For the Birds

ELIZABETH CHERRY is an associate professor of sociology at Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York. She is the author of Culture and Activism: Animal Rights in France and the United States.

"Without qualification, For the Birds will make a substantial and significant contribution to sociology.  Cherry's writing style and conversational tone take us through the training of a neophyte birder into a level of expertise all the while keeping the book extremely readable, lively and accessible."— Lisa Jean Moore, author of Buzz: Urban Beekeeping and the Power of the Bee"With a wealth of data from in-depth interviews and over three years of observing birders in the field, environmental sociologist Elizabeth Cherry argues that birders learn to watch wildlife in ways that make an invaluable contribution to contemporary conservation efforts. She investigates how birders develop a 'naturalist gaze' that enables them to understand the shared ecosystem that intertwines humans and wild animals, an appreciation that motivates them to participate in citizen science projects and wildlife conservation."— ASA Environmental Sociology newsletter"For the Birds provides both an interesting and accessible study of the birding community. Cherry provides deep and colorful description of birders and allows the community to speak directly to the reader by using interview quotes throughout the book. We have much to learn from birders about making the common uncommon and looking at our own backyards through a pair of binoculars."— American Journal of SociologyFor the Birds by Elizabeth Cherry included in Publishers Weekly's Fall 2019 Adult Announcements — Publishers Weekly"A major contribution."— Social Forces"With its eagle-eyed sights on birders in their natural habitat, Elizabeth Cherry's beautiful ethnography reveals the reverence and concern that citizen scientists feel for these charismatic creatures. Like the naturalist gaze itself, For the Birds is equal parts instructive and pleasurable."  — David Grazian, author of American Zoo: A Sociological Safari"Recommended." — Choice"Without qualification, For the Birds will make a substantial and significant contribution to sociology.  Cherry's writing style and conversational tone take us through the training of a neophyte birder into a level of expertise all the while keeping the book extremely readable, lively and accessible."— Lisa Jean Moore, author of Buzz: Urban Beekeeping and the Power of the Bee"With a wealth of data from in-depth interviews and over three years of observing birders in the field, environmental sociologist Elizabeth Cherry argues that birders learn to watch wildlife in ways that make an invaluable contribution to contemporary conservation efforts. She investigates how birders develop a 'naturalist gaze' that enables them to understand the shared ecosystem that intertwines humans and wild animals, an appreciation that motivates them to participate in citizen science projects and wildlife conservation."— ASA Environmental Sociology newsletter"For the Birds provides both an interesting and accessible study of the birding community. Cherry provides deep and colorful description of birders and allows the community to speak directly to the reader by using interview quotes throughout the book. We have much to learn from birders about making the common uncommon and looking at our own backyards through a pair of binoculars."— American Journal of SociologyFor the Birds by Elizabeth Cherry included in Publishers Weekly's Fall 2019 Adult Announcements — Publishers Weekly"A major contribution."— Social Forces"With its eagle-eyed sights on birders in their natural habitat, Elizabeth Cherry's beautiful ethnography reveals the reverence and concern that citizen scientists feel for these charismatic creatures. Like the naturalist gaze itself, For the Birds is equal parts instructive and pleasurable."  — David Grazian, author of American Zoo: A Sociological Safari"Recommended." — Choice

• AcknowledgementsIntroduction1          Becoming a Birder2          The Naturalist Gaze3          Common Birds and the Social Construction of Nature4          Wilderness, Wildness, and Mobility5          Good Birds, Bad Birds, and Animal Agency6          Birding and Citizen Science7          Birding as a Conservation MovementConclusionNotesBibliographyIndex