Birdmania: A Remarkable Passion for Birds

There is a magic spell that birds cast over many individuals that develops into a passion for possessing, studying, observing, and even living with our fine feathered friends. Whether they be raptors, pigeons, penguins, parrots, sparrows, or hummingbirds, they’re in this book. Author Bernd Brunner has captured the stories of hundreds of bird enthusiasts through the ages, from Aristotle down to modern day. Many have been scholars, and some have even been scoundrels, but their histories are recorded with their avian exploits along with their personal peccadilloes. Some of the names are familiar, such as Darwin, Peterson, Audubon, Mayr, and Lorenz; but others such as Napoleon, Rothschild, Lear, and too many more shed new light on this fanatic enthusiasm for birds. In early days, the gun was the means of capturing these enchanting forms, then they were used as fashion displays, and too many were slaughtered until more recently a camera and binoculars became the instruments of choice. While there are more than 10,000 bird species, this number is continually endangered by constant trapping, environmental fluctuations, chemical hazards, and, always, the nefarious cat. Along with the amazing chronicles of bird devotees, the pages are filled with dazzling illustrations of many of the birds mentioned, making this a remarkable treasure collection about birds and their lovers.