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The Life of
The Life of Birds
Tireless explorer of the natural world and wide-ranging traveler, documentary filmmaker and writer David Attenborough has delighted readers and viewers with such productions as Life on Earth and The Living Planet. In this companion to a 10-part PBS series of the same name, Attenborough examines the ways of bird species from prehistoric times to the present, writing, as he admits, from the viewpoint of an amateur with a particular interest in animal behavior. (Those who can distinguish a bird at sight or by song possess a skill, he writes, "which I greatly admire, but one, alas, that I do not possess.") That amateur passion yields a fine overview of avian biology, as Attenborough turns to such matters as the antiquity of birds, which have dominated the air for some 150 million years, and the adaptation of birds to every ecosystem on the planet--for no obstacle, from huge mountains to wide oceans, has been able to stop their colonizing the whole of the globe, including the artificial deserts of major cities, where pigeons and peregrines rule. Graced with 180 color photographs, Attenborough's book will delight birdwatchers, students of animal behavior, and admirers of good writing alike. --Gregory McNamee
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
266 people are currently reading
3797 people want to read
About the author
David Attenborough
173 books2,751 followersSir David Frederick Attenborough is a naturalist and broadcaster, who is most well-known for writing and presenting the nine "Life" series, produced in conjunction with BBC's Natural History Unit. The series includes Life on Earth (1979), The Living Planet (1984), The Trials of Life (1990), Life in the Freezer (about Antarctica; 1993), The Private Life of Plants (1995), The Life of Birds (1998), The Life of Mammals (2002), Life in the Undergrowth (2005) and Life in Cold Blood (2008).
He is the younger brother of director and actor Richard Attenborough.
Photo credit: Wildscreen's photograph of David Attenborough at ARKive's launch in Bristol, England © May 2003
He is the younger brother of director and actor Richard Attenborough.
Photo credit: Wildscreen's photograph of David Attenborough at ARKive's launch in Bristol, England © May 2003
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
April 21, 2024
I've been a fan of Attenborough's and his programs since I was a little girl. Thus, I also have the complete set of DVDs of the Life series and have been planning on getting the corresponding books for a while. Recently, the author and his publisher have started re-releasing them to my great joy since the original publication was quite some years ago and there have been numerous new insights and discoveries.
As the title already gives away, this book is all about the kings and queens of the air. Other species might have gotten wings first and subsequently have had them longer, but nobody beats birds in the sky.
The book is divided into the following 10 chapters:
1) To Fly or Not to Fly
Here, it's mostly about scientific discoveries.
2) The Mastery of Flight
This chapter deals with different kinds of flight since some mammals and insects can fly, too.
3) The Insatiable Appetite
This nicely emphasized how energy-consumptive flight actuallly is and what price it therefore demands.
4) Meat-Eaters
A special look at big birds and their food.
5) Fishing for a Living
A special look at the pescetarians amongst our feathered friends.
6) Signals and Songs
The way birds communicate is truly amazing and amazingly diverse!
7) Finding Partners
The usual shenanigans any species (but here mostly birds) put up with in the name of love. ;P
8) The Demands of the Egg
I must admit I hadn't appreciated enough how truly amazing an invention the egg is. Sure, it has its downsides, but definitely also it's advantages. And of course this chapter featured THE most well-known example of a devoted parents protecting the egg: the emperor penguin.
9) The Problems of Parenthood
THe lengths parents go to to secure the best chances for their offspring and to teach them!
10) The Limits of Endurance
THis was probably the most interesting chapter in that it held the most information I hadn't had before. And yes, this knowledge has real-life applications for humans.
A wonderfully detailed look at this extraordinary animal species that is accompanied by funny and breathtaking photographs of birds from around the world (some of which I've shown you in my status updates). All of it is told in David Attenborough's inimitable way, of course. It doesn't hurt that I have the exclusive signed edition from Waterstones. ;)
As the title already gives away, this book is all about the kings and queens of the air. Other species might have gotten wings first and subsequently have had them longer, but nobody beats birds in the sky.
The book is divided into the following 10 chapters:
1) To Fly or Not to Fly
Here, it's mostly about scientific discoveries.
