Birding Without Borders

Though I'm not a birdwatcher, birds are interesting, and so are the people who pursue them whether as a scientific career or as a hobby (though the latter has often led to the former), hence why I picked up this book. I've read Strycker's other book, The Thing With Feathers, and since that was a lovely read I was pretty sure this latest book of his would prove a treat.

And I was indeed right about that guess, as it turns out: Strycker's narrative voice is still a pleasure to read, and the story of his journey around the world makes for a wonderful vicarious experience - especially when he talks about the people he met (or didn't get to meet, in some cases) along the way. That's what makes this book such a pleasure, I think, even for someone who isn't a birdwatcher: Strycker puts emphasis on the people, not the birds, always stating that the trip, and therefore the book, would not be possible without the help of his fellow enthusiasts. He's always emphasising how birdwatching brings people together, forming communities of like-minded individuals who happily go out of their way to help one of their own. Makes you wish the world worked like that all the time.