Mark Avery Bücher

"A fascinating compendium showcasing the wonderful beauty and amazing variety of the birds that share our world; illuminated with exquisite ornithological illustrations, prints and drawings"--

A personal, philosophical and political history of 25 years of bird conservation, this book provides an instructive and amusing read for all those who would like a glimpse into the birds and wildlife conservation world.

Focusing on 25 years of bird conservation, this book combines personal anecdotes with philosophical and political insights, offering a unique perspective on wildlife conservation. It presents an engaging narrative that is both instructive and entertaining, making it appealing to anyone interested in the challenges and triumphs of protecting avian species and their habitats.

September 1st, 2014 marked the centenary of one of the best-documented extinctions in history - the demise of the Passenger Pigeon. From being the commonest bird on the planet 50 years earlier, the species became extinct on that fateful day, with the death in Cincinnati Zoo of Martha - the last of her kind. This book tells the tale of the Passenger Pigeon, and of Martha, and of author Mark Avery's journey in search of them. It looks at how the species was a cornerstone of the now much-diminished ecology of the eastern United States, and how the species went from a population that numbered in the billions to nil in a terrifyingly brief period of time. It also explores the largely untold story of the ecological annihilation of this part of America in the latter half of the 19th century, a time that saw an unprecedented loss of natural beauty and richness as forests were felled and the prairies were ploughed, with wildlife slaughtered more or less indiscriminately. Despite the underlying theme of loss, this book is more than another depressing tale of human greed and ecological stupidity. It contains an underlying message - that we need to re-forge our relationship with the natural world on which we depend, and plan a more sustainable future. Otherwise more species will go the way of the Passenger Pigeon. We should listen to the message from Martha.

Following on from the success of their 2015 book Behind the Binoculars, Keith and Mark are back again, taking you behind the scenes, and behind the binoculars, of a diverse range of birding and wildlife personalities.

A hard-hitting, passionate, and well-researched book about the conflict between driven grouse shooting and nature conservation in Britain.

Mark Avery and Keith Betton, passionate birdwatchers and conservationists, interview members of the birdwatching community about the lives of famous birdwatchers. They take you behind the scenes, and behind the binoculars, of a diverse range of birding and wildlife personalities.

This informed, incisive and passionate commentary analyses what is wrong with certain ways we do wildlife conservation but explores some of its many successes too.