PREVIEW

(*** Feb. 12 - Volume 3 is now available in many of the usual outlets.)

CONTENTS

Prologue ..... p. 4

Common Birds ..... p. 7

Rare and Uncommon Birds ..... p. 97

Road trip Birds ..... p. 113

Index ..... p. 128

RELEASE DATE: Mar. 1, 2010

Vancouver Island Birds, Volume 3 is the culmination of another three years of bird photography. There are over 200 new and exciting colour photos. As you might have guessed, the majority of the photos were taken on Vancouver Island, but I have also included 15 pages of "roadtrip birds" which includes Vancouver (Reifel and Jericho), Utah (Bear River), and Oregon (Malheur, Summer Lake, Cabin Lake, and Haystack Rock). The rationale for expanding the roadtrip section was simple. If the birds wouldn't come to Mike, then Mike had to go to the birds. Besides, I needed an excuse to include my photos of the Jericho Goshawk, Reifel Bittern, and the Haystack Puffins. Many of the birds do have a past or ongoing history with the Island, and I have so indicated whenever possible.

For those of you who are expecting a hundred new birds, this isn't the book for you. I have been at a point where I was be lucky to see and photograph a half dozen new species a year. I think there are only about 25 new birds, but there are many new and better photos with expanded commentary about the birds and my experiences with them. For example, there is extensive coverage of the Qualicum White Ravens and an expanded section on my experiences the Kaye Road Kestrels. I am counting on the increased dialogue to provide enjoyable reading for anyone who purchases this book.

I am well-aware that self-publishing is a huge gamble. Most people fail. In fact, in 2008 Author House, a self-publishing company, produced 45,993 titles. The average number of sales per title was 54, and most of them were to the author's relatives and friends. But, like thousands of others, I think I have something to offer, and there is only one way to find out. My first two books were lucky enough to find a friendly niche. At this point Volume 1 has sold close to 4,000 copies and Volume 2 close to 3,000 copies. In other words, both have been well-received and very successful. Volume 3 follows with the same high quality photos but very few new birds. Will it be successful? Only time will tell. If it is, it might be a sign to continue with my goal of increasing public awareness of our avian counterparts. After all, the books are all part of my package which also includes my website, newspaper articles, and PowerPoint presentations. If the book fails, it could be a sign to change directions.

However, regardless of the outcome, I know that the past seven years of birding, photography, internetting, publishing, writing, contributing, and presenting have enriched my life immensely. Although my interaction with you has been mostly one-sided, I know and appreciate that you are there supporting my endeavors: my website tells me it had 440 hits on Jan. 29/10 and 10,454 hits for Dec. 09 (over 100,000 hits for the year); I already mentioned selling 7,000 books; requests for PowerPoint presentations keep coming in; and I have regular feedback about my newspaper articles. For all that support, I am humbly grateful.

I know I will continue to take pictures. I already have visions of an Ivory Gull visiting our herring spawn and maybe a Piping Plover on my next roadtrip. However, first things first. My new book is scheduled for release on Mar. 1/10. I know I will have to work hard to make it successful. (Marketing is the hardest part of self-publishing.) Beyond that I would need a crystal ball.

A few sample pages

**************************************************************************************

Bird Poster

My posters are on display at: Victoria - Swan Lake Nature House; Nanoose Bay - Credit Union;

**************************************************************************************

PUBLICATIONS

VOLUME I & II BOOKS AVAILABLE AT

PARKSVILLE & QUALICUM - MULBERRYBUSH BOOKSTORES

NANAIMO - SAVE-ON FOODS (WOODGROVE),
SAVE-ON FOODS (COUNTRY CLUB), CHAPTERS, FALCONER BOOKS

PORT ALBERNI - CLOCKTOWER GALLERY

COURTENAY - GRAHAM'S JEWELLERS

SIDNEY - VICTORIAN BIRD HOUSE, TANNER'S BOOKSTORE

COMOX - BLUE HERON BOOKS

BOWSER - LIGHTHOUSE GIFTS

DEEP BAY - SHIP & SHORE

SAANICH - WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED

VICTORIA - BOLEN BOOKS, MUNRO'S, CROWN PUBLICATIONS, IVY'S

CAMPBELL RIVER - SAVE-ON FOODS, COHO BOOKS, CAMPBELL RIVER MUSEUM

DUNCAN - VOLUME 1 BOOKSTORE

CHEMAINUS - WILLOW"S WILD BIRD STORE

LADYSMITH - SALAMANDER BOOKS

NANOOSE - SCHOONER COVE MARINA

LAKE COWICHAN - GALLOPING MOON GALLERY

TOFINO - BOTANICAL GARDENS

QUADRA ISLAND - EXPLORE & BOOK BONANZA

LANGFORD - WILD BIRD CENTER

SOOKE - READING ROOM BOOKSTORE

SOOKE - MUSEUM

Port Hardy - MUSEUM

[RETURN TO CONTENTS PAGE]

Comments, questions, or book orders?

[Contact Mike]