Feather Brained

Bob Tarte has written a great humorous ode to birding here that anyone would enjoy. I loved his lyrical writing style and the many descriptions of different birds. Its a fun book to read and also very educational ! For someone that started without knowledge of birds, he has done research and educated himself very well in many different types of birds. A delight to read! Well Done.

Feather Brained is quite simply entertaining. Tarte relates 20 years of stories related to birds as he observes them in the backyard, chases them across the state of Michigan, and feeds them as part of a rescue operation in his home. He's self-deprecating in a hyper-competitive hobby, and takes his time getting to know the birds and birders of Michigan, losing interest often but then catching the the fever again. As much as it is a story about Bob and birds, it's a story of Bob and his wife Linda, who seems quirky and lovely, and there are moments in the book that pass as a love letter to her. The changes of pace make the book work. There are reverent moments of awe and love, goofy mishaps, snooty birders, hilarious understatement, obscure pop culture similes, and eye-popping descriptions of their animal-dominated home. All in all one of the most enjoyable nature books I've read.

I got a free copy of this from Net Galley.

Bob Tarte does it again with another hilarious tale of the strange ways his life intersects with the animal kingdom.

I grew up in a family of birders and nature lovers. This book brought back all of the humorous birding situations of my youth. Laugh out loud funny. I will be buying a copy for my parents and each of my brothers.