Website Review: BugGuide

BUGGUIDE is a website focusing on insects, spiders, and related creatures.

This online community of naturalists shares information about creatures originating in the US and Canada. The website provides identification, images, and information. Users can click on a guide of interest or request help with identifying a specimen. A forum provides opportunities for interaction.

Librarians will find this website a useful tool for science students. Whether identifying creatures or discussing the benefits of niche, online communities, this science-based website is a useful resource.

To visit the website, go to https://bugguide.net.

Book Review: Ultimate Explorer Field Guides

ULTIMATE EXPLORER FIELD GUIDES is a new series from National Geographic Kids. These pocket-sized books are great for beginning naturalists looking for hands-on experiences. Each field guide is chuck-full of fascinating information.

From pelicans to cardinals, BIRDS by Julie Beer features dozens of well-known birds. The bird entry pages including photos, range maps, descriptions, special characteristics, interesting facts, and help with classification. The book concludes with a glossary, resources, a quick ID guide, and an index. Although birds are grouped into color coded families, this feature is easy to miss.

ROCKS & MINERALS by Nancy Honovich examines a wide range of rocks and minerals found around the world. The book begins with an overview of rock hounding tools and the basics of mineral identification. Minerals are then grouped into categories such as silicates and carbonates. After an introduction to rocks and the rock cycle, readers learn about igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. The sections on fossils and dinosaur bones are likely to be popular with young readers. The book ends with a quick ID guide, glossary, resources, and an index.

Librarians as well as young readers will appreciate the durable book covers and compact format. Set up a spring display with a variety of field guides that encourage children to get outside and explore the natural world. Connect with STEM standards and real-world world science activities.

Published by National Geographic Kids on February 9, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

App Review: LeafSnap

LEAFSNAP is a comprehensive field guide app focusing on tree species and their leaves.

Developed by researchers at Columbia University, University of Maryland, and Smithsonian Institution, the free app includes high-resolution images of leaves, flowers, fruits, petioles, seeds, and bark to help with tree identification. An onscreen ruler, color guide, and leaf pattern legend is useful in leaf identification.

The Browse section allows users to search for a particular tree and organize trees by common or scientific name. Users can also switch among the leaf mode and other views.

Using location software and mapping tools, the app will identify trees in your area. However this feature is only effective in some areas.

Users can take photos of leaves and create their own database of leaf photos for quick reference. In addition, the app uses visual recognition software to help identify trees based on photographs of their leaves.

Librarians will find this app to be a great addition to their science app collection. Both iPhone and iPad versions are available.

To download the app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/leafsnap/id430649829?mt=8.

Tech Review: All About Birds

The ALL ABOUT BIRDS website (and app) from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology provides high-quality information about 599 species of birds.

The Bird Guide section contains a database of birds that can be browsed by name and shape or taxonomy. A table also shows the most popular birds. For each bird, lots of information is provided including identification, life history, sound, images, and video.

The Bird Cams section provides access to fascinating bird cams for barn owls, barred owls, hawks, herons, ospreys, albatross and Cornell feeders.

The Birding Basics section contains frequently asked questions, ideas for becoming a bird watcher, suggestions for attracting birds, help for taking photographs, a list of birding festivals, favorite places, and more.

The Living Bird section contains articles from Living Bird Magazine in the areas of science, conservation, art, people, travel, history, and photography.

The Get Involved section provides information about citizen science and choosing projects. Many Citizen Science projects are available such as the Yard Map, BirdSleuth, CamClickr, Urban Birds, and Great Backyard Bird Count.

To access specific information, use the search tool to explore the website and/or bird guide.

To keep up-to-date on new information, check out the social media elements including the blog, Facebook page, Pinterest site, Google+, and Twitter.

A YouTube channel provides access to dozens of videos. Go to https://www.youtube.com/user/LabofOrnithology.

The Merlin Bird ID App provides free, instant identification help for 400 North American birds. To download the app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/…/merlin-bird-id-by-c…/id773457673….

To visit the website, go to http://www.allaboutbirds.org.