More Tales of a Low-Rent Birder

There’s not a whole lot that I can say about the writing of Pete Dunne that has not already been said, and better than I could put it. Suffice to say that he is one of birding’s most eminent writers. If you’ve read any of his works, then you know what to expect here. If not, then check out my tribute to Pete Dunne, there you can find out what he has written, and even where you can read one of his columns online.

This book collects 25 of his essays/columns, originally published in Living Bird, Birder’s World, American Birds, and the New York Times. There is no overriding, connecting theme (at least none that I noticed). Each one stands alone.

For a couple of chapters, Dunne gives us a glimpse into the lives of an individual bird. In one it is an American Golden Plover, in another a Red-eyed Vireo. It is amazing, and a little scary, how well Dunne seems to get into the minds of birds.

Some of the stories are obviously fictional, such as the unusual birding shop that he stumbled upon in New York. These are entertaining and usually quite humorous, but there is still an underlying message that Dunne is trying to get across. Others are instructional and informative, such as “The Art of Pishing”, which is apparently the basis for Dunne’s later book by the same name.

A few of these seem to be cautionary tales, where Dunne warns his readers about what can happen to birders if they aren’t careful. No, nothing as serious as watching out for poisonous snakes on trails or crazy drivers in Latin America (both of which are very real dangers, though, as I can attest). The warnings are for things less dangerous, but much more insidious, such as becoming a jaded birder, letting lists run your life, and losing your way as a birder. I imagine that the situations he describes here are unfortunately all too common. I, for one, appreciate the warnings, and only hope that I will take them to heart.

These stories are accessible to anyone who enjoys birds, but more experienced birders will better appreciate some of them, especially the cautionary tales. They are classic Dunne, which means they are very fun to read. You will blow through this book very quickly. That’s also the only negative thing about it – it’s too short. Only 111 pages are comprised of the essays themselves, which are three to eight pages each, with most tending toward the lower end of the spectrum.

Also included are ten pencil drawings by Keith Hansen that are chapter-specific. In most books such as this, any artwork is just a nice, but forgettable, inclusion. That is not the case here. These works are detailed, accurate, and at times breathtaking. The most dramatic shows a golden plover barely staying aloft over stormy seas. In terms of tone and emotions conveyed, it is the perfect compliment to Dunne’s words. But they are not all serious, as the cartoon of “The Misidentification Expert” proves. Altogether, these illustrations were a very surprising and worthwhile addition.

Finally, Kenn Kaufman provides the forward, so you know it’s good. He describes Dunne’s writing perfectly.

Recommendation

For the price, more essays should have been included. But what is here is great. Any of Pete Dunne’s books would get a recommendation from me, and this one is no exception.