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Hi All,

I have just picked up a pretty much mint 1984 copy or Robert's Bird of Southern Africa. It really is a beautiful book and I will certainly keep it whatever the concensus.

My question is whether it is worth updating to the latest edition. I bought this one for £3.49, (R45), on ebay - bargain! Should I spend £19.99, (R260), on a brand new copy.

Thanks and discuss.......

I have a 1975 edition revised by McLachlan and Liversidge which I treasure for just owning it.

There are many more user friendly bird books available e.g.
SASOL Illustrated guide John Sinclair, bird guide of Southern Africa.
Kenneth Newmans Birds of Southern Africa.
SASOL Birds the Inside story by Rael and Helene Loon
as well as Beat about the bush Birds by Trevor Carnaby are also worth looking at, these books are becoming a bit tattered due to frequent use while my Roberts is still en excellent condition.

I agree that the 1984 Roberts is a beautiful book to keep no matter what. However if you do love to ID birds, it is suggested that you also have some current books available. There are so many name changes and new birds since 1984 that I personally will also get the new addition .

Me and my So (Hilda) love birds and ID them so much that we have 17 different books in our study, as well as the new multi media Roberts on our laptops .

I have a Roberts PDA version and a PC version which I find very helpful.

The PDA version is wonderful while sitting in the shade watching and listening to the live version and then reading about them on the PDA.

I have often had to inform other KNP visitors that it is my PDA and not a Scopsie or a Nightjar calling.

I have a 1966 edition and still refer to it from time to time. Iknow names etc have changed and I have other books to refer to and Guy Gibbon cd.

Thanks for all of your responses, they are really helpful.

Hi Soft Top
I would keep this and get the multimedia version
Either laptop or tablet/ipad version. I use my tablet version a a first option about everytime. You also have the advantage of looking at similar birds, pictures and keeping a list of all your sightings

I learned to bird watch out of the 1986 by my late father and still have his copy, it is right here in my draw. Received a Newmans (Afrikaans) last year for my birthday but my heart belongs to the "red" Roberts.

I would keep it for reference, but would get the field guide by Cillie & Oberpreiler. It has pictures not drawings.

OK, so the general advice is to keep the Roberts on the shelf and buy something else. Duly noted.

NetEk - Not sure how I would cope with Newmans in Afrikaans! My SO would be OK and I could look at the pretty pictures!

Soft Top,

Have a look here:


http://www.abebooks.co.uk/

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/Searc ... rica&sts=t

Really good if you don't mind good quality second hand books.

It has the English & German names...... And the maps are pictures you might understand more than you think not just a pretty bird....