The Collins Press, Cork; hbk, 328pp; 400 photographs and montages; ISBN 978-184-8891-62-3 Subbuteo code M21403, £35.00
Having been occasional midwife during its several pupations, I have awaited this book with some trepidation. Like the 58 other helpers, including the ever-attentive Julian Wylie, I have so wanted it to dispel the strange self-occlusion that Anthony's totally engaging Birding from the Hip (The Sound Approach, 2009) somehow precipitated. No worry; this larger, more professional but still passionate and not unbarbed paeon for 197 Irish birds hits its target's bull. 'Let the birds be' is the book's constant anthem.
Typically, Anthony begins a mite shyly. There is no waving of red flag in the rather subtle introduction and, scene set, and he soon switches to guiding the reader into attentive watching. Then with irresistible and increasing momentum, he offers essay after essay (of between 125 and 1,000 words) of arresting facts, telling quotes and vivid analogies. The portraits and fates of Ireland's core avifauna come off the page in a fashion that pleases eye, charges mind and hurts heart. The media are delightful but the message is stark. Far too many of the Green Isle's once eternal birds are in trauma. And far too often their balloons of conservation are shown to have punctures or specious function.
To insure, however, that his book does not lead the reader into despair, Anthony deploys his customary skills of Keillor-quality prose and lyrical photographs. Of the 400 photographs, three out of four come from his own 'stalk but be sure to compose before expose' perceptions and full mastery of Photoshop. None are less than good; most are sheer brilliant catches of birds doing their things, as explained in well-crafted captions. Strategic comic reliefs (his trademark) promote smiles and chuckles.
As for the anthology in the book, its bedrock is William Thompson's The Natural History of Ireland (1849-52). Wisely, Anthony has used it as his trig point from avian compass readings through all Ireland, Europe and across the Atlantic. References to 30 other works that pre-date the Witherby's Handbook of British Birds allow the discussion of population trends to be truly telling. With Clive Hutchinson's Birds in Ireland (1989) long outdated, the accounts are timely, while the many mentions of individual bird journeys explain anew Ireland's wide harvest of wintering birds. A singular feature is the courteous listing of personal observations by other purposeful birdwatchers. It is particularly good to see the wisdom of Neville McKee, 'Captain' of Copeland Bird Observatory, freely distilled. Finally, for ancient believers in some subspecies, the best mugshots yet of 'Irish Red Grouse' Lagopus l. hibernicus, 'Faeroese Common Snipe' Gallinago g. faeroeensis, 'Icelandic Redwing' Turdus iliacus coburni, 'Irish Jay' Garrulus glandarius hibernicus, and indisputable whistleri race of Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis. Keep the faith alive.
The essays are leavened with guide texts on moult sequence, the flux of migration and the solution to the eternal puzzle of Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus versus Chiffchaff P. collybita. At their end comes advice on bird gardening and optics choice and of course two witty Anthony McGeehan tales of 'fine days'. The book's last gift is a meticulously researched Irish list. It features 466 certains, five 'honourable' escape-occlusions and four 'dishonourable' introductions. Of the 466, five are extinct, most shockingly the Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra, and 117 are vagrants, with the 113 found in the Republic no doubt the reason why the standard joy. Seeking direction of most Ulster birders lies between south and west.
More than all Irish men and women should be moved by this beautiful book and charged to save its subjects. Anthony makes it clear that we all need to do more, quickly.
D. I. M. Wallace
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