2) The Mastery of Flight
This chapter deals with different kinds of flight since some mammals and insects can fly, too.
3) The Insatiable Appetite
This nicely emphasized how energy-consumptive flight actuallly is and what price it therefore demands.
4) Meat-Eaters
A special look at big birds and their food.
5) Fishing for a Living
A special look at the pescetarians amongst our feathered friends.
6) Signals and Songs
The way birds communicate is truly amazing and amazingly diverse!
7) Finding Partners
The usual shenanigans any species (but here mostly birds) put up with in the name of love. ;P
8) The Demands of the Egg
I must admit I hadn't appreciated enough how truly amazing an invention the egg is. Sure, it has its downsides, but definitely also it's advantages. And of course this chapter featured THE most well-known example of a devoted parents protecting the egg: the emperor penguin.
9) The Problems of Parenthood
THe lengths parents go to to secure the best chances for their offspring and to teach them!
10) The Limits of Endurance
THis was probably the most interesting chapter in that it held the most information I hadn't had before. And yes, this knowledge has real-life applications for humans.
A wonderfully detailed look at this extraordinary animal species that is accompanied by funny and breathtaking photographs of birds from around the world (some of which I've shown you in my status updates). All of it is told in David Attenborough's inimitable way, of course. It doesn't hurt that I have the exclusive signed edition from Waterstones. ;)
December 10, 2024
I came to this book via one of my adult sons who was so thrilled by what he read that he felt compelled to read passages out loud to me and his dad during our time together. Once he was done reading, he passed the book on to me and I commenced to read it from the beginning. It was truly fascinating as David Attenborough writes in a way that kept me enthralled and motivated to learn more about birds.
In the introduction Attenborough writes that birds “have characters with which we can easily identify – cheeky and shy, gentle and vicious, faithful and faithless. Many enact the dramas of their lives in full view for all to see.”
He also tells us that “Birds have repeatedly abandoned flight during their history. Flying is very expensive in terms of energy and birds do not travel by air if it is safe for them to do so by land.”
One example of Attenborough’s ability to connect with people and elicit their interest is in his description of a kiwi – “in the gloom, you may just detect a small, hunched figure materializing at the edge of the bush […] Its shape is hardly bird-like. Its body is almost globular, with no sign of either wings or tail.” He suggests that they resemble ‘hobgoblins.’ How could you not be thrilled by this description?!
Then, Attenborough has this to say regarding the naturalists Charles Waterton and Jean-Jacques Audubon:
“Two such outspoken and extravagant characters both claiming expertise in the natural history of the New World could hardly fail to cross swords.” Each had their own followers and the controversy they stirred as they argued over the behavior of turkey vultures “continued, almost unbelievably, throughout the rest of the century.”
Fascinating facts I learned while reading:
Swans are “one of the heaviest of all flying birds.” In fact, to get airborne “a swan requires the most level and smoothest runway in the whole of nature – the still surface of a lake.”
“A parrot has only about three hundred and fifty taste buds in its tongue, whereas a rabbit has around seventeen thousand.” My imagination ran away with me here!
“A blow from a woodpecker’s bill strikes a tree at about 40 kilometres an hour.”
Something I’ve witnessed myself – gardeners here “in Britain develop regular partnerships with a robin who unfailingly appears whenever we choose to dig in our gardens.” Robins are happy to harvest the worms we uncover while we work, and they make lovely companions.
Additionally, there are four sections of stunning photographs to enjoy.
In the introduction Attenborough writes that birds “have characters with which we can easily identify – cheeky and shy, gentle and vicious, faithful and faithless. Many enact the dramas of their lives in full view for all to see.”
He also tells us that “Birds have repeatedly abandoned flight during their history. Flying is very expensive in terms of energy and birds do not travel by air if it is safe for them to do so by land.”
One example of Attenborough’s ability to connect with people and elicit their interest is in his description of a kiwi – “in the gloom, you may just detect a small, hunched figure materializing at the edge of the bush […] Its shape is hardly bird-like. Its body is almost globular, with no sign of either wings or tail.” He suggests that they resemble ‘hobgoblins.’ How could you not be thrilled by this description?!
