Wild Wings: The Hidden World of Birds

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

Wild Wings set out to be a primer on ornithology and—a strange thing
happened on the way to the publisher—became a coffee-table book.

Runtz writes with a sense of wonder and discovery. He describes the
basics of bird anatomy, physiology, and behavior with a tone of taking
pleasure in discovering this fascinating body of knowledge. And, like
figures in a text, the photos follow right along, illustrating each
point with clarity and enthusiasm. The beauty and sensitivity of these
full-color plates is an added bonus.

The book is packed with solid information about birds—their colors,
feathers, feeding methods, flocking patterns, thermocontrol, flight,
migration, nesting, and courtship. Species found in Canada are used
throughout as examples. The book is also packed with top-quality
illustrative photography—half by Runtz and half by Jim Flynn. While
great lighting and dynamic compositions are plentiful, the emphasis is
on showing the bird carrying out the behavior under discussion. The most
dramatic shots are Jim Flynn’s; he has a definite edge in composition
and capturing action. Runtz’s shots, however, are acceptably vivid and
pleasing.

Readers ready for some serious information on birds will find that
Runtz and Flynn make an effective team.