Birds and People: Bonds in a Timeless Journey: 15 (CEMEX Conservation Book Series)

Although we probably give it little thought, as birders, all of us have bonded with birds in some way. For me, the bond started during childhood as a fascination for the wild places that birds could vanish into. Nearly four decades later, it still continues as a never-ending challenge to outwit the birds and see as many of them as I can against all odds. I imagine my experience has been similar to many Birdwatch readers - a passion for birds that puts them at the very centre of my life. But we birdwatchers represent a minute segment of the human population, and we can forget that other people see birds in a completely different light. This book documents the many types of relationship that mankind has developed with birds throughout the world, and it is lavishly illustrated with impressive and thought-provoking images.Through generous funding from Cemex, the multi-national building materials company, this book has been made available at a very reasonable price. At almost 3kg it is seriously heavy as a result of high-quality paper throughout, giving it a truly pristine feel. There are about 200 photographs covering every aspect of our relationship with birds. Most of these are beautiful and fascinating, but some are also shocking - demonstrating the disregard that some people show for birds.Because of the striking images it is quite easy to overlook the fact that considerable time has gone into creating about 40,000 words of text to put all of them into context. The first chapter explores the role of birds in our past and present cultures, with myths and stories that often placed birds in positions of great authority and with magical powers. One has only to look at the native tribes in remote areas of Papua New Guinea and Brazil to see their belief that wearing birds' feathers is a sign of strength and fertility. In the developed world birds have often been the focus for popular art and poetry - and the second chapter gives famous examples of such use of birds, from prehistoric rock paintings in Mexico to Picasso's famous dove of peace.The chapter on our use of birds as food and in manufacturing is a depressing one to read. From sustainable culling of fowl for basic nutrition, the story develops through our discovery of the use of feathers for our pillows and eiderdowns to the massive harvesting of guano for fertiliser. Eventually this sustainable beginning develops into alarming examples of gross overexploitation and extinction - perhaps best personified by the Passenger Pigeon. Once the commonest bird in North America (and perhaps the world at that time), it became extinct in 1914 through uncontrolled over-hunting for food in the 19th Century.The benefits that birds bring to the world are also explored - whether as unofficial pest controllers ridding the planet of damaging insects, or as pollinators of a significant number of plants whose entire existence depends on them for carrying pollen in their feathers. Another very topical example is the role birds play in sanitation - not least in southern Asia, where until recently vultures provided a very efficient service in clearing away dead bodies from both the cities and open countryside. Finally the text closes with a chapter which looks at birds' lives and behaviour in a world where they now have to adapt to our way of life. Despite some depressing tales of woe, the authors remain optimistic that the modern world is generally more appreciative of birds and this timeless bond that we share with them.This is an impressive tribute to our relationship with birds over more than two millennia. It concludes with the message that the fate of the birds is the fate of the earth, and the fate of the earth is the fate of humanity. Instinctively I can hear rising applause from the entire birding community to this message. But we are not the ones who need convincing! Hopefully this book will reach those people whose awareness of birds is minimal and whose appreciation of them is even less. For some the timeless bond has yet to be made.

This unique, thought provoking book examines in detail the many interactions between mankind and birds. It is lavishly illustrated with some of the images showing the negative aspects of human behaviour towards birds. Many of the photographs are truly spectacular in their beauty. This is a book that would be appreciated by anyone with an interest in the natural world and who desires that this world is conserved and protected.

This is a beautifully produced book. Stunning images and informative text that explores mankind's relationship with birds. Birds in culture, birds as food, birds as useful allies, birds for tourism. All these topics are covered in the author's very readable prose.This is a book that you'll dip in and out of for years, while buying copies for friends and family. Thoroughly recommended.