The Bird with Flaming Red Feet - by Maria Ruth (Paperback)

About the Book

A vivid, entertaining, and quirky exploration of how getting to deeply know one bird leads us to appreciating all of nature

Book Synopsis

The Bird with Flaming Red Feet is a lively and heartfelt natural history of the Pigeon Guillemot, a charismatic seabird with a surprising story to tell. Found along the coast from Southeast Alaska to Southern California, this talkative and often-overlooked bird plays an outsized role in the health of marine ecosystem--earning its status as an "indicator species," especially for Washington's Puget Sound.

Author and longtime volunteer surveyor Maria Mudd Ruth weaves together science, field observation, and community storytelling in this engaging exploration of one bird's life. Drawing from over a decade of beachside study, she dives deep into the guillemot's behaviors, quirky traits, and ecological relationships. Along the way, readers meet the passionate citizen scientists who have built a unique community around caring for and studying this vibrant bird.

Bridging the gap between field guide and memoir, The Bird with Flaming Red Feet invites readers to slow down, look closely, and reconnect with the wild places--and creatures--just outside their door. It's a joyful call to observation, stewardship, and a deeper understanding of our coastal world.