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A Practical Guide for Bird Enthusiasts
By L.A. Steel
I have just finished reading a remarkable book entitled Backyard Birding in the Northeast United States by Elmer W. Eriksson. I have been a bird enthusiast for most of my life, but until I read this book I wasn’t certain why.
Birds have always inspired me, indigenous peoples worship birds as spirits, poets have immortalized them, and men have studied them since the beginning of time in wonder, delight and amazement. Myths, legends and religions abound with the glorification of birds as the embodiment of gods. The most recognizable symbols in the world are the eagle and the dove, which transcend our thoughts and send our imaginations into the outer realms of eternal peace and invincibility.
In his very practical, Connecticut Yankee way, Mr. Eriksson has encompassed the ecological and aesthetic understanding of the essential human need to house, feed and protect the feathered species of this planet. He gives simple, direct and well-researched guidelines on how to enhance our backyards and our total environment with natural beauty, color, music, and structural art to create a system of sound environmental and agricultural management.
Elmer Eriksson, through his heartfelt, lifelong love for his feathered friends, has created a truly unique and significant work. His blending of experience, science and spirituality has created nothing short of artistic excellence that will be greatly appreciated by the novice birdwatcher as well as the most seasoned of ornithologists. My only disappointment after reading this book was that it ended. I hope many sequels will follow.
Backyard Birding in the Northeast United States has just been released and is available in most bookstores. It can also be ordered through Seven Locks Press, PO Box 25689, Santa Ana, CA, 92799; or call 800-354-5348.
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