Birders: Tales of a Tribe - Softcover

Cocker, Mark

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0802139965 ISBN 13: 9780802139962

Publisher: Grove Press / Atlantic Monthly Press, 2003

Synopsis

For thirty years, journalist Mark Cocker has been a member of a community of fanatics who sacrifice most of their spare time, a good deal of money, sometimes their chances of a partner or family, even their lives, to watch birds. In Birders, Cocker not only introduces lay-readers to the venerable art of birding but shares some of the incredible tales previously circulated only among "the loop," involving unforgettable -- and sometimes deadly -- encounters with everything from pipits, puffins, and plovers to border-patrol officers and horseback bandits. And then there is his personal journey, which began when he discovered a nest of pigeon eggs in his family attic and soon led to the fetishism of his binoculars (or rather, "bins").

About this title

Review

"A delight, exuberant and fascinating...The birds are amazing; the birders are insance....An enchanting book."

"Engagning...The writing is not only alive and funny, but also often beautiful...Cocker artfully relates the stories of many of his fellow tribe members, stories filled with strange and sometimes tragic incidenst....Commendable.

"Endearing...Between the layers of fascinating facts, the author weaves a narrative that moves from the comic to the poignant and the tragic."

"Witty fun...Cocker tells of many devoted gazers with their own obsessions and their own bird discoveries."

Edition details

• Publisher: Grove Press / Atlantic Monthly Press
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0802139965
• ISBN 13: 9780802139962
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240