While it is often mentioned that Benjamin Franklin disagreed with the choice of the American Bald Eagle to be the symbol of the United States of America and preferred instead that it should have been the Wild Turkey, few have ever had the opportunity to read Franklin’s logic behind his opinion.
Regular readers of The Well-read Naturalist will likely not be surprised to learn that I don’t limit my reading activities just to the category of natural history.
Admittedly, Herman Melville’s first published novel Typee is not for everyone. A nearly textbook example of the seafaring adventure story genre that flourished in the mid-Nineteenth century, as both a subject and a style it has long since fallen out of favor.
Erythemis collocata (female) 1 on Flickr.
Erythemis collocata (Common: Western Pondhawk), female. July 9, 2011, Sauvie Island, Oregon.
The Kaufman Field Guide to Advanced Birding
“If you wish to know, seek first to understand.” When the statue of Kenn Kaufman is finally unveiled in the (alas, still yet to be built) Birding Hall of Fame, these words should be inscribed in bold letters across the front of the pedestal upon which it stands.
Birdwatching With Your Eyes Closed
With the publication of Birdwatching With Your Eyes Closed; An Introduction to Birdsong, Simon Barnes brings his unique combination of professional experience and amateur enthusiasm to a very wide potential readership; one that includes not only bird watchers of all levels of experience but those who don’t necessarily even consider themselves bird watchers as well.
Birds of Europe, Second Edition
The new (second) edition of the Birds of Europe is a must have guide for anyone interested in the birdlife of this geographic area.
Well-read Naturalist Book and Optic Reviews in New Bird Watcher’s Digest
The November / December 2011 edition of Bird Watcher’s Digest is now available and contains not one but two Well-read Naturalist produced book reviews as well as a “Well-equipped Birder” review.
The Peregrine, The Hill of Summer, and Diaries
Should you wish to identify a Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) you would most certainly consult a field guide. Should you wish to know a bit more about what ornithologists have discovered concerning this species, a life history or ornithological monograph about them would be your best bet. However if you wish to discover what makes [...]
Leupold Katmai Binocular to be Discontinued
Perhaps the most unfortunate news discovered at the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada was that of the discontinuation of the Katmai binocular by the American optical firm Leupold.
New Discovery: Minox Pocket Tripod
As an enthusiastic user and proponent of the Minox MS 8×25 Makroskop since its introduction, I have long maintained that it doesn’t receive nearly as much attention as it deserves by the vast majority of bird watching, hunting, or general outdoor journalists.
FLASH! Filson / Le Chameau Wellies to be Produced
Well-informed hunters, bird watchers, and all others who pursue an activity requiring prolonged plodding over wet or muddy terrain know the value of a well-designed, soundly-constructed Wellington boot.
Meopta MeoPix iScoping Adapter Demonstrated at 2012 SHOT Show
While news of the Meopta MeoPix iScoping Adapter for the iPhone 4 and 4S has already been published in The Well-read Naturalist, actual images recorded through the scope have not yet been – until now.
FLASH! New Nikon EDG VR Fieldscope Unveiled
Nikon has unveiled its latest addition to both its spotting scope line-up as well as its premium-level EDG product family: The EDG VR 85 Fieldscope.
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Not a “Year’s Best Books” List
Well friends, it’s nearing the end of 2011 and as a result critics are publishing their “best book lists.” I’m not one to do so and as a result I’m not publishing one. However I am very interested in what you’ve been reading.
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