Customer Reviews

3 reviews

• James Murphy and Dr. Matthew Perry

  From the French countryside to a narrow escape from rockets to Caribbean seafood and finally to the rebuilding of an island, Erwin’s career produced a lifetime of discovery, both scientific and personal. His accounts in “Birds, Beaches and Biologists” mingles his professional findings with rich recollections of adventures and accomplishments. You’ll enjoy it, and you’ll probably learn something.

• Matthew Perry

  The capuchin bird, raccoon dog, and hoatzin are just some of the unique animals that Dr. Michael Erwin mentions in his 181-page book about his life as a research scientist. This is much more than just another nature book. It is a comprehensive personal glimpse of the life of a researcher and his close interaction with wildlife and people. His relatives were good companions on early trips, as they plodded through marshes and mudflats, and dealt with some of the smelly and less pleasant side of the life of a field biologist. Many professional biologists also accompanied him while doing research in many countries. The pages include scientific findings written in an easy-to-understand style which the reader will instantly enjoy. The close contact experiences with wildlife Dr. Erwin shares with the readers are seldom possible for the average naturalist. I highly recommend this book to professional biologists or any nature lovers who wish to explore the exciting world of a wildlife research scientist in the field.

• Dr. Helen Bishop

  Dr. Michael Erwin's book, based on his field research into the nesting habits of gulls, provides a wonderful introduction into the practicalities of wearing a broad-brimmed hat near gull colonies. He takes readers back to his early days as a field biologist, finding evidence to support the hypothesis that nesting success of herring gulls was lower if great black-backed gulls nested nearby. He reminds fellow naturalists of the realities of being bombarded with fishy excrement at any moment. and of why afternoon expeditions require a larger boat engine than those scheduled in the morning. His informal writing style provides knowledge and entertainment simultaneously. Readers will enjoy becoming part of Dr. Erwin's community and gain information about the world of gulls at the same time. Settle in for a good read!

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