One of the best things about being interested in birds is that there is plenty of literature revolving around the subject matter. Each year, we are presented with book after book regarding the avian world, some from the legends of the bird nerd world, and others coming from the new or famous. I can’t say Lili Taylor is new to the bird world. Apparently, she’s on several boards of several institutions, but she’s new to my birding world.
And yes, this is the actress Lili Taylor, for those of you with inquiring minds. What I like about her book “Turning to Birds: The Power and Beauty of Noticing” is the basic premise. Pay attention. This is how I came to birding. Just started paying attention. I enjoyed this book. She spends time in Santa Fe and has that naive outsider take on the city, which does irritate, but I’ve heard it so many times now that I’ve come to expect it. (Actors are always quick to judge for some reason.) The book is worth a look.
Bruce Beehler’s “North on the Wing: Travels with the Songbird Migration of Spring” isn’t an exciting book, and it does get a bit in the weeds with what he sees at specific locations, but I found the book to be educational and motivational. All I can think about is retracing his route. Epic. Based on this book, I picked up his latest, which traces another epic voyage. I love books that are a mix of personal journey combined with informational data. Well done, Brucey.
And finally, we have Chris Sweeney’s “The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne.” Women have taken a beating over the years. Heck, they are taking a beating now. Just listen to a Trump presser if you need a reminder of the sexism permeating our world, but back when Roxie Laybourne was doing her thing, she was dealing with a myriad of patronizing men. But nothing stopped her. If you want to read about a woman on a mission, look no further than Roxie, a feather detective who is a legendary character in the bird world. Her work with FBI investigations, bird strike investigations for the FAA, and much, much more, get a copy of this baby. Anytime you hear “Forensic ornithology,” you can thank Roxie.
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Dan- You might also enjoy “What An Owl Knows: The new science of the world’s most enigmatic birds” by Jennifer Ackerman, who also wrote “The Genius of Birds” and “The Bird Way.”
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She hits consistent home runs.
When people think of Greenland, they think of polar bears (you’ll be disappointed to learn that even most Greenlanders have never seen one). What those of us who live here think of are ravens. One of my true joys is to sit at my living room window with a cup of tea and watch them play in the wind above the fjord just below my apartment. They are playful yet majestic, and their antics can last for hours – revelling in the pure joy of play.
I read 2 amazing books last year about ravens that you might enjoy: “Ravens in Winter” and “Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds” both by Bernd Heinrich. Highly recommended!
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First off, what a name you have. So jealous. All I know about Greenland comes from Walter Mitty. So, I know nothing cause it was Iceland if I remember correctly. Oh, and I know you don’t want us as a landlord. We will screw everything up so a handful of rich people can get slightly richer. Yesterday, my wife and I watched a pair of ravens do some sort of dance together.
hahaha – I’m Australian with the last name Germany living in Greenland. Noone ever forgets my name 😛 Yeah – Greenland and Iceland are very different places. I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Iceland as well and love it there, but Greenland is unlike anywhere else. We’d very much like to keep it that way.
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My eyes just crossed. I think I should be invited to Greenland to photograph and reinforce everything you already know.
Would love to invite you! But you’ll need deep pockets – it’s definitely not a cheap place to be or travel! Almost every photographer goes to one of three places – Ilulissat in summer (for the Icebergs and the boat with red sails that only appears during those months), Uummannaq in winter (for frozen sea + icebergs), or Tasermiut in summer (near Nanortalik for the big climbing walls). You see very little from the rest of the country, even though it’s all spectacular.
I highly recommend you check out Carsten Egevang’s work: https://www.carstenegevang.com/ B&W man (after your own heart), amazing photographer, and he focuses on capturing and communicating the Greenlandic culture, as well as the science that underpins elements of life in Greenland. His latest book is about the seabirds of Greenland – a collaboration with the Greenland Institute of Natural Resources and Aarhus University.
Pity I didn’t discover your work a little earlier, as I’m leaving at the end of March after living here for 7 years 🙁
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Did someone say a book on birds? That’s all I needed to hear. Thank you for the recommendation.