Birding in an Age of Extinctions

The book is about the experiences of a birder in an age of natural decline, featuring autobiographical tales of birding encounters and reflections on the birding community and its impact on the environment. It includes stories from Madagascar, Cambodia, India, and other places, as well as images to accompany the stories. The book explores the origins and importance of the life list, rarities and trophy birds, and the idea of a 'species' in an extinction crisis and biodiversity crisis. It also raises the paradox of 'extinction birding' and the need for more self-reflection among birders to address the growing crisis.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 31 August 2021
Publisher: Whittles Publishing

This book is a captivating exploration of the joys and challenges of birding in a world of natural decline. It is both autobiographical, recounting the author's spell-binding birding encounters, and reflective, offering insights into the experiences of birding enthusiasts. The author's travels to various destinations, including Madagascar, Cambodia, India, and many more, are vividly described, capturing the enchanting, amusing, captivating, inspiring, exciting, and awe-inspiring moments of birding adventures. The book also features the remarkable individuals in the birding community, from eccentric birders to dedicated conservationists. The author's journey into birding later in life reveals fascinating behaviors and attitudes that are integral to the birding community. Why chase after ticks when we can enjoy the forest we are already exploring? Why is seeing a rare parrot in a cage less significant than seeing a wild one being hand-fed in a nature reserve? Why visit rubbish tips and sewerage farms in search of birds when birding excursions to forests or natural wetlands are so much more rewarding? These questions and more are explored in the book, shedding light on the origins and significance of various birding practices. The author delves into the concept of authentic birding, the life list, rarities and trophy birds, and the elusive yet essential idea of a species. Through these tales and reflections, the author invites readers to join in the joy of birding and appreciate the beauty and diversity of the natural world. The book is filled with captivating images that bring the birding experiences to life, making it a must-read for birding enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.

Weight: 480g
Dimension: 170 x 239 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781849954877