The second-most expensive purchase of my time as a birder cost $1,950. Only my newest Nikon 35mm digital camera cost more.
I bought 716 printed booklets, each detailing a North American bird species. These were published by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a series titled The Birds of North America.
Fifteen years ago, I was very excited about my purchase, eager for delivery. The set was available at a few libraries and on certain college and university campuses. I wanted the information at my elbow because I intended to and do use the booklets often.
(I once considered reading all, 716 cover to cover. I changed my mind.)
Today, the contents of those booklets and much more is available on-line from Cornell.
Aside: Electronic is a production method with endless possibilities, but staying power determined by technology, subject to change at any moment.
That is the thought of someone of a certain age, a print guy. In today's reality, this much information can't be done any way. other than electronic.
Contents can be described as basically everything known about a particular species. The accounts are written by ornithologists familiar with that bird.
