Product Description
"The Complete Guide To Raising Pet Birds For Profit, The GreatestBackyard Business Ever" is written as a practical guide for the petlover who wishes to make an income breeding, raising and selling smallpet birds. Author James McDonald made his living for 25 years withexotic birds and animals before retiring in 2000 at the age of 50. Heraised tens of thousands of birds himself and built a nationwidedistributorship that supplied pet shops with parakeets, cockatiels,lovebirds, finches and other small pet birds. Through the years he hashelped many people start their own successful backyard businessbreeding these small pet birds to help supply the pet industry withthe millions that are sold annually. Now, for the first time ever hehas put his proven methods of success in the form of a book. The bookexplains how to make an excellent income, either part-time orfull-time breeding the most popular species of pet birds. Manybreeders using these methods make from $500 to $2000 monthly on apart-time basis while full timers make much more. You will learn howyou can live anywhere and ship your birds to the nationwidemarket. The book is actually 6 books in one. It completely covers bothcage and colony breeding methods of parakeets, cockatiels, lovebirdsand finches, as well as marketing and shipping.Additionally, threechapters completely cover how to become a wholesale distributor of petbirds, which can be a very lucrative business.Although the book waswritten with the pet lover in mind that wishes to make an incomebreeding birds, there is a tremendous amount of information in thebook that the hobbyist will find useful as well. Many management tipsand pointers can be used by the beginner as well as the experiencedperson to increase yearly production, thus increasing profits.As awell known animal lover, author James McDonald sold approximately onemillion exotic birds before his retirement and he reminds the readersof the moral obligations and responsibilities of animal ownership andencourages the reader to always accept those responsibilities byproviding humane and adequate care for their birds at all times. Thebook is not written in some far out technical jargon or academicterminology, but in an easy to understand style with plain and simple,down to earth language by someone who has actually "been there anddone that."It is a must have book if you enjoy breeding birds andwould like to make a profit while doing something that you trulyenjoy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

An exceptional book packed to the brim with worthwhile tips.
Aside from the occasional typo or grammatical error, I found this to be the best of its type since Wendell Levi's Making Pigeons Pay.In some ways, in fact, this book is superior in scope to Levi's.

A great deal of the book is oriented to pet bird wholesaling. There also are well-written chapters for each of the top sellers - parakeets, cockatiels, finches and love birds. I found each of the bird breeding-specific chapters to be helpful, although further details should be included in a future edition.

I am hopeful the author, or another capable writer with experience, will soon issue a similar book for the more lucrative Parrots, Macaws, and so forth.

I further also hope somebody with experience will soon offer books for the other pet trade groupings - reptiles; marsupials, rodents, and so forth.

Hmmm...perhaps Breaking Free can do so and can then publish an Encyclopedia of Pets & Exotic Animals? Guess what...it is now in preparation and completion is scheduled on 1 September 2005. Interested parties should email LJ at ljsbreakingfree dot com.

We at LJ's Breaking Free intend to list this book for readers for it truly is one of those gems that people can use to find their freedom from corporate wage-slavery.

We also shall be seeking the publisher/author's permission for e-Book rights. In time, this book should be at the top of our best seller list - Bill Anderson, (LJ), Breaking Free.

Great information, very complete
A very well written book that will hold your interest so much that you will find it hard to put down. Very thorough, with step by step instructions on breeding, feeding, housing, and marketing of parakeets, cockatiels, lovebirds and finches, either as a hobby or commercially.The most complete book of its kind.

Great Book
This book includes a lot of information that would take the average person years to learn. Not only does it cover breeding various species of birds, but it covers different ways of marketing them as well.It even covers shipping birds via the airlines, which opens up larger markets for most people. If you enjoy birds and are considering turning your hobby into a small business, this book is a must have.

Excellent book on raising small birds
I was looking for a secondary income when I ran across this book. I found that the pet business is a huge business that I had never really thought about. I have always loved birds and animals and this book had the information that I needed to get started with a small business of my own. After reading the book through twice, I knew this was something that I would enjoy doing. I located a wholesale buyer in my area who agreed to buy my production. The book is well written, very interesting, and easy to understand. After reading the book you can clearly see that the author is an animal lover and is very much interested in the welfare of the birds, since he discourages anyone from entering this business solely for the financial rewards. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to breed the smaller types of pet birds, either for fun or as a small business.

