SCOTT SHALAWAY Holiday gift ideas: from gadgets to games

It's that time of year, so here's my annual list of holiday gift ideas -- an eclectic collection of books, gadgets, and games for outdoor enthusiasts.
For the Birds, makers of the Birdsong Identiflier that I have recommended several times, has a new product that uses the same sound cards as the Identiflier. The Birdsong Identiflier Desk & amp; Alarm Clock ($44.95; 877-261-6556; www.identiflyer.com) can be set to sing on the hour or used as an alarm clock that plays bird song wake-up calls. It's great for learning and reviewing bird songs.
Cooking on the "Front" Burner is a cook book sponsored by the Allegheny Plateau Audubon Society. Regardless of your tastes, you'll find scores of mouthwatering recipes contributed by the membership. Proceeds benefit the organization's annual hawkwatch. The price is $13 payable to Allegheny Plateau Audubon Society, c/o Lee Tosh, 5812 Irishtown Rd., Bethel Park, Pa. 15102.
Powerful light
Streamlight's Stylus pen light (www.streamlight.com) provides a compact powerful beam of light that can easily fit in a shirt pocket or purse. I use the green beam to get around the house late at night without turning on overhead lights as I go. It's also great for owl prowls, night hikes, and camping. Streamlight also makes a bright, compact head lamp, which is ideal when you need the convenience of a hands-free flash light.
North American Box Turtles: A Natural History by C. Kenneth Dodd, Jr. (2001, University of Oklahoma Press, $34.95) is must reading for anyone who loves box turtles. I wish I had this book when I was a kid.
The Natural History of Medicinal Plants by Judith Sumner (2000, Timber Press, $24.95) is a thorough and readable summary of the science of medical botany. If you don't know the value of plants to modern medicine, you will after reading this book.
Down to Earth: Nature's Role in American History by Ted Steinberg (2002, Oxford University Press, $30.00) makes a convincing case for the role that nature has played in human history. For example, have you ever wondered if weather had an impact on the outcome of the Civil War? Steinberg has. This is natural history with the emphasis on "history."
The Hydrogen Economy by Jeremy Rifkin, (2002, Tarcher/Putnam Books, $24.95) offers hope that we will not forever be tied to fossil fuels. The hydrogen economy is less than a generation away; Rifkin explains how and why.
For a song
Backyard Bird Song, a CD in the Peterson Field Guide series ($20; Houghton Mifflin) has been around since 1991, but it remains the best starting point for learning common bird songs. It features 28 species of backyard birds and three squirrels. The instructional narration is the key to this CD's success. More advanced birders can graduate to Birding By Ear and More Birding By Ear (3 CDs each; $35). If someone aspires to learn bird songs, these are the CDs to buy.
The Great North American Bird-Watching Trivia Game ($34.99; www.outsetmedia.com) is designed for those who enjoy testing their knowledge of North American birds. It features more than 2,000 questions grouped into three levels of difficulty -- beginner, intermediate and expert -- so birders of all levels can compete together. The same company also offers a similar game, Bioviva -- the Eco-Trivia Game ($34.99), that quizzes players on nature and the environment.
How they live
Private Lives of Garden Birds by Calvin Simonds (2002, Storey Books, $18.95) is the third edition of a book first published in 1984. Simonds shares his insights into the lives of common backyard bird such as robins, chickadees, and crows.
The Bouncer by Vari-Crafts (www.varicrafts.com) is an ingenious, squirrel-proof, large capacity (six quarts) tube feeder. Any visitor larger than a cardinal causes the perches to collapse and disappear into the base. Large birds and squirrels are out of luck.
The 2003 West Virginia Wildlife Calendar ($9 each ppd., plus 48 & otilde; sales tax for West Virginia residents; make checks payable to "WV-DNR" and send to: P.O. Box 67, Elkins, WV 26241) may be the best deal on this list. This popular calendar features original art work of native wildlife by accomplished artists and makes a terrific, inexpensive gift for anyone who enjoys wildlife.
sshalaway@aol.com