Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #476162 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-07
• Released on: 2006-03-07
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

From Publishers Weekly
After being downsized out of his corporate career, Levy found solace in New York City's Central Park, where he was astonished to encounter a red-winged blackbird that had learned to use humans as an easy source of food. The bird was named George by a group of admirers whom Levy quickly joined, and in this chatty and sometimes witty book, the neophyte bird watcher tells of his Sundays (and other days) in the park with George, hand feeding him and studying his habits. Fascination with one bird led to attempts to get to know others, including a downy woodpecker and a mallard with a broken beak. He describes them and includes tips on bird identification books and binoculars. Levy's enthusiasm is appealing, but his discussion of hand feeding birds is problematic: watching wild birds is one thing; teaching them to trust humans is another—he mentions two incidents in which George's lack of fear of humans nearly resulted in disaster for the bird, but Levy never seriously addresses the question of whether the kind of interactions he implicitly encourages is in the best interest of wildlife. It's also a shame that the 72 photos are b&w; bird lovers would undoubtedly want them in glorious color. (Mar. 7)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
George is a red-winged blackbird, resident of a small pond in New York's Central Park. Levy was involuntarily unemployed, and Central Park became his place to seek solace. When an acquaintance introduced him to George, a particularly demanding bird that would take food from his^B hand, the nonbirder Levy was immediately converted. His book grew out of his increasingly lengthy notes and journal keeping. Beginning in April and ending in July, the narrative follows one breeding season around George's pond and in other areas of the park. Levy's writing style is fresh and intimate; when he observes a behavior he doesn't understand, he not only expresses his curiosity but also satisfies it by quoting from researchers on the subject. This delightful mix of the^B quizzical and scientific will engage the reader and painlessly teach quite a bit of ornithology. Popular science writing at its best, and highly recommended. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"Club George is proof that a bird can inspire your life--even in New York City!"- E. J. McAdams, executive director of New York City Audubon Society "Charming and intimate . . . as much about the habits of people as it is about birds. Both can be gregarious, and worth watching."- The New York Times "A good read and a great source of avian lore that should appeal to the fast-growing crowd of bird-watchers across the nation. That all this takes place in Central Park in the middle of Manhattan should be cause for beginning bird-watchers everywhere to take heart. As the saying goes: If you can do it in New York, you can do it anywhere. Levy shows the reader how."- Hope Ryden, author of America's Last Wild Horses "With an articulate, introspective sensibility...Club George manages to evoke the existential optimism that birds inject into the life of anyone willing to open his or her soul to their dauntless, essential lightness of being."- The Washington Post "Now we know there is more than sex in the city--there are birds! A fun romp."- Bernd Heinrich, author of The Geese of Beaver Bog "The author of Club George has a seemingly insatiable appetite for close encounters with wildlife of all kinds, coupled with a commendable skill in recounting not only animal behavior, but also his personal reactions and reflections."- Robert W. Nero, author of Redwings "Club George is not just a charming, playful, and very personal account of the development of a birder--it is much more. I enjoyed reading it very much, and I am proud of my honorary membership in Club George."- Ken Yasukawa, coauthor of Red-winged Blackbird (The Birds of North America series)

Customer Reviews

Birds can save your soul
Humans can learn much from bird behavior, and this book provides a very entertaining glimpse into the social and biological world of our feathered friends. Whether or not you are a bird watcher, you will enjoy Bob Levy's easy yet intellectual and witty writing style, and you may be very surprised to discover how closely their stories of love, survival, triumph and tragedy parallel the human condition. Levy makes excellent and timely references to insights from legendary bird experts Sibley, Yasakawa, and others to explain the 'why' behind his sometimes puzzling observations. When faced with limited resources, environmental challenges, life- or lifestyle-threatening conflict or other Darwinian forces, the birds' adaptation and response leaves this mere human in awe...

Club George
A wonderful journey through one summer in Central Park in Manhattan, where we meet and learn to love a cast of birds who are residents of the Park.

Birder or not, this is a wonderful read
This is one of the most enjoyable "birder" books I've read in years. The author writes with a delightful sense of humor; if you don't find yourself chuckling over something at least every couple of pages, better check your pulse! Even if you can barely tell the difference between a cardinal and a bluejay, you will enjoy this book; anyone with more than a casual interest in birds will absolutely love it.