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Wild America: The Record of a 30,000 Mile Journey Around the Continent by a Distinguished Naturalist and His British Colleague
On an April day in 1953, renowned American naturalist, author, and illustrator Roger Tory Peterson met his British friend James Fisher, an authority on seabirds, in Newfoundland. There they began a strenuous and thrilling hundred-day field trip around the edge of the continent. Part travelogue, part epic natural adventure, their richly illustrated record is the superlatively good product of ideal circumstances (Chicago Sunday Tribune).
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1955
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About the author
Roger Tory Peterson
319 books42 followersRoger Tory Peterson was an American naturalist, ornithologist, artist, and educator, and held to be one of the founding inspirations for the 20th century environmental movement.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 4, 2010
Wild America is a fascinating and entertaining account of two men's travels around the perimeter of North America. It's interesting, too, as a way of seeing what wild America was like in the early fifties. In some ways, things seem to have improved somewhat, in other ways not at all. I spent many years living in D.C., a few of them right on Connecticut Avenue in Woodley Park, so the saddest chapter for me was "City in the Woods." In it, Peterson extols the glories of Rock Creek Park and fervently hopes for the defeat of a plan to construct a highway through it. Sigh.
While the book discusses numerous geological, botanical, and other aspects of the places that they visit, it's important to note that -- above all else -- Peterson and Fisher are bird people. If you're not interested in the ornithological, you may find parts of this book tough going.
I guess there's something appropriate about finishing Wild America on July 4. I am not an overly patriotic sort, but if there's one thing that puts a swell of national pride in my heart, it's the natural beauty that still exists in our country.
James Fisher, the British naturalist who accompanied Peterson, concluded about his trip and what Europeans know of the people that he met:
"[Americans:] show us too little of their earthly paradise, and publicize too little their determination to share it with wild nature. Perhaps they have forgotten that they had dedicated National Parks before we in England had even one little, local, private nature-protection society. ... [T:]his is what I have tried to do--to tell of Wild America, and to say that never have I seen such wonders or met landlords so worthy of their land. They have had, and still have, the power to ravage it; and instead have made it a garden."
Obviously, this reads very differently now, as we Americans and British are struggling (not hard enough) to stop the ravages of hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil that we've sent spewing into the Gulf of Mexico. But, nevertheless, it reminds me that there was a time when all our wild places were endangered from commerce and development, and we as a nation chose to preserve them instead.
While the book discusses numerous geological, botanical, and other aspects of the places that they visit, it's important to note that -- above all else -- Peterson and Fisher are bird people. If you're not interested in the ornithological, you may find parts of this book tough going.
I guess there's something appropriate about finishing Wild America on July 4. I am not an overly patriotic sort, but if there's one thing that puts a swell of national pride in my heart, it's the natural beauty that still exists in our country.
James Fisher, the British naturalist who accompanied Peterson, concluded about his trip and what Europeans know of the people that he met:
"[Americans:] show us too little of their earthly paradise, and publicize too little their determination to share it with wild nature. Perhaps they have forgotten that they had dedicated National Parks before we in England had even one little, local, private nature-protection society. ... [T:]his is what I have tried to do--to tell of Wild America, and to say that never have I seen such wonders or met landlords so worthy of their land. They have had, and still have, the power to ravage it; and instead have made it a garden."
Obviously, this reads very differently now, as we Americans and British are struggling (not hard enough) to stop the ravages of hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil that we've sent spewing into the Gulf of Mexico. But, nevertheless, it reminds me that there was a time when all our wild places were endangered from commerce and development, and we as a nation chose to preserve them instead.
