The Art of Mindful Birdwatching: Reflections on Freedom & Being

Tiempo de Mirar

by Claire Thompson

Through personal anecdote and expert insight, Claire Thompson of BirdLife International invites us on a mindful journey through gardens, cities, open country, forests, coasts and mountains to enjoy and learn from the magnificent beauty and diversity of the avian world.
Who has never gazed enviously at a bird soaring through the sky? Or delighted in the uplifting tunes of nature’s songsters? Birds can do wonders for our hearts and minds - if we simply pay them attention. With The Art of Mindful Birdwatching, Claire Thompson reveals how the practice of mindfulness enriches our birdwatching experiences - and explores how birds are, in turn, the ideal inspiration for the practice of mindfulness. To Claire, bird flight is a symbol of freedom to soar through life without constraint, and mindfulness similarly enables us to invite freedom and happiness into our own lives.

Genres: Birds, Nonfiction, Nature, Self Help, Philosophy, Ornithology

144 pages, Hardcover

Published September 15, 2017

Reviews

[Tilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely quick read with some helpful tips on mindfulness and some lovely birdwatching stories. As someone that loves birds and is trying to meditate each day, this was a great book to read.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Leaping Hare's mindfulness series and this latest addition is a gem. I experienced joy as the author explains how bird watching can be a path to living fully in the moment. A fine holiday gift for the bird watchers in your family!

[Patjos · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mindfulness in Birdwatching: Meditations on Nature and Freedom" by Claire Tompson is a gentle reminder of the beauty of birds and our deep connection to the natural world. This wonderful book made me realize that I have been birdwatching unconsciously for much of my life. As Claire notes, "Birds are excellent reminders of the passing of time and daily teachers of the impermanence of life," making birdwatching a profound source of wisdom for us all.

While the book offers moments of deep reflection, Claire guides us toward mindfulness in the simplest ways—by stepping into our back gardens, strolling through local parks, or simply watching from our windowsills. It’s a fabulous read for anyone feeling lost amid the noise of social media and online distractions. I highly recommend it as a meaningful Christmas gift for a dear friend or loved one seeking solace in nature’s quiet moments.

[Woody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thompson makes a good case for the benefits of birding to one's health and sanity. The more you learn about birds and nature, the more you can take refuge from the human-centered world. I like that she addresses the joy, the simple pleasures of bird watching and spending time in nature. I also like her philosophy of being perceptive and appreciating nature as a whole, and not simply tabulating species. Her approach is very compatible with mine when it comes to bird watching and experiencing nature.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle little book about birds and the peace, joy, and inspiration they can bring into our lives.

[Peter Zomer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Birdwatching and spirituality in one title... how could I ever spurn this? Two of my favourite topics. Well, the book is sympathetic first and all; the author shows genuine love for both topics AND a good experience with both of them too. Moreover, the book is accessible: it offers the beginner in either one of these activities a good introduction into its joys. For me, I appreciated the fact that the autor's knowledge on birdwatching was based on real experience and never incorrect (as is, unfortunately, often the case). And her intros on aspects of mindfulness were insightful. On the whole, this book should be considered as 'a trailer to the movie': never meant as a systematic intro, rather as a teaser. If you search for something deep and systematic, this book is not for you. If you allow yourself an innocent pleasure, it is.

[Gav451 · Rating 2 out of 5]

These mindful books do have something interesting to say about mindfulness. The difficulty is that while the underlying message may be good and feel right, in order to draw different interests into their world the author goes too far too deep and does the opposite of what they intended.

So lets look at this book. Enjoying the moment. Focussing on birds are all good and seem like excellent advice when you begin. Then it crosses a line. Not just a little bit either. It runs past the line and keeps on running. The author gives examples of watching more and more different birds all round the world and leaves you wondering why, if she is that comfortable in life, she needs mindfulness at all.

If I had the money and the time to travel all over the world to wonder at birds I too would have plenty of time to practice mindfulness. What the book left me thinking was that mindfulness is only for the very rich and the very privileged. It started to turn it from a useful tool to a game for the bored and the rich. That's a shame. It became a time filler for those with no life rather than inspiring and aspirational advice.

After half way though the book the examples became trite and tiresome. The message about actual mindfulness was stretched so thin it became transparent.

Do not get me wrong. It was not an awful book, its just that it stopped talking to about 90% of it readership before it finished. It went from self help book to social media style life-bragging and that is never a good look.

It was readable though, just not inspiring.

I think it was well meaning but poorly executed.

[Dr. Lehman L Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a gift for Father’s Day. While I am an avid birder (birdwatcher) I am generally not seeking mindfulness. As it turns out my personal approach to birding is very close to what is described and mindful birdwatching in this book. I am proud of my depth of knowledge and recording the birds I encounter. My birding does not end there and includes a fundamental appreciation of frankly all of nature. I used to teach a course about birds and would frequently remind students that the birds are always around us it is just that most people encounter them so frequently and casually that they almost never notice them. An idea expressed in this book. I have come to realize that while I have not expressly sought mindfulness I already engage in many of the practices described in the book. The book was an easy read, it closely corresponded to my attitudes and I am all for anything that encourages people to go and see the birds. Appreciate the birds and appreciate the wonderment that is life.

