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Birdmania
"An exquisitely beautiful book ...These stories about birds are ultimately reflections on the curious nature of humanity itself"
- Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk
There is no denying that many people are crazy for birds. Packed with intriguing facts and exquisite and rare artwork, Birdmania showcases an eclectic and fascinating selection of bird devotees who would do anything for their feathered friends.
In addition to well-known enthusiasts, such as Aristotle, Charles Darwin, and Helen Macdonald, Brunner introduces readers to Karl Russ, the pioneer of "bird rooms" and lover of the Australian budgerigar, who had difficulty renting lodgings when landlords realised who he was; George Lupton, a wealthy Yorkshire lawyer, who commissioned the theft of uniquely patterned eggs every year for twenty years from the same unfortunate female guillemot who never had a chance to raise a chick; Ambrose Pratt who leaves us a beautiful example of a devoted relationship between a lyre bird and an Australian hermit; Mervyn Shorthouse, who posed as a wheelchair-bound invalid to steal an estimated ten thousand eggs from the Natural History Museum in Tring; and Tibbles the 19th century cat, who belonged to the lighthouse keeper on Stephens Island in New Zealand, and who collected many of Lord Walter Rothschild's bird samples.
As this book illustrates, people who love birds, whether they are amateurs or professionals, are as captivating and varied as the birds that give flight to their dreams.
- Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk
There is no denying that many people are crazy for birds. Packed with intriguing facts and exquisite and rare artwork, Birdmania showcases an eclectic and fascinating selection of bird devotees who would do anything for their feathered friends.
In addition to well-known enthusiasts, such as Aristotle, Charles Darwin, and Helen Macdonald, Brunner introduces readers to Karl Russ, the pioneer of "bird rooms" and lover of the Australian budgerigar, who had difficulty renting lodgings when landlords realised who he was; George Lupton, a wealthy Yorkshire lawyer, who commissioned the theft of uniquely patterned eggs every year for twenty years from the same unfortunate female guillemot who never had a chance to raise a chick; Ambrose Pratt who leaves us a beautiful example of a devoted relationship between a lyre bird and an Australian hermit; Mervyn Shorthouse, who posed as a wheelchair-bound invalid to steal an estimated ten thousand eggs from the Natural History Museum in Tring; and Tibbles the 19th century cat, who belonged to the lighthouse keeper on Stephens Island in New Zealand, and who collected many of Lord Walter Rothschild's bird samples.
As this book illustrates, people who love birds, whether they are amateurs or professionals, are as captivating and varied as the birds that give flight to their dreams.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
20 people are currently reading
402 people want to read
About the author
Bernd Brunner
23 books36 followersBernd Brunner, a graduate of the Free University of Berlin and Berlin School of Economics, is an independent scholar, freelance writer, and editor of nonfiction books. He is the author of The Ocean at Home: An Illustrated History of the Aquarium. Lori Lantz received a Ph.D. in comparative literature from UCLA and attended the Free University of Berlin as a Fulbright Scholar.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 5, 2022
Click here to hear my thoughts on this book over on my Booktube channel, abookolive.
January 10, 2022
Three stars for the text of the book, but 5 stars for the illustrations and the feel of the book.
February 28, 2018
Not a bird book in the classic sense, Birdmania is about those who care deeply about birds. This beautifully illustrated book offers short, insightful, entertaining stories about historical figures including St. Francis d'Assisi, Darwin, Audubon as well as modern day bird luminaries such as Marzluff, Kaufman and Hanson. Over time people have appreciated birds for different reasons ranging from pigeon fanciers to falconers, to oologists, to hunters, researchers, birders and listers. All have in common, as the subtitle says "a remarkable passion for birds." Let's hope this passion carries forward to conserving habitat for birds and all other living things, including us.
June 21, 2025
Esperaba más desarrollo de ideas y menos sucesión de nombres de señores que cazaban aves porque estaban obsesionados con ellas.
December 8, 2021
As an unintentional dove owner, this vintage-illustrated gorgeous book was worth it just for me to read that artists have often kept doves, and also that Leonardo da Vinci was once spotted purchasing birds at a market just so he could release them.
September 21, 2019
Almost a 3 star book, but even that rating is mainly due to the pictures and beautiful design. While I did finish it, and found it just interesting enough to keep going, I just found the authors style of relating information to be dull. There was a lot of research done into people through the centuries who were “into birds”, and the author seemed to determined to make this book almost like an encyclopedia of these folks. Lots of 1-5 paragraph descriptions of some man or woman who collected birds, studied birds, shot birds, etc. but not much memorable substance.
There were some nice parts however, and dozens of beautiful drawings/paintings that feature birds.
There were some nice parts however, and dozens of beautiful drawings/paintings that feature birds.
on-pause
June 19, 2016
July 11, 2018
Fascinating
January 29, 2023
Ever since welcoming a small parrotlet into our home nearly a year ago, one of the ways that I refer to myself is as a bird mom. I instantly fell into complete maternal love for her, opening wide a general interest in birds for me.
And so I was instantly drawn to ‘Birdmania: A Remarkable Passion for Birds,’ and it in turn has had me gravitating toward other books on ornithology while I read it.
With eye-catching art work revolving solely around birds throughout, the text runs the gambit of ornithology, covering various known people who have directly contributed to or somehow affected the history of birds. Some have truly loved birds, helping to protect them and have found ways to study them in ways safer for the birds. Others have held dark obsessions, interested more in their own gain—usually credit for discovery or a remarkable collection—resulting in sad and disturbing harm being brought upon birds.
A very interesting book, well executed in every way.