Then, Attenborough has this to say regarding the naturalists Charles Waterton and Jean-Jacques Audubon:
“Two such outspoken and extravagant characters both claiming expertise in the natural history of the New World could hardly fail to cross swords.” Each had their own followers and the controversy they stirred as they argued over the behavior of turkey vultures “continued, almost unbelievably, throughout the rest of the century.”
Fascinating facts I learned while reading:
Swans are “one of the heaviest of all flying birds.” In fact, to get airborne “a swan requires the most level and smoothest runway in the whole of nature – the still surface of a lake.”
“A parrot has only about three hundred and fifty taste buds in its tongue, whereas a rabbit has around seventeen thousand.” My imagination ran away with me here!
“A blow from a woodpecker’s bill strikes a tree at about 40 kilometres an hour.”
Something I’ve witnessed myself – gardeners here “in Britain develop regular partnerships with a robin who unfailingly appears whenever we choose to dig in our gardens.” Robins are happy to harvest the worms we uncover while we work, and they make lovely companions.
Additionally, there are four sections of stunning photographs to enjoy.
Read
November 30, 2010When do you know you are homesick?
When you are sitting in Geneva watching a German Attenborough sort of program about penguins in Australia.
No. That's not all, not quite.
When you are sitting in Geneva watching a German Attenborough sort of program about penguins in Australia and you think you recognise one of them.
No. That's not all, not quite either.
When you are sitting in Geneva watching a German Attenborough sort of program about penguins in Australia, you think you recognise one of them and you wave at it. And the reason it doesn't wave back, you think, isn't that the penguin doesn't recognise you, but that the director won't let it.
That's homesick, wouldn't you say?
When you are sitting in Geneva watching a German Attenborough sort of program about penguins in Australia.
No. That's not all, not quite.
When you are sitting in Geneva watching a German Attenborough sort of program about penguins in Australia and you think you recognise one of them.
No. That's not all, not quite either.
When you are sitting in Geneva watching a German Attenborough sort of program about penguins in Australia, you think you recognise one of them and you wave at it. And the reason it doesn't wave back, you think, isn't that the penguin doesn't recognise you, but that the director won't let it.
That's homesick, wouldn't you say?
October 13, 2013
This is another book I'd had on my shelf for years without getting around to looking at it. It is the companion volume to a late-1990s BBC television series. The author, David Attenborough, was an enthusiast, not a specialist. As a result, it is not surprising that the book contains a broad but shallow overview of the subject. Still, it includes some useful information, especially in the opening chapter which discusses how the evolutionary family tree of birds from the feathered dinosaur archaeopteryx to modern birds slowly is being filled in. The best part of the book by far is the photographs, which are magnificent. Overall, The Life of Birds makesan enjoyable and quick read for people interested in natural history.
September 4, 2018
অসাধারণ সুন্দর সুখপাঠ্য একটা বই। ডাইনোসর আর সরিসৃপ থেকে কিভাবে পাখি আসলো, কিভাবে তারা উড়তে শিখলো, আবার কি কারণে তাদের অনেকে উড়া ছেড়ে দিলো (পেঙ্গুইন, ইমু, উট, রিয়া), কোন পাখি কিভাবে খাবার সংগ্রহ করে (নিরামিষভোজী, আমিষভোজী) কোন পাখি কিভাবে বাসা বাঁধে, সঙ্গিনী খুঁজে, বাচ্চা পালে, সব কিছু অতি সুন্দর সহজ ভাষায় মাত্র ৩০০ পাতায় বুঝিয়ে দিয়েছেন অ্যাটেনবুড়ো। সাথে আছে চোখ ঝলসানো, প্রাসঙ্গিক অসংখ্য সব ছবি। সবার ভালো লাগার কথা, পাখি-প্রেমীদের জন্য অবশ্যপাঠ্য।
April 12, 2020
