Book Review - Birds and Us - Princeton University Press

"The fact is that no species has ever had such wholesale control over everything on earth, living or dead,  as we now have. That lays upon us, whether we like it or not, an awesome responsibility. In our hands now lies not only our own future, but that of all other living creatures with whom we share the earth."

Sir David Attenborough

      Tim Birkhead begins the preface to this book by recounting how as a child of six he was tasked by his teacher with painting a picture of a Common Loon, and how proud he was at being selected for this special assignment. It is quite clear that Birkhead has lost not one scintilla of that kind of wonder and enthusiasm for birds - every assignment is still special - and that is surely one of the hallmarks of all that Birkhead has ever written. Let me freely confess that I am an unabashed admirer of this fine ornithologist, who is an equally accomplished writer. Meticulous attention to detail and a flair for language are hallmarks of Birkhead's works. A work such as this does not need flights of rhapsodic prose, but no one captures the essence of the moment quite as well as Birkhead.

"Inaccurate descriptions and illustrations of previously unknown birds and other exotic wildlife wormed their way insidiously into the literature and perched there, radiating misinformation."

     It is a cause for great satisfaction to be so enamoured of an author that upon opening the book at the first page one is assured of being drawn in, captivated, educated and entertained. Birkhead has not disappointed me yet.

     This book is about birds, yes, but it is equally an expansive look at human history and the relationship of people to birds over historical time, embracing spirituality, the need for food, empathy, religious intolerance, class warfare and science. 

     Along the way we keep company with many of the giants of ornithology - old friends like Androvandi, Ray, Willughby, Gessner, Gould, Tinbergen and Lorenz and so many others, to remind us of the difficult path that ornithology was forced to tread on the way to becoming an accepted, scientific discipline. That path was made more rocky than it might have been by scoundrels like Meinertzhagen.

     The book is replete with black-and-white illustrations throughout, many with historical significance; others done by contemporary artists, and all wonderful.

     The drawing by David Quinn on page 304, of a male Great Auk accompanying its chick to sea moves me to tears when I contemplate the myriad evil and brutal ways by which we erased this bird from the earth and the sea, generally by clubbing it to death. It is a strange twist of logic that human hunters attributed stupidity to a bird that showed no fear, having never had reason to, and willingly set about the slaughter of these gentle, confiding creatures. Birds and Us, indeed.

     The section containing sixty-three coloured illustrations is superb, each one conveying the association between birds and humans in different historical contexts. Despite his shortcomings and sometimes less than agreeable conduct, I have been an admirer of John Gould, or perhaps more correctly of his contribution to ornithology, and the picture of him close to death surrounded by his family and bird skins, is an evocative image, unduly sentimental and unrealistic though it may be.

     The Epilogue is poignantly composed, and reflects Birkhead's commitment to scientific rigour on the one hand, while recognizing the absolute necessity of communicating with the layman on the other. Indeed, if citizen science is to continue to contribute towards academic ornithology, this need is greater than it has ever been.

     Sadly, the state of our planet is in serious jeopardy, with less than universal commitment to do what is needed to reverse the damage inflicted by human arrogance and greed. As Birkhead points out the future is still influenced by "sordidly avaricious short-termists." 

     Bird populations continue to decline, the oceans are awash in plastic, forests are being chopped down impairing the lungs of the planet and releasing more carbon into the atmosphere, the soil is poisoned and wildfires and floods are becoming annual events. 

     The subtitle of this book is A 12,000-Year History from Cave Art to Conservation. Will it will be possible to write about another 12,000 years? Not if we don't change our ways, and there seems little possibility of that. 

     So enjoy this book and reflect on our past relationship with birds; there may not be much of a future.

Birds and US: A 12,000-Year History from Cave Art to Conservation

Tim Birkhead

Hardcover - US$35.00 - ISBN 9780691239927

496 pages - 6.125 x 9.25 inches (15.31 x 23.125 cm)

63 colour and 70 black-and-white illustrations - 2 maps

Publication date: 09 August, 2022