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Of a Feather: A Brief History of American Birding
Beyond A quirky, “lively and illuminating” account of bird-watching’s history, including “rivalries, controversies, [and] bad behavior” ( The Washington Post Book World ).From the moment Europeans arrived in North America, they were awestruck by a continent awash with birds—great flocks of wild pigeons, prairies teeming with grouse, woodlands alive with brilliantly colored songbirds. Of a Feather traces the colorful origins of American the frontier ornithologists who collected eggs between border skirmishes; the society matrons who organized the first effective conservation movement; and the luminaries with checkered pasts, such as Alexander Wilson (a convicted blackmailer) and the endlessly self-mythologizing John James Audubon. Naturalist Scott Weidensaul also recounts the explosive growth of modern birding that began when an awkward schoolteacher named Roger Tory Peterson published A Field Guide to the Birds in 1934. Today, birding counts iPod-wearing teens and obsessive “listers” among its tens of millions of participants, making what was once an eccentric hobby into something so completely mainstream it’s now (almost) cool. This compulsively readable popular history will surely find a roost on every birder’s shelf. “Weidensaul is a charming guide. . . . You don’t have to be a birder to enjoy this look at one of today’s fastest-growing (and increasingly competitive) hobbies.” —The Arizona Republic
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2007
77 people are currently reading
807 people want to read
About the author
Scott Weidensaul
54 books129 followersBorn in 1959, Scott Weidensaul (pronounced "Why-densaul") has lived almost all of his life among the long ridges and endless valleys of eastern Pennsylvania, in the heart of the central Appalachians, a landscape that has defined much of his work.
His writing career began in 1978 with a weekly natural history column in the local newspaper, the Pottsville Republican in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where he grew up. The column soon led a fulltime reporting job, which he held until 1988, when he left to become a freelance writer specializing in nature and wildlife. (He continued to write about nature for newspapers, however, including long-running columns for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Harrisburg Patriot-News.)
Weidensaul has written more than two dozen books, including his widely acclaimed Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds (North Point 1999), which was a finalist for the 2000 Pulitzer Prize.
Weidensaul's writing has appeared in dozens of publications, including Audubon (for which he is a contributing editor), Nature Conservancy and National Wildlife, among many others. He lectures widely on conservation and nature, and directs the ornithological programs for National Audubon's famed Hog Island Center on the coast of Maine.
In addition to writing about wildlife, Weidensaul is an active field researcher whose work focuses on bird migration. Besides banding hawks each fall (something he's done for nearly 25 years), he directs a major effort to study the movements of northern saw-whet owls, one of the smallest and least-understood raptors in North America. He is also part of a continental effort to understand the rapid evolution, by several species of western hummingbirds, of a new migratory route and wintering range in the East.
- excerpted from his website
His writing career began in 1978 with a weekly natural history column in the local newspaper, the Pottsville Republican in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where he grew up. The column soon led a fulltime reporting job, which he held until 1988, when he left to become a freelance writer specializing in nature and wildlife. (He continued to write about nature for newspapers, however, including long-running columns for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Harrisburg Patriot-News.)
Weidensaul has written more than two dozen books, including his widely acclaimed Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds (North Point 1999), which was a finalist for the 2000 Pulitzer Prize.
Weidensaul's writing has appeared in dozens of publications, including Audubon (for which he is a contributing editor), Nature Conservancy and National Wildlife, among many others. He lectures widely on conservation and nature, and directs the ornithological programs for National Audubon's famed Hog Island Center on the coast of Maine.
In addition to writing about wildlife, Weidensaul is an active field researcher whose work focuses on bird migration. Besides banding hawks each fall (something he's done for nearly 25 years), he directs a major effort to study the movements of northern saw-whet owls, one of the smallest and least-understood raptors in North America. He is also part of a continental effort to understand the rapid evolution, by several species of western hummingbirds, of a new migratory route and wintering range in the East.
- excerpted from his website
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October 17, 2016
Have you ever wondered who LeConte, Brewer, and Brewster were? Have you ever wished you had all of Bent's series? Do you know what a twitcher is, and if so, do you admire them or think they're crazy? Do you pay dues to a conversation group? No? Well, have you ever birded? Or admired the paintings of Audubon?
The more times you say yes, the more likely it will be that you like this book. But if you answer no to almost all, well, I have to admit it's not a book with universal appeal.
Still, there are bits that I'm just delighted to learn. The Swedish botantist, Carolus Linnaeus, does not actually have that Latinized name, but was Carl von Linne'.
