Michael Hurben, The Physics of Birds and Birding
An interview with Michael Hurben, author of ‘The Physics of Birds and Birding’, published by Pelagic Publishing. Dr. Michael Hurben received his Ph.D. in Physics in 1996 from Colorado State University, where his work was focused on magnetic resonance. He has managed to compile a life list exceeding 5,050 species despite being legally blind. He and his wife Claire currently live in Bloomington, Minnesota. He blogs at legallyblindbirding.net. How did this book come about? I’ve […]
Robert Cheke, Sunbirds of the World
An interview with Robert Cheke, lead author of ‘Sunbirds of the World’, published by Bloomsbury Publishing, in the Helm Identifications Guides series. Robert Cheke is Professor Emeritus of Tropical Zoology at the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Greenwich and a Visiting Professor at Imperial College London’s Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology. His work has frequently taken him to sub-Saharan Africa, where he has been able to follow his passion for sunbirds. The book […]
Clive Slater, John Henry Gurney: A Passion for Birds
‘John Henry Gurney: A Passion for Birds’ was published in 2025 by John Beaufoy Publishing in association with the British Ornithologists Club. It was authored by Clive Slater, Peter Munday and Ray Williams. Gehan de Silva Wijeyeratne interviews the lead author, Clive Slater. Clive Slater read Zoology at King’s College, University of London (1966-1969). Following a career in environmental and public health as a chartered practitioner and university lecturer in the UK and overseas, he […]
Nils van Duivendijk, ID Handbook of European Birds
An interview with Nils van Duivendijk on his book ‘ID Handbook of European Birds’ published by Princeton University Press. The book is published in 2 volumes. It was Birdwatch magazine’s Book of Year for 2024. Nils van Duivendijk has been involved in birding since his childhood. It was in his younger years when his interest in ID started. Studies of the species of the Western Palearctic (Europe, North Africa and the Middle East) have since […]
Richard and Barbara Mearns, Biographies for Birdwatchers, The Lives of Those Commemorated in Western Palearctic Bird Names
An interview with Richard and Barbara Mearns on their book ‘Biographies for Birdwatchers, The Lives of Those Commemorated in Western Palearctic Bird Names’. Privately published in 2022. 2 softback A4 vols with over 250 portraits (396pp & 266pp). ISBN 978-0-9556739-3-1. £69.99 plus P&P, www.mearnsbooks.com. Reproduced with permission from the Quarterly Newsletter (Issue No. 272, March 2024) of the London Natural History Society. Barbara Mearns was born in Greenock, studied in Edinburgh, and then worked for […]
Conor Mark Jameson, Finding W.H. Hudson: The Writer Who Came to Britain to Save the Birds
An interview with Conor Mark Jameson on his book ‘Finding W.H. Hudson: The Writer Who Came to Britain to Save the Birds’ published by Pelagic Publishing. Reproduced with permission from the Quarterly Newsletter (Issue No. 272, March 2024) of the London Natural History Society. Conor Mark Jameson has written for the Guardian, BBC Wildlife, the Ecologist, New Statesman, Africa Geographic, NZ Wilderness, British Birds, Birdwatch and Birdwatching magazines and has been a scriptwriter for the […]
Dominic Couzens, A Year of Bird Song
An interview with Dominic Couzens on his book ‘A Year of Bird Song’ illustrated by Madeleine Floyd published by Batsford. Reproduced with permission from the Quarterly Newsletter (Issue No. 271, December 2023) of the London Natural History Society. Dominic Couzens is an award-winning nature writer, with over 40 book titles to his name, as well as many hundreds of articles for magazines and the national press. He has regular columns in Bird Watching Magazine, The […]
Mike Unwin, Around the World in 80 Birds
An interview with Mike Unwin on this latest book ‘Around the World in 80 Birds’. The book is illustrated by Ryuto Miyake and published by Laurence King. Reproduced with permission from the Quarterly Newsletter (Issue No. 270, September 2023) of the London Natural History Society. Mike Unwin is an award-winning writer of popular natural history books for adults and children. He writes for The Daily Telegraph, The Times, BBC Wildlife, Travel Africa, as well as […]
Stephen Moss, Skylarks with Rosie: A Somerset Spring
An interview with prolific nature writer Stephen Moss on his book ‘Skylarks with Rosie: A Somerset Spring’ published by Saraband. Reproduced with permission from the Quarterly Newsletter (Issue No. 261, May 2025) of the London Natural History Society. Stephen Moss is one of Britain’s leading nature writers, broadcasters and wildlife television producers, specialising in birds and British wildlife. He is the author of many books, including ‘biographies’ of the Robin, Wren and Swallow, and teaches […]
Marianne Taylor, The Gull Next Door
An interview with prolific nature writer Marianne Taylor on her book ‘Gull Next Door’ published by Wild Nature Press. Reproduced with permission from the Quarterly Newsletter (Issue No. 261, February 2021) of the London Natural History Society. Marianne Taylor has since 2007 worked as a freelance writer, photographer and illustrator, focusing on wildlife and nature and, particularly, British birds. She is a prolific author and her books include RSPB Pocket guide to British Birds, RSPB […]