I love the paintings of John James Audubon. I’ve long thrilled to see his works in various books, and have even been fortunate enough to gaze upon a selection of plates from the first editions. But never did it occur to me that his original watercolors could still exist. That is, until about three years ago, when the New-York Historical Society announced an exhibition of Audubon’s original works. It turns out that the society purchased the paintings from Audubon’s widow. The exhibit, Audubon’s Aviary, would display all of the paintings in the society’s possession. But it would do so over three years, with roughly a third of them exhibited at a time for just a few months during each of those years. 2015 marks the third, and final, exhibit.
I desperately wanted to see them. I wasn’t able to make the exhibits in 2013 or 2014, but finally got a chance this year. Being in a room surrounded by 130 of Audubon’s original watercolor paintings was awe-inspiring. I couldn’t get over the fact that I was inches away, separated only by thin glass, from paintings produced by Audubon’s own hand. It was unreal.
From reading the book produced about this exhibit – Audubon’s Aviary: The Original Watercolors for The Birds of America (a review will be coming soon) – I discovered that many of Audubon’s paintings are actually collages. He would sometimes cut out a figure and adhere it to another painting. His Green Heron is a good example of this. Except, you can’t tell it from any print. You can see evidence of it in Audubon’s Aviary, as the images in that book are taken directly from the original paintings, but even then it’s not very clear unless you know what you’re looking for. But it’s glaringly obvious when looking at the original. The adult Green Heron was painted separately and then attached to this sheet, with the overlapping leaf cut out in such a way that the bird could be slid beneath it. It looks great as a print, but really pops in person.
I’m sure there are many other details that you can discern from viewing these paintings in person, especially if you have any training in art. But to me, the best thing was the overall, subjective experience. Being surrounded by, and that close to, such greatness was overwhelming.
If you want to experience it for yourself you need to hurry, as this exhibit closes on May 10, 2015. After that, we’ll have to wait at least 10 years before being able to see these paintings again (according to the exhibit’s flyer, anyway). For more information see http://audubon.nyhistory.org/
The Merlin
by Richard Sale
From Snowfinch Publishing:
The Merlin is a fascinating small falcon, standing outside the usual grouping of the ‘True Falcons’, and with a range that is confined to northern climes, an exclusive preference that is shared by only one other, the much larger Gyrfalcon.
This is the first comprehensive book on the species, covering its complete circumpolar range. The book starts with a general comments on the evolution of the True Falcons and thoughts on their grouping, then covers the general characteristics of the Merlin, the species’ habitat, its diet, breeding (territory, displays, pair formation, nest sites, eggs, chick growth, nest predation and breeding success), migration and wintering, survival, the Merlin’s friend and foes, and estimations of the world population. It also includes data gathered with a unit flown on a male Merlin.
Previous books by the author include the award-winning Gyrfalcon (co-produced with Russian expert Eugene Potapov), the Snowy Owl (also with Eugene Potapov), the first field guide to birds and mammals of the Arctic, A Complete Guide to Arctic Wildlife, and The Arctic: The Complete Story which covered all aspects of the area.
An in-depth, photograph-rich look at this small falcon.
The Merlin
by Richard Sale
Hardcover; 304 pages
Snowfinch Publishing; March, 2015
ISBN: 9780957173217
$65.00
Buy from Buteo Books
(based in the U.S.)
Buy from NHBS
(based in the U.K.)
You Nest Here With Me
by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple, Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
From Boyds Mills Press:
With rhyming text, this soothing bedtime book is an ode to baby birds everywhere and sleepy children home safe in their own beds. As a mother describes to her child how many species of birds nest, from pigeons on concrete ledges to owls in oak tree boles to swallows above barn doors. The soothing refrain of “you nest here with me” eases her little one and readers alike to slumber. Combining their poetic writing and their love of birding, mother and daughter Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple have written what is sure to become a bedtime classic.
My five-year-old really enjoyed this book. It also has an afterword that gives additional information on the included birds.
You Nest Here With Me
by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple, Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Hardcover; 40 pages
Boyds Mills Press; March 3, 2015
ISBN: 978-1590789230
$16.95
The Great Horned Owl: An In-depth Study
by Scott Rashid
From Schiffer Publishing:
The Great Horned Owl is the largest owl found throughout most of North America. Adult owls are between eighteen to 24 inches from head to tail and can have a wing span of more than four feet. Their long ear tufts and cryptic coloration enables them to remain well hidden during the day, often out of sight of sharp-eyed diurnal raptors and eagle-eyed birders. Through more than 130 photographs and illustrations, take an in-depth look into the life of this very impressive and formidable bird. Explore the owls food habits, nesting sites, how they raise their young, and the rehabilitation of injured owls. The one-of-a-kind photographs and comprehensive descriptions make this a must-have treasure to be enjoyed by all ages. It is sure to become the go-to reference on the Great Horned Owl.
