Bird City - by Ryan Goldberg (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

For readers of What an Owl Knows and The World Without Us, this infectiously impassioned tour of the five New York City boroughs offers city dwellers and bird lovers everywhere a surprising, delightful new view of the concrete jungle--through its abundant and diverse bird population

Ryan Goldberg came to birding unexpectedly, but as many first-timers do after seeing their "spark" bird, he fell hard. Enamored with the incredible variety of species that pass through his hometown of New York City, and with the other passionate birders he meets, he embarks on a year of reporting on the natural wonders hiding amidst the skyscrapers. He learns that millions of birds migrate through the city each year--more than four hundred different species have been found in New York, many more than in Yellowstone National Park.

Through the four seasons, Goldberg takes readers to all five boroughs, through the city's most famous parks and landmarks. He pursues rare and common species alike, increasing his count and deepening his understanding of how and why birds make their home in this smoggy, noisy, concrete-coated environment. Along the way, he meets many delightful and idiosyncratic characters, both human and feathered.

Richly textured, informative, and uplifting, Bird City will inspire fast-walking New Yorkers, the ever-growing birding community, and readers everywhere who think of "nature" as just a place to visit on Saturdays to slow down and look around them. There's a lot more than pigeons in our city skies.

Review Quotes

"An uplifting and hopeful tribute to avian resilience and adaptability, as well as a love letter to a community of disparate birders whose cooperation and tireless efforts have enacted positive changes to protect the creatures they admire. Goldberg's enthusiasm for birds will inspire many readers to pick up their binoculars and head outside, both in New York City and beyond."--Library Journal

"Goldberg's experience as a journalist stands out. He succinctly and expertly renders the colorful birds and birders he comes across, [making] this an enjoyable read for anyone looking to learn about urban birding. An informative read for any birder, and a must-read for New York City ones."--Kirkus

"Bird City is a wild romp through a surprisingly wild city. It's everything a good nature book should be: enlightening and surprising, quirky and sombre, rooted in history, with a cast of curious characters, both human and avian. You'll never look at NYC the same way again--and you'll find yourself rushing out to buy a pair of binoculars and join in the fun."--Rosemary Mosco, author of A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching

"Bird City is one of the best books I've ever read about the birds of a special place, and the people who pay attention to them. It's written with such verve and insight that it will appeal to readers far beyond the limits of New York."--Kenn Kaufman, author of The Birds That Audubon Missed

"Bird City is a fascinating look at the people who see New York not as a city, but as an ecosystem. Ryan Goldberg's curiosity about the city's birds and the birders who track them offer an illuminating glimpse into the value of urban birding in the twenty-first century."--Amy Stewart, New York Times-bestselling author of The Drunken Botanist and Wicked Plants

"Did the founders of New York know that they were building a city in the shadow of one of the most important bird super-highways on the planet? Goldberg gives us that rare and precious thing: a totally new perspective on familiar places. This book will change how you see your neighborhood and all the wonderful creatures that live there too."--Ben Rawlence, author of The Treeline

"With a reporter's knack for accuracy and a storyteller's flair for what's fun, Ryan Goldberg gives us a four-season birder's-eye view of the Big Apple--with insights on what makes feathered pursuits so special in any city."--Christian Cooper, author of Better Living Through Birding

About the Author

Ryan Goldberg is an award-winning journalist who has written for the New York Times, Texas Monthly, The Intercept, ProPublica, and Popular Science, among many others. He lives in Brooklyn, which is where he began birding in 2016.