Skidompha’s Chats with Champions Committee and Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop are delighted to announce that Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper columnists Jeffrey and Allison Wells, well-known birders, Maine natives, and authors of "Maine’s Favorite Birds," are the featured speakers for the Tuesday, April 5, Chats program in the library’s Porter Meeting Hall.

As spring approaches, this is the perfect time to learn more about our state’s birds. The authors’ 72-page guidebook is a great resource for anyone curious about Maine’s natural world, without the expense and perhaps confusion of more advanced field guides. There will be copies to purchase and have autographed.

The Wellses describe "Maine’s Favorite Birds"as a “gateway book,” a guide that offers people the basics in birding. They wrote it for those who enjoy birds and want to know more about what they’re hearing and viewing; that includes children and every age in between.

“We see this book as a way to get people excited about birds — people who aren’t studying birds as a living or making a commitment to go birding every weekend,” Allison Wells said. “[Birds] really do add so much enrichment to life.”

They highlight more than 100 birds loved by Mainers, a lineup based on years of experience researching, leading bird walks, answering questions, and discussing birds with Maine residents and visitors.

Along with scientific bird descriptions the book includes birding tips, easy-to-remember song descriptions, birding hot spots and ways birders can put their observations to use for science and conservation.

Jeff and Allison focused on the birds that people are most likely to see in their everyday lives, in backyards, parks, wild areas, and nature preserves. Paired with colorful detailed paintings by artist Evan Barbour, the guide is both practical and beautiful.  Barbour earned his bachelor of arts from Reed College and a credential in scientific illustration from the University of California-Santa Cruz.

The book has had an excellent reception and remains on several lists of recommended bird field guides.

Jeffrey Wells, Ph.D., is a Fellow of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Dr. Wells is one of the nation's leading bird experts and conservation biologists, and author of “Birder’s Conservation Handbook.” Allison Childs Wells, formerly of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is a senior director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, a statewide nonprofit membership organization. Both are widely published natural history writers. The Wellses live in Gardiner with their young son and two indoor cats.

For more information visit www.mainesfavoritebirds.com and also “like” their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MainesFavoriteBirdsfor posts and spectacular photographs.

“Chats with Champions” is a free community offering from your national award winning Skidompha Library.  Please allow time to locate parking.