There is much to learn here from David Sibley and Kenn Kaufman as well. It s nice, in both instances, to be able to get the perspective of an individual author and illustrator. The books are models of consistency in both the quality and style of the illustrations and the tone of the written text. Those of us interested in the birds of North America are being spoiled rotten this year, and bird lovers will find plenty to like about both books. A recent short communication in the Wilson Bulletin reported that a dead female ruby-throated hummingbird was found on 12 August 1999 adhered to the burs of common burdock flowers in Pennsylvania.
Common burdock is an exotic plant.
The hummer apparently tried to perch on the burdock, became stuck, could not escape, and died. Furthermore, there are reports of other birds found dead in common burdock, including nuthatches, kinglets and warblers. Common burdock is listed as an occasional plant at Gilmore Ponds. Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge is composed of a number of habitats from prairies to wetlands to second-growth and mature forest. There are also a number of historical sites to visit at Big Oaks.