How to Be a Bad Birdwatcher

More about the book

Look out the window. See a bird. Enjoy it. Congratulations! You are now a bad birdwatcher. In this irreverent introduction, Simon Barnes makes birdwatching simple and enjoyable. Anyone who has ever gazed at the sky knows something about birds—the brisk sparrow, the carefree seagull, the powerful hawk. Birds are beautiful, omnipresent, and embody the human aspiration of flight. Birdwatching begins with the habit of looking, allowing birds into your life gradually, much like remembering the names of people you've enjoyed meeting. Sharing this experience with others enhances it even more. Barnes suggests that birdwatching can even mend relationships, as it did for him with his father. He shares relaxed principles of birdwatching while highlighting the joy of discovering birds in various places, from kingfishers in Kashmir to hawks over the Great Lakes, and even those in your backyard. No matter where you live, birds can connect you to the greater glory of life. Funny, enthusiastic, and inspiring, this guide shows that you don’t need fancy binoculars or extensive checklists to explore a new world. So, start looking. See that bird . . . Enjoy it!