An early guide, Birds Through an Opera Glass, by Florence Merriam Bailey, looks worth reading even today (and is avl on open library https://openlibrary.org/search?q=bird...).
The Salton Sea was created by a ruptured irrigation canal.
The author hypothesizes that Big Year twitchers have counterparts in other hobbies, but I doubt that "there are extreme bowlers or gonzo stamp collectors."
The more times you say yes, the more likely it will be that you like this book. But if you answer no to almost all, well, I have to admit it's not a book with universal appeal.
Still, there are bits that I'm just delighted to learn. The Swedish botantist, Carolus Linnaeus, does not actually have that Latinized name, but was Carl von Linne'.
An early guide, Birds Through an Opera Glass, by Florence Merriam Bailey, looks worth reading even today (and is avl on open library https://openlibrary.org/search?q=bird...).
The Salton Sea was created by a ruptured irrigation canal.
The author hypothesizes that Big Year twitchers have counterparts in other hobbies, but I doubt that "there are extreme bowlers or gonzo stamp collectors."
November 21, 2016
I have a longstanding personal (and in recent years professional) interest in natural history, i.e. the study of non-human organisms, and I'm particularly interested in its practice by amateurs. In fact, I help run a social network for naturalists, so I'm very interested in how naturalist communities and practices develop. Birders represent by far the largest and most developed community of amateur naturalists out there, so I was hoping this book might help me understand how the birding community got that way and what lessons, if any, can be learned and applied to other communities.
I think this book was a good start in what will no doubt be a spotty and inconclusive research project. Weidensaul provides a decent overview of American birding, using a loose historical framework beginning with 1) explorer-naturalists like Audubon who first described our avifauna mostly with a focus on basic taxonomy and biogeography, followed by 2) the professionalization of ornithology, focused on systematics, biology, and economic management, followed by 3) the popularization of birds as a conservation cause and birding as a "hobby" (not my favorite word).
I think that's a pretty good framework, though the lines are, of course, blurred. My main source of frustration with this book was the lack of focus on the development of birding as a hobby. Weidensaul emphasizes the evolution of the field guide, which was no doubt critical, as well as the importance of early conservation movements focusing on bird preservation, but... at what point did someone decide that they would just go look at birds for fun? Did people read Florence Merriam's Birds Through an Opera-Glass and just decide to give it a shot, or were they personally encouraged by the likes of Merriam? Is this something we could trace through letters? It's hard to believe it was just the field guides (and later, better optics and transit options). Why would anyone buy the book if they didn't have some interest in the first place?
An extremely interesting take-home was the central role of women in the development of birding. In addition to writing field guides, Merriam, along with other wealthy white women of the age, basically formed the modern Audubon Society, a social and political phenomenon that we thankfully still have today. Particularly interesting was that men had tried and failed to do so before them, which I think points to the importance of social networks in creating movements like this (in addition to time and money). The early Audubonian women were very well-connected, better connected than George Bird Grinnell before them, and seemed to work those connections in getting what they wanted.
Also of interest was that these women and almost all of the "amateur" birders and ornithologists prior to World War II were rich and privileged. Annie Montague Alexander, who founded the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at UC Berkeley, was the heiress of Hawaiian sugar plantation owners, and Harriet Lawrence Hemenway, another early Audubonian, was the heiress of New England textiles and South American silver mines. The environmental and human atrocities that lie behind their fortunes beggar the imagination, and while that could be said of all of us, it seems very direct here. Takes time and money to do stuff for free, I guess, and neither comes cheap.
Anyway, a worthwhile read.
Some notes:
p. 143: I was really on the lookout for quotes by professional scientists questioning the worth amateurs, since I frankly get a lot of that when I describe iNat to scientsts. This one's good (though again, I had to dig to find the original source since the citation was to a secondary):
p. 182: Apparently Arthur Bent usually concluded the introduction to each entry in his series The Life Histories of North American Birds: with the passage,
I feel like this should go at the bottom of every iNaturalist page. That said, it was a bit hard to source, since Weidensaul did not provide a proper citation (an aggravating theme in this book, unfortunately). Here's one, and another. Sadly, BHL doesn't seem to have the whole series.
p. 185: This 1929 quote by Ludlow Griscom is great...
