Christmas Gift Ideas

Are you having a hard time finding a Christmas gift or stocking stuffer for that special someone? Consider getting them a gift that helps them better enjoy nature. Someone interested in nature would certainly enjoy a gift of this sort. And you might be surprised at how much a seemingly non-nature observer might enjoy it as well.

A bird feeder might be in order. Bird feeders are a great way to get someone interested in birds, and provide years of interesting observations. Bird feeders come in a variety of types and prices, so it should be easy to find one that meets the needs and preferences of most anyone.

Other items for the bird watcher include bird houses or a bird guide. There are several bird guides on the market, but the more popular bird guides include the Audubon Guides, Peterson Guides, National Geographic Guides, Sibley Guides, and Kaufman’s.

A good pair of binoculars could make a great gift. Most birders recommend binoculars of 7 or 8 power. 7 x 35’s or 8 x 50’s are popular specs for bird watching.

To stimulate interest in the stars and constellations, star charts and paperback guides on constellations are often available in popular bookstores.

If geology is an interest of the recipient a good book that I frequently use is John Bluemle’s The Face of North Dakota. Revised in 1991, this soft covered 8½ by 11, 210 page manuscript is an excellent manual that explains the basics of North Dakota geology. The book can be purchased for $6 from the North Dakota Geological Survey.

The National Audubon Society’s website has some good tips on choosing bird feeders, bird guides, and binoculars for birding as well as other information. If you are interested in purchasing one of these of these items, I have put a link to their website along with the script of this Natural North Dakota. I have also included links to other items that may be of interest, including the webpage of the North Dakota Geological Survey listing their Educational Publications.

Here is the link to the North Dakota Geological Survey’s educational publications.

Here is the link to the Audubon Society’s webpage for choosing a bird feeder.

The site also contains information on other related topics such as selecting seeds, feeder location and maintenance and Frequently Asked Questions.

Audubon Society tips on buying binoculars.

Chuck Lura

Natural North Dakota is supported by NDSU Central Grasslands Research Extension Center and Minot State University-Bottineau, and by the members of Prairie Public. Thanks to Sunny 101.9 in Bottineau for their recording services.