BestbookI've read in awhile !
After leaving a 20 year career with the government, I was hoping to find something more creative. While looking for information on buying a pet bird for my daughter , I happened across not only a great book about birds but also a new career. Although I will be starting at the hobby level at first , with the straight forward advice and information in this book I really feel I can expand this to any level. This book reflects 25 years of some one elses hard work and experience. Not only did I find the information on raising birds fascinating but there is a wealth of knowledge for anyone looking to start their own business. ... Read more

Product Description
Nevada's diverse landscape, which ranges from lofty alpine peaks to marshy wetlands, saline playas, sagebrush-covered steppes, and lush agricultural valleys, is home to a surprising number and variety of bird species. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Nevada documents the results of a statewide survey of breeding birds undertaken between 1997 and 2000. The book presents 275 species of birds that breed in the state, with a description of each bird; an analysis of its breeding distribution in Nevada; discussion of its conservation status; a line drawing by artist Ray Nelson; a map illustrating its distribution throughout the state; and summary statistics on its breeding status, habitat distribution and abundance.

The atlas, a project of the Great Basin Bird Observatory, has as its major objective the quantification of the diversity and grandeur of Nevada's bird life. It also addresses questions about the management and conservation of bird populations in the state, range limits, the impact of bird population changes, and the future prospects of various species, given current and projected patterns of land use. The book reflects meticulous and lengthy research by some of the state's most respected ornithologists and a corps of dedicated volunteers, and it is an invaluable resource for scientists, birders, conservationists, and anyone interested in the rich natural heritage of Nevada. ... Read more

Product Description
Interest in bird conservation is increasingly focused on current and changing distribution in the face of habitat loss and land use changes. The wider countryside and farmland habitats are of particular interest. The recent BTO surveys have made Britain and Ireland the best-mapped countries in the world. The Historical Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1875-1900 is based on research into the County Avifaunas, published in great numbers around the turn of the century. Detailed reading has enabled the author to map the countries' birds in the period ca. 1875 to 1900, at a time before the widespread rise of modern agricultural practice. The book is laid out in the format of the BTO Atlases, with text and maps which provide a valuable baseline for modern conservation biologists and birders. This book is ideal for ornithologists, conservationists, and natural historians.

Key Features
* Contains maps of every species found breeding in Britain and Ireland during 1875-1900
* Describes the past bird species distributions and the factors that influence them
* Provides maps and text based on comprehensive research into the contemporary County Avifaunas
* Insets maps from the first BTO survey for comparison
* Includes notes on recent changes in distribution ... Read more

Product Description
The first breeding bird atlas in western North America this book provides species accounts, with distribution maps, for 163 species of breeding birds, most of which occur throughout the West. It explains the climate, ocean cycles, and vegetation communities that influence breeding birds in coastal California and details the habitat needs, nesting sites, food requirements, and foraging strategies for all species. In addition, it traces historical trends of all species with reference to California as a whole, plus, suggests how to use atlas data for conservation ... Read more

Product Description

"Ten years in the making, this atlas presents by far the most detailed guide to birds that nest in the state. Includes photographs of each species and summaries of their distribution and abundance."

Customer Reviews (1)

Great scarce reference work
Perhaps the most accaimed and most sought after reference book on bird dog training techniques and tactics ever published. Easy to follow and practical text with numerous photos. ... Read more

Product Description
Given its central location and favorable habitats, Kansas is blessed with a surprising diversity of birds: 453 species documented within its borders. This book focuses on the 203 species that breed in the state--from the Green-winged Teal to the Great-tailed Grackle--to create an accurate and timely reference based on standardized methods of data collection.

The Kansas Breeding Bird Atlas represents the efforts of 180 volunteers who diligently sought out birds over six years, observing their behavior and searching for active nests and fledged young throughout the state, whether in tallgrass prairies, riparian forests, or wetlands. In addition to these volunteers' efforts, Busby and Zimmerman gathered a wealth of information relating the observations to ecological factors affecting the birds' habitat selection.

In the book, each species is conveniently presented in a two-page spread containing a line drawing, descriptive account, data summary table, distribution map, and, in most instances, a table of breeding status by physiographic region and BBS (Breeding Bird Survey) map. Breeding codes--possible, probable, or confirmed--are assigned in accordance with recommendations of the North American Ornithology Atlas Committee. The illustrations consist of classic drawings by Orville Rice and Robert Mengel, plus over one hundred new drawings by Dan Kilby.

This is the definitive guide for anyone, amateur or professional, concerned with the activities of Kansas's breeding birds, and it provides information essential to environmental and conservation planning as well. The Kansas Breeding Bird Atlas is the one source for complete and authoritative data on the avian species that breed in Kansas. ... Read more

Product Description
Birding is the fastest-growing outdoor pursuit in America. This landmark volume, Oklahoma's first breeding bird atlas, offers both amateurs and ornithologists a wealth of information about Oklahoma bird species and their distributions. Lavishly illustrated with over 200 color photographs and 200 color maps, the Oklahoma Breeding Bird Atlas is as attractive as it is informative.

