Full Description
Weaving together natural history and investigative reporting with mythological and cultural material, On Rare Birds tells the compelling stories of ten rare or extinct bird species - from the tragic demise of the once-abundant Passenger Pigeon to the shooting death of the last Carolina Parakeet in the wild, and from the startling natural defences of the wilful NightjarA" to the diverse cultural significance of the Kingfisher. Some stories bear sad witness to precious species we have lost, but they are all fascinating and often heartwarming or humorous depictions of the unique lives and loves of birds. On Rare Birds is a visually stunning volume illustrated by author Anita Albus's own superb artwork and by images ranging over five centuries. It will delight anyone who loves birds, laments the depletion of their populations by human hands, and cares about the survival of those species that still stand a chance. With knowledge, devotion, and a true artist's eye, Albus explains in graceful, precise prose why the decline of these bird species is a great loss both to the natural world and, unavoidably, to culture.With each species lost, a world is lost to human understanding-to our arts, our mythology, and our environment.
Contents
Preface Part i | Birds Extinct 1 ) The Passenger Pigeon's Eclipse 2 ) The Parakeet and Its Practices 3 ) The Ways of the Great Auk 4 ) The Loneliness of the Macaw Part ii | Birds Threatened and Endangered 5 ) The Wondrous Waldrapp 6 ) The Shy Corncrake 7 ) The Uncanny Goatsucker, or the Willful Nightjar 8 ) The Beautiful Barn Owl 9 ) The Intrepid Hawk Owl 10 ) The Wise Kingfisher Afterword Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, Discourse on the Nature of BirdsA" (1770) 229 Endnotes 249 Bibliography 261 List of Illustrations and Credits 269 Index of Names 273
