Birds of Point Reyes

Keith Hansen illustrated and coauthored Hansen’s Field Guide to the Birds of the Sierra Nevada (Heyday, 2021), a field guide companion to Birds of the Sierra Nevada: Their Natural History, Status, and Distribution. He is a professional bird illustrator whose images have been featured in Discovering Sierra Birds; Birds of Yosemite and the East Slope; and Natural History of the Point Reyes Peninsula, among other books.

• IntroductionVantage Point ReyesA Quick Look AroundThe Clock and the Calendar—Timing’s Everything!Going from Point A to Point B, but Ending Up at SeaBefore You Go—RespectPower ToolsBe Prepared, Helpful, and TrustworthyLocating BirdsGetting a LookIdentifying a BirdSpeciesNorthern HarrierSparrows of Point ReyesTurkey VultureBlack and Say’s PhoebesSurf ScoterCommon RavenRing-billed GullPoint Reyes Spring Seabird MigrationBlack OystercatcherPigeon GuillemotSnowy PloverDouble-crested, Brandt’s, and Pelagic CormorantsPeregrine FalconCommon MurreBarn SwallowWhite-crowned SparrowThe Boyds of SummerWestern GullTownsend’s WarblerNorthern ParulaTricolored BlackbirdRed-tailed HawkWestern Bluebird and Yellow-rumped WarblerAmerican KestrelShorebirds of Point ReyesGreat Horned OwlRock WrenBird Group Species ListAcknowledgmentsAbout the Author

"Pairing beautiful illustrations with nuanced observations, Hansen brings California’s coastal birds to life." —Alta Journal"An essential guide to better understanding our avian neighbors with beautiful and detailed illustrations. The book is delightfully specific, offering insights into the stories of the many birds that migrate through or reside in West Marin." —Point Reyes Light"Magnificently illustrated and narrated in Hansen's poetic and often playful voice, this jewel of a book enables us to experience nature as miraculous. Each essay deserves to be reread often as a meditation on beauty and survival." —Amy Tan, author of The Joy Luck Club"Keith gets the Point! He distills decades of appreciation of Point Reyes into a compact treasury of natural history knowledge. Marrying his art with a lifetime of acute observation, Keith offers more than a guide to identification—you really understand how each of these birds lives. And it’s all done in his sparkling and entertaining style." —Burr Heneman, former executive director of Point Reyes Bird Observatory"The breathtaking illustrations and exuberant species accounts in this book arise from Keith's lifetime of boundless enchantment and keen observation. His eye for nuance and beauty brings each species to life on the page. Most important of all, his celebration of this unique peninsula’s wondrous birdlife teaches us to stay open to the world with our eyes, ears, and mind.” —Jules G. Evens, author of Natural History of the Point Reyes Peninsula"Keith Hansen's lovely book perfectly pairs informative, entertaining, and insightful species accounts with beautiful illustrations. A necessity for anyone visiting the Point Reyes region!" —Sophie Webb, coauthor of Field Guide to Marine Mammals of the Pacific Coast