To See Every Bird on Earth: A Father, a Son, and a Lifelong Obsession by Dan Koeppel. First published 2005.
In To See Every Bird On Earth, Dan Koeppel tells of his father's lifelong obsession with birds. It's a well-written biography of an average man who excelled within an elite group of birders. The personal story of his father is seamlessly interwoven with background information on the origins of American ornithology, the development of birding as a hobby, and the first birders who went on to join the ranks of "big listers."
Koeppel delves deep into his family history, beginning with his grandparents' hopes and dreams for their only child, Richard, the author's father. Young Richard went from looking for birds around his New York home to becoming a serious big-lister later in life. Family pressures led Richard away from a career in birds and instead towards a degree in medicine. Still, birds remained an important part of his life, through school, raising a family, and beyond.
The biography is told chronologically, a running tally of Richard's life list increasing chapter by chapter. The momentum from casual birder to obsessed lister builds slowly while the reader gets to know the complicated, conflicted protagonist. Unfortunately, without giving too much away, I found the resolution to the story's buildup to be a bit of a let-down. Still, the bulk of the book was an enjoyable and well-written read. I give To See Every Bird On Earth 3.5 Goldfinches out of 5.
A Rant of Ravens by Christine Goff. First published 2000. As reviewed and pictured: softcover, 207 pages. The last time I tried reading a birder-themed mystery novel, I was sorely disappointed. With that in mind, I honestly didn't expect too much out of Christine Goff's A Rant of...
Earlier this year, I got my hands on a copy of Birds of Europe: Second Edition (Princeton Field Guides). This review is part two of two; the first part is here. Back in April, when I first looked at The Birds of Europe, I had high...
Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl by Stacey O'Brien. First published 2008. As reviewed and pictured: Softcover, 237 pages. A few months ago, I was holding Pip, FCWR's education Barn Owl (pictured below), at a public program. A woman came up to...
How to Be a Better Birder by Derek Lovitch. Published 2012. As reviewed and pictured: softcover, 192 pages. I haven't been out birding as much as I would like lately. That means it has been very good time to catch up on my bird reading. What better place to...
