To See Every Bird on Earth: A Father, a Son, and a Lifelong Obsession

by Dan Koeppel

Book Overview

From a well-known outdoors and nature writer comes a narrative that explores a lifelong obsession with competitive birding. What drives a man to travel to sixty countries and spend a fortune to count... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1594630011
• ISBN13: 9781594630019
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: Hudson Street Press
• Length: 278 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

see every bird on Earth

I was very disappointed with this book. No pictures of the different birds. some stamp size drawings. I wanted to see their colors and what they look like.

A wonderful combination of family memoir and bird list obsession

You don't have to be extremely interested in birds to love this book! I have a passing interest in birds--I like looking at ones that come to my feeder and I always seek them out at zoos, but I loved this book. The idea of trying to see every bird on Earth (something no-one probably will ever actually do) is fascinating, and the author's father is one of the best Big List birders in the world. He is also a complex and somewhat troubled man, and I found that part of the story just as interesting. Koeppel's family life growing up after his parents divorce sounds at times hellish, although he doesn't dwell on this. It left him with a need to try to relate to his father, the man he kept hoping would rescue him as a boy. His father is not a demonstrative person, and the triumph of the small ways they are able to connect over birding are very touching to read about. I will seek out more travel writing by Dan Koeppel.

not just about birding

To See Every Bird on Earth is about the father of the author who had a lifelong obsession with birding. However it is about much more than that as the author fills out the life of everyone from himself to his grandparents. He describes his grandparents trip from Nazi Germany to the United States and their effort to help found Israel. Then he moves on to his fathers life. He notes his father's early love of birding and tries to figure out why it became an obsession. This has to do with his father's parents pushing him in a direction he didn't want to go and the fallout of a failed marriage among other things. The author notes with sadness his fathers distance as a result of his obsession with birding and concludes that birding was an escape for him. However the book ends on a high note as father and son finally begin to reach out to eath other. Although I am not a birder I really enjoyed this book. I especially enjoyed his accounts of the times he grew up in, the 60's and 70's.

An extraordinary achievement

I was captivated by this book, which came as a surprise since I didn't think I'd be interested in the subject. I found, however, a truly wonderful account of a father-son relationship from its earliest years to the present that is extremely rich in understanding and empathy, as well as a brilliant depiction of the world of bird-watching and its most passionate practioners, the "big listers" who are determined to see every bird species on earth. Anyone who has seen their lives transformed by a hobby for collecting that morphs into a life-dominating obsession will treasure this book.

"To go where no man has gone before"

What a wonderful book! The editorial reviews are real good on this book and I won't repeat the same,just no need to. Also, the first customer review is a real good effort ,especially for someone who appears somewhat of a birding novice.Lisa AA has posted her 1st review, and I would like to commend her on her efforts.She very well shows that this book can be of interest to anyone who enjoys life,people and also the world of birds.I have the same experience when people who learn that I am into birding.Everyone seems to be fascinated about my interest,has a million questions and are amazed over the interest,sport or even the obsession that it can become.Questions like, "You mean you would drive 500 miles,just to see a bird;and it might even be gone when you get there?" As you will see, if you read this book;that can just be the start of it. Of course ,not all birders can,or even begin to take on this interest the way world lister birders go at it.Some "bird" in their own back yards,towns,county,state or province,country,ABA (which takes in all the continental US,Hawaii,Alaska and Canada ,and then there are those tha make the whole world their target.What this book does is to give one an idea of what this pursuit can be all about. The people who take up birding come from all walks of life,all ages, all abilities,all financial backgrounds.The one thing they all have is the desire to see as many birds as possible.Whether it is as simple as adding the number 78th bird to their yard list or the 4078th to their world list,the pleasure is the same;only the scale differs. While the author centers on his father,he also discusses a lot about Phoebe Snetsinger ,who held the record of seeing the most birds in the world at the time of her untimely and unfortunate death.It just so happens that I know,and often bird with a lady who knew her well and was on the bus with her when the accident occurred. I also knew another "Birder of the World",as is incribed on his tombstone.Norm Chesterfield held the world record for 7 years into the late 1980's.What a great fellow to talk to and what stories and experiences he had.He even went to Vietnam while the war was on.Just imagine,this little old man ,well into his 70's, birding while the the war was underway.He complained "the birding was lousy;too damn much shooting and banging going on.Couldn't hear nothing (birds singing)." I guarantee anyone who likes birds,enjoys the outdoors or wonders what this obsession with birds is all about will love this book. While most of us can only dream of what these World Listers do, we have to be content to read about it and dream ;or grab the bins and go see what's around.

One for the Big List!

I never thought birdwatching was even vaguely interesting until I read this book, and now I'm viewing every pigeon in Los Angeles with new eyeballs. Dan Koeppel is a wonderful storyteller, and this tale of birds, family, and the evolution of birdwatching brims with amazing details, vivid description, and heartfelt anecdotes. His fluid writing is a joy to read. Complex concepts of scientic nomenclature are elegantly explained. The book revolves around an intense subset of birdwatchers- the so-called "Big Listers," folks so obsessed with the flying creatures that they have a need to see every species that exists on the planet. Sparing no expense, Big Listers jetset from jungle to jungle, equipped with tape recorders, binoculars, and field guides looking for more and more birds to put on their well-kept lists. At the same time, the designations of species are constantly changings, so from time to time lists grow due to splitting or shrink from lumping! Koeppel patiently explains this fanaticism of hardcore birdwatching. His perspective is unique; his father, Richard Koeppel, is currently one of the top 10 Big Listers on the planet. Woven within the stories of birds and birders is a tale of the relationships within Koeppel's family, as if this can possibly explain his father's arcane obsession. Very readible. Perfect beach reading, especially for beaches that might have some avifauna nearby.