SCOTT SHALAWAY Gifts for the holidays

The holiday shopping season is upon us, so here's my annual list of gift suggestions.
Leading the list is "Winged Migration," a stunning film that I reviewed and strongly recommended back in August. With minimal narration, "Winged Migration" celebrates the miracle of long-distance bird travel with 89 minutes of simply amazing footage. It's available on DVD ($26.95) and VHS ($54.99). The inspiring soundtrack is also available on CD ($17.98).
For birders looking for the ultimate field guide, I recommend a set of videos by Michael Male and Judy Fieth. "Watching Sparrows" (DVD, $39.95), "Watching Warblers" (VHS, $34.95), and "Watching Waders" (VHS, $34.95) bring years of video and audio recording into the living room for the serious birder wanting to master these groups. "Sparrows" features 49 species, "Warblers" explores the lives of 39 eastern warblers, and "Waders" details the natural history of 20 species of long-legged wading birds. Even veteran birders will marvel at the images and sounds recorded by this talented team of filmmakers (www.birdfilms.com; Blue Earth Films, P. O. Box 36, Locustville, VA 23404).
Splendid introduction
"Butterflies and Moths, A Delicate Balance" (VHS, $20) is a splendid introduction to the natural history and conservation of butterflies and moths. Produced by Pennsylvania's Wild Resource Conservation Fund (P.O. Box 8764, Harrisburg, PA 17105), this 28-minute video would make a terrific gift for anyone who teaches science.
"The Prism and the Pendulum" by Robert Grease (2003, $23.95, Random House) tells the tales of the most beautiful experiments in science. Learn how Eratosthenes, a third-century B.C. Greek scholar, made the first measurement of the Earth's circumference; how a pendulum confirms the Earth's rotation; and how Galileo studied motion and acceleration. Grease's insights from the perspective of a historian give life to topics most of us have long forgotten.
The Bird Song IdentiFlyer and its innovative system of sound cards continues to be the most convenient way to learn nature's sounds in the field. Each sound card features 10 species of birds, and in one case, frogs. Earlier this year a set of four warbler cards covering 40 species was released. The player retails for $35, and sound cards sell for $10. For more information, visit www.identiflyer.com or call toll-free (877) 261-6556.
The Birdsong IdentiFlyer Desk & amp; Alarm Clock ($40) uses the same sound cards to allow die-hard birders to review bird songs in the workplace or before turning in at night.
Starting point
"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 per set). If someone aspires to learn bird songs, these are the CDs to buy.
Great holiday gifts can even be had for less than $10. West Virginia and Pennsylvania, for example, offer beautiful color outdoor calendars for those on a modest budget.
West Virginia's 2004 Wildlife Calendar features original artwork depicting native wildlife. It also includes natural history tidbits, hunting and fishing information, and sunrise/sunset times. Order by sending a check for $9.48 (residents) or $9 (nonresidents) to Wildlife Calendar, WV DNR, P.O. Box 67, Elkins, WV 26241.
Stunning photos
Pennsylvania's 2004 Calendar features 12 stunning color photographs by top wildlife photographers and includes room for making notes and appointments. The calendar costs $8.95; call (888) 888-3459, or visit "The Outdoor Store" at www.pgc.state.pa.us.
Finally, if you enjoy watching backyard birds but are intimidated by large cumbersome field guides, A Field Guide to Feeder Birds: Eastern and Central North America (2000, $9.95, Houghton Mifflin) is for you. In just 106 pages, it covers 132 species with art by Roger Tory Peterson and large readable type. It's the perfect field guide to birds for everyone from young children to grandparents who curse their reading glasses.
sshalaway@aol.com