April 13, 2020
In 1953, Roger Peterson (of Peterson’s Field Guides) embarked on the birding trip of a lifetime with his friend, James Fisher - a British ornithologist. They travel along the eastern seaboard, across the southern US border, and back up the west coast and finish their journey in Alaska about three months later. What an incredible journey, and who better to show you around the country than THE bird expert? The reflections of each naturalist are rich, descriptive, and interesting. For places I have been (Smoky Mountains, Yosemite), it felt like a trip down memory lane. Then other places that I had heard of but never visited, such as Crater Lake, I felt like I got a real glimpse of what it would be like to visit, and learned many facts. Then there were other areas like Destruction Island and the Pribilof Islands that I had never heard of and found fascinating! A reader who has an interest in birds will not be disappointed in the descriptions of their journey, but non-birders might find the descriptions tedious. I felt like the authors kept my interest by describing the full ecology of the region, not just the birds. They also gave fun details of their personal interactions with one another as well as those they encounter. Some of the facts given in this book are dated and it is interesting to read how things have changed, including some ecological acceptable practices (egg collecting, for example). My favorite travels are to the National Parks of the United States and this gives me the itch to travel and bird!
March 16, 2025
" 'Perhaps there would be another time' [said Roger]. 'Goodness me, I hope so' [James Replied]"
I have read few other books that are such a pure depiction of what true friendship is than this book of journal entries by two naturalists. Sure, there is a ton of info about natural history, the extreme importance of responsible conservation, and tons and tons of birds. But if you read in between the lines you will learn that the greatest thing you can experience while adventuring across "Wild America" are the men and women who make the trips possible. Absolutely you should stand in awe of Creation's natural wonders, or sit in silent contemplation as the condor flies overhead, but without your fellow brother and sister to share this with, you're missing an entire dimension.
There is definitely a barrier to entry for this book as one almost needs a field guide in their other hand as the authors describe the many things they are seeing. But to anyone who is willing to dive into a world of unfamiliar wonders, please read this book.
I have read few other books that are such a pure depiction of what true friendship is than this book of journal entries by two naturalists. Sure, there is a ton of info about natural history, the extreme importance of responsible conservation, and tons and tons of birds. But if you read in between the lines you will learn that the greatest thing you can experience while adventuring across "Wild America" are the men and women who make the trips possible. Absolutely you should stand in awe of Creation's natural wonders, or sit in silent contemplation as the condor flies overhead, but without your fellow brother and sister to share this with, you're missing an entire dimension.
There is definitely a barrier to entry for this book as one almost needs a field guide in their other hand as the authors describe the many things they are seeing. But to anyone who is willing to dive into a world of unfamiliar wonders, please read this book.
July 9, 2019
A thoroughly enjoyable account of 2 naturalists' journey around North America, in the 1950s, lead by Roger Tory Peterson. Having used Peterson's guides for years, it was interesting to learn about the person behind the books. Peterson shows his friend James Fisher (of England) a wide variety of American flora, fauna, and geology, as they journey from the American Northeast, south down the coast, west through texas, into Mexico, up through Arizona and the Pacific coast, finishing in Alaska. About half the writing is Peterson's, and half Fisher's. It turns out that they set a "Big Year" North America birding record, though that wasn't a goal, as they spent significant amounts of time seeking and studying a variety of natural history, and travelled less than 4 months. It did, however, seem to precipitate the idea of a Big Year as a thing to do.
May 16, 2020
As someone who loves both travel and observing and learning about birds and natural history, it was always a pleasure to immerse myself in this book that details the cross-continent journey of two ornithologists and their experiences with birds and other natural history in a diverse selection of locations. It took place in 1953, and, while the birds haven't changed, it was fun to share their experiences through that lens.
June 13, 2010
Interesting to read this and think about how the US and our wild places have changed since 1953 when Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher took this epic journey around N. America. But I wouldn't recommend this book to non-birders...it's definitely heavy on the ornithological descriptions.
February 25, 2017
So good! So much natural history excellence. Loved it!
April 13, 2020
Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher write about their whirlwind trip together starting on Canada's east coast, driving down to the Florida keys, through Texas and down into Mexico, and back up through Arizona, California, and Alaska; their trip ends with a flight into and exploration of the Pribilof Islands. While their primary interest is in birds, their knowledge about the natural world in general is vast, and so the book discusses the botany, geology, history, and Native American cultures that Roger and James come across in addition to ornithology.
If you don't enjoy birding, you are much less likely to love this book. If you are a birder or have traveled to the various regions the duo covers, so many passages hit home and are fascinating. I learned a multitude of facts and enjoyed the descriptions of birds. It was also really interesting to read about life in the US as it was in the 50s in comparison to today. The friendly written banter in the footnotes between Roger and James was amusing.
