Overview

A fresh appreciation of the magic of birds and how watching them fulfils a human need to connect with nature. Enchantment by birds is commonplace. Birdwatchers merely go a step further than others and actively seek to be enchanted. This book tells why they take that extra step. It takes the reader on a series of excursions into birdwatching's past, venturing forward to the present. With an intriguing cast of characters, avian as well as human, its lively narratives explore the emotional and aesthetic impulses behind the pastime as well as its scientific and conservationist components. Its stories of 22 Australian birds range widely- from wordy squabbles over bird names to the artistic finessing of field guides; from the Paradise Parrot's tragic fall into extinction to the everyday enjoyment of a Magpie's carol; from the evolution of citizen science to the boom in birding tourism. Interlacing them all is the insight that birdwatching is a means by which modern, urban people reach out to touch the wild. A primal desire to connect with nature lies at the heart of the pastime. Enchantment by Birds not only offers a compelling exposition of what makes birders tick; it also tells us, imaginatively and informatively, why birds have a special place in our hearts. 'Russell McGregor elevates Enchantment by Birds above a typical historical narrative ... McGregor's structure seems to recognise the potential tension between academic discipline and a personal passion for the subject matter ... It is a constant reminder of the magic of birds to inspire and delight ... Russell McGregor's writing makes this a most readable book, one that comes close to perfectly balancing academic veracity with a rip-roaring tale.' -Sean Dooley, Australian Birdlife 'This lively history of birding nicely captures the contradictions and controversies that have marked the relations between birds and humans since European settlement. It is not a chronological account but one refracted through the stories of particular birds, bird lovers, and the evolution of birdwatching as a pursuit.' -Fiona Capp, The Age/The Sydney Morning Herald, 'Non-Fiction Book of the Week' 'One of the most refreshing aspects of the book is its emphasis on human collaboration in the service of birds. In this, McGregor refines and develops the 'mateship with birds' ethos of Alec Chisholm, of whom he published a fine biography ... Enchantment By Birds is full of anecdotes about the exploits of Chisholm and many other remarkable bird lovers in our recent history.' -Gregory Day, Australian Book Review

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9781761381447

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Russell McGregor has been a birdwatcher since childhood and an historian for over 40 years. Formerly a professor of history at James Cook University, he has written numerous articles on birds and birdwatching, and is also the author of six previous books, including Indifferent Inclusion- Aboriginal people and the Australian nation (winner of the 2012 New South Wales Premier's Australian History Prize), and Idling in Green Places- a life of Alec Chisholm (shortlisted for the 2020 National Biography Award).

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