Ted Floyd

Author Talk: "How to Know the Birds" with Ted Floyd

Thursday, August 29, 2019 - 7:15pm to 8:30pm
  • Library Hall
The Birding Magazine editor returns to the Yampa Valley to share his new book about the art and adventure of birding.

A special author visit for the 2019 Yampa Valley Crane Festival!

Acclaimed birder and author, Ted Floyd, editor of the American Birding Association’s flagship magazine Birding, talks about his new book, How to Know the Birds: The Art and Adventure of Birding along with help from his son, Andrew. Ted and Andrew will tell the story of how this book came to be. The story, published earlier this year by National Geographic, isn’t just about birds; it’s also about how we humans acquire knowledge and understanding about birds and nature. 

How to Know the BIrds

How to Know the Birds introduces a new, holistic approach to bird-watching, by noting how behaviors, settings, and seasonal cycles connect with shape, song, color, gender, age distinctions, and other features traditionally used to identify species. With short essays on 200 observable species, expert author Floyd guides us through a year of becoming a better birder, each species representing another useful lesson: from explaining scientific nomenclature to noting how plumage changes with age, from chronicling migration patterns to noting hatchling habits. Dozens of endearing pencil sketches accompany Floyd’s charming prose, making this book a unique blend of narrative and field guide. A pleasure for birders of all ages, this witty book promises solid lessons for the beginner and smiles of recognition for the seasoned nature lover.

Books will be available for sale and author signing courtesy of Off the Beaten Path Bookstore.

About the author

Ted Floyd is the Editor of Birding magazine, the flagship publication of the American Birding Association. He has written more than 200 scientific papers and popular articles on birds and other aspects of nature. He is also the author of five books, including the ABA Field Guide to Birds of Colorado. Ted’s newest book is How to Know the Birds: The Art and Adventure of Birding. Floyd has served on the boards of several nonprofits, and he is a frequent speaker at bird festivals and other birding events. He’s been all over the world, and he considers the Yampa Valley to be one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Ted and his wife Kei live in Boulder County, Colorado, with their children Hannah and Andrew.

About the Yampa Valley Crane Festival

The Greater Sandhill Crane is an iconic species of the Yampa Valley. Returning in the spring, cranes nest and raise their young in wetland areas throughout the valley. In late summer and early fall, hundreds of cranes from the Rocky Mountain flock join the local birds to rest and feed before continuing their journey south. The festival includes daily crane viewings, expert speakers, films, art exhibits, workshops, family activities and more. All community activities and events are free unless otherwise indicated in the program, and Bud Werner Memorial Library is festival headquarters and the venue for many of these talks, films and events.

Learn more about the Yampa Valley Crane Festival at www.coloradocranes.org.