শুরু থেকে শেষ পর্যন্ত — প্রতিটা পৃষ্ঠা পড়ি আর মনে-মনে বলি, “ওয়াও! কী অদ্ভূত-ভয়ানক সুন্দর আর বিচিত্র পাখির জীবন!” কত যে অজানা কথা জেনেছি তার ইয়ত্তা নেই। এগুলো পাখিদের জীবনের গল্প, তাদের জীবনযুদ্ধের গল্প। উড়ে-উড়ে এক মহাদেশ থেক অন্য মহাদেশে ভ্রমণের গল্প, উড়াউড়ি বাদ দিয়ে শান্তিপূর্ণ স্থানে স্থায়ী বসতির গল্প। পাখির রসনার গল্প, বিয়েশাদী আর সন্তান-পালনের গল্প। সেই সাথে পাখিদের কী দারুণ সব ছবি! সবশেষে পাখি-সংরক্ষণের জন্য কয়েকজন মানুষের উদ্ভাবনী প্রচেষ্টার গল্প। যত পড়েছি, তত মুগ্ধ হয়েছি, বিমোহিত হয়েছি। পাখিদের জন্য ভালোবাসা আর সম্মান বেড়েছে প্রতি ক্ষণে। না, প্রশংসা করে শেষ করতে পারবো না। শুধু বলি — পাখি ও পাখির জীবনাচরণ/জীবনযুদ্ধের প্রতি যাদের সামান্যতম আগ্রহ আছে, তাদের জন্য এ বই এক “ভালোবাসা”।
May 9, 2024
My most recent "get sleepy" audiobook. Sir David NEVER misses. I friggin love nature.
May 10, 2024
Birds are great and this is the greatest book I’ve ever read
January 16, 2018
Doesn't get much better than this. Recommended.
June 18, 2024
the only one I ❤️ more than birds is Sir David
January 31, 2024
3.5
Love a good bird fact and there were lots of interesting ones in here - definitely think it would be better to read a chapter a day or something though cause it got to the point where there were so many tidbits you couldn't really focus on them all.
Also the photos were nice but couldn't help think how much I wanted to see these behaviours and attributes in video form, almost like some sort of...documentary hmmm
Love a good bird fact and there were lots of interesting ones in here - definitely think it would be better to read a chapter a day or something though cause it got to the point where there were so many tidbits you couldn't really focus on them all.
Also the photos were nice but couldn't help think how much I wanted to see these behaviours and attributes in video form, almost like some sort of...documentary hmmm
November 28, 2024
5⭐️ listened to this book each night as I fell asleep to the soothing baritone of David Attenborough - and honestly, Sir David narrating a book about birds? Can’t get better than that.
Also - I freaking love birds
//audio
Also - I freaking love birds
//audio
May 1, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. Attenborough is one of the few people who can convey the awe and majesty of the natural world in a simple and playful way. You cannot help be drawn into the stories he tells of many different birds struggles through life. From food, reproduction, nesting and parental care, Attenborough explores the behaviour of birds and how it has made them a successful animal that is present on every continent.
The photographs featured in this edition are stunning and really help to add a visual to the narrative.
I often would stop reading to look up a bird mentioned in the book to add audio and visuals to the commentary. This book inspires me to learn more about these wonderful creatures and to continue to marvel at the natural world.
The photographs featured in this edition are stunning and really help to add a visual to the narrative.
I often would stop reading to look up a bird mentioned in the book to add audio and visuals to the commentary. This book inspires me to learn more about these wonderful creatures and to continue to marvel at the natural world.
September 16, 2014
This is the very best book on birds I've ever had the privilege of reading. I enjoyed my first read so much I sent a "Thank You" letter to Sir David in care of his U.S. publisher. Several weeks later I was thrilled to receive a personal response, yes, hand written by the author himself "par avión"! If I could keep only one book from my small library of good old-fashioned hard cover books, this would be it. The chapters are logically arranged and presented and being familiar with Sir David's voice I discovered, as one can see with their "mind's eye", that my "mind's ear" was presenting the book to me in his familiar impeccable voice which made it all the more enjoyable. I did see the corresponding programs - in time - and I've watched them many times since and reread the book as well - time and again! Enjoy!
December 24, 2020
I don't why I'm surprised by this given how ace every single thing Sir David does is, but this was so accessible, educational and interesting.
I know have 3 top bird facts to roll out and an appetite for more, which is just as well as 80% of my father-in-law's books are David Attenborough books.
