Diary of a Left-Handed Birdwatcher

by Leonard Nathan

Writing with “luminous clarity” (Kirkus Reviews), an award-winning poet brings to life his all-consuming quest to catch a glimpse of Plectrophenax nivalis, the elusive Snow Bunting.

Genres: Birds, Nature

160 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1996

About the author

Leonard Nathan has published many volumes of poetry, as well as numerous translations, prose works, and articles on poetry.

Reviews

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely adorable. a man in search of a snow bunting and the nature of epiphany. has a very witty wife and friend, Lewis, his "ornithologist." here's one of many playful snippets:

Lewis suddenly smiles. And when I ask why, he says, “It just occurred to me that your pursuit of the bunting repeats an American archetypal fable.”
“What,” I ask warily, “would that be?”
“Ahab’s quest for the white whale. Your bunting is a pint-sized Moby Dick. And we know how that story ends.”

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I just recently read Paterson by Williams Carlos Williams and I feel that the meditative qualitative of both really complemented each other. There is something really lovely about utilizing poetry and prose and fiction together in a search for hiring meaning, and in this book in particular it really resonated with me. I like the idea that you can come back to something multiple times and take fresh meaning from it, find joy where before you found disappointment, because something in you has changed enough to receive it. And similarly, the near impossible quest to define that which is indescribable--and the dogged determination to do it anyway.

Leonard's quest felt to me like an obsession to describe the qualities of nature that are both beautiful and harsh, familiar and yet alien. We do not own nature; we can observe it, change it, destroy it, connect with it, but can never own it. And while we live our relatively self-centric lives, nature goes on without us. It reminds me of a poem (which also happens to feature birds):

"Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver.
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting --
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books is beautifully written. Many lovely observations about birds and the bird-watching experience. Something to savour, something to dip into every once in a while.

[Betsyvsews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable little volume for a birdwatcher.

[Goose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book might not be for a lot of people but as a Birdwatcher myself I feel the need to constantly put the feeling that birds evoke within me into words so I feel where Leonard is coming from. They seem to be other-worldly creatures that man can never truly understand but then again his Ornithologist friend talks about the science of things which I 100% agree. I constantly switch back and forth from the science of bird and just the true wonder of them.

I loved the quotes thrown in and the expeditions for the snow bunting and the excitement of new birds and disappointment of missing birds. I feel how Leonard feels as a bird watcher, a never ending quest to put the wonder of them into words but to also just experience them.

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This author has the most pretentious view of birding and it was very off putting. The first few pages started off strong as he shared several common and relatable stories and things about birdwatching but then it quickly became just 130 pages of condescension of those who keep lists and how real birdwatching should evoke “epiphany” and if it doesn’t, then does it even matter?

My guy, everyone birds for different reasons and every single one of them is valid and none are better or worse than others.

[Brandon · Rating 1 out of 5]

...really into left-handedness... ;) but seriously...
Ladies and Gentlemen, the remarkable discovery by a self-pitying (left-handed) birdwather (troubled agnostic) that, just like hiding in the brush with a pair of binoculars, one can write a book and never ever find the point or purpose for taking up space on my shelf or wasting 1.5 hours of my time over 3 lunches.

thanks dude; thanks a whole lot - the jokes on me, ha ha.

[David Dunlap · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd book. The poet-author, a birdwatcher by inclination, is obsessed with seeing a snow bunting. This slim volume includes meditations on his bird-watching experiences, dreams he has of an imaginary book of fantastical birds, discussions he holds with an ornithologist friend, and various snippets and poems about birds by various authors. I found it rather hum-drum, on the whole... The title is perhaps the most intriguing thing about the entire book.

[Chloe Hor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very original read. The title itself caught my attention instantly. As for the rest of the book, I enjoyed most of it though some parts were a bit too long and dry. Nevertheless, I like the poetry included in the book and the search for an epiphany. I might go into this again in the future.

[Elvira]

this book was interesting - the author is a poet and includes lots of poetry - he is trying to describe the feeling one gets when we bird and see a new bird or have a peak experience. i should read it again years from now.

[Jeannine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A peaceful little book about a poet-birdwatcher seeking an epiphany. Lots of quoted poetry involving birds, a recurring dream sequence that seems to follow his progress toward this epiphany, and an ongoing discussion with his ornithologist friend re subjective vs. objective "seeing".

[Keith Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very original, just read the title!

[Mills College Library]

598.07234 N274 1996