An Exhilaration of Wings: The Literature of Birdwatching

Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: At last we see the aesthetic side of birdwatching presented with a sensitivity so often lacking in nature writing. Whereas many birding volumes revert to more and more pedantic description, this is a work which, as its title suggests, invites us to experience a little of the ecstacy of flight itself. We study birds because we are inspired by them, but too many birding books concentrate on the study and not the inspiration. In this work the writings of a wide variety of knowledgeable writers--both well-known and obscure--present in often touching prose their first-hand observations of and experiences with a passtime they love. The careful organization makes this a useful reference work, akin to Bartlett's, for those in search of just the right inspirational quote. These are transcendent moments which otherwise might be lost in mouldering libraries, and I have been personally touched by many of the seemingly inconsequential but thoroughly delightful scenes recorded here. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to lift themselves or their friends above what can often be the drudgery of daily life, who would like to remember that birds fly, they are beautiful, and there is something magnificent in that.

Rating:
Summary: Literary and inspirational
Review: At last we see the aesthetic side of birdwatching presented with a sensitivity so often lacking in nature writing. Whereas many birding volumes revert to more and more pedantic description, this is a work which, as its title suggests, invites us to experience a little of the ecstacy of flight itself. We study birds because we are inspired by them, but too many birding books concentrate on the study and not the inspiration. In this work the writings of a wide variety of knowledgeable writers--both well-known and obscure--present in often touching prose their first-hand observations of and experiences with a passtime they love. The careful organization makes this a useful reference work, akin to Bartlett's, for those in search of just the right inspirational quote. These are transcendent moments which otherwise might be lost in mouldering libraries, and I have been personally touched by many of the seemingly inconsequential but thoroughly delightful scenes recorded here. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to lift themselves or their friends above what can often be the drudgery of daily life, who would like to remember that birds fly, they are beautiful, and there is something magnificent in that.

Rating:
Summary: Two "wings" up
Review: I am not a birdwatcher. But Jen Hill's collection of writings on our avian friends is a new fixture on my coffee table. Despite Hill's seemingly daunting credentials - a PhD candidate at Cornell - An Exhilaration of Wings is not an intellectual tome. From her inciteful and, at times, humorous introduction - she points out that Theodore Roosevelt, an enthusiastic birdwatcher despite his poor eyesight, is the only president on Mt. Rushmore wearing glasses - I began the book wishing she had written it herself rather than culling quotes from others. Through the eyes of nature lovers like Thoreau, Audubon, and Wordsworth, to name just three of over 75 writers, famous and unknown, she tells us of birds and their habits, and arcane bird trivia we never thought we needed to know until now. With an eye and ear of someone who, no doubt, regularly escapes the Ivory Tower, Hill has compiled these quotes into chapters with a relaxing rhythm. Reading just a few is like receiving a neck massage during a stressful day. I will pick up the book again and again. And I begin tomorrow with one more reason to look out the window.

Rating:
Summary: The perfect gift!
Review: Spent a whole evening on the porch with this fine book. Jen Hill has chosen a wonderful range of writing about birds and the people who watch them. The introduction and the selections on bird behavior were especially fascinating. As a bonus this book will make you laugh. The perfect gift for every birdwatcher and nature lover.

Rating:
Summary: Romantic?
Review: The "romantic" birder will enjoy the many written excerpts that Hill includes in her book. The "analytical" birder may prefer something more prosaic. Not sure if you are a romantic birder or an analytical birder?...Read ths book and find out.

Rating:
Summary: A thoroughly enjoyable book.
Review: The selections in this book are sometimes hilarious, sometimes very moving, and always fascinating. The introduction is superb--it reminded me that bird watching is an invention, like basketball or football, and that its practitioners write about birds in ways that are determined by historical moment and cultural context. The book taught me a great deal about 18th and 19th Century culture and even more about birds and the obsessive and affectionate pursuit of them for the mere pleasure of seeing them in their natural habitats. This book was a pleasure all the way.

Rating:
Summary: A Riveting and Endlessly Pleasurable Read!
Review: This book is an endlessly pleasurable read! Both seasoned birdwatchers and those utterly new to the field will instantly be riveted. Passages covering everything from quirky nesting habits to the gorgeous violence of hunting tactics are by turns riotously funny with nineteenth-century "scientific" disinformation and exquisite with the power of undistilled natural beauty. This walk through the cultural history of birders and birdwatching had me laughing out loud and silent with awe. The thrill of finding a gem of an old book tucked away in a dusty corner of the library has, with Hill's tireless archival research, here been multiplied a thousandfold. I couldn't put this book down!

Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: This book is awesome. I read it while jammin' on the crete at the Ithaca board park. Love it man. No school, birds rule!

Rating:
Summary: The Heart and Soul of Bird Watching
Review: This book offers a wonderful look at the historical roots of bird watching. How refreshing to read truly emotional responses to the experience of learning about birds through observation. The wonderful blend of writings underscores the universality and agelessness of the sport.

This book is perfect for short reads -- great to pick up for a moment, either to refresh oneself or to share with a friend. It is a perfect gift for any bird lover -- I have purchased 6 copies to date!

Rating:
Summary: A "must read" for birdwatchers, fanciers, and ecologists.
Review: This survey of the literature surrounding birdwatching gathers together some of the most intriguing writings under one cover, exploring the literary side of the observations of Muir, Audubon, and others. These take the form of paragraphs of information which explore sightings and bird ecology.