"A welcoming, friendly, and positive guide to birding and 50 fabulous birds that can be seen in the UK."
A welcoming, friendly, and positive guide to birding and 50 fabulous birds that can be seen in the UK. Author and wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin, wants everyone to be bitten by the bird bug and feels that birds act as a gateway to the rest of our wildlife. This is such an encouraging book it just had to be a Liz Pick of the Month. I loved the introduction and getting to know him, he tells of moving from Sudan to the UK as a child, and his growing love of wildlife. He also talks about his dyslexia and how he sees the world differently as he’s adapted and developed new skills. It actually feels as though he is talking directly to you, having a conversation rather than giving a lecture on birding. He has a very natural and engaging style of communication, which drew me in, allowing me to see through his eyes. He describes the joy of being able to watch or listen to birds from anywhere and goes on to explain how to use the book, gathering birds into habitats, adding a fact box for each one, talking about binoculars, and what he wants the book to be about. Then come the birds, 50 of them with illustrations sitting before the fact boxes which I absolutely fell in love with. I think you can probably guess which bird this is: “In three words: Dark, yellow-beaked songster”, and if you need more help: “Look out for them: Gobbling worms on a lawn; singing from tall trees and chimney pots at dawn and dusk”, or: “How easy it is to see them: Really easy, and if you can’t see them, you’ll hear them”. The descriptions of the birds include additional extras, such as other birds you may see nearby, their song, how well they are surviving, and what we can do to help them. So very generous, thoughtful, and inspiring Be a Birder is highly recommended by our team and joins our LoveReading Star Books.
| Primary Genre | Nature and the natural world: general interest |
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Discover the wonderful world of birdwatching with wildlife cameraman Hamza Yassin - winner of BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing2022 and presenter of BBC documentary Hamza: Strictly Birds of Prey
'Birds have been with me my entire life - from the colourful weaver birds on the banks of the Nile in Sudan to the magpies of Newcastle, from the roosting peregrine falcons near my parents' house in Northampton to the white-tailed eagles on the west coast of Scotland. I love them. If you take the time to stop and listen, you'll see the world through different eyes. It's all out there, waiting for you to find it. And it might just bring you as much joy as it's brought me.'
Journey along with Hamza in Be a Birder as he recounts stories of his birding adventures, and shares tips and tricks to help you get started in birdwatching.
In this beautifully illustrated guide, featuring fifty of Hamza's favourite birds, you will learn how to start identifying birds, understand their behaviour and movements, and find even more exciting birds, wherever you are. Starting with the goldfinch in your garden, to tawny owls in woodlands, to the elusive kingfisher near rivers and marshes, you will build your birdwatching confidence and push yourself further afield to find new feathered wonders.
Encouraging us all to stop, step outside and listen, Be a Birder is both a practical guide and a joyous celebration of these incredible creatures. Once you start looking for them, and with Hamza as your guide, your world will be forever changed.
Be a Birder features in the following genres: Nature and the natural world: general interest, Biographies & Autobiographies, Gift Books, Lifestyle, Hobbies and Leisure, Wildlife: birds and birdwatching: general interest, Wildlife: general interest, Photography and photographs, Hobbies, Biography, Literature and Literary studies, Stationery and miscellaneous items, The Arts, Hobbies, quizzes and games, Star Books, Recommendations
Be a Birder is available in Paperback
Be a Birder was written by Hamza Yassin and published by Gaia Books Ltd an imprint of Octopus Publishing Group
Be a Birder has 304 pages
£9.89
