Exotic and domestic

I'm in agreement with other reviewers that the magazine does tend to focus too much on exotic species from the Galapagos Islands to Madagascar; but for the most part I found this to be tempered by many very helpful articles for the average herp owner. I have 2 boas some chameleons an iguana and a python--and I believe that "Reptiles" focus on all reptiles has given me a better understanding of my own. This isn't necessarily geared 100% toward the pet owner but more for the overall enthusiast.More detail ...

Good Beginner's Magazine

Bird Talk is a good magazine for people new to companion birds including children. It contains solid basic information on diet housing and safety for new bird owners. The focus is on parrots though recent articles have begun to cover some finches and softbills as well. Reading this magazine for a year will be enough to help most people decide if a bird is right for them and to give people some idea of what species to select. The beautiful photography and extensive advertising for specialty products are also plusses.

There are three main drawbacks to Bird Talk. First the information is very basic. Those interested in in-depth information on any species won't find it here - check out books or the AFA Watchbird (the American Federation of Aviculture's magazine) for more serious information. Second as another reviewer pointed out the material is often redundant. Subscribe for two years or more and you'll feel like you're reading back issues instead of a current magazine. Finally the magazine tends NOT to cover the more difficult aspects of bird ownership in any depth. As any parrot rescue can tell you parrots (like dogs) can have some serious behavior issues if not properly socialized and cared for including screaming feather picking aggression and self-mutilation. The magazine glosses over or outright ignores the more difficult side of parrot ownership which is unfortunate especially since so many up-and-coming bird owners rely on it for information.More detail ...

I love this magazine!

Very colorful photos informative articles written by subscribers and bird watching nuts like me! Tips on feeding birds gardening etc. Extremely informative magazine. Not a page of it wasted. There's as much info in the magazine on "birds" as there is on "blooms" so regardless of your interest you'll enjoy the publication. I look forward to it every other (bimonthly publication) month and have gleaned a lot of tips on attracting feeding and identifying birds as well as planting tips for flowers.More detail ...

The New Yorker for people who live with dogs

Bark is not a how-to-care-for-your-dog magazine. It's a magazine about living with dogs. It has fascinating articles about the lives of dogs and people with dogs. It has history of dogs and poems about dogs and interviews with dog trainers and sheep herders and canine rescue squads ... If you want the latest pet grooming tricks you won't find it here but if you want insight into what dogs mean to people and what people mean to dogs this is your magazine. Charming touching smart and simply wonderful.More detail ...