Our Feathered Friends

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 7 humans feeding wild birds 7 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.

75 gorgeous close-up avian photographs make this exquisite coffee table book the perfect gift for bird lovers An unusual blend of charming heartfelt personal essays and in-depth scientific information bring the reader uniquely into the inner lives of birds Intertwining with our everyday lives like no other wild creature, birds inspire our curiosity and appeal to our sense of wonder and whimsy. These stunning and intimate photographs capture the beauty and detail of each bird's form, as well as their unique character and personality. Taken while working with researchers at observatories and wildlife refuges, the images offer rare close-up detail sure to delight any bird lover. The accompanying short essays share often-hidden elements from birds' lives, with both charming personal stories and detailed scientific research. Discover why robins sing so early in the morning and learn the science behind the almost magical iridescence of mallard feathers. This enchanting collection shares the irresistible joy and marvel of birds, from the golden eagle to the purple sandpiper.

Learn about the different birds that God has given us.

Boy Meets Bird. Boy Gets Bird. Boy Loses Bird An Urban Folktale. One day in the dead of winter, New York Times restaurant critic William Grimes looked out the window into his backyard in Queens and saw a chicken, jet black with a crimson comb. Wherever it had come from, it showed no sign of leaving, and it quickly made a place for itself among the society of resident stray cats. Before long, the chicken became the Chicken, and it began to arouse not only Grimes's protective impulses but also his curiosity. He discovered that chickens were domesticated first as fighters, not food; that egg-laying is triggered by exposure to light; that chickens were a fashion statement in Victorian days. He began to probe the mysteries of gallinaceous behavior, learning to distinguish a dust bath from a death dance and how to cater to his guest's eclectic palate. And when the Chicken began to repay his hospitality with five or six custom-laid eggs per week, Grimes had an answer to the age-old conundrum of which came first: the Chicken. And then one day, obeying some bird-brained logic of its own -- or perhaps the victim of fowl play -- the Chicken vanished, leaving Grimes eggless but with this funny, enlightening, and heartwarming tale to tell.

What can we learn from ducks? Ducks are content, adaptable and lead a life of balance. They communicate, stick together and respect their limitations. This book explores the parallels that can be drawn between ducks and humans and lessons that can be learned to help us live our best lives. Learn how to let negativity 'slide' off your back like rain on a duck's back. Challenge your communication and knowledge to the benefit of the whole and not just for yourself. Do you have balance in your life, knowing when to ride the current of life and when to swim against the it?