Listening To A Continent Sing

Book A Tribute to Joyful Bird Sounds

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

In our modern age, filled with the harsh sounds of sirens, leaf blowers and loud radios,  it’s a welcome relief to hear the joyful sounds of birds celebrating the wonders of life.

Now, thanks to Donald Kroodsma, you can hear those birdsongs in his remarkable book (with recordings) Listening to A Continent Sing: Birdsong by Bicycle from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Kroodsma, a professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts, set out on a 10-week/10-state, 5,000 mile journey with his son, David, bicycling on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail from Virginia to Oregon, recording the songs of the birds they encountered along the way.

And what a pantheon of sounds it is – 381 recordings – of every type of bird from sparrows and wrens…

to talkative jays and hooting owls.

Riding on deserted country roads and well-traveled thoroughfares, from early in the morning until the fall of night, the bicycling duo listened to and chronicled the birds of a nation.

The book is beautifully formatted with illustrations depicting the scenery and birds spied during their travels. (QR codes embedded in the pages bring the birds to audio life when scanned.)

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are amazed at the magnitude of the book.

Like Sacajawea interpreting the Shoshone Indian language for explorers Lewis and Clark, Donald Kroodsma has archived and interpreted the language of birds – opening a wondrous door on the sounds of nature for us all to enjoy.

This is a father-son road trip not to be missed.

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

 

Robb Havassy Surf Story II

An Homage to Surf Culture

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

 

Everywhere you looked in the cavernous Hurley sports company warehouse the walls were filled with artworks – paintings, photographs, montages – depicting the ocean and surfers.

Raw and vibrant, it was a giant, visual wave that stimulated the senses.

 

Representing the artists in Robb Havassy’s new book Surf Story II, the art on display at the premiere reception in Newport Beach gave guests a preview of what’s in his 550-page book – Robb’s heartfelt homage to surfing and the surf culture.

The massive, two-book collection of art and stories from more than 200 of the most influential artists, photographers, writers, and iconic figures in surfing shows their love and passion for the sport.

 

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel were excited to share the stoke on this momentous occasion with Robb and our friend artist Colleen Gnos, who is included in the book.

We were in awe of all the people who turned out for the celebration. Literally the royalty of surf culture creatives, everyone was there to thank Robb for this epic sequel to his 2009 Surf Story.

Watching them pose for a group photo, Patti thought of the famous 1943 MGM studios photo of all its actors – and Louis B. Mayer’s quote: “More stars than in the heavens.”

The Surf Story II reception was equal parts gallery show and book-signing party with friends and family mingling and the artists signing each other’s books and enjoying the vibes.

Robb – at the center of it all – signed books, gave hugs and greetings, and took in the sights and sounds of this long-awaited day.

Like Bruce Brown’s landmark 1966 film The Endless Summer – on display in a 50th anniversary DVD edition – Robb Havassy’s herculean achievement tells the neverending story of surfing.

 

Surf Story Project: More than a book – It’s history!

– Drew Brophy, surf artist

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.