A favorite birding author

While adding books to LibraryThing I've been pausing from time to time to read favorite excerpts from Alexander Skutch's books:

http://www.surfbirds.com/Features/skutch0504.html

These include A Naturalist On A Tropical Farm, Life Of The Tanager, A Birdwatcher's Adventures In Tropical America, Birds Of Tropical America, Life Of The Woodpecker and Helpers At Birds' Nests.

A wonderful man - one of my heroes.

Another bird book well worth reading is Bird Of Life, Bird Of Death by Jonathan Maslow. While traveling in Guatemala in the 1980s, searching for the resplendent quetzal (the sacred bird of the Mayas), the author also made important observations about the poverty of the people, the ongoing revolution in the countryside and the ravages of murderous death squads.

Yes - did you know you can read it online? When shelf space is limited...
http://birdsbybent.com/contents.htm

NON FIELD GUIDES

There is no dearth of authors who write well about birds. However, aside from field guide authors and artists - that is a different kettle of fish! - the following would be some of my favourites:-

David Lack. His The Life of the Robin and Swifts in a Tower are early examples of popular science writing and inspired my first birding years. They still make wonderful reading about these European species.

Alexander Skutch (as mentioned above). Not only is he an extremely readable popular writer, but his work as a naturalist stands up to rigorous scientific scrutiny. He is one of the shining examples of a non-professional (he was a botanist, not an ornithologist) making a significant contribution to science through detailed observation of natural history. Even today, many of his observations have not been improved on. All of his works are worthwhile. His Antbirds and Ovenbirds is one of my favourites, but Life of the Flycatcher is close behind. A Naturalist in Costa Rica is essential background for a trip to that country. Of course he DID also co-author Birds of Costa Rica.

Steve Hilty. Well known as the author of two of the world's best field guides, A Guide to the Birds of Colombia and Birds of Venezuela. His prowess as a popular writer is amply demonstrated in Birds of Tropical America: A Watcher's Introduction to Behavior, Breeding, and Diversity which makes a superb introduction to tropical birding.

Donald Kroodsma, a leading expert on bird song, is not so well known in the popular literature but The Singing Life of Birds is a masterly and thoroughly readable account.

Don Stap is a gifted writer on birds. His A Parrot Without a Name is a gripping account of ornithologists in South America, focussing on the group at LSU which included the legendary Ted Parker, John O'Neill and James Van Remsen. He has a newer book on Birdsong: A Natural History which I have not read.

Paul Ehrlich. A lucid, provocative and prolific author. Paul is an entomologist but The Birders Handbook. A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds or it's European equivalent The Birdwatcher's Handbook: A Guide to the Natural History of the Birds of Britain and Europe are authoritative compendia.

For a book on birders rather than birds, I found Mark Cocker's Birders: Tales of a Tribe addictive, though it has a unashamedly British focus that might not be so satisfying outside the UK community. Cocker is a very engaging writer. Birds Britannica is perhaps his magnum opus.

Hi, I saw this dormant thread and joined so that I could ask a question. I am trying to find the name of a short story that involved girls birding at a summer camp. It is a comic story about two city girls conniving their way to the top of the camp birding club. I think it was probably written in the 20's, 30's or 40's by a female author. As I recall the voice sounded like it could have been written by someone with a Dorothy Park type wit. Any leads would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

>7 gwickham:

You may be lucky here, but your better bet is to post your query to the Name that Book group.