...but it's actually in this much more complicated piece about how amateurs are great and all, but above amateurs and run-of-the-mill scientists there are "giants" who know better than all, and everything would be much smoother if everyone would just know their place. I quote: "The ideal, of course, is that each should know his place, then friction or hard feelings would become impossible."
p. 240: Joseph Grinnell, 1908:
Such a great quote, but the only source I can find is http://mvz.berkeley.edu/Grinnell_Meth..., with no citation.
p. 271: "But where the public's interest was once driven by a fundamental curiosity about birds, and a basic joy at their existence, today it seems (for many of its practitioners) that birding is simply another outlet for frenzied hyperactivity." I appreciate this sentiment and I think it's why many naturalists who are not into birds or into more than just birds kind of roll their eyes at birder. Natural history taps into a lot of fundamental urges, and indulging in some of them can get ugly.
I think this book was a good start in what will no doubt be a spotty and inconclusive research project. Weidensaul provides a decent overview of American birding, using a loose historical framework beginning with 1) explorer-naturalists like Audubon who first described our avifauna mostly with a focus on basic taxonomy and biogeography, followed by 2) the professionalization of ornithology, focused on systematics, biology, and economic management, followed by 3) the popularization of birds as a conservation cause and birding as a "hobby" (not my favorite word).
I think that's a pretty good framework, though the lines are, of course, blurred. My main source of frustration with this book was the lack of focus on the development of birding as a hobby. Weidensaul emphasizes the evolution of the field guide, which was no doubt critical, as well as the importance of early conservation movements focusing on bird preservation, but... at what point did someone decide that they would just go look at birds for fun? Did people read Florence Merriam's Birds Through an Opera-Glass and just decide to give it a shot, or were they personally encouraged by the likes of Merriam? Is this something we could trace through letters? It's hard to believe it was just the field guides (and later, better optics and transit options). Why would anyone buy the book if they didn't have some interest in the first place?
An extremely interesting take-home was the central role of women in the development of birding. In addition to writing field guides, Merriam, along with other wealthy white women of the age, basically formed the modern Audubon Society, a social and political phenomenon that we thankfully still have today. Particularly interesting was that men had tried and failed to do so before them, which I think points to the importance of social networks in creating movements like this (in addition to time and money). The early Audubonian women were very well-connected, better connected than George Bird Grinnell before them, and seemed to work those connections in getting what they wanted.
Also of interest was that these women and almost all of the "amateur" birders and ornithologists prior to World War II were rich and privileged. Annie Montague Alexander, who founded the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at UC Berkeley, was the heiress of Hawaiian sugar plantation owners, and Harriet Lawrence Hemenway, another early Audubonian, was the heiress of New England textiles and South American silver mines. The environmental and human atrocities that lie behind their fortunes beggar the imagination, and while that could be said of all of us, it seems very direct here. Takes time and money to do stuff for free, I guess, and neither comes cheap.
Anyway, a worthwhile read.
Some notes:
p. 143: I was really on the lookout for quotes by professional scientists questioning the worth amateurs, since I frankly get a lot of that when I describe iNat to scientsts. This one's good (though again, I had to dig to find the original source since the citation was to a secondary):
One trouble with the Audubonians seems to be that there are too many inspired idiots among them, who fancy they have a God-given mission not to hide their light under a bushel. The shotgun people are mostly made of sterner stuff; they are realistic and can be cultivated, educated and really helped in various ways. But the opera glass fiends! They always live too near the great heart of nature to know anything of her head or hands, or do a stroke of sensible work, even to protect the birds. Out of the great heart of nature, where they live, they give all cry and no wool–something which, to change the metaphor, butters no parsnips. One woman wrote to say she was so unhappy because the cats in her neighbordhood killed birds. We were going to write back and suggest that she collect the murderous felines and read the Audubon circular to them; but we restrained ourselves and advised her to feed the cats. [Elliott Coues in The Osprey, Vol. 3, p. 106, March 1899, http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/8...]
p. 182: Apparently Arthur Bent usually concluded the introduction to each entry in his series The Life Histories of North American Birds: with the passage,
The reader is reminded again that this is a cooperative work; if he fails to find in these volumes anything that he knows about the birds, he can blame himself for not having sent the information to
—The Author.
I feel like this should go at the bottom of every iNaturalist page. That said, it was a bit hard to source, since Weidensaul did not provide a proper citation (an aggravating theme in this book, unfortunately). Here's one, and another. Sadly, BHL doesn't seem to have the whole series.
p. 185: This 1929 quote by Ludlow Griscom is great...
If scientists can justly complain of their troubles, when science becomes too popular, let them at least remember, that like everybody else they cannot get something for nothing. And what they have got is the assistance of the enthusiastic, reliable amateur.
