Birdwatcher: The Life of Roger Tory Peterson

When Elizabeth J. Rosenthal sat down to write a biography, she certainly did not skimp on the research nor flit over any details. This is probably one of the most concise, in-depth and well researched books of this particular genre I have ever read. Roger Tory Peterson of course will forever have his name liked to birds and birding. Before Peterson, life for the average birder was a grim and frustrating affair. This one man revolutionized the hobby of "bird watching" and opened up an entire new world for millions of people. As this wonderful work so well points out though, his contributions to science and in particular conservation are almost beyond measure. Ms Rosenthal has traced and documented the life and work of one of America's greatest (if not the greatest) naturalist, and as any good biography, her work starts with the development of the man and gives us a blow by blow account of his entire life; not only his professional, but also his personal. I seriously doubt if there will be any work addressing the Great Man's life that will be the equal of this. But surprisingly, despite the care and attention to minutia the author has given to Dr. Peterson's life, she has given us so much more with this work. By its reading, the reader will receive a very good overview of the conservation effort in this country, a wonderful history of birding, inside glimpses in the life of many species of birds, a very readable travel log and an insiders look into the politics of organizations such as the Audubon Society, Conservations Agencies, and a plethora of other conservation organizations to which Peterson gave so much and so greatly influenced. We also receive some very nice peeks into the lives of many of his scientific and artistic contemporaries. I was particularly interested in the area dealing with the fight over the use of the horrid pesticide DDT and his work with the author of Silent Spring. It is fascinating that the mindless greed, corruption and ignorance that these earlier pioneers faced in saving so much of what is valuable to us as a society, are alive and well, and with us even to this day. Go figure. Rosenthal has given us a very readable work here. She has not, as other reviewers have pointed out, presented Peterson's story in strict chronological order, but has rather broken it down into areas to which he was concerned and the different stages of his development. This will at first take the reader off guard, but as soon as you realize what she is doing, you will find it works quite well. The text is smooth and it is well footnoted. I can, with some confidence, make the statement that this work is well researched due to the fact that I happen to have been, and am aware, of many of the facts she presents. I was unable to find one miss on her part. Even when the author presents facts in a way that are "her opinion," she is quite justified in doing so and pretty well justifies her findings and observations. Another are

Rosenthal has produced an extremely readable and fascinating book about the life of a giant in the field of ornithology. Roger Tory Peterson is perhaps one of the most influential and most important figures in the world of birds. His name is just as recognizable as other giants, like Seton, Nuttall, Audubon, or Darwin. Upon the publication of his first bird field guide in 1934, with his famous field mark system, the public began to embrace birds, and for the first time, bird observation became an accessible pastime for the average person. Peterson's voluminous publishing efforts resulted in possibly the biggest ripple effect in wildlife conservation. Birds and wildlife became a tangible topic for the public to process, as well as a source of inspiration for generations of ecologists and biologists. Rosenthal's book is divided into five parts spanning 19 chapters: Fledgling, Intercontinental Migration, Paradoxical Homo Sapiens, Conservation Stories, and Inspiring Flights. Near the center of the book is a collection of photo plates (color and B & W) focusing on Peterson and his close friends. The book is written such that Peterson becomes a living, breathing soul through the voices and comments of more than 100 interviewees who knew and loved Peterson. The diligent research conducted by Rosenthal illustrates a highly accurate and personal journey into the life of the "Great Man." Peterson was multi-faceted: he was an artist, photographer, writer, filmmaker, and scientist. But more than just birds interested him; he loved to talk about moths and butterflies and could think in terms of the bigger ecological picture. Rosenthal eloquently communicates just how important and influential Peterson was. He touched many lives, and enough cannot be said how he affected many naturalists and biologists, like Rachel Carson, Kenn Kaufman, David Sibley, and Scott Weidensaul. Perhaps the biggest theme in the book is Peterson's constant interest in conservation. Nearly everything he wrote came from a conservation standpoint. Birds cannot survive without an intact ecosystem and are indicators of an unhealthy environment. Peterson could tell that something was wrong when the Ospreys quit producing viable eggs or when particular moth species stopped visiting his studio window. Birds are also a form of time. The appearance of a bird indicates a particular season and the absence of a bird where it should be opened the idea that not all is well. Peterson wanted his astute observation skills taught and passed along to future generations. As Peterson wrote in 1975: Birds are far more than cardinals and jays to brighten the garden, ducks and grouse to fill the sportsman's bag, or warblers and rare shorebirds to be ticked off on the bird watcher's checklist. They are indicators of the environment - a sort of "ecological litmus paper." Because of their high rate of metabolism and furious pace of living, they reflect subtle changes in the environment rat

Finally, the most informative and honest account of the life of a man who galvanized the bird-watching revolution with his great art work. Peterson bird books are available for most of the world now, and this was the shy fellow who did them. I was part of the crowd who followed him even before he published his first book, on the birds of eastern North America. In retrospect, I realize it is not the most happy thing to become so very famous, but he weathered the life of a celebrity as well as he possibly could. This should be in every bird-watcher's library!

This is an accurate and vital portrait of Roger Tory Peterson. The author brings the visionary artist/conservationist back to life: She interviewed over 100 surviving colleagues and proteges, so the book is full of excellent quotes and great stories. She also quotes extensively from RTP's writings. The result feels alive, not dry or academic. It is a remarkable form of biography, and is also carefully accurate in my experience. One gets a sense of how environmental education and conservation were done: The field guides; the DDT story; restoration of endangered birds such as the Peregrine Falcon (and RTP's similar vision for the California Condor); and great land conservation campaigns such as the Coto Donana in Spain; are all carefully and colorfully documented. This is great reading, and it is an engaging book for students too.

Roger Tory Peterson is the most famous birdwatcher in history. 2008 is the 100th anniversary of his birth, and what better way to celebrate it than by learning more about the man himself? After reading this book, you will not only find out much about Peterson's life and accomplishments, but you will come to know the man personally. The biographer conducted extensive interviews with his relatives, friends, and disciples (or in some cases their spouses or children). Their voice, often in the form of direct quotes, permeates the book. This was a very effective technique, and contributed much to the reader's growing sense of familiarity with Peterson. Instead of being organized in a stricly chronological order, Rosenthal instead organizes much of the book by topic. When Peterson's life started branching out in many directions, they are focused on seperately. Thus, there are chapters on conservation efforts, travels, the continuing saga of the field guides, and the people that he influenced. With the exception of that last one, which seemed very incongruously placed, the story still flows in a very understandable fashion. This organization, instead of being confusing, actually helped keep me engaged and interested. Overall, Birdwatcher is a well-written and enjoyable look at the life of the most famous birder in history. After reading this biography, I certainly know much more about Roger Tory Peterson's life and accomplishments. But what's more, I feel like I got to know the man himself. If you would like to do the same, this book is a great way to do so.