Sandsquiggles's Blog

 ABOUT

Selected for ForeWord Magazine’s 2008 Book of the Year Award in nature writing, Chasing Wings is a passionate account of Richard Modlin’s encounters with birds and his travels to locations, far and near, to observe feathered vertebrates.  Modlin’s descriptions of his interactions with avian species are poignant, humorous, heartwarming, and informative.  Follow him as a preschooler, when he captures a blue jay chick and experiences the woes of the parents’ wrath; then when he attempts to befriend a juvenile American kestrel, and years later, a magnificent frigatebird.  The author relates how he saved a pied-billed grebe chick from the jaws of a northern pike, how a mute swam got revenge, a trio of starling invaded his attic apartment, and wild turkeys tried to beat their way into his sunroom.  More scientifically, Modlin discusses the impact of an overabundance of double-crested cormorants on a fragile habitat and the feeding behavior of black skimmers.   

Travel with the author in his search to view widowbirds, ostriches, sunbirds, parrots, toucans, hummingbirds and other exotic birds in Kenya, the Seychelles, Grand Cayman, Belize, a raptor aviary in France, and the forests of southern Sweden.  Follow him to southeastern Arizona, the coast of Maine, swamps and marshes of Florida, and the beach communities on the Gulf Coast of Alabama.  Lists of birds sighted are included at the end of travelogue chapters, as are the details of sites the author visited.  Chasing Wings is a necessary read for the millions of individuals, worldwide, who enjoy bird watching and love nature.             

 TESTIMONIALS  

“Modlin takes the reader across the world observing the beauty of nature through birds and their habitats.  Young students of science should read this [book] as an inspiration for the passion that scientists like Richard have for the environment and the life that abounds within.”  Dr. John J. Dindo, Senior Marine Scientist and Chairman of the Discovery Hall Programs, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Dauphin Island, AL.

 “… a good job of blending personal encounters with birds … with chapters on birding trips.  Modlin also did a good job of describing the physical/cultural settings of each birding area so that the reader can develop a mental image of the area to go along with the birds described and listed.”  Dr. Paul D. Kettle, Professor and Chairman, Department of Biology, University of North Alabama, Florence, AL.

 “Modlin brings to you in this set of short nature stories an entertaining collection that spans both a number of decades and several continents.  Before you take your next ecotourism trip, long or short, read Modlin’s entertaining collection of experiences and insights into nature …”  Dr. Bill McAllister, AICP and life-long birdwatcher.

 “Modlin’s non-fiction is superb.  Clever, compelling verbs kept my interest in his very nice story.  His book works as a guidebook for bird-watchers as well, with good descriptions of the places and directions to the sites.  Well Done.”  Rusty Bynum, author and playwright, Legacy of Galileo.

  “…I highly recommend it to anyone even remotely interested in the subject [birding]….  Informal scientific books of this quality are all too rare.”   H. F. Lippincott, First Draft Reviews Online

  “If you are fascinated with birds or you like to travel, this is a book that will take you there through the eyes of an expert. Dr. Modlin has traveled to many exotic lands and chases wings wherever he goes. Some of his accounts are humorous and others are just informative. He starts by describing his mishaps of trying to raise young birds when he was a child. This led him to a career in biology and a lifelong preoccupation with birding. Sometimes he describes unusual adaptation and behavior in the birds that he is watching. His description of Black Skimmers was especially interesting and informative. He writes well and makes his years of experience come alive for the reader. I found the book to be very enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in strange places and unusual birds.”  Placide D. Nicaise, Amazon.com

 Chasing Wings is available in book form from http://richardmodlin.com, and Book and Kindle Edition from Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Wings-Birding-Exploits-Encounters/dp/0980047307/

 ABOUT

 Libraries are full of travel books on Africa, but Malachite Lion is a narrative of an unplanned adventure, a modern odyssey that recounts the mysteries and paradoxes of East Africa.  The book describes a journey through the crowded, bustling streets of Nairobi, into the wilds of Masai Mara and Amboseli, to ancient, mystifying Mombasa, electrifying Malindi and the sensuous Seychelles.  Much of our experience with today’s East Africa is limited by what we see in natural history documentaries and sensational news stories.  For most of us the place is a fantasy, as unreal as Sindbad’s Baghdad.  Richard Modlin’s exciting account of his travels through Kenya and the Seychelles will dispel some of the apprehensions that cloak this strange land and its people.  His experiences as a scientist and academic have provided him with the skills to interestingly record his provocative observations, interactions, experiences, feelings and thoughts, and transport the reader beyond the confines of a tour bus.  Descriptions of his encounters with the variety of indigenous people and wildlife are poignant, humorous and heartwarming.  Malachite Lion is a definite read for anyone who has ever dreamed of traveling to East Africa realistically and vicariously.

 IN PRAISE OF MALACHITE LION

“… written about a unique topic with such passion that it is hard to put down this book … friendly, conversational tone and eloquent scenery descriptions make readers feel like they are traveling with him [the author] …”  Writer’s Digest

 “For those of you who have spent any time in Kenya or East Africa in general, I can recommend Malachite Lion … if you haven’t you will enjoy this piece of armchair travel.”  Patty Eby, Union Jack.

 “… attention to detail of the daily activities of life in Kenya, on safari and just traveling there in general is superb.  Written in a style that is very descriptive of the subtle and obvious sights and trials encountered.  This book will be a great primer for anyone planning a trip to East Africa.”  William Chapman, author and photographer, Face of Tibet.

 “You may never get the chance to travel to East Africa, but you may be an armchair traveler.  If so, this is the book for you.  Not that it is limited to the category of travel.”  Sara McDaris, The Huntsville Times.

 Malachite Lion is available in book form at http://richardmodlin.com and at Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Malachite-Lion-Travel-Adventure-Kenya/dp/1403373337 and in Kindle Edition at http://www.amazon.com/Malachite-Lion-ebook/dp/B0040GJC0O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1291835762&sr=1-1

Also available for the Nook, IPhone, IPad and other electronic devises from Barnes & Noble http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Malachite-Lion/Richard-Modlin/e/9781403373328/?itm=1&USRI=malachite+lion