[Paula B · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s a nice book but if you’ve read any other book on mindfulness it doesn’t have anything new. It’s mindfulness with bird watching metaphors so if you love birds haven’t read much on mindfulness then it will totally be your thing.

[Karen Mace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful little read that really shows the benefits of being out in nature and taking time to watch the wildlife. I'm a recent convert to bird watching and this book really helps sum up the good that it does our mind and souls to take the time away from screens and to get out in nature and enjoy the free show nature puts on for us!

This book is beautifully written and would appeal to birdwatchers new and old, as well as anyone looking for a new hobby or way to get some mindfulness in their life. From just looking out of the window to see birds in the back garden, going to the park and birdwatching there or travelling further afield to the coast or nature reserve, the author has a few handy hints on how connecting with nature in this way is so beneficial. Even just listening to the birdsong has a positive effect on a person and this book shines a light perfectly on ways to enjoy the world of birdwatching, along with some helpful mindful exercises to follow.

I found it to be a very calm and peaceful book, and it's a wonderful way to get us connected back to nature seeing as modern life has so many people disconnected from the natural world nowadays. highly recommended!

[Sue Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mindfulness in Birdwatching: Meditations on Nature and Freedom" by Claire Tompson is a gentle reminder of the beauty of birds and our deep connection to the natural world. This wonderful book made me realize that I have been birdwatching unconsciously for much of my life. As Claire notes, "Birds are excellent reminders of the passing of time and daily teachers of the impermanence of life," making birdwatching a profound source of wisdom for us all.

While the book offers moments of deep reflection, Claire guides us toward mindfulness in the simplest ways—by stepping into our back gardens, strolling through local parks, or simply watching from our windowsills. It’s a fabulous read for anyone feeling lost amid the noise of social media and online distractions. I highly recommend it as a meaningful Christmas gift for a dear friend or loved one seeking solace in nature’s quiet moments.

[Anne Boardman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! I am an experienced birder and at first I thought this might be too rudimentary for me but I was so wrong. In focusing on the mindfulness aspect of bird watching (and by proxy, of life), this book gave me so much more. It was tempting to blast through page after page since the book is short but by limiting myself to one chapter per day I had time to savor the words, recall birding memories and experiences, and get outside to put my newfound mindfulness to practice. Lovely thoughts, inspiring quotes, great references for future study too.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little book with an alternative way of looking at mindfulness through something more relatable to most people; birdwatching, or simply an interest in looking at birds. For some people it might be not quite enough one way or the other - not enough about birds or not enough about mindfulness - but I think it's a good way to find a new approach to something (mindfulness) which appears to be written about a lot lately but not always that easy to get a grasp on.

[Gabriela Górska · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wished it was better, I expected a book that’d speak more about mindfulness and birdwatching than the personal experiences of the author. Once again, such a book could be rather described as a diary than a guidebook. It has parts of discovery and at moments it became a helpful tool in my own practice though. Yet from such books I usually expect a lot ( maybe I should practice lowering my expectations) and I receive really little.

[Tristann Graves · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice book that blends mindfulness and our connection to nature, specifically through bird watching. The author provides her own experiences, reflections, prompts, and suggestions for being present in nature and how you are naturally being mindful when you stay/experience these present moments. Throughout the book we are shown not only the benefits and beauty of being mindful, we also learn how mindfulness (staying present in this moment) can easily be weaved in our interactions with nature.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book for reminding you to pay more attention to the natural world. I am a bird watcher and it’s a good reminder that the common birds have as much to offer as the ones we see more rarely. I find mindfulness practice quite hard but maybe I am doing it already by looking into the window of a birds life.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at reconnecting ourselves with nature by combining the Buddhist practice of mindfulness with birdwatching. Some astute observations about the author's personal experiences make this book well worth reading.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant book, and I have taken away lots of positives that have helped me tune in to bird life around me. I did find the book a little self-indulgent though, with too many personal experiences included. They were to illustrate points just made, but I found it a little too much.

[Justin Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the thoughtful reflections on how birdwatching can help us become more aware of our own presence and that of the birds around us.

[Ricardo Motti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Não vou dizer que é o melhor e mais bem escrito livro do mundo. Mas se você passa um tempo no fim de semana indo no parque pra ver passarinho, é uma bela leitura.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a deeply relaxing read that has has led to me going out into the forest nearly every day.

[Rae]

Awareness. Meditation. Beginning birding. Nature bathing. Leaping Hare Press.

[Joe Downie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this combination of mindfulness, meditation and nature reflection; urging us to just be still and observe; and understand we're not the only ones with daily dramas.

[Nando Luaces · Rating 4 out of 5]

Observación de pájaros y meditación…

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle book blending mindfulness with connections to nature. Light and gentle. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

[Megan]

when therapy meets birds. you bet i will be revisiting this quite often

[Ingrid Aguilar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Precioso, aunque un poco lento

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice gentle read reminding us to enjoy the miracle of bird life

[junajuna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a helpful introduction to both mindfulness and birdwatching. Practicing mindfulness through observing birds is a good way to make mindfulness accessible to anyone. This was also a quick read, so I would recommend the book to anyone looking for a quick but punchy nonfiction read.