An Exhilaration of Wings: The Literature of Bird Watching

More than seventy-five authors-including Muir, Audubon, and Wordsworth, as well as lesser-known writers and amateur ornithologists-share their infectious observations about birdsong, migration, nests, raptors, sea birds, hummingbirds, and much more. The entries span 1750 through 1925 and are by turns practical, lyrical, humorous, literary, and even mystical, as they illuminate the magical and occasionally unexpected ways in which birding connects us both to the history of the natural world and to that of human experience. A timeless evocation of the passion for birds, this unique and charming collection is certain to delight birdwatchers and natural history lovers alike.