You’ve got to respect a bird like the Great Horned. This book looks like a great study on these awesome birds.
The Great Horned Owl: An In-depth Study
by Scott Rashid
Hardcover; 112 pages
Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.; March 9, 2015
ISBN: 978-0764347665
$34.99
Buy from Buteo Books
(based in the U.S.)
Buy from NHBS
(based in the U.K.)
H is for Hawk
by Helen Macdonald
From Grove Press:
When Helen Macdonald’s father died suddenly on a London street, she was devastated. An experienced falconer—Helen had been captivated by hawks since childhood—she’d never before been tempted to train one of the most vicious predators, the goshawk. But in her grief, she saw that the goshawk’s fierce and feral temperament mirrored her own. Resolving to purchase and raise the deadly creature as a means to cope with her loss, she adopted Mabel, and turned to the guidance of The Once and Future King author T.H. White’s chronicle The Goshawk to begin her challenging endeavor. Projecting herself “in the hawk’s wild mind to tame her” tested the limits of Macdonald’s humanity and changed her life.
Heart-wrenching and humorous, this book is an unflinching account of bereavement and a unique look at the magnetism of an extraordinary beast, with a parallel examination of a legendary writer’s eccentric falconry. Obsession, madness, memory, myth, and history combine to achieve a distinctive blend of nature writing and memoir from an outstanding literary innovator.
I recently saw this book on the bestsellers shelf in an airport newsstand. That has to be the first time I’ve seen a bird book there! But with all the great press about this book, I’m not surprised. I’m really looking forward to reading it.
H is for Hawk
by Helen Macdonald
Hardcover; 288 pages
Grove Press; March 3, 2015
ISBN: 978-0802123411
$26.00
Buy from Buteo Books
(based in the U.S.)
Buy from NHBS
(based in the U.K.)
by Donald and Lillian Stokes
A field guide for new birders.
Read the full review »
It’s still early in the year (although, somehow, almost a quarter of it is now over!), but several great-looking bird books have been announced for 2015. Here are a few to look forward to.
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American Birding Association State Field Guides
by various
Scott & Nix
The excellent ABA state field guide series continues in 2015 with California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Texas
, New York
, Illinois , and Arizona.
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Peterson Reference Guide to Birding by Impression: A Different Approach to Knowing and Identifying Birds
by Kevin Karlson and Dale Rosselet
April 14, 2015; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Every single one of the Peterson Reference Guides so far has been great, and this one looks to be no exception.
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Project Puffin: The Improbable Quest to Bring a Beloved Seabird Back to Egg Rock
by Stephen W. Kress and Derrick Z. Jackson
April 28, 2015; Yale University Press
Project Puffin is a landmark success, and an inspiring story that deserves to be told. Plus, who doesn’t love puffins?
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Tales of Remarkable Birds
by Dominic Couzens
May 12, 2015; Bloomsbury
Birds are nothing if not remarkable. No matter how much you read about birds, there’s always something else cool to find out.
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Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel
by Carl Safina
July 14, 2015; Henry Holt and Co.
Ok, so this isn’t strictly a bird book. But it’s from Carl Safina, who has written some incredible books (such as The View from Lazy Point and Eye of the Albatross, one of the best books I’ve ever read).
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Pete Dunne on Bird Watching: The How-to, Where-to, and When-to of Birding (Revised and Updated)
by Pete Dunne
August 1, 2015; Stackpole Books
When I first started birding, I devoured the original edition of this book. I still think it’s one of the best primers for new birders, even though it has become outdated in many particulars. This new edition should fix that.
Birding for the Curious: The Easiest Way for Anyone to Explore the Incredible World of Birds
by Nate Swick
August 25, 2015; Page Street Publishing
Nate is a great writer at The Drinking Bird and 10,000 Birds. I’m curious to see what he has for us (sorry, I couldn’t resist).
Peterson Reference Guide to Owls of North America and the Caribbean
by Scott Weidensaul
October 13, 2015; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Owls + Scott Weidensaul = a book I want to see.
by Douglas Brinkley
A look at Theodore Roosevelt, naturalist and conservationist.
Read the full review »
