myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

This subject recently became an 'add-on' to my snorkel mask query [all sorted]. Anyhow ,thought i'd cracked the book bit when i ordered R.ffrench's Birds of Trinidad and Tobago a paperback approx £7. through Stanfords. Just had an e.mail from them ,unable to deliver etc. before my required date of April 19th. I trawled other book sites and found that a new edition of this same book is due out in May.So, after this rambling explanation for this post, can any 'bird person' tell me if the new editition is going to be an improvement on the old 1986 edition because as a non-birder [as well as a non-snorkeller!] i can't see what the difference might be. Having looked at other book sites i still have hope ,though fading fast,of getting hold of the old version in time for G's birthday. Stella.

Hi Stella
Having just read your message, I rang Stanfords about my copy of Birds of Trinidad & Tobago. Nice of them to take my money and not let me know they couldn't fulfil my order in time. They're usually very good.
If I find anything else by 10th April I'll let you know. Sorry
Tony Taylor

Tony. hallo. No need for sorry,honestly. It's known as 'just one of those things!' You've obviously had a disappointment too. I appreciate your trying to help anyway.----refering back to my first piece re the difference between old and new editions, have lots more interesting birds decided to live in Tobago over the last 18 years or will they just put a new 'feathered' 'model' on the front cover do you think!! Stella

I had similar problems with bird books prior to my trip to Tobago last year. Can't offer any specific help but I found this website [Editor: Broken link removed] very useful.

Barry

Hi Stella

The BWI normally carry the book in their little souvenir shop, but it looks like they're out of stock too. They're seeing what they can do. However, I strongly suspect that the wholesalers will be out of stock too, given that a new edition is due out in May.

Its difficult to say what the new book will contain. Species new to the island are being identified all the time, so I assume these will have been added in the new edition.

I'll let you know as soon/if I hear anything.

I looked at the site you suggested Barry and i've actually printed off the 'bird' info. 8 pages in all. If i can't finally find the book i want then at least the men will have some frame of reference while we're there. I tried the library, yes they had a book but, sorry, it hadn't been returned. long overdue apparently. Seriously hope that no My Tobago fan is implicated !!Stella

Hi All

The large Ffrench book costs around £40 and is for expert birders with drawings etc, few photos.

The smaller Ffrench book (subject of this chain) costs TT$90 here and was recently available in the aiport book/mag shop, plus is likely to be available in bookstores in town (where we found a copy 3 years ago).

Hope this helps

Glyn, you've given me another tiny glimmer of hope. If nothing turns up before we go i'll take a quick run into the airport book store. I have actually seen the expensive book by ffrench but Graham is not an expert by any means but watching and identifying birds both at home and abroad is an ongoing interest and this smaller one should be enough for him and at his age i'm just pleased he's only interested in the feathered kind! Stella

Try http://www.birdnet.co.uk/newbooks.html

This site looks like the one http://www.macmillan-caribbean.com/book ... rdstt2.htm

Sure this may help fingers crossed

That's the one, John, but it's not out yet. They reckon May. In the meantime, all wholesalers are out of stock of the old edition. It's a matter of digging around hoping that somebody still has a copy of the old edition. That Birdnet.net could be worth a ring, Stella - there's a UK telephone number on the site.

Jill is searching our spare rooms. We have a mint copy which you can gladly have, but we can't find it. We moved house at the beginning of January and still in an awful mess. I'm working out of a temporary office until a new building is built and so most of my stuff is in boxes too. We're not sure whether the book is in our private stuff or with the office boxes. If it comes to light, I'll send you a Private Message.

Steve, you're a gem. IF you have any luck uncovering it i promise to return it in pristine conditition.my husband will be well and truly nagged into looking after it!! and if you don't find it .well, thanks for trying.---meahwhile---John. i shall look up the sites you mentioned. I seem to spend far more time these days in front of this 'screen' than i spend on the housework. Dust piling up everywhere. Stella.

Hi Stella

You're in luck - I've found it (typically, it wasn't where it should have been, but nevertheless, it is now on my desk). Anyway, if your searches fail, email me your address and you are welcome to borrow my copy.

Thankyou Steve, i'm waiting to hear from Stanfords who e.mailed me about possible non-delivery of 1986 edition or late delivery[assume they are then refering to the 'new' edition] i e.mailed them by return asking if they could confirm definately either way but haven't heard back yet. I 'll give them a few more days grace and then, if no joy, i will be in touch with you. Just had a thought though, i could always buy the May edition regardless, give it to G as a Christmas gift and then we will HAVE to return again to Tobago to check out any new bird that might appear in the later book. Crafty or what! Stella