INTRODUCTION

 WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK

The cover of this book shows a man standing in the cold, waiting. But for what? Is the man thinking about a majestic Bald Eagle flying overhead? If so, how long will he have to wait before he sees one? What if the eagle does not appear? What will he do all day? Will he just stand there? Isn’t that boring? These are questions that non-hawkwatchers contemplate when they hear about hawkwatching. Before I was a hawkwatcher, I too had similar questions.

       The 22 self-contained essays that constitute this book, set out to explore why otherwise rational people stand outside in the elements and stare at the sky for hours on end. The goal is to expose the mind of the hawkwatcher and illuminate the culture of hawkwatching to the uninitiated. Because of this, interest in birding is not a requirement for enjoying this book. In fact, non-birders may enjoy it as much as an accomplished ornithologist. In other words, this book is for everyone, but no one in particular. The ideas gleaned from my experiences hawkwatching tap into the universality of naturalism; hawkwatching is simply the vehicle. The essays are, therefore, as general as they are personal.

The reader should not expect to become an expert hawk counter simply from reading this book. Although reading it may improve how you go about identifying hawks, help you understand what is involved with counting hawks, and provide awareness on how to act at a hawk site.

The order of the essays represents their chronological history; Essay One was written years ago and Essay Twenty-two just recently. However, they can be read in any order the reader chooses. Each essay will complement the others, portraying a different aspect of hawkwatching. The hope is that after reading each essay, the reader will have a deeper appreciation of hawkwatching, the hawkwatchers that partake in this odd activity, and the ecological world we share with the hawks.

This book, most of all, is a celebration of humanity, our relation to each other, and our avian cohabitants. So, please, just read, enjoy, and reflect. And, when at all possible, look up!

Below, Essay 1 is Read by the Author

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Listen to a portion of Essay 1 - A Day as a Hawkwatcher

by Brian M. Wargo

Essays in "Bird!": An Exploration of Hawkwatching

Introduction  (written in full above)                                   

1   A Day as a Hawkwatcher                                                          

2   Tom—The Zen Master                                                  

3   Becoming a Counter                                                 

4   Bill the Falconer                              

5   Cabin Fever                           

6   Bird’s Eye View                     

7   “Ripley’s Believe it or Not”         

8   Hawkwatching 2075              

9   Urban Hawkwatching    

10  Anglers of the Sky                     

11   My Friends—The Peregrines  

12   Safari in the Sky                       

13  Naturalism as a Replacement for Organized Religion 

14   Vultures Get No Respect         

15   Broad-Winged Season       

16   The Other Wonders of Migration   

17   Counting in October       

18   Soaring: It’s Not Magical—It’s Just Natural                           

19   The Man Who Counted the Most Hawks 

20  A Magical November Day       

21   Hawkwatchers Not Watching Hawks 

22  The Final Count                                                         

Kindle Edition

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Contact the Author

 

Other Links:

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 Upcoming Presentations

  • May 9, 2020 - Biggest Week in American Birding, Oregon, OH

  • March 6-8, 2020 - Brooks Birding Club Early Spring Meeting, North Bend State Park

  • October 2, 2019 - Three Rivers Birding Club - Phipps Conservatory

  • October 13, 2018 HMANA Conference, Detroit, Michigan

  • October 8, 2018 Bartamian Audubon Society

  • September 12, 2018 Seneca Rocks Audubon

  • July 28, 2018 Kittatinny Round Table

  • March 13, 2018 Robinson Township Library

  • April 11, 2018 Moon Library

  • March 8, 2018 at Wissahickon Nature Club at 8:00 p.m.

  • July 22, 2017 - The new Junior Hawkwatcher Program will be unveiled at the Kittatinny Roundtable

  • December 6, 2016 - BMW will present at the Moon Library at 6:30 p.m.

  • September 22, 2016 - Meet the Author event at Robinson Township Library 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

  • August 21, 2016 - Scott Shalaway's Sunday radio show Birds and Nature on at 3:15 p.m on 620 KHB Radio, Pittsburgh

  • July 23, 2016 - Kittatinny Roundtable at Hawk Mountain's Acopian Center at 1:00 p.m.

Other presentation dates to follow!

What is Hawkwatching (or Hawkcounting)?

Hawkwatching is a citizen science activity that differs from typical birdwatching. Here, hawkwatchers, a mostly volunteer group, brave the elements in service of generating a physical count of migrating raptors (eagles, hawks, vultures, falcons, etc.).