sure to keep it from getting completely soaked or muddy.Usefulness(5/5): There are enough pages in this book to allow for years of birdwatching. Even if you fill up the many monthly sightings, there are note pages for each month and additional just blank pages for you to use as you please (as depicted in the photos I uploaded). I really like how the book includes a list for each months of birds you May see during any specific month. It almost makes it like a challenge to get you into the start of your birdwatching. I have tried to fill it each month but so far I have not had that diverse of sightings. Understand that, although this book does provide some information, it is not a guide. I use this book in conjunction with a bird watching guide to identify the birds I’m looking at. If you are looking for a guide only this is not what you’re looking for.Write-ability (4/5):Okay, so I’m sure you’ve had issues before with more durable books where pens just don’t want to right on them. You’ll try writing a single letter a thousand times and it just seems like the ink won’t go onto the page. That is (sort of) the case with these books. If you are using ol’ reliable (that pen that has been sitting in your kitchen drawer for years and who knows when you originally got it but somehow the ink in it has survived) you may have issues. I found using a Gel pen is the best option for writing in this book, I’ve never had any issues when using gel pens instead or ink. Personally, I am left handed so there is a bit of smearing when using gel pens in this book, but I’m used to dealing with that so it does not make me love the journal any less.In conclusion, this is an excellent bird watching journal for an excellent price. When I finally finish off the one I have, I will buy another one of this type without hesitation. Do not let the cheap price fool you, you’ll love this purchase.

I really like this book. The pictures of birds and vegetation are charming. This book is set up by seasons, starting with spring. So it starts off with the month of March. It gives tips of when to look for certain migrating species, types of nest boxes, food, trees & plants to attract birds and other handy information. Each month starts off with places to list birds sighted. Species, date, location, and notes. Then each month has a section for birding trips, location, and date, with area to write some notes about the birding trip. Then there is a blank section for each month, titled "Notes," where you can write something, sketch something, or ad things, like photos, maps, ect. After that is a page titled "End-of-the-Month List." More area to write notes. Then the next month will start, each month having the four different sections. The paper in this book is slick. This is a book that will stand up to some rain, or misty conditions. I just tried a good quality ball point pen, good quality gel pen, Sharpe marker, and a pencil out on the paper. I highly recommend getting a Sharpe marker (they make fine tips ones) to write in this journal. Both the ballpoint, and the gel pen smudged, even minutes after writing. The Sharpe was good to go after about 2 seconds time. The pencil could be smudged a little bit, but I was trying to smudge it (standard #2 pencil lead).I got this book to keep track of the numerous bird species that come to my feeders, and when in the season they arrive. This book is small enough for a purse, but too large for pockets, unless they are really large cargo pockets. The back of the book also has a lifetime bird sighting checklist. There is also a section to keep 3 years worth of notes on bird species, or an individual bird. So you could use to to note down when hummingbird arrive every year, or perhaps when a pair of hawks started to nest, and raise their young. I have giant bird sighting lifetime book, too large to be taken out of the house. This book is a very handy size. Just use a Sharpe marker to write in it.

Bought this for my sister who just got a bird feeder with a Wi-Fi camera. She loved it. She can easily look up the birds.

Agree w reviewers-wonderful content, design and format. However poor choice of paper—had a hard time finding a pen that wouldn’t smear in the glossy pages—had to resort to permanent marker type and have to wait a bit for ink to dry before handling. Perhaps the glossy paper was choosen/considered more waterproof? But as a journal that is supposed to be written in—it doesn’t serve that purpose well at all.I also was disappointed to find the author-artist’s illustrations to be poorly reproduced—they are in general blurry, grainy, pixilated—as if the correct resolution was not used for publication. Really does images an injustice!

I really love the format and features of this journal. I plan to use the same one for at least two years as it will be fun to compare my discoveries and observations from one year to the next and have them all recorded in one journal. I like to write down interesting (to me) anecdotes in the "Notes" sections. If I run out of room I'll just attach some notebook paper.As another reviewer noted, the paper quality, while thick and tough, is slick and ink smears. I use pencil.Update Feb 2022 - I have just purchased this journal for the fourth straight year. Obviously, I really enjoy this journal. For 2021 I started adding photos, sketches, little maps showing nest sites around our property, etc. - you really can make this into a keepsake. I've perused many other birding logbooks, and this one still is the best for me.

and chose this journal for 2022. I have not used it yet but I like it. You can write in ink, but there is a wee bit of shine/coating on the pages so I will continue to use a pencil like I used in my last bird journal. I recommend and will probably get the same for 2023.

What a great birding book! You can track which birds you see each month and there is a life list you can check off at the back of the book. It’s also packed full of useful information like birdhouse sizes for diy projects, gear checklist, which feed attracts which birds, etc. I ended up buying two more to give as gifts!

Great for the backyard birder! Lots of space to record sightings in short snippets. Divided by seasons and months. Allows for monthly tallies; good for year to year comparisons. Lots of info relevant to each season. Very attractive and a good gift item. Wish it was spiral bound.