The Birds At My Table: Why we feed wild birds and why it matters

Description

Darryl Jones is fascinated by bird feeders. Not the containers supplying food to our winged friends, but the people who fill the containers, scatter the crumbs or seeds, or leave the picnic scraps behind for the birds. Here, Jones takes us on a wild flight through the history of bird feeding as he ponders this odd but seriously popular form of interaction between humans and wild animals. Jones digs at the deeper issues and questions of the practice of bird feeding, as he raises our awareness of the things we don't yet know and why we really should. This beautifully written and engaging books reveals that what at first seems to be a niche topic - humans feeding wild birds - is in fact something a disproportionate number of us do. Half the citizens of Australia, the UK, and the US feed birds, whether its by planting trees that attract them, putting food out on apartment balconies, setting up birds baths and feeders, or by unwittingly leaving scraps behind in parks. The international bird seed industry is huge and most of the seed is gown in India or Africa. Another way of describing all this activity is as an unplanned ecological experiment on an unbelievably large scale. In The Birds at My Table, Jones draws on an impressive knowledge of the latest scientific findings as well as his own personal knowledge, to reflect and explain the modern practice of bird feeding. 'In this international exploration of what seems like a trivial topic, Darryl Jones offers big surprises.' - Tim Low 'This is a book for all of us to read and ponder the practice of feeding wild birds...Jones covers a vast amount of information in this book.' - Gil Porter, The Warbler

"In this international exploration of what seems like a trivial topic, Darryl Jones offers big surprises." - Tim Low "The Birds at My Table is a delightful and informative read by a keen naturalist and gifted scholar that will deepen your understanding of birds and why so many of us are compelled to feed them." - John M. Marzluff, Professor of Wildlife Science and author of Welcome to Subirdia "The Birds at My Table is an impressively comprehensive study of why people feed birds and how birds are affected by this practice. This book will be a benchmark for those interested in the social history and ecological effects of bird feeding. Jones convincingly shows that bird feeding is a global practice with ethical implications." - Jeff Karnicky, author of Scarlet Experiment: Birds and Humans in America "An intriguing book that is sure to ruffle the feathers of many nonscientist bird enthusiasts." - Kirkus Reviews