Birdwatcher: The Life of Roger Tory Peterson

by Elizabeth Rosenthal

Overview

[2015 Reprint] Roger Tory Peterson—the Renaissance man who taught Americans the joy of watching birds—also invented the modern field guide. His 1934 landmark Field Guide to the Birds was the first book designed to go outdoors and help people identify the elements of nature. This self-proclaimed “student of nature” combined spectacular writing with detailed illustrations to ultimately publish many other books, winning every possible award and medal for natural science, ornithology, and conservation.
Birdwatcher is a comprehensive, illustrated biography of Roger Tory Peterson--a hero in the conservation world--including interviews with friends, family, and protégés.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781599216447
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	03/23/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	460
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Elizabeth J. Rosenthal (www.petersonbird.com) has published birding articles in Bird Watcher’s Digest, New Jersey Audubon, and Snowy Egret. She is the author of the acclaimed His Song: The Musical Journey of Elton John. A longtime New Jersey civil servant, she lives in Burlington, New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
SECTION ONE. FLEDGING

Chapter One. Boy Rebel to Boy Wonder

Chapter Two. The Boy Wonder and the Conservative Conservationist

Chapter Three. Postwar: Spreading His Wings

SECTION TWO. INTERCONTINENTAL MIGRATION

Chapter Four. International Range

Chapter Five. Anglo-American Mates in the U.S. Wild

SECTION THREE. PARADOXICAL HOMO SAPIENS

Chapter Six. Roger and Barbara – Super Pair

Chapter Seven. A Natural Obsession

Chapter Eight. Hidden Roger

SECTION FOUR. CONSERVATION STORIES

Chapter Nine. Embryonic Conservationism

Chapter Ten. Adventuresome Flights of Conservation

Chapter Eleven. DDT, the Osprey, and the Old Lyme Offspring

Chapter Twelve. The Wilds of Lindblad

SECTION FIVE. INSPIRING FLIGHTS

Chapter Thirteen. Worldwide Progeny

Chapter Fourteen. Offerings

Chapter Fifteen. Maturing with National Audubon

Chapter Sixteen. Shooting Birds

Chapter Seventeen. Painterly Birds

SECTION SIX. BIRD MAN OF BIRD MEN

Chapter Eighteen. Territory Under Challenge

Chapter Nineteen. Still All Over the Range Map

Recipe

Roger Tory Peterson—the Renaissance man who taught Americans the joy of watching birds—also invented the modern field guide. His 1934 landmark Field Guide to the Birds was the first bird-identification guide designed to be used in the field by the average person. Its success led to the best-selling Peterson Field Guide series, which has since taught millions about virtually all aspects of nature. Peterson combined fine writing with detailed and beautifully rendered illustrations, ultimately publishing many other books and winning virtually every award and medal for natural science, ornithology, and conservation. Before long, he became the birding and natural history guru to the world and was recognized as the key force in alerting the public to the importance of preserving nature. There are now an estimated 70 million birdwatchers in the United States.

For this meticulously detailed biography, author Elizabeth J. Rosenthal has created a fully rounded portrait of this hero of the conservation movement. Never-before-seen photographs enhance this intimate portrayal, which will be welcomed by Peterson’s enormous following.

Editorial Reviews

A brilliant, definitive biography of the man who made birdwatching the leading outdoor recreation in America.

George H. Harrison

The most detailed account of [Peterson's] three marriages, driven work habits, and strenuous activities as explorer, author, photographer, conservationist, and public figure.

New York Review of Books

An affectionate look at the person who became known as the Audubon of the 20th century.

Town & Country

"A wonderful biography, bold and surprising and lively, crackling with the adventures of the man who did more than anyone else to create the modern popularity of birdwatching."
-Kenn Kaufman, author of The Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America

"Birdwatcher is biographical alchemy, blending well researched detail, rich and varied anecdotes, and Roger in the first person with a writer's insight into the man who was, and remains, first among 'students of birds.'"
-Pete Dunne, New Jersey Audubon Birding Ambassador

"Birdwatcher brings laughter, tears, profound admiration, and warm memories. To read it was to have Roger once again sitting in our kitchen, telling great tales, and every reader will feel that way too."
-Clay and Pat Sutton, authors of Birds and Birding at Cape May

"A brilliant, definitive biography of the man who made birdwatching the leading outdoor recreation in America."
-George H. Harrison, nature journalist, author, PBS producer

"Birdwatcher is more than a window into the life and creative process of one of the world's great ornithologists and artists-it's an exploration, through the words and memories of dozens of people who knew Roger Tory Peterson best, of how this remarkable man changed the conservation landscape for the better, and for good."
-Scott Weidensaul, author of Of a Feather: A Brief History of American Birding

"Through interviews with more than a hundred of Peterson's colleagues and protégés, Rosenthal weaves an entertaining biography that helps us understand why Peterson ranks among the world's most celebrated naturalists."
-Stephen W. Kress, Director, Audubon Seabird Restoration Program

"With verve and elegance Elizabeth Rosenthal paints the life of our most important naturalist with all the field marks filled in and life ways fleshed out."
-Robert Michael Pyle, author of Sky Time in Gray's River

"This fine biography breaks much new ground and contains abundant original material.. .. Peterson is one of those compelling figures for whom there cannot be too many biographies and tributes. Rosenthal's may be the best so far." -Bird Watcher's Digest

"The most detailed account of [Peterson's] three marriages, driven work habits, and strenuous activities as explorer, author, photographer, conservationist, and public figure." -New York Review of Books

"An affectionate look at the person who became known as the Audubon of the 20th century." -Town & Country

From the Publisher

Birdwatcher is biographical alchemy, blending well researched detail, rich and varied anecdotes, and Roger in the first person with a writer's insight into the man who was, and remains, first among 'students of birds.'

Pete Dunne

Through interviews with more than a hundred of Peterson's colleagues and protégés, Rosenthal weaves an entertaining biography that helps us understand why Peterson ranks among the world's most celebrated naturalists.

Stephen W. Kress

Birdwatcher brings laughter, tears, profound admiration, and warm memories. To read it was to have Roger once again sitting in our kitchen, telling great tales, and every reader will feel that way too.

Clay and Pat Sutton

Birdwatcher is more than a window into the life and creative process of one of the world's great ornithologists and artists-it's an exploration, through the words and memories of dozens of people who knew Roger Tory Peterson best, of how this remarkable man changed the conservation landscape for the better, and for good.

Scott Weidensaul

With verve and elegance Elizabeth Rosenthal paints the life of our most important naturalist with all the field marks filled in and life ways fleshed out.

Robert Michael Pyle

A wonderful biography, bold and surprising and lively, crackling with the adventures of the man who did more than anyone else to create the modern popularity of birdwatching.

Kenn Kaufman

This fine biography breaks much new ground and contains abundant original material.. .. Peterson is one of those compelling figures for whom there cannot be too many biographies and tributes. Rosenthal's may be the best so far.

Bird Watcher’s Digest

The most detailed account of [Peterson's] three marriages, driven work habits, and strenuous activities as explorer, author, photographer, conservationist, and public figure.

The New York Review Of Books

An affectionate look at the person who became known as the Audubon of the 20th century.

Town & Country

★ 09/01/2013
In addition to Rosenthal's own entertaining, well-researched text, the fruits of her interviews with 112 key figures comprise a major component of this definitive biography of birding's Grand Master.

Library Journal