Birds Through An Opera Glass

by Florence Merriam Bailey

Historical book reprint

Genres: Birds, Nature

Paperback

First published October 11, 2013

Reviews

[Jim Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author was a recent discovery, and her focused writing about the birds that she observed back in the late 1800s represent an amazing and quite different form of ornithological literature. This was in the days before binoculars, as we know them, but the author at least had an opera glass. Birds were typically studied by shooting them and then examining them. Florence Merriam Bailey was decades before her time and yet she was setting a standard for observing birds and recording the details.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Florence Merriman Bailey, thank you for your curiosity! In an era (late 1800s) where birds were shot for sport, collecting, fly fishing, and fancy hats, Ms. Bailey chose to enjoy watching birds in situ. Radical idea! In Birds Through an Opera Glass (written in 1890), she takes us on walks through fields and forests, along river banks and hedgerows. She describes what she sees—colors, calls, nests, eggs, behaviors. She compares birds in ways now common in bird guides, with the robin as the standard by which other birds are measured. Ms. Bailey set the standard for modern birdwatchers, a classification in which I happily find myself.

[John Coutanche · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love ly

Helen Macdonald quoted from it somewhat cutely as an example of florid last century writing. It is that and is cgarming , informative and inspiring.

[Ariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as strong or cohesive as “A-Birding on a Bronco” (which was excellent), but still a must-read by one of the foremost inventors of modern birding.

A little cutesy at times for my tastes, but as a historical work, even that becomes charming. And anyway, who amongst us birders hasn’t been charmed by some of our itty-bitty friends’ antics and delights? ;-)