Customer Reviews
I'm glad Dragonflies through Binoculars is on my bookshelf! 
2008-05-02
I am the nutty dragonfly lady in my neighborhood. I am out every day with my camera, wading, watching, sitting on a dock, on the creek bank, enjoying dragonflies and damselflies (they're cousins, you know). I use all my field guides all the time. I have found this book extremely useful. The book says "Dragonflies". I believe Mr. Dunkle had written one on Florida or southern damselflies. I think it's out of print.
If the odes fascinate you as much as I, then you need this book.
May Lattanzio
Writer/Photographer/Author
Amazon Shorts author of "Paradise", "The Last Striper", "The Strange Adventure of Vernal Page"
Author of "Waltz on the Wild Side - An Animal Lover's Journal"
and contributor to the anthology "Least Loved Beasts of the Really Wild West - A Tribute".
Please see my other reviews.
Too many ignorant reviews for this fantastic book. 
2008-01-10
I generally don't bother to write reviews because others have usually stated my sentiments. However, I felt compelled to add another 5* review to compensate for the many whining, unfair customer reviews. Dragonflies Through Binoculars is a precise, well-researched book with execellent photographs and accompanying text that will be loved by all who have the patience necessary for studying these amazing creature. Some reviewers complained about the book's lack of damselflies, a pathetic complaint considering the book's title mentions nothing about including them. Another person stated that he had difficulty differentiated between dragonflies and damselflies and used that as a way to criticize the book. It is a shame that some adults have to be reminded to THINK before they speak (or in this case write). Stop complaining and start investing the time required to use the book properly. If you want instant satisfaction, go play monopoly with a five year old. Anyone dedicated to the study of our natural world will LOVE this book.
One of the most thorough field guides on dragonflies 2007-04-14
This work on dragonflies (damselflies not included) used to be the only complete field guide on dragonflies for the US at a user-friendly level. Other guides have now been published with more info, but this one is still a winner and first-rate for its size. Its only drawback is the small photos and lack clarity on many make it not as useful in the field.
More of a reference work than a field guide 
2005-09-12
I've been using both this and the Nikula et al. "Beginners Guide..." for several years. The "Beginner's Guide" is much better in the field than DtB for most of us (on the principle that rare dragonflies, birds, etc. are encountered rarely)--but DtB is a useful reference work when trying to confirm field identification from digital photographs (or, I suppose, with "ode" in hand). As a field guide, I find the separation of photos and text/map extremely frustrating (the same commment applies to many other field guides from other publishers).The text itself is excellent in terms of organization and useful information but the photos are sometimes too small to really help with the described field marks. (If I'm told that "only one crossvein behihd stigma is diagnostic" -- Blue Dasher -- then it would be good if the photo was clear enough to show that key field mark.) The lack of damselfly coverage is very frustrating but then it wouldn't be a field guide at all, but an encyclopedia.
A Great Guide 2005-09-03
Dunkle's book is the best broad based guide that I have found. It provides very good photographs which are organized very usefully and coupled with well done range maps. The elaborate text (separate from the photos and maps) is very comprehensive and easy to follow. Again -- a well done guide.
Frustration in the Field.... 
2005-08-20
Dragonfly watching is fast becoming an enjoyable and exciting hobby for many of those who love butterfly watching.
This book picks up on that trend and brings it to the reader in an attractive and accessible format. A new addition to Oxford's acclaimed Butterflies through Binoculars series of field guides, Dragonflies through Binoculars allows for quick and easy identification of all the 300-plus species of dragonflies that have been found in the United States and Canada. In these well-illustrated pages, Sidney W. Dunkle answers any query the beginner or expert might have on the subject of dragonfly-watching on this continent--what kind of binoculars to buy, where to start looking for dragonflies, how to photograph these striking creatures, which clubs or societies to join, and so forth. Other important features for this handy field guide include detailed accounts of every species mentioned, useful information on habitats, explanations of mating rituals, full-color photographs of most of the species described, and range maps.
Excellent source of information 2005-08-16
I am an entomologist who is very interested in dragonflies, so I was thrilled when this book was released. I personally find it very useful. Then again, I know what I'm doing and what to look for. For someone with some experience identifying dragonflies, this book is a great way to quickly identify any dragonfly species in the US down to species in the field without having to lug the heavy Dragonflies of North America book and a hand lens or scope with you.
I must reluctantly admit that this book will be most valuable to readers who already know something about dragnflies. As specified in some of the other reviews, the photos are small and sometimes not as distinct as they might be. (You have to admire the author's photographic skills though - he's produced many very fine images of these insects over the years.) The descriptions are perhaps shorter than they could be. There is perhaps not enough information about how to tell a dragonfly apart from other insects, especially damselflies. For these reasons, I must give the book a four star rating.
Still, I feel this book is a monumental achievement. Anyone who knows anything about insects knows that there are vast numbers of insect species. This book contains pictures and descriptions for ALL of the North American species of dragonflies, even the ones that are rarely found. That, in and of itself, makes this book worthy of high praise. It is rare to find an insect field guide that contains every species in the U.S. The distribution maps in this book are helpful and informative and the descriptions are accurate and concise. But most of all, you get all of this in a book that small and light enough that you can easily carry it with you. Even though this book has some flaws, I doubt a better book will be produced for some time. And until a better one comes along, this book is an excellent reference that any dragonfly enthusiast should own.
Great but a minor flaw. 2005-07-21
Overall this book is excelent when coupled with a key. The only "real" flaw is that the identification of some of the dragonflies, such as some of the clubtails is almost impossibal through binoculars (Expecilly genus Arigomphus). However the information and pictures are wonderful and very clear. This is by far a great book to add to any field libarary.
"haans" has it right on 2005-06-08
I think the review of this book by "haans" has it about right. Namely, the major problem with the book centers around the species illustrations. As he points out, they are too small to see the necessary details and, secondly, they are photos as opposed to painted color illustrations. And he correctly identifies the problems attendant with using photographic images in field guides. One further and related problem I found with the book is that, because most of the insects were photographed in the field, the natural green and brown variegated backgrounds often make it difficult to determine where the insects' bodies leave off and the backgrounds begins.
That said, the author/photographers have to be commended for their success in compiling such an impressive collection of serviceable photos, albeit, ones that would have served the user much better had the book's format (and thus the pics themselves) been somewhat larger.
I'll probably buy this book because, as far as I can tell, it's the best one currently available for my area--New England. And the dragonfly counterpart to the bird guides of Peterson, Sibley and Nat'l Geographics (with their nice painted illustrations) could be a long time coming, the costs for adequate scientific illustration being what they are.
Good start, but room for improvement 2004-08-27
I, like several other reviewers, come to dragonflies by way of my interest in birds. Therefore, in the realm of field guides, I am spoiled by the variety of choices available. Alas, for dragonflies, this is pretty well it at present.
Pluses-- Hey, we have a North American field guide to dragonflies now!
Well written
Reasonable size
Minuses-- Pictures instead of illustrations. (You loose detail and invariably some field marks with pictures. My primary birding field guide uses illustrations.)
No damselflies!
I hope that this is a good start and that the book enjoys popular success to inspire Oxford to either improve it or Peterson or some other publisher to put out something to compete with it.
Bottom line, if you are into dragonflies, this is pretty much the only show in town, and it's not a bad show, it just could be better.
