Birdwatching

Ah, "Birdwatching" by David Saunders—an illustrious tome that seems to have flown straight out of the mid-1970s with all the grace of a goose attempting ballet. Published by Hamlyn, this book proudly claims to be your comprehensive guide to the avian wonders of the world, though one might argue it’s more of a tribute to the art of looking at birds while trying to remember if you left the kettle on. With a cover that features a bird perched in a relaxed pose, one might think it’s a cautionary tale about the dangers of being too zen in a world full of winged chaos.

Inside, the reader will find pages laden with the earnest enthusiasm of a bygone era—a time when people wore woolly jumpers and consulted books for their hobbies rather than scrolling through social media. The text may well be a delightful romp through various bird species, providing a veritable buffet of information, but let’s not kid ourselves. This book is also an opportunity for the author to express his deep philosophical musings on the merits of binoculars and the perfect cup of tea to sip whilst pretending you know what a goldfinch looks like. You might even encounter birdwatching tips that are less about observing the feathered wonders and more about cultivating the right sort of smugness that comes from knowing where to find them.

As you leaf through these timeworn pages, you may find yourself pondering existential questions such as: "Why am I staring at a tree?" and "Is that a bird, or just my imagination playing tricks?" One could argue that Saunders has brilliantly captured the essence of birdwatching: it’s less about the birds and more about the art of looking very serious while your mind wanders to what to have for lunch. Will it be a sandwich? Or perhaps a scone with jam? The possibilities are endless—and so is the number of pigeons you’ll see if you’re lucky enough to find a park bench.

What really catapults this book into the realm of the extraordinary, though, is the inimitable charm of 1970s wildlife photography. Expect to see images that look like they’ve emerged from a time capsule, where birds are portrayed in their most natural habitats—often alongside a bewildered-looking gentleman in a bush, trying to blend in as if he were a bird himself. The photography, while undoubtedly a product of its time, exudes an aura of nostalgia that may just make you want to don a safari hat and head off on an ill-fated expedition to your local park.

The allure of owning this dusty classic is heightened by its charmingly outdated advice on birdwatching gear, which may or may not include suggestions for binoculars that have since been replaced by high-tech gadgets. It’s like finding a relic of a lost civilization that continues to whisper sweet nothings about the past even as you shake your head in confusion. And let’s not forget the invaluable information on how to attract feathered friends to your garden—an art that appears to hinge almost exclusively on the correct application of seeds and the ability to sit quietly for hours, all while hoping that a robin might show up to break the monotony.

Condition: Used, as sold by Crappy Old Books, this volume possesses the perfect patina of age, which could be described as evocative, enchanting, or simply “crusty.” The spine is lovingly creased, bearing the marks of a hundred contemplative evenings spent pondering the mysteries of nature—or perhaps just the mysteries of whether to get a takeaway for dinner. The pages may have yellowed, but they do so with the grace of a timeworn scholar, eager to share its wisdom with anyone brave enough to open its covers.

So why not embrace the quirky charm of David Saunders’ "Birdwatching"? Whether you’re looking to appear cultured at your next dinner party or simply want to channel your inner ornithologist, this book is a perfect conversation starter—or, dare we say, a conversation stopper. Whatever your intentions, this time capsule of 1975 awaits you at Crappy Old Books, ready to take you on a whimsical journey through the sights and sounds of the world’s most fascinating creatures—if you can manage to find them first.

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