Afield: Forty Years of Birding the American West

by Alan Contreras

For forty years, Alan Contreras has studied birds and natural history in the West. In Afield, he recounts his bird-watching experiencesa primarily in Oregon, but also in Alaska, Arizona, California, and Texas. Sprinkled with comments made by ornithologists and early explorers of the West, his essays offer elements of natural history, personal memoir, and adventure travel. In the largest sense, Afield is a love story, reaffirming the practice of unhurried observation of nature. It is a chronicle of growing up as a person interested in the natural world. From encounters with Oregonas first Eurasian Dotterel to the inspiring but unsuccessful search for Spruce Grouse, Afield describes the experiences of a birder and the life of an explorer. Contreras records his observations largely from the perspective of a lifelong birder, but the people he encountersaand their perceptions about natureaalso inhabit Afield. The reader inspired to visit the locations described in Contrerasa stories will be pleased to find useful information about them. Afield will appeal to birdersaand to anyone who loves the outdoors.

144 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2009

About the author

Alan Contreras has studied the birds of Lane County for over 30 years. He is past president of the Oregon Field Ornithologists, and has written and edited several books on Oregon birds, including Northwest Birds in Winter and Birds of Oregon: A General Reference. He lives in Eugene, Oregon.

Reviews

[Vjera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky and quite lovely. Full of Alan-isms and stories of places, birds, and people I know. And I’m mentioned in it!

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

To me as an occasional amateur birder, this recent birding book at first seemed chatty and disorganized. Yet as I kept with it I gained new appreciation of the pleasures of birding and knowledge about it both as a hobby and a profession. I've shipped this on to my father who is the real birder in the family.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little volume was a pleasure to read, partly because it is mostly about birding in my hometown and my state (Oregon). It is well-written, allowing a glimpse of a birder's world.