...but it's actually in this much more complicated piece about how amateurs are great and all, but above amateurs and run-of-the-mill scientists there are "giants" who know better than all, and everything would be much smoother if everyone would just know their place. I quote: "The ideal, of course, is that each should know his place, then friction or hard feelings would become impossible."
p. 240: Joseph Grinnell, 1908:
Our field-records will be perhaps the most valuable of all our results. ...any and all (as many as you have time to record) items are liable to be just what will provide the information wanted. You can't tell in advance which observations will prove valuable. Do record them all!
Such a great quote, but the only source I can find is http://mvz.berkeley.edu/Grinnell_Meth..., with no citation.
p. 271: "But where the public's interest was once driven by a fundamental curiosity about birds, and a basic joy at their existence, today it seems (for many of its practitioners) that birding is simply another outlet for frenzied hyperactivity." I appreciate this sentiment and I think it's why many naturalists who are not into birds or into more than just birds kind of roll their eyes at birder. Natural history taps into a lot of fundamental urges, and indulging in some of them can get ugly.
August 10, 2008
I hate to admit that I'm such a nature-nerd that I found this book fascinating. But then, one of the author's premises is that birders (including himself, as a kid) have long been written off as hopeless geeks. But we have now come to the fore in this fastest-growing pursuit.
The author is not just a historian. He is a beautiful writer who never loses sight of the essence of birding: that indrawn breath at the sheer beauty of a bird's appearance or rare glimpses into their secret lives.
I was often moved to tears, I could relate so closely to his experiences; I defy anyone to come away dry-eyed from his final chapter!
He chronicles birding's evolution from a purely scientific pursuit in which birds had to be killed or their eggs collected "for science," to birding with binoculars in the field and the fledgling conservation movement, to the current, lamentable horse race of "lists" competition and one-upmanship.
It was fascinating to learn about how many U.S. birds received their names. I also enjoyed the discussion of the evolution of field guides and optics.
Also, I loved the biographies of the shapers of the sport.
I must admit that I was also keenly interested in this book because I know some of the protagonists and have birded many of the hot-spots Weidensaul discusses. But even non-birders with any interest at all in conservation will enjoy this book.
The author is not just a historian. He is a beautiful writer who never loses sight of the essence of birding: that indrawn breath at the sheer beauty of a bird's appearance or rare glimpses into their secret lives.
I was often moved to tears, I could relate so closely to his experiences; I defy anyone to come away dry-eyed from his final chapter!
He chronicles birding's evolution from a purely scientific pursuit in which birds had to be killed or their eggs collected "for science," to birding with binoculars in the field and the fledgling conservation movement, to the current, lamentable horse race of "lists" competition and one-upmanship.
It was fascinating to learn about how many U.S. birds received their names. I also enjoyed the discussion of the evolution of field guides and optics.
Also, I loved the biographies of the shapers of the sport.
I must admit that I was also keenly interested in this book because I know some of the protagonists and have birded many of the hot-spots Weidensaul discusses. But even non-birders with any interest at all in conservation will enjoy this book.
February 9, 2013
Another excellent book by one of my favorite nature writers, Scott Weidensaul. He weaves the history of ornithology with the major players with his breezy prose and personal stories. I like that he goes out of his way to mention the few female players. In particular, his mention of Rosalie Edge and her conributions to bird conservation.
Perhaps my favorite part of the book was his description of his love of bird books (which could probably describe me): "My wife and I own a lot of bird books--a ridiculous number of them. They fill shelves in our offices, our bedwroon, our living room; they sit stacked in courners, on the bureaus, on chairs, on the floor; when we're not looking, I think they multiply like rabbits."
Perhaps my favorite part of the book was his description of his love of bird books (which could probably describe me): "My wife and I own a lot of bird books--a ridiculous number of them. They fill shelves in our offices, our bedwroon, our living room; they sit stacked in courners, on the bureaus, on chairs, on the floor; when we're not looking, I think they multiply like rabbits."
March 15, 2019
Awfully dry. I also didn't expect a history of birding to include the topics covered here, necessarily. We started about 400 years back, when 'birding' was shooting all the birds you could find. Seems it stayed that way for about 300 years, so I was ready for a breath of fresh air when we got close to the modern era. But guess what?! That part was a bummer too! The author is really disappointed in the turn birding has taken in the modern era, so the last 100 years of coverage swung between some pretty boring in-depth material on field guides and a condemnation of listing. I don't necessarily disagree with the guy, but where was the good part? I found myself so inspired by the last two birding books that I read, and this one didn't give me anything like that.
