What Publications and Bird Resources Does the Nova Scotia Bird Society Offer?

The Nova Scotia Bird Society (NSBS) publishes a quarterly magazine, Nova Scotia Birds, and maintains a website with a library, older publications, a searchable finding aid, and a set of free birding resources covering winter birds, provincial bird species, seawatching, and photography. These materials suit anyone learning about or researching Nova Scotia birds, from new birders to long-time members. Some publications are open to browse, while member account access is separate and requires a login.

The Quarterly Publication: Nova Scotia Birds

The society's flagship publication is Nova Scotia Birds, described on the site as its quarterly publication. It is the main ongoing record of NSBS activity and birding content, and the homepage links to "the latest Nova Scotia Birds" under a "Learn more" prompt.

If you want the current issue or a sense of what the magazine covers, start from that homepage link rather than searching the site menu.

Library, Older Publications, and Search Tools

Beyond the current magazine, the site organizes archival and reference material into several sections:

The "Finding Aid to NS Birds" is the most useful entry point if you are doing research and need to locate specific content rather than browse. Use "Search the Library" when you know what you are looking for; use "Older Publications" when you want to see what has been published over time.

Birding Resources on the Site

The Resources section collects practical, topic-based guides:

• FAQ — general questions about the society and birding
• Birds of Winter — winter birding information
• The Birds of Nova Scotia — reference material on the province's birds
• Links — related external resources
• Seawatching in Nova Scotia — guidance specific to watching seabirds in the province

For photography and equipment, there are two dedicated areas:

• Photography & Optics, which includes a Photographer's Corner
• Binoculars 101, an introductory guide to choosing and using binoculars

If you are new to the hobby, Binoculars 101 and Birds of Winter are the most approachable starting points. If your interest is coastal or pelagic species, go straight to Seawatching in Nova Scotia.

Conservation and Citizen-Science Content

The site also documents the society's conservation work and recurring counts, including Christmas Bird Counts and a Conservation section. A notable example of time-sensitive guidance is the Trichomonosis information linked from the homepage under the question "Is it safe to put my feeders up?" — covering news, care, and prevention for feeder-related disease. This is worth checking before putting feeders out, since the guidance is presented as current news rather than a static article.

How to Access the Material

• Browse the public pages directly for resources, older publications, and the library search.
• A member login (username and password, with a "remember me" option) is available for NSBS membership accounts. The site does not state that library or publication access requires this login, so treat member access and public browsing as separate.
• To register with the society, the homepage provides a "Click here to get started" link.
• Donations are accepted in CAD or USD, and PayPal appears as a payment platform on the site.

For questions not answered by the resources above, the society can be reached at [email protected] or by mail at c/o the NS Museum of Natural History, 1747 Summer St, Halifax, NS B3H 3A6.