Look What Flew

Columnist creates coffee-table book of feathered visitors

As the year 2020 approached, ophthalmologist Yvonne Buys and her husband decided it would be the appropriate year for a change, given the significance of “20/20” for vision. Retirement in the County beckoned, and the University of Toronto professor envisioned a future of hobby farming and family visits. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Dr. Buys found herself isolated on their idyllic property on the shore of Lake Ontario. The self-professed “doer” now had plenty of time to spare, but little in the way of activities to keep her occupied. As a retirement gift, her colleagues had given her a very good camera and she decided to put it to use by taking photographs of birds, and very soon became hooked on birding. About a year or so later, she pitched an idea to the Times for a weekly article about birds in current view, with a photograph and a short but informative description. She asked other County photographers to send in their bird photos and over the years hundreds have been published in this paper.

Last year, Dr. Buys entertained the idea of making all of these photographs into a book. She is the author of hundreds of academic articles and has given countless presentations, so she knows how to collate and arrange information. But there was one glaring omission. “I’m a world-wide expert in glaucoma, but I am not an expert on birds, and I quickly realized that I needed people who are experts,” she said. She contacted naturalist and author Terry Sprague and persuaded him to join her in this venture. Mr. Sprague suggested she also add David Bree, a retired naturalist from Presqu’ile Provincial Park and a founding member of the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists. When thinking about the book, Dr. Buys decided that it would be more of a coffee-table book rather than a field guide. “I was thinking what would a novice like me want to see in a bird book, and the birds are arranged by the time of year that they are coming through the County. So it’s who is here, who is a migrant just passing through in the spring and the fall, who is just a summer breeder? Both Terry and David have been instrumental in the educational knowledge that’s in the book.” There are very few photographs that Dr. Buys has taken herself, as she realized the quality of submitted images from County photographers often far exceeded her own.

The journey from idea to publication was a long one. She read a lot of books, attended a seminar of publication, and sought advice from experts such as Sally Cohen to help her get started. She had to learn about colour types and grades of paper. She attempted to find a publisher, but the few that responded gave her a very long time frame, so she decided to self-publish. “The advantage of using a publisher is that they take the financial risk and they will promote your book. The disadvantage is that they will take control and may change things that you don’t want to change, and they are very slow as well.” Dr. Buys had another reason for wanting the book to be published sooner rather than later. Last year she started to volunteer at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory (PEPtBO), and she wanted to book to be ready as PEPtBO celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, as she will be donating all proceeds of the book to that organization. She has printed 1,000 copies, and about one quarter are already sold. Copies are available in Wellington at the Everything Wellington Variety and Drake Devonshire, in Bloomfield at Green Gables, in Hillier at Carson’s Market + Garden, and in Picton at the County Farm Centre, Agrarian Market, and Books & Company. Dr. Buys and Terry Sprague will be at Books & Company on April 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. for a book signing.