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The Birds of Pandemonium
Michele Raffin has made an important contribution to saving endangered birds, and her book is afascinating and rarely seen glimpse behind the scenes.The joy she gets from her close relationships with these amazing animals and her outsized commitment to them comes through loud and clear in this engaging and joyful book. Dominick Dorsa, Curator of Birds, San Francisco ZooEach morning at first light, Michele Raffin steps outside to the bewitching bird music that heralds another day at Pandemonium Aviaries--a full symphony that swells from the most vocal of over three hundred avian throats representing over forty species. It knocks me out, every day, she admits.Pandemonium Aviaries, the home and bird sanctuary that she shares with some of the world s most remarkable birds, is a conservation organization dedicated to saving and breeding birds at the edge of extinction, including some of the largest populations of rare species in the world. And their behavior is even more fascinating than their glorious plumage or their songs. They fall in love, they mourn, they rejoice, they sacrifice, they have a sense of humor, they feel jealous, they invent, plot, cope, and sometimes they murder each other.As Michele says, They teach us volumes about the interrelationships of humans and animals. Their amazing stories make up the heart of this book. There s Sweetie, a tiny quail with an outsizepersonality; the inspiring Oscar, a disabled Lady Gouldian finch who can't fly but finds a brilliant way to climb to the highest perches of his aviary to roost.The ecstatic reunion of sibling Victoria crowned pigeons, Wing and Coffee, is as wondrous as the silent kinship that develops between Amadeus, a one-legged Turaco, and an autistic young visitor.Michele shares with us the challenges of caring for such an extraordinary menagerie and the precarious fate of the birds themselves.Ultimately, "The Birds of Pandemonium" is about one woman s crusade to save precious lives, bird by bird, and offers a rare insight into how rescuing others, regardless of species, can lead to true happiness. Delightful . . . full of wonderful accounts of bird behavior, demonstrating caring, learning, sociability, adaptability, and a will to live. Its appeal is ageless, her descriptions riveting, and her devotion to the birds remarkable. Joanna Burger, author of"The Parrot Who Owns Me: The Story of a Relationship" Aremarkablebook. Reading about the birds of Pandemonium will make you laugh and cry; it will make you see more clearly the need to take care of our planet; and it will confirm that one person with a passion can make a difference. Jeff Corwin, nature conservationist and host, Animal Planet The Birds of Pandemonium touched me deeply. Reading this wonderful book, one cannot help but realize how much intelligence and beauty there is throughout the bird world. The birds are Michele Raffin's teachers, awakening a deep sense of commitment to caring for our collective future. They help all of us see that now more than ever we are needed to play our role in caring for the natural world. This book is about reconnecting with the nature of birds, and the nature of ourselves. Jon Young, author of "What the Robin Knows""
218 pages, Paperback
First published August 28, 2014
63 people are currently reading
2033 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
January 8, 2015
My only disappointment in this book is that I wish it was longer, I could have happily kept reading this marvelous book. How the finding of an injured dove led to a lifelong passion for saving birds. Stiff learning curve, the struggles to learn bird speak, how to keep these wonderful companions happy and healthy. My favorite parts were reading about the individual personalities of the different species of birds. Alternately humorous as in bird Congo lines, and heartbreaking when a beloved bird dies. She has beautiful and colorful aviaries, which will end up holding over a hundred birds. I love birds, I have two lovebirds, but they are plenty of work and I just can't help thinking and admiring the amount of work that goes into an enterprise of this size. The beautiful, color photos of some of the birds were absolutely gorgeous. This was in all ways a marvelous book, imparting information, such as the plight of these various species in their home countries, and doing it in a thoroughly entertaining way.
September 24, 2014
This beautiful memoir is as utterly wonderful as it sounds. Written by a woman who wakes every morning to a symphony of songs, chatter, and calls from the 350 birds of 40 species that’s she’s rescued and housed in colorful and imaginatively decorated aviaries in her back and side yards, I was almost cooing with happiness as I read. It’s pages are packed with lively avian personalities, birds who scheme, talk, tease, fall in love, cope, connect, dance, mourn, celebrate, and pick cage locks. There are moving stories of mistreated birds saved, abandoned birds given a home, and lonely birds found a mate.
