The History Book Club discussion

This is a thread dedicated to the 'Birders" and Birdwatchers" among us. And a special shout out to Kressel (smile)

This thread is dedicated to the discussion of birding, birdwatching, their history, all famous birders, birder and birdwatching events and organizations as well as anything to do with birds in general.

In fact, this is the thread to discuss books (non fiction and historical fiction) which deal with any element of the above subject areas.



"Birdwatching or birding is a form of wildlife observation in which the observation of birds is a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds.

Birdwatching often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are more easily detected and identified by ear than by eye. Most birdwatchers pursue this activity for recreational or social reasons, unlike ornithologists, who engage in the study of birds using formal scientific methods."

Source: Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdwatc...

Yay!

Glad you like the addition of this thread James.

The Story of the Most Common Bird in the World

Why do we love what is rare and despise what is all around us?

By Rob Dunn
Smithsonian.com
March 2, 2012


Passer domesticus is one of the most common animals in the world. It is found throughout Northern Africa, Europe, the Americas and much of Asia and is almost certainly more abundant than humans. (David Courtenay / Getty Images)

Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science...

Birding

by Joseph M. Forshaw (no photo)

Synopsis:

Authoritative, lavishly photographed and illustrated guides to the wonders of the natural world around us. Clear, accessible format, charts, diagrams, field tips, practical pointers, and historical profiles.

We may have more birders than we thought. I'm glad Kressel told us the difference between a bird watcher and a birder. I am a bird watcher!

My favorites are my pair of Pileated Woodpeckers who come every year. They are not common and we are glad to provide them a summer home. When they peck on a tree, it sounds like a jackhammer. Beautiful creatures. We live in a rural area so we have varied species of winged creatures. I use the following book to identify the ones I don't recognize.

by Roger Tory Peterson

Hey, guys! This started with The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession, but it's not the only bird book I've read. There's also a memoir of a man raising a flock of wild parrots in San Francisco, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill: A Love Story . . . with Wings.

by Mark Obmascik (no photo)

by Mark Bittner (no photo)

Nice, I'm a bird-watcher, too.

Have to add this one:

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America

by National Geographic Society

John James Audubon

by Richard Rhodes

Synopsis:

Biography of John James Audubon. Fresh in New York from France in 1803, his illegitimacy was a painful secret. Speaking no English, he already observed and drew birds accurately. He married Lucy, well-born English girl next door, and here are their love letters. He crosses the Appalachians to frontier Kentucky for a new start.

One edition of the classic drawings of Audubon:

by John James Audubon

There was a brief bio of John James Audubon in The Big Year. What fascinated me most about him was that he was a failure as a businessman, yet made such a name for himself by pursuing his personal hobby of drawing birds. It shows what can come from following your passion. But then there's always that nagging thing of needing to make money. . .

by Mark Obmascik (no photo)

Bryan wrote: "Nice, I'm a bird-watcher, too.

Have to add this one:

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America

..."

Yes, the Bible that all of us own.

Welcome Bird Watchers (smile) - any Birders out there?

Another insight from The Big Year: birding and bird-watching are among the most literary hobbies around because they're so book-based. Everyone who does it usually carries around a guide book of some kind. So naturally it has an attraction for Goodreaders like us.

by Mark Obmascik (no photo)

Yes of course - and here they are:

For sure, Kressel, about money driving away what you really want to do.

Birding is a big industry nowadays. I don't do as much these days, but this spring, I plan to take my kids out to "bird" for short stretches.

Good for you Bryan. A fun activity where you get great exercise.

A great place to "bird" in the Ohio region where I lived is Magee Marsh, a prime place for migratory birds...I got a lot of year and life-list birds there.

http://www.mageemarsh.org/

That is fabulous.

All you ever wanted to know about these precious little birds, including myths and folklore that have sprung up about them.

Hummingbirds

by Jeanette Larson (no photo)

Synopsis:

Hummingbirds are fascinating little creatures that have captured the imagination of people for thousands of years. Since they are only found in the Americas, the myths and legends about this tiny bird originated from the peoples of North and South America. These native cultures wrote stories to offer explanations for the behavior and physical characteristics of this graceful species: Why does the hummingbird drink nectar? What accounts for its amazing flying abilities? Why is the hummingbird attracted to the color red?

