Birding at the Bridge: In Search of Every Bird on the Brooklyn Waterfront - Softcover

Wolf, Heather

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1615193138 ISBN 13: 9781615193134

Publisher: The Experiment, 2016

Synopsis

Bright lights, big city, and . . . birds?

The Brooklyn Bridge once overshadowed a decaying industrial waterfront, but today it points the way to a new green oasis: Brooklyn Bridge Park. When avid birder Heather Wolf moved from tropical Florida to a nearby apartment, she wondered how many species she might see there, and soon came to a surprising realization: Not only is the park filled with an astonishing variety of birds, but the challenges that come with urban birding make them even more fun—and rewarding—to find.
 
Camera in hand, Heather has captured scores of memorable scenes—a European starling pokes its head out of a hole in a snack shop, a marsh wren straddles two branches, common grackle nestlings clamor for food above the basketball courts—in more than 150 stunning photographs that will entrance birders and bird lovers, wherever their local patch may be. From the familiar-but-striking bufflehead duck to the elusive mourning warbler, every species comes to life on the page, foraging, nesting, and soaring in the slice of the city where they’ve made themselves at home. Discover the thrilling adventure of birding in the great outdoors—in the heart of Brooklyn.

About this title

About the Author

Heather Wolf’s love of birds was sparked while living on Florida’s Gulf Coast, where she participated in the Florida Master Naturalist program and led walks for the Florida Trail Association. She currently lives in Brooklyn and works as a web developer for Cornell Lab of Ornithology and its eBird project. Her blog, brooklynbridgebirds.com, documents the birds of Brooklyn Bridge Park, where she has recorded over 30,000 bird sightings of more than 130 species. A woman of many passions, Heather has taught thousands of people to juggle and won the 2015 NYC Intel IoT (Internet of Things) Hackathon for her design of a “smart” juggling ball.

Review

“Where you may see only pigeons, sparrows and the occasional sea gull, [Heather Wolf] has recorded 130 species, many of which she has beautifully photographed.”—The New York Times

“Part of the pleasure of her book, besides excellent photography . . . is the way [Heather Wolf] shares the circumstances and excitement of particular sightings.”—The Wall Street Journal

“In clear and enthusiastic prose, Wolf draws attention to the remarkable variety of urban birds and their ongoing conservation challenges. . . . This beginner’s guide is as entertaining as it is informative.”—Publishers Weekly

“Exquisite.”—am New York

“An informative field diary”—The Atlantic’s CityLab

“I totally love Heather Wolf’s book: great photographs, and delightful, incisive writing.”
—Marie Winn, author of Red-Tails in Love
 
“Hey, New York, it’s time to meet the neighbors you never knew you had. Heather Wolf’s fledgling chronicle of her encounters with the birds of Brooklyn both surprises and mesmerizes. After drinking in her gorgeous photos of more than 100 unsung and unexpected urban species (from abundant house sparrows to an elusive tundra swan and the proverbial yellow-bellied sapsucker), you will forever observe the city with new eyes.”
—Margaret Mittelbach, author of Wild New York
 
“Not all New York City birds are pigeons! This book is a colorful and inspiring eye-opener to the marvelous feathered creatures that are all around us, even in the midst of our densest cities. By learning to observe and care for the birds, we can protect them and build stronger communities for ourselves too.”
—David J. Ringer, Chief Network Officer, National Audubon Society
 
“Research tells us that connecting with the natural world in our daily lives can help to make us happier, more creative, and less anxious. Heather Wolf’s gorgeous images and delightful words are a reminder that the wild surrounds us no matter where we make our homes. This book inspires us to step lightly, with open eyes, minds, and hearts. We will benefit from such exploration to be sure, and so will the birds and all creatures that share our neighborhoods and our earth.”
—Lyanda Haupt, author of Crow Planet

Edition details

• Publisher: The Experiment
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1615193138
• ISBN 13: 9781615193134
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 288