Customer Reviews

Chasing Birds across Texas: A Birding Big Year (Louise Lindsey Merrick Natural Environment Series)

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"Big Years" as far as most birders are concerned almost always refer to an attempt to count how many different birds one can see nationally or even internationally in a specific 365-day period from January 1st through December 31st of a given year. Birders by their very nature are counters and it has become inevitable that for those with neither the time nor the money to fly from, say, the wilds of Alaska to the Dry Tortugas in the Gulf of Mexico and back might decide to make careful records of the birds that they see in a more limited geographical area such as a particular state. Though this is a fairly recent phenomena, today such records exist for every state in the Union.

No state in the United States has a wider diversity of birds than Texas which has recorded more than 2/3 of the 900+ birds seen through North America north of Mexico. Beginning on January 1st, 2000, Mark Adams, the assistant director of the University of Texas' McDonald Observatory and an ardent birder,set out to break the Texas record for sightings and by year's end he had done just that with a grand total of 489 different birds having been seen. This quite enjoyable volume recounts Adams' adventures throughout the state as traveled from the Gulf Coast to the Lower Rio Grande Valley to the Panhandle and then down to Big Bend National Park--all while still trying to hold down a full-time job. His successes were many; his failures few and far between even though he frequently laments having missed a rare species here or there.

Adams writes in an easy-to-read, enjoyable style. He captures, as ABC-TV used to say on one of its most famous sports programs, "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" but he does so in such a careful way that most readers will want to read more and more. Chasing Birds Across Texas is, however, a speciality book. Any one who cares about birds, especially the wonderful diversity of them to be found in Texas, will love this book and find it quite fascinating. Non-birders, on the other hand, will probably wonder at Adams' sanity and be bemused by why a grown man would care about the difference between a Blue Bunting and a Blue Mockingbird or would drive hundreds of miles in the hopes of seeing either.

If you like Birding ,you're gonna love this book.First I would like to point out another book."A Big Year" by Mark Obmascik, see my review dated 27 March 2003.This book was about three guys who set out to set a new record of seeing the most species in North America in one year;also a great read.

Now we got a similar book by a fellow who sets out to break the rcord of seeing the most species in Texas in one year.One big plus with this book is that it is written by the guy who did it,and has a much greater personal touch to it.

Of all the birders who would like to do such a feat,few are fortunate enough to actually do it.

Mark has really done the right thing here when he itimizes all the birds seen,and the ones he could have had,but missed.I criticized the other book for not doing this.Mark also included some great photos;but I would have preferred more on the characters he talks about even if that were done at the expense of some of the bird shots.A shot of Jimmy Sealy,for instance.

"I could enjoy the irreverent boys-in-the-woods atmosphere of

Brush's truck bed.Jimmy Sealy,for example,was always upbeat

and entertaining,an unapologetic,effusive American male

progressing from midlife towards retirement.In an e-mail

to trip participants prior to our arrival at the ranch,

Jimmy described himself to those who had yet to meet him:

"I'm short,fat,look like Boss Hog,have a full white beard,

and will be wearing the best looking gimme cap you have

ever seen.I'll have some Zeiss binoculars hanging around

my neck,will most likely be looking over your shoulder for

birds,and my right hand will be slightly cupped,as though

there should be a beer in it,and there may be."

Now there's a description of a character who begs a picture!

I'd also like to warn you,that if you're not very familiar with the layout of Texas,and also familiar with its birdlife;get a good map,a texas checklist and a good Field Guide handy,because you'll need them.

Don't let me scare you off;I've never birded in Texas,but plan to get there soon, to rack up just eight birds to get my list to 600.Reading this book makes me almost feel like I've been there;at least I know where I want to go.

Thanks Mark,you accomplished a great feat and shared it with us by writing a wonderful book.

This book will be of interest to all birders and specifically for those who aspire to increase their life lists. In a well written volume, Mark Adams describes how to use hot lines, gossip, patience, dedication, persistence, and the aid of friends to see birds (and still keep your job). He comes across as a good person to join on a field trip, and the book contains lots of information about birding hot spots in Texas.

If you are a birder or if you are interested in the many unique eco-areas in Texas especially Davis Mountains and Big Bend National Park, you will find this book very interesting. The book describes the ups and downs and dangers of a Big Year, which will definitely gain more interest with the coming movie, The Big Year. Mr. Adams describes his 2000 adventure with thoughtfulness and detail. KK

This book isn't much fun. It's not much of a book either. The whole thing is a list of birds the author saw and musings on the lousy food he ate. The narrative doesn't flow well. One minute the author is a boy mowing the grass the next minute he's an astronomer and then a few chapters later he has a family. When he mentions the family I thought wait a minute, he just graduated and got a job, didn't he?

I had to force myself to finish it.

I was a bit disappointed after reading the reviews and then reading the book. I read "A Big Year" first and thought it to be awesome, was expecting this to be as good. I did not get a sense of emotion from the author - just "I drove to... got the bird." Was a let down after waiting 5 days to get the book.