How to Be a Bad Birdwatcher

A terrific, funny romp through the process of learning to effortlessly enjoy what is right in front of us anyway, by an author who is great company--you won't want the trip to end. A book to share and re-read when you are in a bad mood someday.One of my favorite reads recently.

This is a very charming book. The author uses simple idea to pull you up short. takes some very simple ideas and pulls you up short - the reason people wathc birds is that they are available (try looking for a wild mammal to watch ... now look for a bird. You get the point). As the book progresses it begins to reveal, almost as if by accident, the real reason for bird watching. The fascination of habits and diversity, certainly, but this also includes the joy of simply looking and the even greater joy of sharing it. A quietly inspiring book with a lot of laughs as well.

Having once worked as a professonal naturalist and now working as an editor in the outdoor publications field, I loved this book. It brought me back to the excitement of being outside and just enjoying nature. Obviously the book is about birds on the surface, but it is much more than that, a delightful, fun book about the joy of nature that I enjoyed reading. I love Barnes writing style -- it kept me going throughout the whole book.

If you have a little trouble getting my title;you'll surely know what it means if you read this gem of a book.I have been an avid birder for close to 20 years.In that time I have compiled a list of nearly 600 species in North America,met and birded with hundreds of other birders,made numerous friends,travelled far and wide, as well as locally,joined several bird clubs,served on executives,read hundreds of 'bird books';and own around 1000 books dealing with every aspect of birdwatching.With all that;I am pleased to call myself a 'Bad Birdwatcher';even though I had never heard the term before. What makes this book so good is that it does an excellent job of telling what birding is all about,the many ways one can partake in it,and what attracts so many to it.In other words,if you want to see what birding really is or want to give a friend a book to find out for themselves,what this birding you do is all about;then you won't find a better book . The author is an experienced birder from Britain,and quite a bit of what he talks about is birding in Britain.Don't let that disuade you as he covers a lot of other countries and everything he says is applicable to any country as well as very good for a rank amateur to the most seasoned 'expert'. He also talks about something I don't believe I've ever seen covered.He explains the reason for this interest in birds and not other animals,insects,and other species.That's not to say that some people get interested in butterflies,mammals,etc.;but birdwatching outstrips them all. "Anyone who has ever gazed up at the sky or stared out of the window,knows something about birds.In this funny,inspiring eye-opening book Simon Barnes paints a riviting picture of how birdwatching has framed his life and can help all of us to a better understanding of our place on this planet." A great addition to the numerous bird books,but one that is different and has something to offer for everyone;be they already a birder or just interested.

I can't say enough good things about this book. Lovely, lovely lovely; charming and thoughtfully written. And I've been inspired to be a bad birdwatcher myself, purchasing a pair of "bins" and a local bird guidebook and going out to see what I could see. And I saw much, including my first-ever tiny indigo bunting! I may be hooked. I've already bought several copies of this book for friends. Wonderful.