Look Up!: Birds and Other Natural Wonders Just Outside Your Window
by Woody Wheeler
About the Book
You don’t have to travel around the world or spend a ton of money to enjoy the wonders of nature. Look Up! Birds and Other Natural Wonders Just Outside Your Window is a series of well-researched nature essays that will inspire readers to experience the outdoors in an affordable, accessible and joyful way. The essays encourage backyard and local bird watching, native plant landscaping and restoration, practical energy conservation and land conservation. They also explore how we can derive psychological benefits from these activities”how nature can help us live happier, more fulfilled and rewarding lives.
About the Author
Woody Wheeler is a nature educator and tour guide for Conservation Catalyst, a business he started eight years ago to inspire people to appreciate birds and natural history. He also guides for Naturalist Journeys, an international birding and natural history tour company. Previously, Woody worked for environmental nonprofits including The Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society and Seattle Parks Foundation. He helped these groups protect natural areas; establish nature centres, park lands and bicycle/pedestrian trails.
“Woody offers a fresh perspective, freely sharing knowledge of ecology, bird behaviour and the critical component of conservation.”
— Peg Abbott, Executive Director, Naturalist Journeys
“Woody always does such a great job of introducing people to birding and inspiring them to make it a part of their lives.”
— Jeff Parsons, Founding Director, Barn Beach Reserve – Leavenworth, WA
“Woody is one of the best I know when it comes to engaging people of all ages and backgrounds in the wonders of the natural world. His insights into nature, from highly urbanized areas to wilderness, are a joy to discover, maybe because his own joy in the natural world comes across through his writings and teachings.”
— Gail Gatton, Executive Director, Audubon Washington
“Some of the very finest days spent outdoors have been those with Woody Wheeler. He is not only a master of birds, but also of habitats and ecosystems, conservation and public issues, politics and solutions. You will learn from a master teacher values of sustainability, the philosophy of legacy, and stewardship across generations.”
— David Armstrong, Professor, Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington
Media
Interview on Seattle KKNW radio about my book.
Interview with Woody Wheeler
In Vancouver at least… spring has come out to tease us with a few blessed sunny days and flowers budding along the sidewalks. Along with the prospect of spring comes the anticipation of Woody Wheeler’s next speaking engagement at where else– his old stomping grounds in Bellingham, WA–where Mr. Wheeler attended Western Washington University, and holds degrees in both Environmental Studies and Geography.
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This April, Influence author Woody Wheeler will be returning to Bellingham to give a talk about his bestselling book, Look Up! Birds and Other Natural Wonders Just Outside Your Window, a collection of well-researched essays that were developed after years of experience as a naturalist educator, tour guide and avid conservationist.
The event begins at 7:00 pm on April 15th, and will be hosted at Village Books, an independent bookstore dubbed the “Community Bookshop for Browsing” in the historic part of Washington State. The typical format of Mr. Wheeler’s book events are a reading of five to six of his short essays, accompanied with a customized slideshow of the stunning photographs he’s collected from colleagues and travels over the years. Mr. Wheeler explains, ” my images are a big part of the book– to help get people in the mood–to illustrate the variety of birds from around the world, and of course to enhance the reading!”
Mr. Wheeler hinted he might read some of his “edgier” essays that touch on the politics of science, and is excited to return to this area of Washington; Huxley College at Western has been widely recognized as one the pioneers of environmental studies. The politics of science is also a timely discussion as online buzz continues to circulate around the cover of National Geographic’s March 2015 issue, “The War on Science.”
As Jeff Parsons, former director of the Wenatchee River Institute, describes Mr. Wheeler’s writing: “Woody always does such a great job of introducing people to birding and inspiring them to make it a part of their lives.” Indeed, Look Up! has become a seminal book that connects other readers who might not be a member of the Audubon Society–but have interest in the natural world. Mr. Wheeler’s enthusiasm is seriously contagious; whether on his podcast or chatting on the phone, he hopes that audience members can leave with an appreciation for the incredible planet we inhabit. He clarified:”I hope they go out into their own backyards and tune into nature; I hope they realize that it’s really one of the greatest things in life–and from that love of nature will come a desire to conserve it, to be a steward to our world. And really, it makes you happier.”