Call number
Publication
New York : Pantheon Books, c2005.
Pages
x; 221
Description
Barnes shows us why birdwatching is not the preserve of twitchers, but one of the simplest, cheapest and most rewarding pastimes around
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2004
Physical description
x, 221 p.; 7.9 inches
ISBN
0375423559 / 9780375423550
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Eat_Read_Knit
Instructions for being a bad birdwatcher: "Look out of the window. See a bird. Enjoy it. Congratulations. You are now a bad birdwatcher."
This is a book about watching and enjoying birds. Not 'learning all about birds', or 'learning all about birdwatching'. Just enjoying birds. It's a book about the
Filled with humour, reminiscences and slightly offbeat observations, Barnes eschews technical jargon and the exotic delights of obscure species in favour of analogies with football and the obvious importance of interacting with our surroundings and our furred and feathered neighbours.
This is a book that made me really observe and appreciate the crow that hopped down the road this morning in search of discarded chips.
This is a book about watching and enjoying birds. Not 'learning all about birds', or 'learning all about birdwatching'. Just enjoying birds. It's a book about the
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elemental struggle between that robin and the earthworm it's trying to pull out of the ground, about grinning with glee over fluffy ducklings and about the life and death drama of the suburban bird-table. Filled with humour, reminiscences and slightly offbeat observations, Barnes eschews technical jargon and the exotic delights of obscure species in favour of analogies with football and the obvious importance of interacting with our surroundings and our furred and feathered neighbours.
This is a book that made me really observe and appreciate the crow that hopped down the road this morning in search of discarded chips.
Show Less
LibraryThing member krypto
A lovely tribute to the joys of birdwatching, and appreciating the beauty in everyday experience.
LibraryThing member reading_fox
Fuuny. More of the philoosophy of birdwatching. Doesn't actually contain any descriptions of any birds. But then there are 000s of other books that do, wheras this is the only book I know of that will consol you after a wet day not seeing anything - because of course you did see alot of things you
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just failed to recognise why they were interesting. Show Less
LibraryThing member psiloiordinary
A lovely book. Short, quick, light and uplifting.
Not about what it is supposed to be about. Well kind of. It is about bird watching, but mainly it is about enjoying the fact that birds exist and how we can all get along together on planet earth.
Try this if you have a hankering after birds or if you
The book walks us through various easy to get your head around concepts in the word of birding, whilst at the same time giving out hints about how to be a decent human being.
A few anecdotes about sudden death from the skies and how to get along with your dad sit comfortably side by side. We do also get some useful birding advice for beginners.
I enjoyed this.
Not about what it is supposed to be about. Well kind of. It is about bird watching, but mainly it is about enjoying the fact that birds exist and how we can all get along together on planet earth.
Try this if you have a hankering after birds or if you
Show More
have no interest at all. The book walks us through various easy to get your head around concepts in the word of birding, whilst at the same time giving out hints about how to be a decent human being.
A few anecdotes about sudden death from the skies and how to get along with your dad sit comfortably side by side. We do also get some useful birding advice for beginners.
I enjoyed this.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rob_AC
As a self-confessed bad birdwatcher I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It manages to educate the birding novice whilst at the same time poking gentle fun at the obsessives.
LibraryThing member jon1lambert
Really enjoyable book. It has regenerated my interest in birds. It sums up the seeing a great-spotted woodpecker moment brilliantly.
LibraryThing member SqueakyChu
This is truly a wonderful book. I've always been interested in watching birds, although that interest waxes and wanes as I go off on other tangents. This book gives me permission to do just that! It basically says that I don't have to be a "twitcher", a term used in England for an avid birdwatcher
Simon Barnes talks about a bird's place in nature and how to appreciate all kinds of birds by simply noting their presence, listening to their sounds and using all opportunities to learn more about them. He writes, "In fact, the notion of common birds and rare birds begins to look like nothing more than a kind of snobbery." I love this attitude of laying down the life list and simply being mindful in the presence of birds.
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or one who obsessively check off birds on a "life list". Simon Barnes writes, "In fact, the notion of common birds and rare birds begins to look like nothing more than a kind of snobbery."Simon Barnes talks about a bird's place in nature and how to appreciate all kinds of birds by simply noting their presence, listening to their sounds and using all opportunities to learn more about them. He writes, "In fact, the notion of common birds and rare birds begins to look like nothing more than a kind of snobbery." I love this attitude of laying down the life list and simply being mindful in the presence of birds.
Show Less