Fifty Places to Go Birding Before You Die: Birding Experts Share The World's Greatest Destinations

by Chris Santella

It’s estimated that 50 to 60 million Americans count birding among their hobbies. Some hang feeders in their backyards and accumulate yard lists; others participate in annual “Christmas Counts”; a select few travel to the ends of the earth in an effort to see every bird in the world. With Fifty Places to Go Birding Before You Die , Chris Santella takes the best-selling “Fifty Places” recipe and applies it to this most popular pastime.

Santella presents some of the greatest bird-watching venues in the United States and abroad through interviews with prominent birders, from tour leaders and conservationists to ornithologists and academics. Interviewees include ornithologist Kenn Kaufman; David Allen Sibley, author and illustrator of The Sibley Guide to Birds ; Rose Ann Rowlett, the “mother of modern birding”; John Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology; and Steve McCormick, president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy.

The places vary from the urban (New York City’s Central Park) to the mystical (the cloud forests of Triunfo in Chiapas, Mexico) to the extremely remote (the sub-Arctic islands of New Zealand). The book includes 40 gorgeous photographs that capture the vibrancy of our feathered friends, and the beautiful places they call home.

Genres: Birds, Travel, Nonfiction, Nature, Reference

224 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2007

Reviews

[Rosemary]

Birds, birds, birds! Each chapter in this book is dedicated to a location ideal for bird watching recommended by an expert. There are lovely photographs. Each chapter tell you why this place is special, how to get there, best time to visit, recommends guides and accommodations. There is a brief biography of the expert. I have read through this book multiple times over the years. I dream of traveling to the Masoala Peninsula in Madagascar and seeing the Madagascar Serpent Eagle and the Helmet Vanga or hear the call of the Andaman Nightjar in The Andaman Islands of India. But, I may have to settle for the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas where rarities may show up like the White-throated Robin, Crimson-collared Grosbeak, Blue Bunting or Golden-crowned Warbler. Not so bad really.

[Jim Tucker]

As a life-long birder, if I had a bucket list, this book would be the perfect base upon which to build it. Of the 50 listed world sites, I have only visited 20, leaving a plethora of joy in birding to experience. There is certainly a North American bias, even U.S. bias, to the birding hot-spots listed, but that was probably because most of the authors are North American birders, and they write about what they know best. But, I have to admit, having birded very little outside of North America, and at none of the locations listed, the enticement is very real, and I will leave this book prominently located in my birding library for when I get around to retiring. The problem is, however, that I will have to work many more years in order to retire with enough resources to get to many, if not most, of the locations described. Oh well. I can dream!

[Sibylle]

I liked the book, and ploan to visit several places the editor mentions, such as - Point Reyes, Monterey, and the Sacramento Valley in California; plus places in Arizona.


The main drawbacks are:
It's aimed at well-off birders, with money to spend on expensive trips. they give recommendations for nearest city to fly to, and hotels to stay at. however, no mention of places to drive to, and campgrounds to stay at when birding.
The place included seems somewhat set by the author selection, with places omitted that I might have included , especially abroad ( no mention of San Blas, Mexico).

[Chuck]

My review of this lovely book is easy for me since I have spent the past fifty years traveling the world to observe birds and other wildlife. I wanted to find out where this author considered the best places in the world to find birds. He and I shared a strong opinion since I had visited thirty-six of his fifty favorite locations. A book with lovely illustrations and also valuable information regarding guides, time and travel. Each location was suggested by some of the most qualified individuals in this country.

[Tim Slade]

Solid travel books showcasing very expensive trips. Science and personal are very interesting, but I think more detailed pictures of the landscapes or birds would have improved it. Maybe only 25 pictures of the 50 locations

[Jefferson Coombs]

Interesting read, I wish it would have had more pictures. It was fun to think about the places and decide whether I would want to go or not.

[Bev]

Respected and well-known birders/naturalists provided us with their perspective on many of the "then" best places to bird. Now it's time for the author to do a "More of . . ." sequel. After eight years since its publication, the pastime of birding has grown exponentially and there are many more excellent and accessible birding sites to explore. I look forward to reading more about them from the experts!

[Louise]

Heavily Amerocentric list of 50 places you could go birding before you die. Interesting places nonetheless.

http://astrongbeliefinwicker.blogspot...

[Jamieson]

An interesting book with 50 interesting places. Each entry has a short essay about why it was included, an author bio, and travel details. Most entries have an accompanying picture, but not all. Nice book for travel ideas.

[Chhanda]

biased on the western world. does not add many places i've been and think they are topnotch.