Fort Jefferson/the Keys, the tree variety on various continents related to glaciation and orientation of mountain ranges, the reclusive populations in the Smoky Mountains, Connie Hagar in Texas, Mexico, the Hopis, and marbled murrelets were among my many favorite passages.
"To easterners this nostalgic sound [spring peepers] more than any other- more than that of any bird- is the true voice of spring."
If you don't enjoy birding, you are much less likely to love this book. If you are a birder or have traveled to the various regions the duo covers, so many passages hit home and are fascinating. I learned a multitude of facts and enjoyed the descriptions of birds. It was also really interesting to read about life in the US as it was in the 50s in comparison to today. The friendly written banter in the footnotes between Roger and James was amusing.
Fort Jefferson/the Keys, the tree variety on various continents related to glaciation and orientation of mountain ranges, the reclusive populations in the Smoky Mountains, Connie Hagar in Texas, Mexico, the Hopis, and marbled murrelets were among my many favorite passages.
"To easterners this nostalgic sound [spring peepers] more than any other- more than that of any bird- is the true voice of spring."
December 28, 2021
I just finished Return to Wild America, a trip taken by Scott Wiedensaul 50 years after Wild America. I thought I should return to Wild America, first read when it was published in 1955 when I was 13 years old. Wild America is the result of a 30,ooo mile trip taken by Roger Tory Peterson and James Fisher around the perimeter of the US, including a bit of Mexico. Roger and James vie with each other to each see the most species on the trip. (James actually wins and goes back to England with the trophy. Roger beats him within a couple of months bringing the cup back to the US) There is a good bit of talk about the possible extinction of the California Condor. In the following 70 years it seems the Condor has been saved. Some good stuff has happened. The authors are amazed at the concentration of sea birds along the Alaskan coastal cliffs: "birds by the millions". That concentration will probably never be seen again as ocean pollution is killing these birds who depend on the Pacific for their food. Lots of bad stuff happening also.
June 17, 2019
This is an oldie but a goodie. Written in 1955, this book is a great one for travel, history and bird nerds.
You will learn about birds, the US of the 1950's and conservation.
Both RTP and James Fisher write chapters so you will see it from both a US and British perspective.
If you like any of the above subjects, pick this up.
*The writing style is a bit hard to get used to but don't give up!
You will learn about birds, the US of the 1950's and conservation.
Both RTP and James Fisher write chapters so you will see it from both a US and British perspective.
If you like any of the above subjects, pick this up.
*The writing style is a bit hard to get used to but don't give up!
March 6, 2023
A delightful read. These 'two great naturalists' are also great writers. I enjoyed hearing their descriptions of places I've been. Their eye for detail is impressive. America has changed a lot since their journey in 1952(?), but in many ways, our wild places are still mostly the same. I picked this up at random at a used bookstore, and I'm very glad I did.
April 17, 2019
Not heavy enough on bird descriptions, delves a lot in places moreso than birds. Very beautiful illustrations.
March 31, 2020
Amazing descriptions of the variety of habitats, climates, and birds in North America. A great read for the beginning of camping season.
February 26, 2023
My boyhood dream.
October 11, 2023
I loved this book. It was fascinating traveling across America with naturalist and birders James and Roger. I learned so much about the country. I looked up so many interesting birds and animals.
February 7, 2011
I really enjoyed this look into America's past, written by one of America's premier naturalists and his British counterpart during their cross-country road trip during the 1950s. They do not sound all that different from the naturalists of the 2000s. The bad jokes, the obsession with food, the random observations, and overall fascination with the natural world seems always the same (and thank goodness for that). But the world has changed, of course, and though many of these places still exist they are undoubtedly diminished even from 60 years ago. They didn't see any Ivory Bills either.
Some great lines--
About the Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway, "Our journey along its serpentine length on this late April morning was a demonstration of vertical magic. Repeatedly we went in and out of spring. When our road dipped into valleys between the mountains we were plunged into the lush green fairyland of spring at flood tide; climbing out again we soon found ourselves in a more austere landscape".