Jeannette Larson and Adrienne Yorinks have compiled facts and folklore about these intriguing fliers that will answer these questions and many more. Readers will also get a glimpse into the different cultures that have been transfixed for centuries by this bird, as well as learn many interesting scientific facts discovered by modern-day ornithologists. Adrienne’s bold and unique mixed-media quilts illustrate the hummingbird in nature and the mystery of these birds in ancient folklore.

Substantial back matter includes an index, a glossary of terms, suggested further reading and websites, a bibliography, sources, resources, and a list of hummingbird sanctuaries.

I use to love hummingbirds as a child. My grandfather had a pine tree in back and there were a bunch of beautiful bushes around and I used to sit under the tree by the bushes and watch the hummingbirds. When I sat very still they would almost hover right over me. Funny the things you remember.

They are amazing little things!!!

They really are - always loved them - suspended in space - levitating

Oh my gosh!!! Just discovered this thread! Woohoo! Sibley and Kaufman are my gurus. Been birding for 35 years, and delighted to find some birders on Goodreads.

Welcome Virginia - don't forget to add to the thread your fave authors and their books. Remember to add the book cover, author's photo and author's link. And we are glad you found this thread to discuss birds, bird watching and birding.

by David Allen Sibley (no photo)

by David Allen Sibley (no photo)

by David Allen Sibley (no photo)

by Kenn Kaufman (no photo)

Thanks much, Bentley. When I have a few minutes I'll return and list some favorites.

You are welcome and great

I had a great bird sighting today. We live on a one lane road which goes straight up and as I was driving down I saw a shadow settle in one of the trees. I thought it was a hawk which are common but when it flew down to another tree I got a good look and it was an immense turkey buzzard (also called turkey vultures). They are usually in the higher altitudes so it was a great sight. They are ugly but magnificent and he was reallllllly big!!

I saw one up close two years ago and yikes.

Jill wrote: "I had a great bird sighting today. We live on a one lane road which goes straight up and as I was driving down I saw a shadow settle in one of the trees. I thought it was a hawk which are common bu..."

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Jill! LOL

Take another look at the bird in the photo. Is he/she really that ugly? After studying the photo I think it is a great photo! Even makes the bird attractive.

There is a pair of bald eagles nesting on the lake where I live. They fly down the middle of my road all the time. A beautiful site! Huge!

My husband told me a couple of years ago that he saw a bald eagle flying down the middle of the road and I laughed and asked him what he was taking. I went to a bird seminar given by L.L. Bean and spoke to a couple of people and it was true. I further investigated and got further information they were here. Now, I see them all the time because I look.

Bald eagles!!!!....great sighting.

The turkey vulture is a magnificent looking bird but that head is a little spooky!!! No bird is really ugly....just not as pretty as others!!!

Gardening for the Birds

by George Adams (no photo)

Synopsis:

BRINGING BIRDS HOME

Watching the swooping mating dance of ruby-throated hummingbird or listening to the melodic whistle of a lark bunting puts us in touch with nature in a way that is often missing from our daily lives. Birds bring color, movement, and song to the garden and take away insect pests.

You may already have a bird feeder in your yard, but you can attract a far wider range of species, and they will stay longer, if you create a bird-friendly landscape.

Gardening for the Birds shows you how. the right native plants, arranged to mimic natural ecosystems, will provide birds with food, water, shelter, and nesting places. instead of just visiting your garden to snack, they will call it home.

With hundreds of native plants, extensive seasonal bloom and fruiting charts, and the techniques for creating a balanced ecosystem, this book helps you turn any space-from a small, urban terrace to a large suburban yard-into a home for a fascinating variety of birds.

My personal comment: This is a great book packed with information.

Wonderful book, especially for the person living in a rural area. We have so any varieties of birds,

The dream of every birder is to see this storied bird. Do they still exist? This book takes us on one man's search.

