For years I’ve dreamed of a technology resource which could record birdsong and, in the same way that computers now recognize human speech, identify the species of bird doing the singing. Singing birds hidden away in brush or in dense trees could be identified in this way. Bringing the field guide to technological platforms means that this dream could be only a small step from fulfillment.

it’s again me with a question on your book. You convinced me to buy the Western Guide. When I proceeded to do so, I found a new problem. If possible at all, I really prefer to have field guides bound in softcover, which makes them much more convenient to carry them in a cargo pant or so. On various webshops I just found the book indicated to be a softcover edition, if it was used and simultaneously really expensive. The new and cheaper ones were called “turtleback”, or “special binding”. A look at google to check what a turtleback bound book is delivered the following:

“A library binding of a mass market paperback with a generic hardcover” (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/turtleback)

Actually I worked in a library for two years, but I must admit that I do not really understand this. Making a long story short: Is your “turtleback” edition at least somehow flexible and just more durable than a normal paperback, or is it as stiff as a regular hardcover.

Looking forward hearing from you,
cheers,
Markus

You want the Eastern Guide. It covers all of Texas except the Trans-Pecos region (far west Texas including Big Bend). There’s a handy map in this post showing the region covered by each guide.