Of D.C. - "John Quincy Adams, speaking of Rock Creek Park, said that after a round of trying official duties as President, he would seek relaxation in 'this romantic glen, listening to the singing of a thousand birds'. Theodore Roosevelt recalled with pleasure that when he was chief executive he often took long walks, 'perhaps down Rock Creek, which was then as wild as a stream in the White Mountains'.
"It invariably takes longer to write up an incident than to experience it. Every naturalist who writes needs about ten days to sort out one really productive day in the field'
About the Grand Canyon-- "The world ended; began again eight miles away. Between the ends of the world was a chasm. The chasm was awful. Awe. Time brings awe to the traveler less often, no doubt, as time goes on; for time gives him, too, the accumulated, stored, recorded experience of those who have been before him. With all of these I had prepared myself- yet all of these were, at that first moment of shock, reduced to a whisper, whispering "Yes, this is true; this is real; this is it; this is the greatest abyss on the face of the earth. I had heard this voice before, in many places....but never had my awful friend, awe, stood so long at my elbow, so close, as at the rim of the Grand Canyon. Never will it come so close again....Roger, who knows that I talk too much, says that I was silent for ten minutes. So was he. The first thing I said was, "I shan't want the big lens; I wish I had the wide-angle" drying my eyes under the cover of my hankerchief while pretending to dry my forehead.
About America- "Never have I seen such wonders or met landlords so worthy of their land. They have had, and still have, the power to ravage it; and instead have made it a garden."
Some great lines--
About the Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge Parkway, "Our journey along its serpentine length on this late April morning was a demonstration of vertical magic. Repeatedly we went in and out of spring. When our road dipped into valleys between the mountains we were plunged into the lush green fairyland of spring at flood tide; climbing out again we soon found ourselves in a more austere landscape".
Of D.C. - "John Quincy Adams, speaking of Rock Creek Park, said that after a round of trying official duties as President, he would seek relaxation in 'this romantic glen, listening to the singing of a thousand birds'. Theodore Roosevelt recalled with pleasure that when he was chief executive he often took long walks, 'perhaps down Rock Creek, which was then as wild as a stream in the White Mountains'.
"It invariably takes longer to write up an incident than to experience it. Every naturalist who writes needs about ten days to sort out one really productive day in the field'
About the Grand Canyon-- "The world ended; began again eight miles away. Between the ends of the world was a chasm. The chasm was awful. Awe. Time brings awe to the traveler less often, no doubt, as time goes on; for time gives him, too, the accumulated, stored, recorded experience of those who have been before him. With all of these I had prepared myself- yet all of these were, at that first moment of shock, reduced to a whisper, whispering "Yes, this is true; this is real; this is it; this is the greatest abyss on the face of the earth. I had heard this voice before, in many places....but never had my awful friend, awe, stood so long at my elbow, so close, as at the rim of the Grand Canyon. Never will it come so close again....Roger, who knows that I talk too much, says that I was silent for ten minutes. So was he. The first thing I said was, "I shan't want the big lens; I wish I had the wide-angle" drying my eyes under the cover of my hankerchief while pretending to dry my forehead.
About America- "Never have I seen such wonders or met landlords so worthy of their land. They have had, and still have, the power to ravage it; and instead have made it a garden."
April 14, 2015
I found this to be a very enjoyable and thought-provoking book. It is the story of an epic trip taken in 1953 by two well-known naturalists essentially encompassing the east and west coasts of North America and along the U.S. Mexico border. Their documentation of this trip could have ended up as nothing more than a collection of dry journal entries interesting only to biologists and, in particular, ornithologists. However, both Mr. Peterson and Mr. Fisher wrote with passion and humor about their once-in-lifetime experience. At times, I found their prose captivating and their descriptions of natural phenomena almost poetic in places. Although it would certainly help if the reader has some background or knowledge of birds and birding, I think anyone with a love of nature or the natural sciences will find something of interest in the pages of this book.
While the primary purpose of their trip was to observe birds, the authors chose to comment on a variety of topics including wildlife management, forestry, grazing management, land-use policy, hydrology and water use, and conservation in general. I found the descriptions of the people they encountered along the way to be most fascinating. Their observations are important in that their trip took place over six decades ago. Things have changed a great deal since then from an ecological standpoint.
One thing in particular struck me as I concluded reading this book. This trip, and thus the book documenting it, would probably have turned out much differently had it been done only by one or the other author. I think the whole effort was made much better because it was experienced by two like-minded friends with similar interests. The resulting synergy made the experience better for them and their end product a much better legacy.
While the primary purpose of their trip was to observe birds, the authors chose to comment on a variety of topics including wildlife management, forestry, grazing management, land-use policy, hydrology and water use, and conservation in general. I found the descriptions of the people they encountered along the way to be most fascinating. Their observations are important in that their trip took place over six decades ago. Things have changed a great deal since then from an ecological standpoint.
One thing in particular struck me as I concluded reading this book. This trip, and thus the book documenting it, would probably have turned out much differently had it been done only by one or the other author. I think the whole effort was made much better because it was experienced by two like-minded friends with similar interests. The resulting synergy made the experience better for them and their end product a much better legacy.
January 27, 2016
This is the account of British naturalist James Fisher coming to America at the invitation of Roger Tory Peterson, and their travels down the Atlantic coast, across the southern border of the US, down into Mexico, and up the Pacific coast. It's fascinating in a number of ways. It's intriguing to see the natural beauty of North America through the eyes of a British naturalist, for one thing. And then there is the journey through the continent over 60 years ago; things have changed, some for the better, some less so. They went looking for Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers and didn't see one, but there was a real chance they would have -- Peterson actually did see one in 1941. And this book actually records one of the first "Big Years". While the rules hadn't been codified or the ABA area defined, they actually did hold the Big Year record for continental America north of Mexico for some time as a result of this journey. The book intercuts excerpts from Peterson's and Fisher's diaries of the trip, and the result is readable and fun on many levels.
October 22, 2016
Over the years, I'veencountered thiss classic of nature writing many times. so, I finally bought it.
It was published the year I was born, 1955. It is such a great snapshot of a vanished era—the journey took place in 1953—when the nature reserve system was just getting off the ground. It’s fascinating to read about species that have disappeared (the dusky sea sparrow, ivory-billed woody) but very encouraging to know that some have survived, indeed flourished (condor, otters, gators). The book has dire predictions about some species—raptors, in particular, which lacked fed protection—that had not yet received protection but are now doing well.
It’s fun to see his take on so many birding spots to which I've been; I especially liked the many references to Icelandic birds. The illustrations are charming. And I love Fisher’s wide-eyed appreciation of all things wild in America--his writing style is so engaging. I didn’t know that Peterson was so proficient in his knowledge of flora and fauna besides birds—what a towering figure in U.S. natural history!!
It was published the year I was born, 1955. It is such a great snapshot of a vanished era—the journey took place in 1953—when the nature reserve system was just getting off the ground. It’s fascinating to read about species that have disappeared (the dusky sea sparrow, ivory-billed woody) but very encouraging to know that some have survived, indeed flourished (condor, otters, gators). The book has dire predictions about some species—raptors, in particular, which lacked fed protection—that had not yet received protection but are now doing well.
It’s fun to see his take on so many birding spots to which I've been; I especially liked the many references to Icelandic birds. The illustrations are charming. And I love Fisher’s wide-eyed appreciation of all things wild in America--his writing style is so engaging. I didn’t know that Peterson was so proficient in his knowledge of flora and fauna besides birds—what a towering figure in U.S. natural history!!
August 22, 2015
Published in 1955, the two authors are famous naturalists who decided to take a little over two months to tour North America in Peterson's Ford station-wagon. They started in Newfoundland, drove down the east coast of the United States to Florida, drove westward along the Gulf coast through Louisiana into Texas and northern Mexico, then continued to the west coast through New Mexico, Arizona and California, then drove up the west coast to Washington and the Olympic Peninsula. They ended their trip with a series of plane-and-ship voyages to Alaska and some of the Aleutian islands. Most of book's emphasis is on birds but they did take the time to observe and discuss other forms of life as well (e.g., alligators in the Everglades, fur seal colonies in Alaska). This book was mentioned a couple of times in Obmascik's The Big Year and that's what got me interested in reading it. I did add a couple of new locations to my own personal "bucket list" of places to see thanks to this book.