December 17, 2014
Scott Weidensaul is a great writer and this book is chock full of information that any serious birder would be interested in. Many of these stories, like the rivalry between Audubon and Alexander Wilson, are likely familiar to many birders but Weidensaul's treatment of the early history of ornithology in America is extremely thorough so there was a ton of new and fascinating material as well.
The last chapter was particularly thought provoking, discussing the emergence of the citizen science movement as a potential sign that ornithology and birding as a hobby, two approaches to bird appreciation which once went hand in hand but which have become disparate of late, might be coming together again. There is fun to be had in the sport of birding but birding with a purpose is ultimately a more rewarding experience.
The last chapter was particularly thought provoking, discussing the emergence of the citizen science movement as a potential sign that ornithology and birding as a hobby, two approaches to bird appreciation which once went hand in hand but which have become disparate of late, might be coming together again. There is fun to be had in the sport of birding but birding with a purpose is ultimately a more rewarding experience.
July 31, 2022
I'd had this book on my list for a while -- not sure why I didn't get around to it. I'd really enjoyed Weidensaul's A World on the Wing a while back. I think the fact that it was 13 years old maybe put me off? That's a pretty stupid reason though -- this is a great overview, as relevant today as it was when published.
Weidensaul, with his approachable writing style and usual good humor, looks at birding in American, from it's colonial roots where every bird was new and strange to Europeans, up through the modern age of high-tech listing and communication. It's not just about the names (Audubon, Bailey, Peterson), but also the publications, especially the development of field guides and the innovations that developed through them. I found it fascinating what a small world birding was for so long -- and how amazingly huge it's become. While readings this I kept wondering what my life would have been like had I started paying closer attention to birds earlier in my life...
Toward the end, Weidensaul discusses two approaches to birding he sees -- one that focuses on lists and locations and chasing the next big thing. As a fairly new birder, I've fallen into this mind set from time to time, for sure. But the other is about just enjoying birds -- learning as much as possible about their habits and habitats, life cycles, and ranges, just generally enjoying being around them and watching them do their thing -- and above all, actively working toward their conservation. Because without birds, there is no birding.
A fantastic overview of a hobby I've only come to embrace lately (and rather late in life). For anyone interested at all in how birding has developed and the characters who were involved, I can't recommend this book (or this author) enough.
Weidensaul, with his approachable writing style and usual good humor, looks at birding in American, from it's colonial roots where every bird was new and strange to Europeans, up through the modern age of high-tech listing and communication. It's not just about the names (Audubon, Bailey, Peterson), but also the publications, especially the development of field guides and the innovations that developed through them. I found it fascinating what a small world birding was for so long -- and how amazingly huge it's become. While readings this I kept wondering what my life would have been like had I started paying closer attention to birds earlier in my life...
Toward the end, Weidensaul discusses two approaches to birding he sees -- one that focuses on lists and locations and chasing the next big thing. As a fairly new birder, I've fallen into this mind set from time to time, for sure. But the other is about just enjoying birds -- learning as much as possible about their habits and habitats, life cycles, and ranges, just generally enjoying being around them and watching them do their thing -- and above all, actively working toward their conservation. Because without birds, there is no birding.
A fantastic overview of a hobby I've only come to embrace lately (and rather late in life). For anyone interested at all in how birding has developed and the characters who were involved, I can't recommend this book (or this author) enough.
September 24, 2023
Liked this one. Would not recommend if you aren’t already interested in birding. Had to keep reminding myself it was written in the early 2000s when it was more acceptable to gloss over the women who contributed to birding and the Native Americans who land and birds we stole. Fun fact: the first iteration of an actual field guide was written and published by a woman in the late 1800’s.
July 4, 2020
One of the best of many bird books I've read. And very topical in this time where the birding community is strongly considering renaming our American birds revoking some or all of the honorific bird names because some were confederates or slave owners. While it is easy to have that sort of knee-jerk reaction, I think this book shared a fascinating american history of ornithology and to judge the past it is much more than black and white. Sure get rid of McCown's Longspur, a confederate general of but not Steller (Steller's Jay, Steller's Albatross) who gave his life to advance science and died on the return trip after being stranded on the remote Commodore islands in the Bering Sea after their ship ran aground. Not Alexander Wilson, (Wilson's Warbler), the poet naturalist who did so much to begin American Ornithology and tried to amass all American ornithological knowledge in one place which led to his early death by overwork and dysentery. Some are less clear, like Charles Bendire (Bendire's Thrasher) who fought on the side of the union and was pro-suffrage but worked for the American army in the southwest quelling Indian uprisings. (Obviously he has blood on his hands and if we changed the Thrasher's name I'd be ok with that one too but my point is that it is more of a mixed bag).
