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For
the Love of Birds
by Kay
Charter
illustrations by Thomas W. Ford
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Price: $24.95
ISBN: 0-9700917-1-0
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Birds surround us,
yet how often do we look beyond their beauty to explore to explore
the world in which they live?
Twenty years ago Kay
Charter took her first real look at bird life, and she hasn't
stopped observing, studying, and being amazed by birds since.
For the Love of Birds chronicles her experiences, including
her efforts and sacrifices to establish a sanctuary for songbirds
in northern Michigan. Kay takes you into the world of bluebirds
and swallows, bobolinks and chickadees. She recounts the heartbreak
of trying to save an endangered shorebird species, explores the
incredible phenomenon of "kettling" hawks, plays surrogate
mom to a kingbird and a brood of ducks, and ponders such wonders
as the bird with the upside-down brain and the seemingly impossible
journey of the tiny ruby-throated hummingbird.
The author also describes
birds she has observed in her travels from Texas through southern
California during the winter months—from an elusive kiskadee to
an endangered gnatcatcher—and she takes a tough-minded look
at what is necessary to provide habitat and protection for the
declining number of songbirds.
For the Love of
Birds is filled with appreciation and wonder, as well as practical
advice on attracting birds and building habitat for them. Kay's
storytelling will delight the casual observer and provide new
insights for serious birders and bird-watchers everywhere.
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"…informative,
entertaining, and occasionally inspiring reading for all aspiring
ornithologists, bird watchers, and environmentalists with a commitment
to preserving and enhancing aviary habitat."
-The
Bookwatch
"If
you’re looking for a dickey-bird journal this might be a
disappointment. But if you’re looking for a hardcore—almost
blood and guts—bird conservation journal on a scale of one
to ten,
this one scores a solid 15. This is one heckuva book…and
gal."
-Glen
Sheppard
The North Woods Call
"Kay
Charter is as gracious in sharing her stories as she is in opening
her home to strangers. For the Love of Birds is a passionate
and entertaining account of a life well spent in the service of
songbirds. It is a delight."
-Jerry
Dennis
author of It's Raining Frogs and Fishes
"Kay
Charter is doing what most of us dream of at one point or another—indulging
one abiding, passionate interest. The objects of her affection
are birds. For years nesting birds in Leelanau County have benefited
from her devotion, now we can too. In clear, direct, insightful
prose, Kay shares her thoughts, observations, and experiences
with birds. Kay's engaging and thought-provoking story is a must
for all of us who care deeply for the natural world and its creatures.
It's a great read!"
-Brian
Price
executive director, Leelanau Conservancy
"Like
Gilbert White of Selborne and Henry David Thoreau of Concord,
Kay Charter's passion is for her home ground. In a small corner
of Michigan's Leelanau County, Kay and her husband, Jimmy, have
nurtured their forty-seven acres with equal parts of love and
labor. For the Love of Birds shares their adventures and,
yes, mishaps as they interact with Blackburnian Warblers, Winter
Wrens, Tree Swallows, and Eastern Bluebirds...they are all here
as well as many more. Birders will be delighted with Charter's
anecdotes and insights."
-Dick
Walton
co-author of Birding by Ear
"'There
are some of us who can live without wild things, and some who
cannot,' wrote Aldo Leopold. Like Leopold, Kay Charter cannot;
but what frightens her is that she's in the minority. For most
Americans the bird world consists of LBJs (little brown jobs)
that eat all kinds of things in all kinds of places but especially
French fries at McDonald's. By teaching the value of native birds
and their habitats this book will enrich the lives of those who
read it and , at the same time, enlist recruits for the battle
to save Earth's real wealth."
-Ted
Williams
editor-at-large, Audubon magazine
"…her
storytelling is full of the bird wonders in northern Michigan
as well as bird observations during western winter travel. Her
obvious passion shows everywhere, from practical advice on attracting
birds to establishing a sanctuary."
-National
Bird-Feeding Society
"Charter’s
is a compelling tale of a struggle that grew into a triumph, and
is filled with moments of discovery, adventure, heartbreak, and
joy, all the more significant because the author is able to bridge
the gap between the human and animal world…her endless appreciation
of birds is a contagious thing, and her stories are filled with
humor, insight, and practical advice for anyone interested in
the natural life of northern Michigan."
-Nancy
Sundstrom
Northern Express Weekly
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 Author
Kay Charter was captured by the magic of birds some twenty
years ago, and her life has never been the same. Now she devotes
nearly all her energies to observing, protecting, and writing
about birds, particularly songbirds. She and her husband spend
their spring and summer days on their forty-seven acre bird
sanctuary in northern Michigan. During the winter, they follow
the birds south to Texas, Arizona, and California. Kay writes
a birding column, "On the Wing," for the Traverse
City Record-Eagle, writes articles on birds for a variety
of magazines, and speaks about her favorite subject to bird
and conservation groups.
Illustrator
Thomas W. Ford grew up in Empire, Michigan, and was inspired
at an early age by the beauty of northern Michigan. Tom is
a freelance wildlife artist who is well known for his drawings
and watercolors of native northern Michigan wildlife, especially
birds. He earned a B.I.S. degree in Biological Illustration
from Central Michigan University and many of his drawings
were recently published in the Atlas of Breeding Birds
of Michigan. Tom is an avid birder, nature photographer,
and naturalist.
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