The meaning of birds
By: Simon Barnes
Edition: First Pegasus Books hardcover edition.
Published: 2018
Language: eng
Number of pages: 323
ISBN-13: 9781681776262
Copyright date: 2018
Subjects: Social aspects; Human-animal relationships; Birds
Description: "One of our most eloquent nature writers offers a passionate and informative celebration of birds and their ability to help us understand the world we live in. As well as exploring how birds achieve the miracle of flight; why birds sing; what they tell us about the seasons of the year; and what their presence tells us about the places they inhabit, The Meaning of Birds muses on the uses of feathers, the drama of raptors, the slaughter of pheasants, the infidelities of geese, and the strangeness of feeling sentimental about blue tits while enjoying a chicken sandwich. From the mocking-birds of the Galapagos who guided Charles Darwin toward his evolutionary theory, to the changing patterns of migration that alert us to the reality of contemporary climate change, Simon Barnes explores both the intrinsic wonder of what it is to be a bird--and the myriad ways in which birds can help us understand the meaning of life"--Dust jacket flap.
Notes: Includes index.
Table of contents: title: Taking wing; title: Mine eyes have seen the glory; title: Song of myself; title: My place or yours?; title: Dancing to the music of time; title: The killing skies; title: Finger-lickin' good; title: Symbols at your door; title: He stuck a feather in his hat; title: The eureka birds; title: The way of the dodo; title: The fightback begins; title: Birdwatchers, birders & twitchers; title: Feed the birds, tuppence a bag; title: Hope is the thing with feathers; title: Birds mentioned in the text.