It doesn't take much to become a bird watcher - just a decent pair of binoculars, a reliable field guide and a desire to spend time in the natural world - and the mid-valley offers a wealth of opportunities to enjoy the hobby.

Now bird watchers have a free publication to steer them to some of the area's birding hotspots.

"Birding the Corvallis and Albany Areas" is a full-color brochure that packs a surprising amount of information into a handy format that will slip easily into your glove box or your favorite copy of Roger Tory Peterson.

Based loosely on "Birding in Corvallis," a booklet by the late Merlin "Elzy" Eltzroth, the brochure was designed by local Audubon Society member Don Boucher and illustrated with Lisa Millbank's excellent photographs of some of the more than 130 species to be seen in the region.

Hoping to promote the hobby among visitors and residents alike, Corvallis Tourism and the Audubon Society of Corvallis split the $1,000 printing costs, which covered an initial press run of 2,000 copies.

"I'm excited about it," said Boucher, a devoted bird watcher who works as an ad designer for the Gazette-Times. "(Most) people aren't aware there are so many places they can go locally to find birds."

The brochure highlights 16 mid-valley birding spots, ranging from city parks to state and national wildlife refuges.

Grouped by region, each area gets a brief description highlighting its most outstanding features and ticking off some of the birds you're likely to see there.

Graphic icons provide at-a-glance information about other wildlife viewing opportunities and wheelchair access, and an easy-to-read roadmap provides driving directions to each site.

"Birding the Corvallis and Albany Areas" is available at Corvallis Tourism, the Corvallis and Albany public libraries, Hesthavn Nature Center and the Corvallis Environmental Center.

Bennett Hall can be reached at 758-9529 or bennett.hall@lee.net.