In Search of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

by Jerome A. Jackson (no photo)

Synopsis:

In Search of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker is a complete natural history of one of the most exciting and rare birds in the world. Noted ornithologist Jerome A. Jackson takes the reader on his fantastic and personal quest, providing detailed insights into the bird's lifestyle, habitat, and cultural significance, examining its iconic status from the late 1800s to the present in advertising, conservation, and lore. As he relates searches for the bird by John James Audubon, Alexander Wilson, and others, Jackson offers anecdotal tales illuminating the methods of early naturalists, including how one captive ivory-bill destroyed a naturalist's hotel room in a desperate attempt to escape. Jackson's search for one of the few remaining ivory-bills takes him across the United States and into Cuba. A new epilogue disputes the putative rediscovery of the bird in April 2005.

____________________________________________________

It is easy to see how bird watchers think that they have seen an ivory-billed when it was in reality a pileated.

Ivory Billed Woodpecker

Picture from 1935.

Pileated Woodpecker


Photo sources: Wikipedia

Great post, Jill. Thanks.

We had a couple of Pileated Woodpeckers that would frequent our stand of trees and occasionally raid the bird feeder by my house in NC. They are loud birds and huge compared to the other woodpeckers.

We have a pair as well, Skeetor. They come back every year. That picture I posted of the pileated in message #34, doesn't do him justice. They are big and beautiful.......and loud!!!

As much as I love my pileated woodpeckers, I found that they had stripped the bark from the lower part of one of my hardwood trees in the side yard searching for food. It may not kill the tree but what a mess!!! Although the picture below is not my tree, that is what is looks like.

Oh, my! :)
You're tree probably already had insect problems if they were digging into it like that. I've read they can hear the bugs chewing and moving within the tree.

When you hear the crows calling to each other across the fields, you know that they are talking. This book explains the phenomena of certain bird languages and behaviors.

Bird Brains: The Intelligence of Crows, Ravens, Magpies, and Jays

by Candace Savage

Synopsis

Birds have long been viewed as the archetypal featherbrains—beautiful but dumb. But according to naturalist Candace Savage, “bird brain,” as a pejorative expression, should be rendered obsolete by new research on the family of corvids: crows and their close relations.

The ancients who regarded these remarkable birds as oracles, bringers of wisdom, or agents of vengeance were on the right track, for corvids appear to have powers of abstraction, memory, and creativity that put them on a par with many mammals, even higher primates. Bird Brains presents these bright, brassy, and surprisingly colorful birds in a remarkable collection of full-color, close-up photographs by some two dozen of the world’s best wildlife photographers.

Savage’s lively, authoritative text describes the life and behavior of sixteen representative corvid species that inhabit North America and Europe. Drawing on recent research, she describes birds that recognize each other as individuals, call one another by “name,” remember and relocate thousands of hidden food caches, engage in true teamwork and purposeful play, and generally exhibit an extraordinary degree of sophistication.

What great posts Jill - I ditto everybody else's comments.

I've always had a fondness for crows. I've added the book to my list-thanks, Jill

I love the author's photo. :)

Some of the crows around here look as big as cats! Such a beautiful bird and very vocal.

Stokes Guide to Bird Behavior

by Donald Stokes (no photo)

Synopsis:

A totally new and exciting approach to watching birds is presented in the volumes of A Guide to Bird Behavior. With these guides you can discover and interpret the secret lives of birds in a way that has never before been possible. Fore each species included, this book contains: Complete life histories Details of courtship and territorial behavior How to recognize songs and displays and much more.

These beautiful birds have made a huge comeback after almost being hunted to extinction. This book tells the reader how to keep a friendly environment for the turkey.

The Wild Turkey: Biology and Management

by James G. Dickson(no photo)

Synopsis:

A National Wild Turkey Federation and U.S. Forest Service book Standard reference for all subspecies Extensive, new information on all aspects of wild turkey ecology and management The standard reference for all subspecies--Eastern, Gould's, Merriam's, Florida and Rio Grande--"The Wild Turkey" summarizes the new technologies and studies leading to better understanding and management.