Anyhow, the book is fascinating historical account that gave me a story to a birds name for so many birds. Also, it wraps up beautifully from how Bird-watching turned to the sport of Birding and what pros and cons that had, and how valuable citizen science is for bird conservation today. A great read, I think I'll read it again one day.
Anyhow, the book is fascinating historical account that gave me a story to a birds name for so many birds. Also, it wraps up beautifully from how Bird-watching turned to the sport of Birding and what pros and cons that had, and how valuable citizen science is for bird conservation today. A great read, I think I'll read it again one day.
January 27, 2019
This is an interesting history of birding and ornithology in the U.S. I5 covers the big names of naturalists like Audubon and Peterson as well as fascinating lesser known characters. It also discusses the varied approaches to the study of birds from strictly scientific ornithology to competitive listing, and the entire spectrum in between. It is an engaging and important read for people interested in birds, nature, and conservation.
April 27, 2008
This little book has grown on me. It is mostly a straight history of birding, but in the final chapter Weidensaul gets philosophical about what birding means. He makes a strong argument against the listers, relating a story in which someone told him that the listers were "ornithogolfing." I couldn't agree more. He also tells the story of being on a neotropical trip in which one man did not even look through a scope at the birds as they were found. He merely ticked them off his list, and when the group stopped to look at a violaceous trogon for the second time he asked why they were wasting their time when they could be looking for a new bird. Instead of birding being a window into understanding more about the world we inhabit, it becomes nothing but a competition for good stats. It is bizarre that people can actually spend so much of their time in search of these creatures and yet care so little them.
Being out in groups of birders, I am always amazed by people asking me what birds I need. Need? I didn't realize that came into the equation. I remember the first time I was asked that I didn't understand the question.
I've always been a fan of Weidensaul's writing, but now am even more a fan of him.
Being out in groups of birders, I am always amazed by people asking me what birds I need. Need? I didn't realize that came into the equation. I remember the first time I was asked that I didn't understand the question.
I've always been a fan of Weidensaul's writing, but now am even more a fan of him.
June 29, 2015
If you are not a birder, interested in birds or the natural word, and have no idea what a life list is then you can ignore this review and go find a new vampire novel to read or something.
Now that the bird people are the only ones left: this book is awesome!
With a dry wit and love of birds and their place in the environments where they are found, Weidensaul takes us on a tour of birding as it evolves from amateur naturalists in the 1700 and 1800s, into the purview of scientists, out into the public as a pastime, and into the now with birding's popularity as high as ever. We hear about the big names and also the lesser known folks who have been involved in birding's history. The cultural shifts in how birds are treated and viewed are as important as the birth of the Audubon Society, as conservation became as important as identification.
Weidensaul has a dry wit and the book has many humorous moments. He does a decent job of recognizing that Europeans weren't the first to see these birds and that men have dominated the birding world even as women have made important contributions.
All in all, quite enjoyable.
Now that the bird people are the only ones left: this book is awesome!
With a dry wit and love of birds and their place in the environments where they are found, Weidensaul takes us on a tour of birding as it evolves from amateur naturalists in the 1700 and 1800s, into the purview of scientists, out into the public as a pastime, and into the now with birding's popularity as high as ever. We hear about the big names and also the lesser known folks who have been involved in birding's history. The cultural shifts in how birds are treated and viewed are as important as the birth of the Audubon Society, as conservation became as important as identification.
Weidensaul has a dry wit and the book has many humorous moments. He does a decent job of recognizing that Europeans weren't the first to see these birds and that men have dominated the birding world even as women have made important contributions.
All in all, quite enjoyable.
April 1, 2011
This book was really fun to read. Weidensaul takes you from the early days of the continent's exploration by Europeans, through early art and ornithology (shoot first, ask questions later), to the introduction of binoculars, ending with competitive birding and citizen science initiatives. He covers many of the key players including the early naturalists, activists, artists, and avid birders. My only complaint with the book was the last several chapters where he describes in detail the many aspects of competitive birding (big day, big sit, big year, world series of birding), of which there are so many variations. I would have preferred to see a better discussion of the evolution of modern birding optics. He details the early days where opera glasses were used but never really comes back to discuss how the quality of binoculars and scopes have revolutionized birding.
