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The Bird with Flaming Red Feet

Seasons with an Uncommonly Common Seabird

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Pub Date Apr 07 2026 | Archive Date Apr 30 2026

Mountaineers Books | Skipstone


Description

The Bird with Flaming Red Feet is a lively and heartfelt natural history of the Pigeon Guillemot, a charismatic seabird with a surprising story to tell. Found along the Pacific coast from Southeast Alaska to Southern California, this talkative and often-overlooked bird plays an outsized role in the health of marine ecosystems, earning its status as an “indicator species.”

Author and longtime volunteer surveyor Maria Mudd Ruth weaves together science, field observation, and community storytelling to paint a vivid portrait of this special species and the ecosystems, both natural and human, surrounding it. Drawing from over a decade of beachside study, Mudd Ruth dives deep into the guillemot’s behaviors, quirky traits, and ecological relationships. Along the way, readers meet the passionate citizen scientists who have built a unique community around caring for and studying this vibrant bird.

Bridging the gap between field guide and memoir, The Bird with Flaming Red Feet invites readers to slow down, look closely, and reconnect with the wild places—and creatures—just outside their door. It’s a joyful call to observation, stewardship, and a deeper understanding of the natural world and our place in it.

The Bird with Flaming Red Feet is a lively and heartfelt natural history of the Pigeon Guillemot, a charismatic seabird with a surprising story to tell. Found along the Pacific coast from Southeast...


Advance Praise

“A wonderfully inspiring story of how a citizen science project on a little-known but charismatic seabird transforms the author into a knowledgeable auk enthusiast and seabird conservationist.” —Tim Birkhead, author of The Great Auk and Birds and Us

“I very well remember discovering the funny and interesting Pigeon Guillemots soon after I first saw the Pacific Ocean on a road trip after college. I instantly fell in love, because who can resist these flitty, flirty little coastal companions—and I instantly fell in love with this beautiful, companionable book about them. I wish this book had been written much sooner, but it was well worth the wait.” —Carl Safina, author of Alfie and Me and Beyond Words

“Finally, a book about Pigeon Guillemots! Engaging, informative, and imbued with deep affection for its subject, The Bird with Flaming Red Feet is a classic natural history of a classic Northwest seabird.” —Thor Hanson, author of Feathers and Close to Home

The Bird with Flaming Red Feet shines with creative wordplay and storytelling. Centered on a single species of seabird, the Pigeon Guillemot, this book is about finding joy in the natural world, and the huge rewards that come from learning to pay attention.” —Kim Heacox, author of The Only Kayak and Rhythm of the Wild

“You may never have heard of a Pigeon Guillemot, but after reading The Bird with Flaming Red Feet, you’ll fall in love with these pudgy little seabirds. A lovely blend of natural history and memoir, this fun and enjoyable book recounts one woman’s infatuation, as well as reveals how anyone can make important contributions to conservation.” —Scott Weidensaul, author of The Return of the Oystercatcher and A World on the Wing


“A wonderfully inspiring story of how a citizen science project on a little-known but charismatic seabird transforms the author into a knowledgeable auk enthusiast and seabird conservationist.” —Tim...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781680517255
PRICE $24.95 (USD)
PAGES 208

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