Birds Through an Opera Glass

The first-ever field guide to American birds, Florence A. Merriam’s classic Birds Through an Opera-Glass remains a highly influential book for modern birdwatching more than 130 years since its initial release.

Birds Through an Opera-Glass is Florence A. Merriam’s pioneering field guide to American birds. The first-ever of its kind, originally published in 1889, it laid the foundation for modern birdwatching. Before Birds Through an Opera-Glass, it was commonplace to shoot birds and study their lifeless bodies. Merriam instead advocated studying birds in the wild--through an opera glass rather than a riflescope--to ensure their preservation. With line drawings and detailed descriptions of seventy common species, Birds Through an Opera-Glass remains a favorite of birders, nature lovers, and conservationists to this day.

As the first female member of the American Ornithologists’ Union, Merriam was a trailblazer in the emerging field of birding in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Today she is regarded as an essential early voice for bird conservation, and Birds Through an Opera-Glass shows her important principles put into practice. More than a century later, Birds Through an Opera-Glass continues to guide birders and outdoor enthusiasts who are seeking to enjoy nature without harming it.

Florence Merriam Bailey (1863-1948) was a pioneering American ornithologist, nature writer, and advocate for bird conservation. Born in Locust Grove, New York, she developed a deep passion for birds from a young age, inspired by her brother, renowned ornithologist Clinton Hart Merriam.

Her most notable work Birds Through an Opera Glass (1889), published under her maiden name Florence A. Merriam, marked a significant contribution to the field of ornithology. In this groundbreaking book, she combined scientific knowledge with engaging prose, making bird-watching accessible to a wider audience. Her use of opera glasses as a tool for bird observation was innovative and contributed to the popularization of the hobby.

Throughout her life, Florence Merriam Bailey remained committed to the conservation of birds and their habitats. She was a founding member of the Audubon Society and actively campaigned for the protection of birds, leading to the enactment of early conservation legislation. Her work not only educated the public about the beauty and importance of birds but also laid the foundation for future generations of ornithologists and conservationists to follow in her footsteps.