I received this book from Unbound, the excellent subscription publishing service where, like in the first days of publishing or with crowd-funders in general, you pledge an amount of money, then when enough people have pledged, the book is published and you get your copy (with your name in the list of subscribers at the back!). This is the first project I’ve pledged which has made it into book form – I had one failed one for a book about John Cowper Powys where I got a credit returned to me, and am waiting to see how two more do, “100 Voices” which shares 100 women’s voices 100 years (ish) after getting the vote, and “Ending the Pursuit” which I just pledged for as part of my aim to read more diverse voices/experiences. Funnily enough, I have a couple of other Unbound books on my TBR which I picked up locally, too! I picked this one right out of the middle of the TBR to read because I gave it to my best friend Emma for her birthday and she was reading it at the time, too.
Joe Harkness – “Bird Therapy”
(04 May 2019 – from the publisher)
Starting with a powerful foreword by Chris Packham (trigger warning: there is talk of taking one’s own life including some information on planning: it is by no means suicide-positive of course) this book pulls no punches in its descriptions of the effects of poor mental health, but is ultimately a positive read and experience.
After explaining the origins of his hobby in childhood experiences, and giving us many excellent descriptions of birds, Harkness adapts the five ways to well-being to birdwatching and explains eloquently how it has helped him in particular and can help others in general. He did a survey via his blog when planning the book, and surveyed the literature on birdwatching (there is some!) and more general works on the value of getting outside in nature, so his claims are nicely backed up.
I find it interesting that of the kinds of approaches to birdwatching he lists, he found twitching/ticking too stressful and competitive, but preferred the quietness of getting to know a local patch in all its seasons. I really hate rushing to see a particular bird for the sake of it (the most I’ve ever done of that was walking the almost negligible distance from Penzance to Newlyn to look at an Iceland Gull on a harbour wall, and we still spent quite a while watching it and its behaviour!). I don’t necessarily agree that bird photography moves the proponent too far away from the basics, as I find it relaxing lining up my bird shots, but I can understand why he thinks that.
Running has its moment when talking about the benefits of exercising outdoors, and as a running birdwatcher, I certainly recognise the process of having to hold a sighting in your mind until you get home! One of my running friends asked me a while back to help her learn the British birds and we and other friends have had great fun watching herons and little white egrets on the canals and rivers. I also managed to see some interesting wagtails during my first marathon, remember where I saw them and return there the next day during my recovery walk!
Harkness speaks from a position of being able to tell when he’s in danger of crisis and being able to head it off, which is reassuring and positive. I was saddened to read of his early (and all-too-familiar) run-ins with established birdwatchers in hides and online, who can be sneery, but was glad to see he has now found his tribe as well as an enjoyment of the hobby solo. He also clearly continues to try to inspire young people, both those he teaches and those who enter hides he’s in, and newbies in general.
There’s a good section where he highlights what initiatives are being done to make hides and reserves more accessible to wheelchair users and the like, and there are great descriptions of exactly what it’s like to visit a bird reserve. Handy hints at the end of each chapter appeal to the birdwatcher or starter alike. A great and inspiring read.
Joe Harkness doesn’t appear to be on social media any more, but has a website here, and he also has a great-looking teaching pack (info here) which I think would appeal to lots of people.
Paul at Halfman, Halfbook
Dec 27, 2019 @ 20:11:16
I thought very highly of this too. It is a shame that he isn’t on Twitter any more, I do hope he is ok, as it is causing him a lot of mental health issues.
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Liz Dexter
Dec 29, 2019 @ 18:11:20
He seems OK from the latest post – and this has reminded me that I need to go back and read your review – which I’ve carefully saved – properly now I’ve read this.
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Paul at Halfman, Halfbook
Dec 29, 2019 @ 20:52:58
Couldn’t find @birdtherapy on there any more, Liz
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Liz Dexter
Dec 29, 2019 @ 21:44:04
No, he’s no longer on Twitter, I’ve linked to his blog though.
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Deborah Brooks
Dec 27, 2019 @ 20:27:37
I have not heard of this book either! I am always amazed by how much you read. I am really enjoying the current Nelson Demille book while on vacation. Do you ever read his?
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Liz Dexter
Dec 29, 2019 @ 18:13:56
It seems to have had a few readers (and indeed subscribers) in my blogging circles but deserves wider reading as it’s excellent. I’ve not read any Nelson Demille – I have absolutely nothing against thrillers but I can’t read them as I’m easily upset and frightened by descriptions of violence or psychological suspense (also the reason I gave up editing fiction!) so they’re a no for me. It’s great when we have go-to authors we love and can pick up whenever we need to, isn’t it!
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TravellinPenguin
Dec 27, 2019 @ 22:42:50
My mother and I have /had a strong interest and love of birds. I’ve tried photographing them but mainly end up with photos of empty tree branches, which makes me laugh. I do know the families of birds in my neighbourhood and enjoy their daily antics. I can see how mental health could be positively influenced by birds and their lives. 🤠🐧
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Liz Dexter
Dec 29, 2019 @ 18:14:57
I too have many photos of empty branches or birds in odd positions – thank goodness for digital cameras!! It’s such a nice thing just to see the local birds and enjoy them, though, isn’t it.
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TravellinPenguin
Dec 29, 2019 @ 20:23:59
Yes, I do love observing them.
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Hayley at RatherTooFondofBooks
Dec 28, 2019 @ 10:11:06
I bought this book on a whim a little while ago and your review has reminded me how much I wanted to read it so I will make it a priority for the new year. I don’t get to spend much time in nature but I know how much being outside makes a difference to how I feel.
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Liz Dexter
Dec 29, 2019 @ 18:15:56
Yes, I don’t get out into the real countryside or to the sea myself much but just the nature in our local parks or along the brooks and canals is so restorative. I hope you get to read and enjoy this soon.
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kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 28, 2019 @ 13:55:09
Sounds excellent, Liz. My Middle Child adores birds and I think that contact with nature (even if it’s only encouraging pigeons and smaller birds onto your balcony….) is so important to mental health.
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Liz Dexter
Dec 29, 2019 @ 18:16:35
Oh yes, Middle Child will love this and should get hold of a copy immediately! And yes, even just taking five minutes to watch the birds on our feeder is lovely.
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wadholloway
Dec 28, 2019 @ 23:47:20
I would take a slightly different tack and say that it’s having an interest AND being able to relax with it that is important. I’m pretty competitive myself but I can also see how mixing with people who are competing when you’re not, can take all the pleasure out of an activity.
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Liz Dexter
Dec 29, 2019 @ 18:17:32
Yes, I agree. I think the author did engage in the competitive side of things and there were some interesting comments from rare bird sighting collectors, but the joy so often comes from the smaller, everyday moments, and I certainly find that, too.
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heavenali
Dec 29, 2019 @ 19:58:47
What a lovely, positive sounding book. I love listening out for birds as I go out and about, and always wished I was more knowledgeable about them.
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Liz Dexter
Dec 30, 2019 @ 09:45:02
I don’t know that many of the rarer ones but yes, enjoy hearing them as I’m outdoors, and standing to watch herons in the middle of runs – we always seem to see at least one when we’re out along the canals.
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