Kenn Kaufman

At 16, Kaufman dropped out of high school and started hitching across America in an effort to see the most birds in a year. "Kingbird Highway" is a unique coming-of-age story, combining a lyrical celebration of nature with wild adventures and some unbelievable characters.

The Biggest Year in the Life of an Extreme Birder

Kingbird Highway

Renowned naturalist Kenn Kaufman examines the scientific discoveries of John James Audubon and his artistic and ornithologist peers to show how what they saw (and what they missed) reflects how we perceive and understand the natural world. Raging ambition. Towering egos. Competition under a veneer of courtesy. Heroic effort combined with plagiarism, theft, exaggeration, and fraud. This was the state of bird study in eastern North America during the early 1800s, as a handful of intrepid men raced to find the last few birds that were still unknown to science. The most famous name in the bird world was John James Audubon, who painted spectacular portraits of birds. But although his images were beautiful, creating great art was not his main goal. Instead, he aimed to illustrate (and write about) as many different species as possible, obsessed with trying to outdo his rival, Alexander Wilson. George Ord, a fan and protégé of Wilson, held a bitter grudge against Audubon for years, claiming he had faked much of his information and his scientific claims. A few of Audubon’s birds were pure fiction, and some of his writing was invented or plagiarized. Other naturalists of the era, including Charles Bonaparte (nephew of Napoleon), John Townsend, and Thomas Nuttall, also became entangled in the scientific derby, as they stumbled toward an understanding of the natural world—an endeavor that continues to this day. Despite this intense competition, a few species—including some surprisingly common songbirds, hawks, sandpipers, and more—managed to evade discovery for years. Here, renowned bird expert and artist Kenn Kaufman explores this period in history from a new angle, by considering the birds these people discovered and, especially, the ones they missed. Kaufman has created portraits of the birds that Audubon never saw, attempting to paint them in that artist’s own stunning style, as a way of examining the history of natural sciences and nature art. He shows how our understanding of birds continues to gain clarity, even as some mysteries persist from Audubon’s time until ours.

Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness

The Birds That Audubon Missed

A close look at one season in one key site that reveals the amazing science and magic of spring bird migration, and the perils of human encroachment. Every spring, billions of birds sweep north, driven by ancient instincts to return to their breeding grounds. This vast parade often goes unnoticed, except in a few places where these small travelers concentrate in large numbers. One such place is along Lake Erie in northwestern Ohio. There, the peak of spring migration is so spectacular that it attracts bird watchers from around the globe, culminating in one of the world’s biggest birding festivals. Millions of winged migrants pass through the region, some traveling thousands of miles, performing epic feats of endurance and navigating with stunning accuracy. Now climate change threatens to disrupt patterns of migration and the delicate balance between birds, seasons, and habitats. But wind farms—popular as green energy sources—can be disastrous for birds if built in the wrong places. This is a fascinating and urgent study of the complex issues that affect bird migration.

Inside the World of Spring Migration

A Season On The Wind

A close look at one season in one key site that reveals the amazing science and magic of spring bird migration, and the perils of human encroachment. Every spring, billions of birds sweep north, driven by ancient instincts to return to their breeding grounds. This vast parade often goes unnoticed, except in a few places where these small travelers concentrate in large numbers. One such place is along Lake Erie in northwestern Ohio. There, the peak of spring migration is so spectacular that it attracts bird watchers from around the globe, culminating in one of the world's biggest birding festivals. Millions of winged migrants pass through the region, some traveling thousands of miles, performing epic feats of endurance and navigating with stunning accuracy. Now climate change threatens to disrupt patterns of migration and the delicate balance between birds, seasons, and habitats. But wind farms--popular as green energy sources--can be disastrous for birds if built in the wrong places. This is a fascinating and urgent study of the complex issues that affect bird migration.

A Season on the Wind

Jeff Sayre

Kimberly Kaufman

The only field guide for identifying the birds, mammals, trees, wildflowers, insects, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, spiders, mushrooms, ferns, grasses, and sky of the Midwest.

Kaufman Field Guide to Nature of the Midwest

Presents an illustrated field guide to the plants, wildlife, night sky, and natural environments of New England.

Kaufman Field Guide to Nature of New England

Jim P. Brock

The most user-friendly butterfly guide ever published, still handy and compact, now updated with the very latest information - Follows the latest classification, recognizing more than forty additional species - Includes four new color plates of Mexican-border rarities - More than 2,300 images of butterflies in natural poses - Pictorial table of contents - Convenient one-page index - Range maps on text pages

Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America

Nora Bowers

Rick Bowers

Now with a new lower price and a new ISBN, the Kaufman Field Guide to Mammals invites nature lovers to discover North America's wild animals This comprehensive guide treats every species of wild mammal found north of the Mexican border, from squirrels and chipmunks to grizzly bears and jaguars as well as those in offshore waters. More than 1,200 photographs have been digitally edited to show correct sizes, comparative colors, and the field marks necessary for identification in the wild. With each title in the distinguished Kaufman Field Guide series, Kenn Kaufman engages and educates naturalists of all ages and skill levels about the wonders of nature. In Mammals of North America, the format has been designed for easy field use, with illustrations, maps, and text arranged side by side. Detailed range maps show where each species is common or rare. The authoritative text discusses the identification of these animals and the essential facts about their habitats and behavior. Hundreds of illustrations show tracks, dens, and other signs that we may notice even when the animals themselves are out of sight.

Kaufman Field Guide to Mammals of North America

A resource with nearly 900 full-color photos examines the basics of each major bird group, describes the principles of identification and much more. By the author of Lives of North American Birds. 20,000 first printing.

Understanding what You See and Hear

Kaufman Field Guide to Advanced Birding

Eric R. Eaton

Highlighted by more than two thousand digitally enhanced color photographs, a comprehensive guide to the insects of North America contains information--including life histories, behaviors, and habitats--on every major group of insects found north of Mexico.

Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America

The country's best-known birders observe birds in places where thriving bird life comes as a surprise. Funny and informative.

True Tales of Birds and Birdwatching in Unexpected Places

City Birding

A natural history of birds provides information on more than nine hundred species of birds, including what they eat, where they build their nests, how many eggs they lay, what habitat they choose, when they migrate, and their current conservation status.

Lives of North American Birds

Collects photographs, range maps, and descriptive entries identifying the markings, habits, habitat, and voice of each species.

Kenn Kaufman

About

Books

Join the club