And so I was instantly drawn to ‘Birdmania: A Remarkable Passion for Birds,’ and it in turn has had me gravitating toward other books on ornithology while I read it.
With eye-catching art work revolving solely around birds throughout, the text runs the gambit of ornithology, covering various known people who have directly contributed to or somehow affected the history of birds. Some have truly loved birds, helping to protect them and have found ways to study them in ways safer for the birds. Others have held dark obsessions, interested more in their own gain—usually credit for discovery or a remarkable collection—resulting in sad and disturbing harm being brought upon birds.
A very interesting book, well executed in every way.
January 1, 2025
In recent years I’ve started birding and I’ve now reached the point where I’m interested in the history of birding, people that came before me and interesting facts about birds.
I wish I had found this book a year ago as there are references to many modern pop culture, or explanations that would have been of great benefit to me a year ago.
For example, I had just read the chapter on how people started keeping birds, breeding birds and training birds. I was able to look up Alex the African gray. I was then in a thrift store and saw the book “H is for Hawk” to which I now know the reference of Martha who developed a close bond with a goshawk.
The artwork throughout is captivating.
It’s a brilliant compilation of references to historical events and other publications.
Highly recommend!
I wish I had found this book a year ago as there are references to many modern pop culture, or explanations that would have been of great benefit to me a year ago.
For example, I had just read the chapter on how people started keeping birds, breeding birds and training birds. I was able to look up Alex the African gray. I was then in a thrift store and saw the book “H is for Hawk” to which I now know the reference of Martha who developed a close bond with a goshawk.
The artwork throughout is captivating.
It’s a brilliant compilation of references to historical events and other publications.
Highly recommend!
January 15, 2018
The illustrations are enough to garner 5 stars — but the text is fabulous too. 19 chapters on a variety of topics — brief ornithologist bios, geography & history, bird behavior and plumage. Every chapter was interesting and satisfied my back-yard birder desire to know a bit more. I love this sweet description: “When he wrote, ate, or drank coffee, the bird sat close to him on his desk. If he went into another room, the bird accompanied him. When he lay down at night, the bird crept under the covers with only its head sticking out so it could breathe” (p. 142).
July 1, 2018
I learned of Birdmania from Barbara Lloyd McMichael who reviewed it for my magazine. I adore birds and found the concept of Birdmania to be intriguing. However, given the sheer weight of the book, I expected more compelling narrative and a deep dive into the anecdotal nature of birds. Instead the stories were cursory, a tad shallow, and hardly quenched by desire to learn much more about birds than I already have learned. However, the illustrations were lustrous.
February 4, 2018
A wonderful capture of the extreme and sometimes total crackpot way humans and birds have interacted. I learnt lots and even laughed out loud occasionally. A very accessible book from an author who writes with assurance and with an eye on the absurd.
January 3, 2021
People who love birds and their historical and cultural significance will enjoy this book. Not necessarily a book for experienced bird watchers who focus on identifications etc. Highly recommend if only just for the incredible artwork.
August 2, 2021
So many entertaining stories that kept me engaged and made this a quick read, despite its length. I only wish the stories had not been so focused on Europeans. The story felt nice and ordered, but somewhat one-sided.
January 7, 2018
I loved everything about this book. If you are a bird nerd like me, you will enjoy hearing about all of the other bird nerds over time. The stories about how we have evolved with them are lovely.
January 2, 2018
Beautiful stories interwoven with gorgeous illustrations. 4.5/5
January 21, 2018
The is such a great book. You don't have to be interested in birds to find interest in this book. Wonderfully written it takes you on a potted history of birds and people who loved them, all categorised in a charming way. The way this book is put together with so many illustrations makes it a real winner.
January 21, 2018
Beautiful illustrations. Crammed with bits of history about so many crazy bird fanatics!
June 20, 2018
nice read, interesting facts
July 7, 2018
Obsession with the obsessed
August 2, 2018
3.5 stars
November 29, 2023
Historia de la ornitología desde sus orígenes (caza y coleccionismo) hasta nuestros días. Algunos capítulos se me han hecho un poco cuesta arriba, hay mucha fecha y mucho nombre propio, pero es muy interesante ver cómo, y por qué, ha ido evolucionado a lo largo de los siglos.
August 16, 2019
Birdmania is not about birds, but rather the love of birds. Sam and I are bird maniacs and I gave him this book for his birthday last year. We’ve been slowly making our way through it together and now we’re done!
The book is full of interesting facts and anecdotes of people who have done amazing things in the pursuit of ornithology. Some super crazy things.
Sam’s favourite bird is the peregrine falcon because, “they’re fast and they look cool”.
My favourite bird is the Lyrebird: “The domestic life of the Menura (lyrebird) is extraordinarily placid and affectionate. The functions of husband and wife are clearly defined and are accepted as inevitable obligations and discharged by either without contest or quarrelling.”
We’ve enjoyed reading this book together. We highly recommend it for all parent-child birdmaniac pairs.
The book is full of interesting facts and anecdotes of people who have done amazing things in the pursuit of ornithology. Some super crazy things.
Sam’s favourite bird is the peregrine falcon because, “they’re fast and they look cool”.
My favourite bird is the Lyrebird: “The domestic life of the Menura (lyrebird) is extraordinarily placid and affectionate. The functions of husband and wife are clearly defined and are accepted as inevitable obligations and discharged by either without contest or quarrelling.”
We’ve enjoyed reading this book together. We highly recommend it for all parent-child birdmaniac pairs.
June 23, 2019
Beautiful illustrations.
June 17, 2018
Really enjoyed this book about birders.
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May 11, 2018Various elegant scientific illustrations. I'll be honest: I checked this one out for the pictures.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews