One More Warbler: A Life with Birds

by Victor Emanuel, S. Kirk Walsh (Contributor)

Victor Emanuel is widely considered one of America’s leading birders. He has observed more than six thousand species during travels that have taken him to every continent. He founded the largest company in the world specializing in birding tours and one of the most respected ones in ecotourism. Emanuel has received some of birding’s highest honors, including the Roger Tory Peterson Award from the American Birding Association and the Arthur A. Allen Award from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. He also started the first birding camps for young people, which he considers one of his greatest achievements. In One More Warbler , Emanuel recalls a lifetime of birding adventures—from his childhood sighting of a male Cardinal that ignited his passion for birds to a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Asia to observe all eight species of cranes of that continent. He tells fascinating stories of meeting his mentors who taught him about birds, nature, and conservation, and later, his close circle of friends—Ted Parker, Peter Matthiessen, George Plimpton, Roger Tory Peterson, and others—who he frequently birded and traveled with around the world. Emanuel writes about the sighting of an Eskimo Curlew, thought to be extinct, on Galveston Island; setting an all-time national record during the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count; attempting to see the Imperial Woodpecker in northwestern Mexico; and birding on the far-flung island of Attu on the Aleutian chain. Over the years, Emanuel became a dedicated mentor himself, teaching hundreds of young people the joys and enrichment of birding. “Birds changed my life,” says Emanuel, and his stories make clear how a deep connection to the natural world can change everyone’s life.

Genres: Birds, Nature, Memoir, Natural History, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Biography

304 pages, Hardcover

First published May 9, 2017

Reviews

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Victor Emmanuel tells the story of his life with birds in One More Warbler. He begins with his childhood growing up in Houston, including the many mentors he had in his early years as he began to learn more and more about birds and nature. He eventually became a man who takes birders on trips all around the world.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I definitely have a very clear idea of what enough is in most aspects of my life, but not when it comes to warblers.
I can never see enough warblers. They have brought much pleasure and richness into my life.”

"Early on, I came to feel that nature was my church."

I am still a mere fledgling in the birding world, so I had not heard of Victor Emanuel but once I found out about this new memoir, I knew I had to give it a try. Emanuel is a well-respected birder and a leader in eco-tourism. He is in his 70s and has birded all of his life. He lives in Austin, Texas and grew up in the Houston area, so a lot of the birding experiences, in these pages, happen in those locations. That said, Emanuel started a birding tour company, so a large chunk of the narrative is his global experiences, which is pretty epic and exciting.
Obviously, this memoir is not for all tastes, but if you like birds and outdoor adventures, give it a try.

[Derek Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing style was pretty choppy, but still a must read for any birder.

[Chris Leuchtenburg · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an enthusiastic birder, who has read a number of birding memoirs, I had high expectations for this book, which features the pioneer of nature tourism. But the wooden style of this dry narrative sucks the pleasure out of the story. His accounts of finding spectacular birds should have filled me with wonder, but instead they just left me wondering why? At least one warbler too many.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

A birding travelogue with lots of names of people he met. I wish the book had included pictures of birds.

[Christopher Moellering · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of reflections by a pioneer in eco-tourism. After a few hundred pages, it begins to just seem like a lot of "look at all the cool stuff I've been able to see" without any other point.

[boxer_dogs_dance · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book on a list of supposedly interesting memoirs. It is far from the best memoir I have read. It has a few interesting stories, but not many. However, if someone is interested in the history of ecotourism, or wants inspiration for tourism centered around nature, or really likes birds, then this is the book for that person. It is a memoir, by an obsessed birder for other birders and nature lovers.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great natural history book with a touch of biography interspersed. A joy to read. It did slow down for me as it neared the end, but overall a really engaging book.

[Dewayne Stark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am new to bird watching. My picture taking is when I walk my two dogs. We don't spend thousands of dollars traveling and aiding the cause of global warming.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

NF
254 pages

Very exciting, interesting, and informative.
Victor Emanuel is certainly a pioneer in birding.

[Bob Peru · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an enviable life.
one of the great birding memoirs.

[Keegan T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Im always down for some birding adventures.

[Lauren Carter]

I enjoy reading birding books. This one just was lacking for me...

[Gerry Stover · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is filled with fascinating personal stories laced with information that as an amateur naturalist made note of for further research. It should have an average of 4_stars!

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

He's not the best writer, but, I am a birder, so I found this interesting anyway.

[Vjera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple writing but I enjoyed the travels and birds. Also fun to read the chapter with Jim Regali, Dick Lamster, and Maeve Sowles.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a birder, this will just make you want to see more birds and travel to more places.

[Michael Sandoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one. Victor, what a life!

[Dave Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victor Emanuel is a local legend here in Austin, and I've enjoyed hearing him speak at Travis Audubon on multiple occasions. This book was very enjoyable through the lenses of birding, travel, and business. I enjoyed the portions about the early days of his nature tours around Texas and how this grew into a large company. I enjoyed his stories of traveling and birding with world-famous journalists, writers, naturalists. Most of all, I enjoyed his excitement for the natural world, which comes directly across through the narrative.