You’re Invited! Audubon Member Launches “Grateful Birds” Illustrated Book October 26

Longtime South Whidbey Audubon member Govinda Holtby and her husband, Matt, a follower of the Grateful Dead, have published a book that melds their two passions: Northwest birds and the Grateful Dead. They will be launching the book with a festive, public celebration at Ott & Hunter winery in Langley on October 26, 3 - 5 p.m. 

The 91-page book features illustrations of 41 birds matched with 41 Grateful Dead songs. Notes about the similarities between the song and the bird accompany each pair. Most of the illustrations are simple line drawings that Govinda created by placing photos that she had taken under a light board and sketching them.

While the combination of birding and listening to the Grateful Dead might not be readily apparent, Govinda explains that there are many similarities between the two. She shared two examples:

“There are roughly 300 birds, and roughly 300 Grateful Dead songs. Each version of the song, and each bird is different. With the song and with the birds, you can appreciate them by identifying the details–a bird’s species and Latin name, the guitar that Jerry Garcia was playing during a certain set… or you can simply sit back and enjoy being in nature or listening to the music.”

Copies of “Grateful Birds” will be available to purchase at the October 26 launch. Additional copies will be sold online at a later date. We’ll publish the link for online book purchases in the November issue of Shorelines.

All proceeds from “Grateful Birds” will be donated to South Whidbey Audubon and LittleBIGFest.