October 22, 2009
Very readable survey of the history of American interest in birds--all the big names and interesting personalities are here to "meet". I like the direction the author ended up with at the end--a plea to consider "citizen-science" and conservation along with listing. He was pretty tough on listers in general, especially the sort who just show up long enough to "check off" the bird, and then show no apparent interest in it. This is OK with me as this puzzles me as well. So I wasn't at all offended, since I'd much RATHER band birds and watch the nesting pairs in my neighborhood than compile a monstrous list. (Easy for me to say, since I don't HAVE a monstrous list, lol). Very worthwhile read.
June 7, 2020
Found this book at one of those little free libraries.
Compact history of Audubon and other bird pioneers, and the changes from shooting and drawing to opera glasses to bird counts and competitive birding. At the very end the author takes the birding community to task for not being more supportive of conservation efforts like the hunters are.
Compact history of Audubon and other bird pioneers, and the changes from shooting and drawing to opera glasses to bird counts and competitive birding. At the very end the author takes the birding community to task for not being more supportive of conservation efforts like the hunters are.
November 25, 2012
A good introduction to bird books, bird guides and bird listing, I enjoyed much of the book although parts of it I found a bit dry.
Here's my longer review:
http://www.leoraw.com/blog/2012/11/bo...
Here's my longer review:
http://www.leoraw.com/blog/2012/11/bo...
September 16, 2018
This book was a delight. Starting with the early origins of birding in America and following through to the present, all the great names are included along with others you may have not known. There are some wonderful photos, portraits, and paintings included. The book tells how bird collecting and shooting turned into the present day pastime (or obsession) of birding. Whether you are a frenetic lister or casual backyard observer or anywhere in between you will surely find yourself nodding in recognition of moments we all have shared in birding: the wonder of that first up-close observation, the distress at realizing that your bird book was missing birds you might see, the delight in that once in a lifetime rarity. I will admit to having a great number of birding books, including that first "inadequate" guide, and to keeping a second copy of my favorite guide in the glove box of my car, just in case. I remember seeing Roger Tory Peterson at Hawk Mountain, and the amount of respect and awe the bird nerds in the crowd had for him. The book goes on to identify the movers and shakers of the present birding community and ends with the hope that birding can somewhat return to its roots in conservation, because it really is all about the love of birds in their habitat and not just a checkmark on a list.
March 18, 2020
Weidensaul is a good writer. I like his style. Breezy yet senstive. Factual but freewheeling. Casual but not carefree. He has certainly done his homework and has the street creds (or bush creds, too) to talk about this amazing pheonomenon that has exploded across the country since WWII.
I do enough bird watching to follow a lot of the earlier birders and to understand, too, how he sees the future of appreciation for ornithology versus the list-obsession competition.
Most of us only know Roger Tory Peterson but Weisdensaul introduces us to an amazing cast of characters (some likeable and some maybe not) but all with an interest in bird watching and their drive to have this "sport" have a place in American life. I know from personal experience that birders go out in all kinds of weather, to the back corners of the county, day and night, to get those rare chances at seeing something else would just overlook.
While this book is more for birders, you don't have to be an avid birder to enjoy it. I like what he says and I like how he says it.
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I do enough bird watching to follow a lot of the earlier birders and to understand, too, how he sees the future of appreciation for ornithology versus the list-obsession competition.
Most of us only know Roger Tory Peterson but Weisdensaul introduces us to an amazing cast of characters (some likeable and some maybe not) but all with an interest in bird watching and their drive to have this "sport" have a place in American life. I know from personal experience that birders go out in all kinds of weather, to the back corners of the county, day and night, to get those rare chances at seeing something else would just overlook.
While this book is more for birders, you don't have to be an avid birder to enjoy it. I like what he says and I like how he says it.
###
May 13, 2024
I'm glad to be among those who sit around in a park with my binoculars or walk a quiet trail through the woods in search of a bird. It it fascinating to read this history of the evolution of bird watching.
I'm still sad every time I read a new book on birds and learn how many birds have been killed in the name of big Science. I have little use for the god of science preferring instead citizen science where we look, learn, and leave things alone.
I'm also among those who would NOT in any way want to pay extra taxes on birdseed or binoculars. I'd rather give money to an org or local group. But I do think the author is right to point out that we do need to think about conservation and protecting habitat for birds (and bugs, and bees, and other fauna.) I just think that it should happen locally, starting in our backyard.
I know it's an older book, but it was a good book. I award five enthusiastic stars.
