Birdwatching by Stephen Alter

Birdwatching by Stephen Alter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ornithology meets espionage, however, neither really succeeds in the narrative.
Each chapter is preceded by a brief description of a bird, found in the region the protagonist willy-nilly finds himself – I wish there were photos or illustrations to enhance the text.
Not to nit-pick, but some factual errors are irritating and not expected from a writer of such a stature

1. It is the red blood cell count and not platelet count that determines adaptation to high altitude flight in bar-headed geese. RBCs transport oxygen from the lungs to the muscles that power the flight over the Himalayas.
2. A Lt General and not a Maj General is a Corps Commander.
3. Saliva is certainly not salty.
4. An Indian Army officer named Afridi and that too posted in Military Intelligence? Defies credulity

The ornithologist turned reluctant spy becoming a crack shot with a Beretta, this too appeared far-fetched. There is a menage a trois that seems to have been resolved amicably. But the orgy of shooting ducks that I found abhorrent.

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