As a small youngster I used to be fascinated by animals, but it surely was when a pair of Blackbirds nested near the home that I actually turned considering birds. I wished to study extra about them, so my mother and father gave me the 5 shillings I wanted to purchase my first chook e-book: The Observer’s E-book of Birds. This charming little e-book was first printed in 1937: my copy was the brand new version, which got here out in January 1952. I used to be 5 after I acquired my e-book, and inside little or no time I had learn each web page, and absorbed quite a few information and figures. I’d studied the illustrations, too – they had been in each color and black and white, and painted by the main birds artists of the early twentieth century, principally J.G. Keulemans (a Dutch artist who lived in England) and Archibald Thorburn.
First printed in 1937, the Observer’s E-book of Birds remained in print for a few years. This cowl illustration of Fieldfares was the work of the Dutch illustrator John G. Kuelemans
I’d look wistfully on the image of the Hoopoe, a chook I may solely dream of seeing, or the elusive Bittern, however I quickly learnt all of the acquainted birds I may discover round my residence, akin to Linnets and Goldfinches, Swallows and Swifts. The textual content was written by S.Vere Benson, the Hon. Sec. of the Chicken-Lovers’ League. The S apparently stood for Stephana, however she by no means allowed her full title to be printed. I’m certain that she will need to have been a formidable girl of robust opinions. She described the Cuckoo, for instance, as not being an admirable chook, “being polyandrous and a parasite, with out take care of its younger”, whereas the Sparrowhawk “is among the worst enemies of its tribe to small birds”. She describes the launched Little Owl as “a fierce little foreigner”, whereas the Kingfisher is “a gem amongst birds, so brightly colored as virtually to dazzle the attention in sure lights”.
The texts within the Observer’s E-book of Birds are informative however easy
All the foremost species had been illustrated, described, then supplied with particulars of their Hang-out, Nest, Eggs, Meals and Notes (music). I like the phrase hang-out, which may be very a lot a phrase of its time, and fell from use years in the past. Searching via the e-book brings again reminiscences of the delight of my early days discovering birds, akin to seeing my first Lesser Noticed Woodpecker in a buddy’s backyard, then studying about it within the e-book. That woodpecker was, I bear in mind, in an apple tree: I learn that this “tiny woodpecker… could also be distinguished by its small dimension”, whereas its Hang-out was merely “Amongst bushes”.
Not all of the species within the Observer’s E-book of Birds had been illustrated in color. The Hoopoe was one species that might have been a lot better in color
Miss Benson’s strongest level was undoubtedly describing chook calls (their so-called notes). How higher may you describe the music of the Nightjar than “A purring sound like a sewing-machine working”, or the Noticed Flycatcher’s “excessive squeak, like a wheelbarrow with a rusty wheel”? As for the Bearded Tit, “A twanging ‘ping’” describes it completely.
The album for Chicken Portraits (1957). It was illustrated by a sequence of fifty playing cards: a single card was given free in each packet of Brooke Bond P.G.Ideas Tea, however gathering the entire set may take many months
Virtually as nice an affect in my early curiosity in birds had been the playing cards given away “within the pursuits of schooling” in packets of Brooke Bond P.G.Ideas tea. Chicken Portraits, a sequence of British birds illustrated and described by C.F.Tunnicliffe RA, was inspirational. I nonetheless regard Charles Tunnicliffe as one of many best of British chook artists, and everybody of the 50 playing cards within the Chicken Portraits sequence is a delight, from the imperious Peregrine Falcon, perched on a cliff with a clump of sea pink, to the Crimson Grouse flying over a rugged heather moor. As a small boy I collected the playing cards avidly, swapping playing cards I had duplicates of with mates in school for these I used to be nonetheless lacking. I’ve nonetheless received my unique Chicken Portraits album, every card glued into its allotted house.
A trio of raptors from Tunnicliffe’s British Birds
I’ve little doubt the Tunnicliffe will need to have contemplated lengthy and laborious which birds to pick for the 50 birds featured. I wouldn’t be stunned if he selected the birds he greatest favored for example. His alternative ranged from the Home Sparrow to the Golden Eagle, and many of the birds are these readily encountered within the British Isles. There are just a few surprises although, such because the Roseate Tern, by far the rarest of the 5 species that nest in Britain. His alternative is likely to be defined by the truth that he lived on the Welsh island of Anglesey, which then nonetheless had a small variety of nesting Roseate Terns.
Charles Tunnicliffe’s illustrations for British Birds have a particular allure
The success of British Birds led to Tropical Birds. Notice the extra vibrant cowl to the album, in contrast with the sooner British Birds. The chook depicted is a Cock of the Rock
Tunnicliffe was an artist not a author, however his brief, pithy texts are glorious, capturing the important particulars of every of the 50 birds featured within the sequence. British Birds was so profitable that it was finally adopted by Tropical Birds.
African exotics from Tunnicliffe’s Tropical Birds. I’ve by no means been lucky sufficient to have seen the Angolan Pitta, considered one of Africa’s most elusive birds
Lots of the birds featured in Tropical Birds I’ve seen within the wild, starting from the Bateleur Eagle to the Magnificent Frigate Chicken, however ever since I first checked out Tunnicliffe’s portrait of a Scarlet Cock of the Rock it’s been my ambition to see one “within the deep forests of northern Peru and the higher reaches of the Amazon” the place “the flame-coloured birds have their residence”. Sadly, I’ve but to journey to the Amazon. I additionally must admit that regardless of my enthusiasm for gathering Brooke Bond’s tea playing cards, I by no means turned a tea drinker, so I’m not likely a typical Englishman.
To be concluded.
