There's likely a story to be told every time someone returns home from a birding trip, be it across the country or across the street. You just have to recognize it, then share it.
Clay Christensen, the self-styled birdman of Lauderdale, never misses a story.
In a new book, "The Birdman of Lauderdale," Christensen tells entertaining and informative stories about his life as a birder. He's a good writer, as well as a good birder and a good observer. He doesn't miss much.
He begins his chapters with lines like, "The adventure began …., "While walking along ….," "When I began birding …."
And then he will capture in clean, personal prose the just-plain-interesting things he saw or heard or thought of. He also has a keen sense of humor.
The stories average about two pages in length. I was drawn through the book's 213 pages by anticipation that the next chapter would be as much fun as the last. I wasn't disappointed.
Reading the book is like going birding with Christensen, then closing the afternoon with a cup of coffee or a glass of beer. He's good company. He tells sharply seen stories. His book is well done.
Publication will be in October. It would make a great holiday gift.