Top facts:
1. Woodpecker's tongues are so long they go over their heads and round the back of their heads and down the back of their necks. BOOM
2. Owl's ears are arranged non-symmetrically on their heads, one higher than the other, giving them stereo-surround sound hearing. BOOM
3. Birds have spongy sacks all around their bodies which they fill with air, making them lighter and helping them fly. BOOM
Love it.
I know have 3 top bird facts to roll out and an appetite for more, which is just as well as 80% of my father-in-law's books are David Attenborough books.
Top facts:
1. Woodpecker's tongues are so long they go over their heads and round the back of their heads and down the back of their necks. BOOM
2. Owl's ears are arranged non-symmetrically on their heads, one higher than the other, giving them stereo-surround sound hearing. BOOM
3. Birds have spongy sacks all around their bodies which they fill with air, making them lighter and helping them fly. BOOM
Love it.
October 30, 2024
David Attenborough is a biologist, natural historian and international treasure and I don't know why it's taken me this long to read one of his books. In a continuation of my recent stretch of nature books, The Life of Birds by David Attenborough was an enlightening read.
Covering a range of birds from all over the world, the book is chock full of information and new-to-me facts like this one:
"One of the heaviest of all flying birds is the swan. A full grown one may weigh close to 16 kilos." Page 37
Outlining the different phases of a bird's life cycle, The Life of Birds covers flight, birdsong, mating rituals, the laying of eggs and nurturing of young.
The audiobook was easy and informative to listen to and the book offers a limited number of colour photos. As a consequence, you can't see all of the birds mentioned or the behaviour being described. But let's face it, while I might be able to find 10 hours a month to listen to an audiobook, I'm never going to invest that amount of time watching bird documentaries; even at the hands of a legend like David Attenborough.
Back to the book and I was fascinated to learn that geese fly in a V formation to take advantage of the slip stream, which is strongest at the wing tip of the bird ahead of them. Not only that, flapping in unison gives even greater advantage to all but the lead bird at the front of the formation. Just as in cycling, the birds take turns at the front so that they all share in the work. Fascinating!
A mature oak tree can generate ninety thousand acorns in a season which I found truly astonishing. Some birds like the jay bury individual acorns, using local landmarks to remember the location of each cache, and sometimes placing pebbles and stones nearby as markers. Meanwhile, other birds stash their acorns in the same location.
"Willow tits hold the record for the number that an individual bird will store in a day - over a thousand. The nutcracker, a European relative of the crow, collects the greatest number to be gathered in a single season - up to one hundred thousand." Page 64
This reminded me of the woodpecker responsible for storing 317 kilos (700 pounds) of acorns in the wall of a homeowner's house in California.
When describing the gargantuan appetite of young chicks in the chapter entitled The Problems of Parenthood, Attenborough tells us:
"A great tit, which feeds its young with beakfuls of insects, may deliver food to its nest nine hundred times a day." Page 215
Wow. If you love birds, nature or the work of the great David Attenborough, you'll enjoy The Life of Birds. Gotta fly!
Covering a range of birds from all over the world, the book is chock full of information and new-to-me facts like this one:
"One of the heaviest of all flying birds is the swan. A full grown one may weigh close to 16 kilos." Page 37
Outlining the different phases of a bird's life cycle, The Life of Birds covers flight, birdsong, mating rituals, the laying of eggs and nurturing of young.
The audiobook was easy and informative to listen to and the book offers a limited number of colour photos. As a consequence, you can't see all of the birds mentioned or the behaviour being described. But let's face it, while I might be able to find 10 hours a month to listen to an audiobook, I'm never going to invest that amount of time watching bird documentaries; even at the hands of a legend like David Attenborough.
Back to the book and I was fascinated to learn that geese fly in a V formation to take advantage of the slip stream, which is strongest at the wing tip of the bird ahead of them. Not only that, flapping in unison gives even greater advantage to all but the lead bird at the front of the formation. Just as in cycling, the birds take turns at the front so that they all share in the work. Fascinating!
A mature oak tree can generate ninety thousand acorns in a season which I found truly astonishing. Some birds like the jay bury individual acorns, using local landmarks to remember the location of each cache, and sometimes placing pebbles and stones nearby as markers. Meanwhile, other birds stash their acorns in the same location.