Synthesizing the work of all current experts, "The Wild Turkey" presents extensive, new data on restoration techniques; population influences and management; physical characteristics and behavior; habitat use by season, sex, and age; historic and seasonal ranges and habitat types; and nesting ecology.

The book is designed to further the already incredible comeback of America's wild turkey.

This looks like a beautiful and interesting book.

The Peregrine

by J.A. Baker

Synopsis:

From autumn to spring, J.A. Baker set out to track the daily comings and goings of a pair of peregrine falcons across the flat fen lands of eastern England. He followed the birds obsessively, observing them in the air and on the ground, in pursuit of their prey, making a kill, eating, and at rest, activities he describes with an extraordinary fusion of precision and poetry. And as he continued his mysterious private quest, his sense of human self slowly dissolved, to be replaced with the alien and implacable consciousness of a hawk.

It is this extraordinary metamorphosis, magical and terrifying, that these beautifully written pages record.

Awards:

Duff Cooper Prize (1967)

Review:

Robert Macfarlane (author of an acclaimed trilogy of books about landscape and human thought) discusses the above book with FiveBooks:

Please tell us about The Peregrine.

The plot of this book is both easy and hard to summarise. At its simplest, it is a story about a man who is a loner and becomes obsessed with the peregrines that migrate over and then temporarily stay in his coastal English landscape.

They are hunters, and he hunts them in the sense that he follows them wherever they go. That’s about it. The book is the seasonal record of that hunt of hunters. The narrator watches them, he follows them, and eventually he is accepted by one of the peregrines to the degree that he can approach it.

In the climactic scene at the end of the book, the bird closes its eyes, even though it knows that Baker is there, watching it stopping watching him.

More complicatedly, the book is the distillation of 10 years of field journals kept by the author between 1955 and 1965 as he followed the peregrines of Essex, the county in the east of England where Baker lived.

It was during this period that the peregrines suffered a drastic fall in numbers because of the increasing use of pesticides and agrochemicals.

This was, of course, much the same period of time that prompted Rachel Carson’s 1962 book Silent Spring – the great American protest against the overuse of agrochemicals. Baker’s book appeared in 1967. It can be understood, therefore, as a kind of elegy to a disappearing landscape, the Essex countryside, and to a disappearing species, the peregrines.

It’s also a shamed attempt to leave his own species – homo sapiens – and to almost become a bird by means of intense and metempsychotic concentration on the peregrines. In that sense it really is a misanthropic work, but one born of a kind of magical thinking.

Every day he gets up, looks for peregrines, observes peregrines, then goes to bed. How does he hold the interest of the reader?

It’s a deeply repetitive book, because birds are repetitive creatures and landscapes are repetitive things – seasonally, circadianly, hourly. If you want a forwards-driving plot, this is not the book for you. But again, as in Lopez, the style is so dynamic, just astonishingly kinetic and energy-filled. It’s beautiful – glitteringly full of light, angles and air.

It’s a book born of long acquaintance and powerful observation. Its intensity derives partly from this concentration, and partly from a different kind of concentration – the editorial distillation whereby it was produced from the hundreds of thousands of words of field journals that Baker had kept over that 10-year period. In a process about which we know almost nothing, he turned this bulging set of ornithological field journals into a 120-page prose poem

More:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Source: FiveBooks

If you are remotely into birding, I guarantee this article from Sunday's Boston Globe will get you laughing out loud. Even the title is great:


Competitive birding turned me into a monster: Isolation, hubris, binoculars: How Mass Audubon’s Bird-a-thon nearly broke our reporter

Source: Boston Globe

Douglass I will most assuredly read this right now. Thank
you so much. Update: I think he was a wee bit too competitive - (lol)

Podcast Episode: Birding Book Club - Big Year Narratives

The American Birding Podcast recently released an episode discussing books written about birders conducting big years. They discussed the various genres, such as travelogues and coming-of-age stories. They mentioned a total of 18 books (listed at the link), going into more detail on the following:

by Kenn Kaufman (no photo)
by Mark Obmascik (no photo)
by Neil Hayward (no photo)
by Noah Strycker (no photo)

They definitely added some titles to my to-read list!

Source: American Birding Association