Birdwatcher

by Elizabeth J. Rosenthal

Roger Tory Peterson—the Renaissance man who taught Americans the joy of watching birds—also invented the modern field guide. His 1934 landmark Field Guide to the Birds was the first book designed to go outdoors and help people identify the elements of nature. This self-proclaimed “student of nature” combined spectacular writing with detailed illustrations to ultimately publish many other books, winning every possible award and medal for natural science, ornithology, and conservation. Peterson also traveled the world, giving lectures on behalf of the National Audubon Society and, despite his self-effacing demeanor, becoming recognized as the key force to alerting the public to the importance of preserving nature. There are now an estimated 70 million birdwatchers in the United States.

For this meticulously detailed biography, Rosenthal has interviewed more than a hundred of Peterson’s family, friends, and associates to create a fully rounded portrait of this hero of the conservation movement. Never-before-seen photographs enhance this intimate portrayal. The book will be timed for his 100th birthday celebration in August, 2008.

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

460 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2008

Reviews

[Peter Corrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I may have been only vaguely aware of who Roger Tory Peterson was, but I certainly do now. Author and illustrator of the one of the first 'modern' field guides to bird identification (A Field Guide to the Birds, 1947) he paved the way for the many others to follow including more guides of his own as late as 2002. He started out being obsessed with birds from a young age in western New York (Jamestown) and maintained that enthusiasm his entire life. His 'birding' took him all over the world even at least once to my hometown of Old Greenwich, CT at Todd's Point (p.86), a place I know well. His book 'Wild America' (1953) co-written with his friend James Fisher is something I'd like to read, it even spawned an imitation some 50 years later written by Scott Weidensaul ('Return to Wild America') who also wrote a really good book on bird migration that I read.

This biography was perhaps not the most thrilling I have read but does a good job with Peterson's long life and influence in both birding and the rise of the larger environmental movement that essentially mirrored his own life. In human terms he was not a perfect guy, who is? Peterson's life from 1909 to 1996 just preceded the Internet age which has probably rendered physical guidebooks somewhat less important but his legacy is assured with his books, art, awards and mostly through the many people who were influenced and inspired by him. Interestingly, in a book written in 2008 there is literally not one mention of climate change and its threat to birds or wildlife something I think you would be hard pressed to find in any other book on birds today.

[Jeff Bobin · Rating 5 out of 5]

While he didn't create the first bird guide Peterson would create the kind of bird guide that would become the model for all that follow. This is the story of his life that goes around the world making a difference not just in identifying birds but conservation education and creating interest.

Not only was he a talented artist but also willing to do the hard work of observing, studying and learning about birds and other things.

While a little slow at times it is an entertaining read.

[Dan N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 stars.

[Josh Friers]

Well this is my second biography of Roger tory Peterson. Here's what I've learned he liked the ladies, he was moody. He loved birds I can honestly say I doubt I'd be friends with him.

[Gbug · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roger Tory Peterson was a remarkable man. He came from nothing and accomplished a great deal. The first bird field guides written and illustrated by Peterson are the standard by which all field quides are measured. He was a writer, an artist, a photographer, mentor and bird authority. All without a college degree.

But the real man is missing from this biography. So little about who he really was. He had a sister who is hardly mentioned along with his first wife. His second wife, Barbara, gets a little more attention for having done everything for her husband so all he did was concentrate on his career. His third and last wife is painted as controling and having insuated herself into his life while he was still married to Barbara. I wish there had been more written about the man than just his accomplishments and his admirers. There are only hints of who he really was.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author did a great job of fleshing out the highly complicated human being behind all the field guides. As far back as I can remember there's been Peterson field guides on my family's shelves, dog-eared with faded jackets, full of field notes and fingerprints. Who knew how his work would change the worldwide face of conservation and attention given to habitat for birds? Glad I read it if just to have a better sense for the man. Some of the chapters got long, especially the one on DDT, but otherwise really well researched. Interesting how he left his own kids sort of high and dry while he traveled all over the world with other young people. It's no wonder he married three times. His second wife should've received an award of honor for 33 years basically spent holding down the home place while he was away for months at a time.Quite the guy who clearly loved life and lived it with great passion and purpose.

[Bcoghill Coghill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would I have enjoyed this had I not been a committed Birdwatcher? Probably not.
Unilke Ken Kaufman's masterpiece, "The Kingbird Highway". Or lesser but still stimulating reads, "The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession" or "To See Every Bird on Earth: A Father, a Son, and a Lifelong Obsession" are still written with a general reader in mind. This biography is has neither the flare or the flow to make it interesting to the general reader.
Still, to those of us who love K.K., Pete Dunn and Scott W., it is a good to read the bio of the Old Man.

[Jim Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally finished this book. No fault of the book just the way things go sometimes. I am very pleased to know much much more about a man who had such on impact on birdwatching and conservation in the in the US and the rest of the world. Some sections of the books were far less interesting than others but the book is definitely worth the read to anyone interested in birds.

[JessicaAFM · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took a bit for me to get through as I read it in between novels, but this is a fabulous biography on the greatest birder, EVER. I really enjoyed it and was in awe on the number of people he touched.

[Stephanie]

Work-in-progress. Have always been an avid birder. The Peterson Guides have been in my use and collection since childhood.

[Bob Peru · Rating 4 out of 5]

rtp=hero.

[David R. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Left many unanswered questions about the subject.

[Thierry Sagnier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roger Tory Peterson is to birding what Abner Doubleday was to baseball. The sport or pastime or obsession--depending on who you are--are his doing. Even non-birders will enjoy this.