Birding the Santa Monica Mountains

by Gerry Haigh

Illustrated by Jillian Palethorpe

5.5 x 8.5, 160 pages, soft cover

ISBN 978-0-9627530-3-9

Price $12.95

About the Author

Gerry Haigh has lived in Topanga Canyon for 46 years, but was born in New York City in 1921. He became interested in nature through the parks in that city, hoped for a career in forestry, but due to restrictions in the family budget, the only place of study available to him was City College–not so good for forestry–and so nature became a hobby.

He studied with Carl Rogers at the University of Chicago and received a PhD in psychology in 1950, going on to obtain a postdoctoral fellowshp at Menninger’s, the world-famous psychiatric clinic in Topeka, Kansas.

From 1962 until retirement Dr. Haigh was a psychotherapist with the Psychological Service Associates, Los Angeles, the first group practice of clinical psychologists in private practice in the nation.

For many years Gerry spent three days a week at his Westwood office and four in Topanga, where he volunteered at the elementary school and with community organizations. For 30 years he led monthly birdwalks in the Santa Monica Mountains for the Audubon Society and the Sierra Club.

In 1999 the Topanga Chamber of Commerce recognized Gerry as Naturalist and Birdman of Topanga, “In Gratitude for a Lifetime of Commitment to Topanga’s Wild Kingdom.” His enthusiasm for the natural world has inspired hundreds of people in the Los Angeles area.

The book is available directly from the author.

For more information, or to order copies of the book, please contact the author at lbhaigh@verizon.net