SPIX’S MACAW: THE RACE TO SAVE THE WORLD’S RAREST BIRD
by Tony Juniper.   

This rare blue parrot is the last of its species. By the turn of the century only one lone male existed in the wild. Birds that talk, fall in love and grieve, their rarity makes them very valuable. The story of the rescue operation to save these brilliant creatures from the brink of extinction, this is part detective story, part love story and also an environmental parable.

SILENCE OF THE SONGBIRDS
by Bridget Stutchbury

There is no simple answer, but Stutchbury does offer some guidelines to breaking the cycle which decimates our migratory songbirds.  Buy organic coffee and produce, buy paper products not bleached with chlorine, turn off the lights at night during migratory periods and keep your cat indoors! She explains how these and other ideas impact the ecosystem.

THE GRAIL BIRD: HOT ON THE TRAIL OF THE IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER
by Tim Gallagher

An account of the first time since 1944 that two qualified observers positively identified an ivory-billed woodpecker in the United States.  The setting is the bayous of the Mississippi Delta- full of mud and water moccasins; there are photos of the “working conditions” as others join in to verify the existence of this iconic bird.

DODO: A BRIEF HISTORY
by Errol Fuller

An illustrated guide to the extinct bird of legend. The dodo disappeared from the shores of Mauritius in the sixteenth century.  Its continuing cultural and literary history is surveyed and today the image of this powerful icon has been embedded in literature and art.

PIGEONS: THE FASCINATING SAGA OF THE WORLD’S MOST REVERED AND REVILED BIRD
by Andrew D. Blechman

From beloved friend to feathered outlaw, this bird has a rich history playing many roles, including being a crucial part of wartime communications for every superpower from ancient Egypt to the United States. Revered as symbols of peace, they are also gunned down live at commercial pigeon shoots.  You will see those sidewalk strutters with new eyes.

MIND OF THE RAVEN: INVESTIGATIONS AND ADVENTURES WITH WOLF-BIRDS
by Bernd Heinrich

There is an ancient tradition of wolf, man and raven joining in the hunt. This may be the origin of the meeting of human/raven minds investigated in this observation of raven life. Heinrich adopts ravens, becoming intimately involved in all aspects of their behavior. A professional biologist, he presents these unique creatures in lyrical prose, photos and illustrations.

WESLEY THE OWL: THE REMARKABLE LOVE STORY OF AN OWL AND HIS GIRL
by Stacy O’Brien

The author rescues a baby barn owl that spends the rest of his life living with her in her home. Wesley bonds with his human and in fact, regards her as his mate. This is a charming memoir in which Wesley’s personality is dominant and his death at the end of book is quite sad. Not for the squeamish who might be bothered by the abundance of dead mice (Wesley’s food) throughout the story.

WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL: A LOVE STORY WITH WINGS
by Mark Bittner

An unemployed man becomes the volunteer caretaker for a flock of parrots in San Francisco. With distinct characters, (the cast is listed in the book) the parrots have their own society and their own stories. Each chapter tells of another parrot adventure and pictures of the “characters” are included. The documentary film based on this book was nominated for a 2003 Academy Award.

ALEX AND ME: HOW A SCIENTIST AND A PARROT DISCOVERED A HIDDEN WORLD OF ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE…AND FORMED A DEEP BOND IN THE PROCESS
by Irene Pepperberg

Alex died at age 31. His last words to Irene were “You be good. I love you.”  This long friendship was extraordinary in itself and also a landmark scientific achievement.  Dr. Pepperberg is an associate research professor at Brandeis University and teaches animal cognition. She has established the Alex Foundation for further study of “bird brains” and their complexities.

OF A FEATHER: A BRIEF HISTORY OF AMERICAN BIRDING
by Scott Weidensaul

Europeans arriving in North America became frontier ornithologists. Today teens with iPods participate in the almost-mainstream hobby of bird watching.  Weidensaul cites the history of this avocation including the contributions of John James Audubon and Roger Tory Peterson.  Has birding become a competitive sport with obsessive list-making? Or should it re-focus on its roots- the celebration of “the small, contained miracle that is a bird.”