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Jonathan Trouern-Trend
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Birding Babylon: A Soldier's Journal from Iraq Hardcover – April 11, 2006

3.9 out of 5 stars 20 ratings
Early in 2004, Sergeant First Class Jonathan Trouern-Trend of the Connecticut National Guard began a year’s deployment in Iraq. He had been a birder from the age of 12, so naturally he looked for birds during his free time on base and on trips “outside the wire.” From nearly day one until he left Iraq, Trouern-Trend wrote about his sightings in an online journal that attracted thousands of readers.
Now some of the highlights of his “Birding Babylon” blog are collected in this small, beautiful volume, designed to resemble a birder’s journal. Cutting through the politics of war like birdsong, it reminds us of our imperishable connection with nature; of how birds and their journeys tie the world together; of the persistence of life even in a wasted land.
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  1. Print length
    80 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Sierra Club Books
  4. Publication date
    April 11, 2006
  5. Dimensions
    4.75 x 0.75 x 6.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1578051312
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1578051311
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sierra Club Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 11, 2006
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 80 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1578051312
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1578051311
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.75 x 0.75 x 6.5 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #1,706,119 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

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Jonathan Trouern-Trend

Jonathan Trouern-Trend

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Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
20 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

  • Will
    5.0 out of 5 stars "...A Solder's Journal from Iraq"
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2022
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    As an author and a Birder I have to admire a writer who took bird walks in body armor carrying a weapon. I was in the Army as an electronic specialist along the border with what was then Soviet territory. I saw "barbed wire birders" in Europe and mention them in my textbook, "101 Questions & Answers About Business Espionage."
    I enjoyed this book!
    William Johnson, Ph.D.
    Helpful
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  • Dave
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent well-written field journal from a keenly-observant nature lover
    Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2017
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Well done. Packed with detail regarding bird species, habits, and behavior. The critical reviews appear to demand an in-depth discussion of the politics of war.

    This journal is a pure diary of a naturist's keen field observations evidencing his love for birds and wildlife as he carries out his daily objectives.

    That is precisely the aim of any good field journal.
    Helpful
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  • Gary Sprandel
    4.0 out of 5 stars Birding in war zone
    Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2007
    Format: Hardcover
    This started out as a soldiers blog, and has more of a travelogue feel, rather than a war correspondent feel of it. The author is most interesting when presenting his walks around the camp, and finding birds in back of the laundry camp and travels. And exotic birds they are: such as Squacco heron, Greater spotted eagle, Egyptian Vulture, purple swamphen, whiskered tern, and blue-checked bee-eater. What is missing however any introspection about the war, Sadam's effect on the environment, or contrast of being in a war zone and observing nature.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • John P. Dunn
    2.0 out of 5 stars Overpriced and underwritten
    Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2008
    Format: Hardcover
    The book costs $9.95 but consists of little more than slightly edited versions of what the author put on his blog. The idea behind the blog is intriguing: being a naturalist in a war zone. The book is really a series of reports: he saw such and such birds in such and such a place. The poignancy of what he is doing never comes through. And the price? Ridiculous. It's worth maybe $5. Read it at the bookstore.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Private
    1.0 out of 5 stars Skip this one - not worth it.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2012
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Bought this book based on reviews. Skip this one. Physically, the book, while it's got a nice cover presentation, is about 4 1/2 x 6 1/5 and has about 50 pages of very sparse text, plus a checklist at the end. Not even any pictures. Mostly a simple listing of the birds he sees during random days around camp. No deep meaning, no great insight. Quite disappointing considering the potential of the topic. I can't imagine who this was written for.
    One person found this helpful
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  • GroovHoov
    5.0 out of 5 stars The birder giftee will enjoy it.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2021
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I'm not a birder so can't imagine bird watching in a war zone.
    Helpful
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  • AmSmile User
    5.0 out of 5 stars Birding and War
    Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2013
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Beautiful way for the author to stay connected to his passion for birding and his children while living the war in Iraq.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • John Kilian
    5.0 out of 5 stars This was a triumph
    Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2013
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    People who appreciate wildlife and/or military service will love this book.
    This unique blend of both makes this a rare treat.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, positive, and heart-warming
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 27, 2015
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Excellent little pocket book. Bought this as a gift, but I read it too. Beautiful, positive, and heart-warming
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  • 2nimm
    4.0 out of 5 stars petit livre de témoignage ornithologique intéressant mais mal illustré
    Reviewed in France on January 8, 2013
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    petit livre anglophone relié rigide format carte postale récent (2006) journal de bord ornithologique d'un soldat américain en Irak; texte au style simple très peu illustré (quelques gravures petit format en n&b stylisées): liste des 122 espèces vues par l'auteur; ce petit journal intéressera les ornithologues chevronnés qu'aucune situation aussi dramatique soit elle ne dissuadera jamais de rechercher l'avifaune locale; le format relié se prête plutôt à la bibliothèque mais l'absence d'iconographie digne de ce nom rebutera les amateurs de beaux livres
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