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Discovering the Birds of Trinidad & Tobago

Discovering the Birds of Trinidad & Tobago – Searchable CDROM with descriptions of 322 birds and over 800 photographs. Outdoor Business Group Ltd. http://www.birdsoftt.com

Its quite odd looking at a CDROM when one is used to watching birding videos or DVDs and I didn’t quite know what to expect. As it happened I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was, in effect, an off line website with the navigation being completely familiar to anyone who uses the net.

The layout, colour schemes etc. were also familiar and reminiscent of surfing the net as is a lot of the content. It is a guide and does have a lot of very useful info and many photographs with descriptions of birds, birding locations and lots of background info and were I off to these islands it is stuff I would want to know, although I would probably want to use the net to check on the current situation at sites, especially when it comes to security etc. on Trinidad which does have a reputation for crime. I am lazy enough to prefer this CD to a ‘Rough Guide’ or other such information in book form. Used in conjunction with a good DVD and by looking for further info on, for example the website this review appears on, it would prepare you for a lot of the places where the birds can be found – and it certainly described places well which I have visited.

Having said this there is one failing and that is the very variable quality of the photographs. Some are excellent but the main author – Brian Ramsey - has used a lot of his own work which I am sad to say really doesn’t pass muster. He links to some brilliant bird photographers and uses a few of their photos – my advice would be that, should a re-pressing be called for, he should ask for permission to use more. Those of us who love birds and use the net a lot are used to seeing the world’s best and second tier or less is just not good enough. Don’t let me put you off, the first time visitor to T&T will certainly find enough on the CD to make the purchase worthwhile.

Created: 05th Jan 2007