Marc Parnell
Marc Parnell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Greenville, North Carolina |
| Occupation | Author, ornithologist, photographer |
| Nationality | American |
| Subject | Birds |
| Notable works | The Birding Pro's Field Guides |
| Website | |
| www | |
Marc Parnell is an ornithologist, author, and wildlife photographer. He is best known for The Birding Pro's Field Guides, a series of photographic identification guides to the birds of North America, and is the second-most published ornithologist in the world, based on books in active print.[1][2][3][4]
Background
[edit]Parnell was born in Greenville, North Carolina, where the immediate proximity of his childhood home to the banks of the Tar River fostered an early love of nature.[5][6] These seeds of childhood curiosity began to take greater root after a move to the city of Jamestown, New York, the birthplace of American naturalist Roger Tory Peterson.[7] Parnell cites Peterson among his early influences, having received a green, fabric-bound Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians on the occasion of his fourth birthday.[8][9] After several additional moves, Parnell spent his teenage years in small-town Pennsylvania before attending Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where he would eventually reside.[10][11]
During his time away from home, Parnell had arranged a set of bird feeders in his mother's backyard to serve as a regular topic of conversation, and eventually composed a short, 20-page guide to the local birds that she would be most likely to observe.[12][13] After having failed to identify a suitable, comprehensive replacement for his mother's booklet, he began to compose the framework of what would eventually become his collected series of field guides.[14][15]
Career
[edit]In early 2021 and 2022, Parnell released a series of 41 photographic bird-identification guides, The Birding Pro's Field Guides, several of which reached bestseller status in multiple countries.[2][8] These field guides, which each focus on an individual state, city, or province, provide information specific to the local area; for instance, his first-of-their-kind monthly birding forecasts for each species give month-by-month values for local frequency and ease-of-finding.[14][16] Parnell is known for also having pioneered the birding-by-comparison approach, which allows birders to identify new birds by comparing them to those which they already know, primarily by using size-based and behavioral categorizations.[15][17][18]
Parnell follows a multi-step approach to the writing process. Firstly, he locates and observes birds all throughout the calendar year, in a variety of different habitats and geographic locations, so as to best understand each species' evolving behaviors through the passing months. Secondly, he reflects and logs entries in a personal diary, placing emphasis on a contextualized "day-in-the-life" approach to each species.[19][20] Finally, he uses data analysis to make wider conclusions and to inform the data presented in his final drafts.[21] In addition to the naturalist-specific works of Roger Tory Peterson, Parnell cites Herman Melville, Jack London, and Jorge Luis Borges as literary influences.[19]
Alongside his writing pursuits, Parnell is an educator and advocate for safe birding practices and the mitigation of bird-window collisions.[22][23][24] His favorite North American bird is the Rose-breasted Grosbeak.[10] Parnell currently lives in Cleveland, Ohio.[6][17][25]
Publications
[edit]- The Birding Pro's Field Guides: City Series
- The Birding Pro's Field Guides: State Series
- The Birding Pro's Field Guides: Province Series
References
[edit]- ^ Christie, Judy. "New guidebook tells how to identify, attract Louisiana birds". The Times. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ a b Parker, Melody. "WATCH NOW: Innovative Iowa bird guide in hand makes identification 'intuitive' for birders". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ Price, Donna (March 13, 2022). "Noted ornithologist publishes field guide of state's birds". American Press. Lake Charles, LA. pp. A12.
- ^ "Home | The Birding Pro's Field Guides". The Birding Pro. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ Glen, Melissa (Summer 2022). "Birds of NC: Greenville native focuses on home state in new field guide". Greenville: Life in the East (Magazine). pp. 8–9. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
- ^ a b "New book provides guide to birding in Alabama". AP NEWS. 2022-05-28. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ "Photographer, author appreciates avian wildlife". timesobserver.com. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ a b "Local author writes new guide book for state's bird-watchers". The Sentinel Record. 2022-08-09. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ Miller, Robert (2022-03-05). "Robert Miller: New field guide is for the (Connecticut) birds". New Haven Register. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ a b "Avian Obsession". National Wildlife Federation. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ Inquirer, Tim Leininger / Journal. "BOOKS: Author pens guide to Connecticut birds: Marc Parnell returns to his roots in the Nutmeg State". Journal Inquirer. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ Barraza, Paris. "Saturday is World Book Day. Celebrate with these 6 books with Iowa City ties published in 2022". Iowa City Press-Citizen. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ "How to get into bird-watching in two hours or less". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ a b Park, Emily (2022-06-30). "Author of Kansas and Missouri Bird Guides Answers Four Questions on Birding in KC". In Kansas City. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ a b "Eyes on the Sky: Ornithologist Marc Parnell hatches new bird field guide for Alabama". Limestone Life. Spring 2022. pp. 21–25.
- ^ Godfrey, Ed. "As bear sightings increase across Oklahoma in early summer, 'it is important to be bear wise'". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ a b McIntyre, Barbara. "Book Talk: 'Birds of Greater Cleveland' and 'The Common Angler' explore fields and streams". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ Schrodt, Hannah. "Like a duck to water: Author talks birding in Nebraska". Fremont Tribune. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ a b "Parnell's newest book really is for the birds". The Star Democrat. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ "Mississippi gets new birdwatching guide". Enterprise-Journal. McComb, MS. May 14, 2022. pp. A11.
- ^ Fontenot, Jordan LaHaye (2022-05-23). "Q&A with Birder Marc Parnell". Country Roads Magazine. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ "America's Youth Have a New Favorite Activity. It's More Wholesome Than You Think". InsideHook. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ "The 14 Best Bird Baths for a Stylish, Bird-Friendly Garden". Better Homes & Gardens. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ Slack, Megan (2022-02-13). "This is exactly where to hang your bird feeder to prevent window collisions". homesandgardens.com. Retrieved 2022-10-01.
- ^ Parnell, Marc (2022). Birds of Connecticut (The Birding Pro's Field Guides). Naturalist & Traveler Press. p. 283. ISBN 978-1-954228-27-6.