The revenge of the splitter

Or the Saga of the Collins Bird Guide

'twas a cold and snow-swept Monday afternoon...

The Collins Bird Guide (second edition) has been long awaited in the birding community. This revised version of the most popular bird guide ever published has proven to be as controversial as expected, both on the page and off.

Many will be aware that publication of the book has been delayed many times and predicting the final publication date had become a bit of an in-joke at WildSounds HQ: Birdfair, early September, late November all rolled on and no sign of a publication date - despite rumours of "final colour proofs", etc. Harper Collins commissioning editor, Myles Archibald, finally gave us a date of 18 December and we placed an order for one pallet load - to be shipped directly to WildSounds, by-passing the Harper Collins warehouse and the associated delays, in a desperate attempt to make sure that our customers could enjoy the book for Christmas (or perhaps a New Year's taxonomic debate over the first bird for the year). Things seldom run as smoothly though. On 17 December we were told the books would not be arriving until the Monday (21 December) because of the bad travel conditions. After many frantic telephone calls backwards and forwards between us, Harper Collins and the couriers we finally came to the conclusion that our pallet was actually stuck on the other side of the Channel and that the Harper Collins warehouse would have the honour of receiving the first consignment of the book (which meant that it would not be dispatched from them until 5 January). We were devastated.

On Monday morning we telephoned Harper Collins to place a back-up order with them, just in case they were able to get the books out to us before the New Year. We were told that the books had not yet come into stock - which meant the delivery which had made it across the Channel had to be ours! This was confirmed a few minutes later by a telephone call from the couriers informing us that the pallet had been dispatched but that the vehicle had broken down en-route and would not make it on the day. Desperate, because it was the last day on which Royal Mail could guarantee that post would reach its destination before Christmas, we drove 100 miles round-trip to rescue the books from the stricken van - through heavy snow and iced up roads. We managed to off-load the books and make it back in time to pack all our first class orders for the day. Second class orders where dutifully packed afterwards and we deposited them with Royal Mail later that evening (hopefully still in time to be delivered to the sorting offices that same night).

So to all our customers - we wish you a happy Christmas with a spot of quiet time to reflect on the new Collins Bird Guide and an opportunity to bask in the fact that you are amongst the very lucky few who have the book in your hands - a good fortnight before anyone else.

For those of you who ordered your books from other suppliers - we have helped a few out with stock where we could so perhaps you will receive your copy after all. For the rest, attached are a few pages from the book to whet your appetite or at least give you something to disagree with very strongly. (Rumour has it that a certain Mr Svensson may have gone to ground in some Asian country until it is safe for him to return to his home and e-mail in-box).

Click here for more information about this book...