At last! An up to date examination of what makes birders tick. And about time too! Wonderfully written
Bill Oddie
A natural history version of <i>Fever Pitch</i>... Reading it may even make you want to try out this strangely addictive past time for yourself
Guardian
Intensely readable, very funny and highly enlightening
New Scientist
With a mixture of well-chosen anecdotes and self-deprecating humour, Cocker succeeds in making event he most hardened cynic appreciate his passion. <i>Birders </i>is a stylish work in a long tradition of fine writing on the subject
Guardian
The best account yet of the "tribe" and its wonderful, unworldly passions
The Times
Since 1972 Mark Cocker has been a member of a community of obsessional people, almost all male, who sacrifice most of their spare time, a good deal of money, sometimes their chances of a partner or family, even occasionally their lives, to watch birds.
Birders is the story of this community, of its characters, its rules, its equipment and its adventures - many of which are hilariously funny, Birders is also a work of love - the story of what birds can do to the human heart.
Since 1972 Mark Cocker has been a member of a community of obsessional people, almost all male, who sacrifice most of their spare time, a good deal of money, sometimes their chances of a partner or family, even occasionally their lives, to watch birds.