I'm still sad every time I read a new book on birds and learn how many birds have been killed in the name of big Science. I have little use for the god of science preferring instead citizen science where we look, learn, and leave things alone.
I'm also among those who would NOT in any way want to pay extra taxes on birdseed or binoculars. I'd rather give money to an org or local group. But I do think the author is right to point out that we do need to think about conservation and protecting habitat for birds (and bugs, and bees, and other fauna.) I just think that it should happen locally, starting in our backyard.
I know it's an older book, but it was a good book. I award five enthusiastic stars.
September 7, 2025
Wow! Other than the gross-out parts—can you begin to imagine how many hawks were shot at Hawk Mountain before they came up with the idea of counting them alive instead of shooting them? And all the stupid ladies’ stupid hats causing the near-extinction of plume-bearing birds.
But past those sorts of things, and bearing in mind that for many, many years, studying birds meant shooting them, this was a fascinating, irresistible book! Very detailed but not so detailed as to be draggy, but just so very, very informative. He did his research for real and it really shows. Loved it!
p.s. It’s not brief at all
But past those sorts of things, and bearing in mind that for many, many years, studying birds meant shooting them, this was a fascinating, irresistible book! Very detailed but not so detailed as to be draggy, but just so very, very informative. He did his research for real and it really shows. Loved it!
p.s. It’s not brief at all
May 4, 2025
Awesome Book! I never knew the “ Old” term of Bird Watching has changed in this Modern Digital Age, to “ Birding”!
I lost My Eyesight over Twenty years ago, when I was nearly Killed In the Line of Duty backing up another Police Officer.
So I read alot of Audio Books and this is is a Great one!
I can sit on My Back Porch and identify Birds by using an Free app by Cornell University called: Merlin Bird Id
I can identify the Birds of various Types by their Songs & chirps!
So even the Totally Blind can Bird “ Watch”
🥰
I lost My Eyesight over Twenty years ago, when I was nearly Killed In the Line of Duty backing up another Police Officer.
So I read alot of Audio Books and this is is a Great one!
I can sit on My Back Porch and identify Birds by using an Free app by Cornell University called: Merlin Bird Id
I can identify the Birds of various Types by their Songs & chirps!
So even the Totally Blind can Bird “ Watch”
🥰
May 12, 2022
It was kind of annoying he kept trying to throw out admittedly dubious stats on number of "birders". The timeline jumps back and forth and between people. It seems inherent to trying to tell a history that you have to pick certain figures and organizations to focus on. This is worth a read to anyone interested in birds,American history, etc. You will probably want to look up other books and there is a very good reference section in the back to find more resources of interest.
February 20, 2023
An interesting history and the responsibilities of birders
I never stopped to think how bird watching became a hobby or how field guides came to aid identifications, but this covers it all. The author bares the bad parts as well as the good. He leaves us with a desire to instill in birders, New and experienced alike, a sense of responsibility to be involved in conservation efforts to protectors and their habitats. A very enjoyable read.
I never stopped to think how bird watching became a hobby or how field guides came to aid identifications, but this covers it all. The author bares the bad parts as well as the good. He leaves us with a desire to instill in birders, New and experienced alike, a sense of responsibility to be involved in conservation efforts to protectors and their habitats. A very enjoyable read.
November 9, 2024
This is a great book for anyone who loves the culture and dedication behind birding/birdwatching. I especially loved the descriptions of early explorers looking for birds. I also thought that the characterization of listers was important...it really made me consider who I am as a bird lover. The ending was encouraging and uplifting. Great book! And I think I've saved at least 5 books talked about in this text for further reading. It's perfect!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2019
I find the history of people who enjoy nature, more specifically bird watchers to be interesting. It is the efforts of so many people who have searched the lives of birds and documented them that has made it so much easier for the likes of me to identify and enjoy them.
February 14, 2020
Probably not for those not already interested in birding, but a useful history of this wonderful, adaptable, peaceful, stimulating hobby. It has inspired me to get my binoculars out for tomorrow's Great Backyard Bird Count.
March 4, 2021
A well-written book about the 'beginning' and advancement of Birding. He gently encourages all who enjoy birds to promote natural-conservationism and consider the habitats that birds need and how those habitats can be supported and protected.
June 8, 2017
Best birding book I've read.
January 13, 2019
The good chapters were fascinating and enlightening. The slow chapters were almost unreadable. Kudos for the all the women profiled!
March 10, 2019
A good condensed history of birding in the US with the last chapter aptly pointing out the need for more birders to get interested in habitat conservation. Weidensaul is a very good writer.
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