"Willow tits hold the record for the number that an individual bird will store in a day - over a thousand. The nutcracker, a European relative of the crow, collects the greatest number to be gathered in a single season - up to one hundred thousand." Page 64
This reminded me of the woodpecker responsible for storing 317 kilos (700 pounds) of acorns in the wall of a homeowner's house in California.
When describing the gargantuan appetite of young chicks in the chapter entitled The Problems of Parenthood, Attenborough tells us:
"A great tit, which feeds its young with beakfuls of insects, may deliver food to its nest nine hundred times a day." Page 215
Wow. If you love birds, nature or the work of the great David Attenborough, you'll enjoy The Life of Birds. Gotta fly!
December 27, 2025
How can a book about birds be this long…? Well, trust David Attenborough to open up a world of curiosity, fascination, wonder and leave you wanting even more. I only criticism is that there were a few extraneous commentaries which were not my style and covered things that I feel most people who would consider picking up this book would already know. Then again, never assume! And it is not problematic enough to reduce my rating. A great read to ignite wonder about our world and its creatures. Bonus is now I have some great dinner party facts to wheel out when needed!
January 9, 2022
Amazing coverage of the variety of birds found on our planet. I found this book helpful in pushing forward my interest in birds from an evolutionary perspective, so many things we assume about birds took so long to produce!
January 12, 2024
i think it was a good book for someone who like to learn fun facts (me) but i remain disappointed in the editors lack of attention to detail when it came to ngā manu o Aotearoa. The photos are absolutely superb.
July 2, 2025
vogels 101 gewoon leuke vogels leuke plaatjes leuke feitjes gewoon leuk boek
July 24, 2025
Great for bird nerds!! Enjoyed Attenborough reminiscing about all of the wonderful birds he has seen in his life.
December 20, 2025
4.5/5
love u david
love u david
March 6, 2025
all birds are such little freaks i love them so much
September 5, 2024
Listened to this every night before bed the past few weeks and it’s been such a lovely way to relax and wind down for the night.
July 1, 2011
A fascinating and beautiful book filled with stunning photographs from the legend that is David Attenborough. His style of writing is compelling and doesn't weigh you down with hard science. The book was a brilliant read and I know it will be one I will pick up again and again. Am now filled up with lots of new bird facts!
October 1, 2009
It may have been a great television series, but it poorly translated to book form. The writing is superficial. The real strength, such as it is, is exquisite photography.
May 5, 2025
David Attenborough w „Życiu ptaków” zabiera czytelników w niesamowitą podróż po świecie ptaków – od najmniejszych, niemal niewidocznych gatunków, po majestatyczne drapieżniki. To nie jest sucha encyklopedia, ale opowieść pełna ciekawostek, historii ewolucji i opisów zachowań, które naprawdę potrafią zadziwić.
Co ważne, książka jest nie tylko świetnie napisana, ale też pięknie wydana – znajdziemy tu mnóstwo fotografii, które dopełniają opowieści Attenborougha i pozwalają dosłownie zobaczyć to, o czym pisze. Zdjęcia są momentami tak hipnotyzujące, że można zatrzymać się na jednej stronie na dłużej, podziwiając detale skrzydeł, spojrzenia ptaków, sceny z ich życia.
To książka, która pokazuje złożoność ptasiego świata – ich inteligencję, niezwykłe strategie przetrwania, a także rolę, jaką pełnią w ekosystemach. Attenborough potrafi wytłumaczyć nawet trudniejsze biologiczne procesy w sposób lekki i przystępny, co sprawia, że ta książka jest idealna zarówno dla miłośników przyrody, jak i dla tych, którzy dopiero zaczynają swoją przygodę z literaturą popularnonaukową.
Od siebie mogę dodać, że ta lektura skłoniła mnie do patrzenia inaczej na otoczenie. Często zapominamy o całym pięknie, które nas otacza – o środowisku, które jest nie tylko zachwycające, ale i delikatne. Sam coraz częściej łapię się na tym, że wypatruję ptaków w miejskich przestrzeniach, zauważam ich brak tam, gdzie kiedyś były. To daje do myślenia.
