We're having the music first today, pop-pickers .... sung beautifully by Dominique A, whom I once described as "two rugby players welded together" .... who just happens to sing like an angel ... But why ? ... well, that song reminded me of a remarkable passage in Kenn Kaufman's terrific book, Kingbird Highway .... but first, what sort of a book is it ? Yes, he really did all that ... and the book is crammed with all the things he did, all the birds he tracked down, all the people he met , all the incidents that happened. If any book can be described as a rollercoaster, this one is the one . My copy is a bit special, by the way .... So ... all that stuff in the song about birds courageously facing the icy winds evokes a long episode in the book where they sat out a huge, freezing coastal storm surrounded by masses of windblown birds, particularly Myrtle Warblers, most of whom presumably perished in their many thousands. That icy storm starts on p 82 ... and carries on to page 93 ..... such is the magnitude of the event. Mind you, that's in my "uncorrected proof" ..it might be different in the real thing. And here's another thing .... it's a big book ... 300 + pages . Remember my "index" thing ... "every book should have one" ... well, maybe the "final" version does have ..... it would be terrific.... so many things happen. If that isn't a recommendation, I don't know what is. And if you don't believe me, here's some reviews ... What a great read! As a birder I knew of this book as it is occasionally mentioned in other birding sources. It covers a roughly two year period when the author who was still in his teens and with a passion for birding that was quite remarkable for a teenager in 1970's America, sets out on a birding odyssey. As he hitchhikes round the mainland US he recounts his interactions with other birders, the birds he sees, and his experiences on the road. What could have been a boring checklist is so much more due to the descriptions, the flowing narrative and sufficient biographical material to link it all together. It becomes inspiring.. so much so that my teenage son is now reading it and enjoying it. (He is also a fairly avid birder so that helps!) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A twitcher's classic. But more than this. An example of a twitcher who comes to realise there's a greater depth to birding and bird science and protection. And what a story of an intrepid youngster hitchhiking round the states living on very little and sleeping rough. Impressive drive and ability an example to us all. Birders of whatever persuasion must read this one. Not only birders either, the book has much wider appeal as a truly inspirational travel log. Fantastic! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This is the best book of this genre that I have read. Kenn can write (or has a very good editor!) In many ways it is two stories in one. Obviously, it is about an obsessive bird-lister. But, at the same time, it is the story of how Kenn matures 'on the Kingbird Highway' and the scope of his obsession widens so that today he is a widely respected field ornithologist. It's also an interesting travelogue of some of the more obscure parts of North America. My favorite bit, I think, is where he meets a young woman as he hitchhikes the south of the USA and they head for the nearest rubbish dump to look for some Mexican crows - or perhaps it is the description of his time in the Pribilofs, certainly the most evocative of his many descriptions of places visited. I think that casual birders, as well as dedicated twitchers, would enjoy this one. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reminds me of my misspent youth! But a great read for any birder! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Any day could be a very special day, and probably will be, if we just go out and look." This is Kenn Kaufman's life philosophy and living his philosophy he dropped out of his high school at age 16 and thumbed his way around America. Seeking his passion/obsession to see and list the birds of America. Two years later he started his "Big Year" - his goal to break the record of listing more species of birds in 365 days than any other person ever in this country. Kenn Kaufman lived his Big Year spending ~ $1000, half of this money went for flights to remote Alaskan Islands in search of migrants from Russia and beyond. He hitched and crisscrossed our country numerous times. He slept out in the open in all weather. He was frequently hungry, freezing cold or melting hot, and sleep deprived. At the end of the year, it wasn't the number of birds that he listed or whether he "won" that year's Big Year, that mattered. It was the journey and it was the birds that mattered. Kaufman exited that year with excitement and passion to go back and not only see but to observe all the species he had encountered. He wanted to know the birds in depth and fellow readers - that is exactly what Kenn Kaufman has done. In 2018 he is one of the most respected ornithologists in the world, a world renowned Author of Field Guides, and a leader in championing protection of habitats and environments for our wildlife of all kinds. Kenn Kaufman is one tough SOB, so suppress that snigger next time you see someone with a broad rimmed hat and a pair of binoculars with skinny legs. That Birder could likely hike you into the ground and has a passion,interest, and knowledge that is enviable. "But in the early 1970's, we were not birdwatching. We were birding, and that made all the difference. We were out to seek, to discover, to chase, to learn, to find ..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Here's those two lines that reminded me to write about the book ... . Si seulement nous avions le courage des oiseaux
If only we had the courage of the birds Qui chantent dans le vent glacé Who sing in the icy wind Maybe I should write something short next time .... well, short-er perhaps.
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AuthorThat's the author up there ... I was young and sprightly then. Archives
October 2022
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