July 12, 2011
Recommended by a fellow birder on a habitat restoration project. Fantastic book, reminds me how strong a travelogue can be when the characters are vibrant and open to experience. this book will be with me for awhile. It should be required reading for high school students to teach them about living in North America, what rich flora/fauna we have. Also interesting to see how some conservation efforts have been successful; when they visit Big Sur, the condors are nearly extinct but today that reintroduction is considered a victory. some of "old ways" are sobering, such as shooting rare birds on sight and the seal harvesting, and hard to read especially since some are still practiced. When i read that Fisher died in a car crash a couple of years after this trip, I was sad as though I had known him; a real tribute to the strength of this book.
March 20, 2015
This book covers 30,000 miles of America over 100 days as two renowned naturalists set out to see some birds. Roger Tory Peterson is known as the illustrator and bird identification author behind numerous books. His companion, James Fisher, a birder from Great Britain and Peterson's friend is Peterson's student on the trip. It is quite informative to listen to two different views of the birds, cultures and wildlife they encounter. I really enjoyed that these two seasoned birders still got excited when they saw a life bird. Ths speaks loudly about the contagious nature of birding. Oh yeah, they set a record for birds seen in North America above the Mexico border in a single year - 600 or 601.
Some great writing and with highly varied topics. A very good read IMHO.
Some great writing and with highly varied topics. A very good read IMHO.
November 11, 2025
An interesting adventure by R.T. Peteson and James Fisher. While it does discuss the birds they encounter on their journey, there is a decent amount of information about the other fauna and flora of the ecosystems they visited as well as discussion on the geography of the area. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in outdoor adventures and animals.
The paperback copy that I had (3rd printing) had problems with the production. Some pages and chapter 27 were out of order. the page numbers were correct and in order, but pages of text were scrambled around. So, find another printing or be prepared to sort out the story as you read. Grab yourself a Coke as a refreshment (that will make sense as you read the book).
The paperback copy that I had (3rd printing) had problems with the production. Some pages and chapter 27 were out of order. the page numbers were correct and in order, but pages of text were scrambled around. So, find another printing or be prepared to sort out the story as you read. Grab yourself a Coke as a refreshment (that will make sense as you read the book).
April 5, 2012
A book that I think one must probably be a birder to really appreciate. An exhausting journey by Peterson and his British friend James Fisher. They travel for weeks birding and seeing some of the great natural wonders of the US. Interestingly enough, it is not the over 600 species of birds that Fisher is most impressed with. After visiting many national park and national wildlife refuges, to quote Fisher it is "to tell of Wild America and to say that never have I seen such wonders or met landlords so worthy of their land. That have had, and still have, the power to ravage it; and instead they have made it a garden."
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July 23, 2017I'm not going to rate this book. I bet it's fabulous for bird watchers. Which I'm not. So for me, as a book to fall asleep to, this one worked like a CHARM! So boring I almost couldn't believe it. Don't ask me why I persisted. Actually I'll tell you. My dear aunt bought it for me when I was young, so even though she's passed away, I have never felt I could get rid of it without reading it. Well, I FINALLY read it. Done.
January 11, 2015
The ultimate birding road trip in the spring of 1953. I enjoy cross-country road trips so, I read this more as a comparison with my recent trips to the same areas that they saw 60 years earlier. I am not an avid bird watcher but,this book made me realize I am overlooking the large and wonderful world of birds. I have added many new "must see" destinations to my future trips.
June 10, 2007
This book is a fun read. Who wouldn't love to be in 1953, driving cross-country looking for birds with Roger Tory Peterson at the wheel?
August 23, 2007
fun to ride along on such a journey --
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October 28, 2014Wild America 03042008 The Record of a 30,000 Mile Journey Around the Continent by a Distinguished Naturalist and His British Colleague (Paperback)
by Roger Tory Peterson James Fisher
by Roger Tory Peterson James Fisher
August 3, 2024
20,000 mile naturalist journey around North Am., starting in Nfld, running down E. coast then across Gulf of Mexico, a brief visit to Mexico, then up west coast.
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