During the years 1997-2001, more than 100 volunteer birders and professional researchers surveyed nearly 600 locations across all regions of Oklahoma. Their careful records form the basis of the maps in this volume, which show at a glance the breeding distribution of bird species both common and rare in Oklahoma. Detailed species accounts, illustrated with stunning photographs as well as maps, provide information on plumage, habitat, nesting habits, eggs, and the young.

An invaluable reference for birders, ornithologists, and natural resource specialists, the atlas will be useful both today and in the future for understanding changes in bird population over time.

The Oklahoma Breeding Bird Atlas is the result of a cooperative effort between the Oklahoma Biological Survey and the Sutton Avian Research Center. ... Read more

Product Description
This insightful volume describes the results of thelargest natural history survey ever conducted in Colorado. It reportsthe results of field work by over 1,200 "atlasers" who spent eightyears gathering data on Colorado breeding birds in 1,745 blocks threemiles on a side, one in each topographic map in the state.

Two-page Species Accounts, by 30 atlaser-authors, describe habitatuse, breeding, and distribution of 252 bird species, and supplementalaccounts report on 12 other rare species, found breeding in the statefrom 1987-1994. It also contains chapters on Colorado ecosystems,post-settlement changes to breeding birds, Colorado ornithologists,and the Colorado Bird Atlas project--its methods and results. The bookcontains over 1,000 maps, charts, graphs, and tables.

Cover-artist Radeaux contributed over 300 illustrations. A 16-pagefolio of color photographs shows Colorado habitats, nests, nestlings,and fledglings. ... Read more

Product Description
This generously illustrated, easy-to-use reference gives instant information on 238 birds that are native to New York State. The core of the atlas is a series of accounts of each species, each account including a distribution map with possible, probable, or confirmed breeding. Facing each map is an explanatory page of text that covers a number of topics: abundance, historical and current distirbution, habitat, and nest description and location. On the same page is an illustration of the bird, often with its nest and young. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Solid reference of breeding distributions
Basics: 1988, hardcover, 551 pages, 240 species with breeding maps

This atlas is a good reference to all birds found to be potentially breeding in New York between 1980 and 1985.To those familiar with an atlas project, the focus of the book is data collection and documentation.It is not meant to be any sort of identification guide (see above review).However, to comment on the included artwork, each species account is accompanied by a very good black-and-white line drawing.These illustrations, often including the nest, are as equally good or better than most other atlases I've examined.

The state map for each bird is outlined on a full, large page.Within the state, one of three coded squares (blocks) identifies if the predefined area was found to harbor a breeding bird.The breeding codes were categorized as possible, probable, or confirmed.In all, 5,335 blocks were created to cover New York.Each was 5 x 5km and all but 12 were surveyed.Raw counts are given for the number of blocks in which the bird was potentially breeding along with raw counts (and percentages) for each of the three breeding codes.

The page of text for each bird includes the natural history of the species, such as the timing of spring returns, the distribution of the breeding range, and geographic boundaries.The breeding habitat and nesting preferences are also described in length.A good description is also given of the nest construction.

This book includes a few other features such as ten specialized maps of New York (e.g., forest types, forest coverage, river systems, ecozones, etc.); an appendix of ecozones with their descriptions; natural ecological communities; and, a table of the breeding season for each bird.This breeding season table includes data on egg dates, incubation duration, nesting duration, fledglings, and other information.A list of nearly 500 references is also included.

Lastly, a list of over 4,000 names is included for those who volunteered their field time and skills for the creation of this book.

1) Atlas of Breeding Birds in New Hampshire by Ross
2) The Atlas of Breeding Birds of Vermont by Laughlin
3) Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia by Robbins
4) Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania by Brauning
5) Atlas of Breeding Birds of the Maritime Provinces by Erskine
6) The Summer Atlas of North American Birds by Price
7) Atlas of Wintering North American Birds by Root

Atlas is indepth but illustrations lacking
I was very disappointed in the black and white illustrations of the birds.This is key in identifying the species.Although the text of the atlas has very indepth descriptions and the maps show where the bird can be found in the state, many of the black and white illustrations are hard to make out and will make it difficult in identifying the bird.Too bad. ... Read more

Product Description
Make sure jacket is adjusted for paperback and disk is used ... Read more