Awriterdiscoversanunexpectedpassionforbirding,alongwithanewunderstandingoftheworldandherownplaceinit.WhenJuliaZarankinsawherfirstred-wingedblackbirdattheageofthirty-five,shedidn’texpectthatitwouldchangeherlife.Recentlydivorcedandauditioninghobbiesduringastressfulcareertransition,shestumbledonbirdwatching,initiallyoutofcuriosityforthestrangebreedofhumanswhowearmulti-pocketedvests,carryspottingscopesanddiscussthefinerpointsofopticswithdisturbingfervor.Whatshenevercouldhavepredictedwasthatshewouldbecomeoneofthem.Notonlywouldshecometoidentifyproudlyasabirder,butbirdingwouldultimatelyleadhertofindlove,uncoveranewlanguageandlaydownherroots.FieldNotesfromanUnintentionalBirdertellsthestoryoffindingmeaninginmidlifethroughbirds.Thebookfollowstheperegrinationsofanarratorwholearnsmorefrombirdsthansheeveranticipated,asshebeginstorealizethatsheherselfisamigratoryspecies:bornintheformerSovietUnion,growingupinVancouverandToronto,studyingandworkingintheUnitedStatesandlivinginParis.ComingfromaRussianimmigrantfamilyofconcertpianistswhobelievedthattheoutdoorswerefor“otherpeople,“JuliaZarankinrecountsthechallengesandjoysofunexpectedlydiscoveringone’swildsideandfindingone’stribeintheunlikeliestofplaces.Zarankin’sthoughtfulandwittyanecdotesilluminatethejoyfulexperienceofanewdiscoveryandthesurprisingpleasuretobefoundwhilestandingstillontheedgeofalakeatsixa.m.Inadditiontoconfirmednatureenthusiasts,thisbookwillappealtoreadersofliterarymemoir,offeringkeeninsightonwhatittakestofindone’splaceintheworld.
