This highly anticipated publication (hereafter BOGR) is not your usual state bird book for a couple of reasons. The first can be detected in the subtitle—it is more than just “status and distribution.” The second is indicated in the listing of three editors; not only were there an additional four principal contributors, but the actual species accounts were authored by about 100 volunteers recruited from among the state’s birders, biologists, and researchers. Given the total number of contributors, this book probably also stands out as being more eagerly awaited than any other state bird book.