“It’s an immature redwing!” “No, it’s a female tri-colored!” “Well, pull out your Peterson’s and let’s settle this!”
Last week (August 28th), we celebrated the anniversary of the birthday of naturalist Roger Tory Peterson, author and illustrator of A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America (first published in 1934) and developer of “the Peterson System” for bird identification. Peterson was born at Jamestown NY in 1908 and died in Old Lyme CT on July 28 1996. He is credited with almost single-handedly popularizing the hobby of “birding” or “bird watching” for generations of Americans. His magnum opus went through several editions and eventually was joined by a companion volume for the western part of the continent. Today, these field guides have gone through numerous editions and revisions and are still among the most highly regarded by amateur ornithologists in the field. On this centenary of his birth, RTP is fondly remembered and acknowledged by all of us as the man who, more than any other got it all started.
Check out his book, All Things Reconsidered: My Birding Adventures.
Or put one or more of his books to good use. MAP