Świat przyrody wymaga dziś naszej uwagi bardziej niż kiedykolwiek. „Życie ptaków” nie tylko pokazuje tę naturę w całej okazałości, ale subtelnie przypomina, że jesteśmy za nią odpowiedzialni. Mimo że to książka spoza mojej strefy komfortu, cieszę się, że po nią sięgnąłem – i z czystym sumieniem polecam każdemu.
Współpraca reklamowa
Co ważne, książka jest nie tylko świetnie napisana, ale też pięknie wydana – znajdziemy tu mnóstwo fotografii, które dopełniają opowieści Attenborougha i pozwalają dosłownie zobaczyć to, o czym pisze. Zdjęcia są momentami tak hipnotyzujące, że można zatrzymać się na jednej stronie na dłużej, podziwiając detale skrzydeł, spojrzenia ptaków, sceny z ich życia.
To książka, która pokazuje złożoność ptasiego świata – ich inteligencję, niezwykłe strategie przetrwania, a także rolę, jaką pełnią w ekosystemach. Attenborough potrafi wytłumaczyć nawet trudniejsze biologiczne procesy w sposób lekki i przystępny, co sprawia, że ta książka jest idealna zarówno dla miłośników przyrody, jak i dla tych, którzy dopiero zaczynają swoją przygodę z literaturą popularnonaukową.
Od siebie mogę dodać, że ta lektura skłoniła mnie do patrzenia inaczej na otoczenie. Często zapominamy o całym pięknie, które nas otacza – o środowisku, które jest nie tylko zachwycające, ale i delikatne. Sam coraz częściej łapię się na tym, że wypatruję ptaków w miejskich przestrzeniach, zauważam ich brak tam, gdzie kiedyś były. To daje do myślenia.
Świat przyrody wymaga dziś naszej uwagi bardziej niż kiedykolwiek. „Życie ptaków” nie tylko pokazuje tę naturę w całej okazałości, ale subtelnie przypomina, że jesteśmy za nią odpowiedzialni. Mimo że to książka spoza mojej strefy komfortu, cieszę się, że po nią sięgnąłem – i z czystym sumieniem polecam każdemu.
Współpraca reklamowa
August 19, 2023
I've watched all 9 hours of the documentary "The Life of Birds" several times over the years. So when I saw this book at a thrift store one day, I had to grab it. It seems to be a companion book to the documentary, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it's not a complete copy. There are things in the documentary not included in the book, and vice versa. There were multiple times through this book that I was astonished-ASTONISHED-to learn about a new bird or a fascinating fact that I hadn't known before.
This book is about 24 years old now, so I'd love to read an updated and revised version, especially the last chapter which talks about endangered birds and their hopeful recovery.
Random note: This was ALMOST my last unread-owned book (it was my final one until someone gave me a book of short stories a couple of weeks ago, signed my my favorite author, so now I HAVE to keep and read that one too). I finally got around to reading this, and that WOULD have meant that I've read every single book that I own (with the exception of things like cookbooks or gardening manuals, which aren't really for reading cover to cover, so I'm not counting them). So...I'm almost there!
This book is about 24 years old now, so I'd love to read an updated and revised version, especially the last chapter which talks about endangered birds and their hopeful recovery.
Random note: This was ALMOST my last unread-owned book (it was my final one until someone gave me a book of short stories a couple of weeks ago, signed my my favorite author, so now I HAVE to keep and read that one too). I finally got around to reading this, and that WOULD have meant that I've read every single book that I own (with the exception of things like cookbooks or gardening manuals, which aren't really for reading cover to cover, so I'm not counting them). So...I'm almost there!
December 31, 2025
ALL MY HOMIES FW DAVID ATTENBOROUGH 3o2bal el meya ya gedou
“We are now the most widespread competitors that birds have ever had to face. We are also by far the most powerful. We have already exterminated whole species of them by direct attack, but the greatest destruction we have wrought has been inadvertent—a consequence of the wholesale changes we have made to the face of the earth. That damage need not continue. We now have the knowledge and the skill to maintain all the wonderfully rich range of birds that still exists on earth in all its complexity and glory. All we need, as the new masters of this planet, is the will to do so.”
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