Author Michele Raffin’s interest in birds began almost by accident but quickly grew into an overwhelming, almost all-consuming obsession. Her book chronicles the joys, disappointments, triumphs, and heartbreaks of the personal hobby that she grew into an official nonprofit sanctuary, breeding and saving birds who are endangered in the wild and using outreach programs to educate the public about the plight of birds and the acute need for conservation. Written in a conversational style that makes this a fast and enjoyable read, there is obviously a serious side to its message too.
The only thing that would make me love this book more would be if it had color photos because I’d love to see all those wonderful birds, including Sweetie, a tiny joy-filled quail who was meant to be somebody’s supper, Oscar, a Lady Gouldian finch who hops determinedly from perch to perch to roost with his mates at the top of the aviary because he can’t fly, Tico, an incorrigible, too smart for his own good but affectionate blue and gold macaw, and Amadeus, a one legged Lady Ross’s turaco who perches precariously on the laps of autistic boys that come to visit, but won’t come that close to anyone else. I read an advanced review copy of this book supplied by the publisher so it’s possible the final version will have pictures. The review opinions are mine.
UPDATE: I got a hardback copy of the finished book and it has 16 stunning pages with gorgeous color photographs of the birds and the aviary.
Author Michele Raffin’s interest in birds began almost by accident but quickly grew into an overwhelming, almost all-consuming obsession. Her book chronicles the joys, disappointments, triumphs, and heartbreaks of the personal hobby that she grew into an official nonprofit sanctuary, breeding and saving birds who are endangered in the wild and using outreach programs to educate the public about the plight of birds and the acute need for conservation. Written in a conversational style that makes this a fast and enjoyable read, there is obviously a serious side to its message too.
The only thing that would make me love this book more would be if it had color photos because I’d love to see all those wonderful birds, including Sweetie, a tiny joy-filled quail who was meant to be somebody’s supper, Oscar, a Lady Gouldian finch who hops determinedly from perch to perch to roost with his mates at the top of the aviary because he can’t fly, Tico, an incorrigible, too smart for his own good but affectionate blue and gold macaw, and Amadeus, a one legged Lady Ross’s turaco who perches precariously on the laps of autistic boys that come to visit, but won’t come that close to anyone else. I read an advanced review copy of this book supplied by the publisher so it’s possible the final version will have pictures. The review opinions are mine.
UPDATE: I got a hardback copy of the finished book and it has 16 stunning pages with gorgeous color photographs of the birds and the aviary.
January 12, 2015
This is a charming memoir and very well written. Many of these personal account of birds (living with them or looking for them) are often kindly meant, but the authors are not equipped to write a truly engaging account. Raffin is not only an aviculturist but a communicator and it stands head and shoulders above the books of many enthusiasts.
My interest in the subject matter comes from two aspects of my life—many years as a birder, searching the wilds for birds like those Raffin is caring for, and as a volunteer, spending hours of my spring weekends dressed in a baggy white crane costume and rubber boots, exercising Whooping Crane chicks. I can personally attest to the different personalities of birds, although I didn’t find that Whooping Cranes exhibited many individual differences. They were very placid chicks, quite content to follow their odd leaders, draped in white, carrying a puppet to communicate with them and using a tape recorder of calls to make them feel comfortable. However, during my final year of this volunteer duty, I had occasion to exercise a group of three Sandhill Cranes and one Whooper. The differences between the two species were dramatic. The Sandhills soon figured out the game and would head off to do their own thing, while the Whooper and I would wander the enclosure, dutifully exercising together. I often called it my walking meditation—you had to remain silent and walk slowly, making sure that you didn’t step on the chick’s toes. Out on the rural facility where the crane breeding centre was located, it was a quiet environment beside a natural pond and I spent much of my time listening to and identifying the calls of wild birds beyond the enclosure.
Raffin explains clearly the challenges of keeping birds in captivity—they are sensitive creatures, often with very high blood pressures, which can easily be over-stimulated and suffer catastrophic deaths. They are susceptible to disease and often have very specific breeding or nesting needs. [For example, Flamingos require large flocks for successful nesting and zoos often put up mirrors in their winter quarters to visually increase the flock].
I think many of us can also relate to the incident which launched her into this world of breeding rare birds—that day that she stood on the side of a road, holding a wounded common bird, wondering what exactly to do with it. From such beginnings are great obsessions started.
My interest in the subject matter comes from two aspects of my life—many years as a birder, searching the wilds for birds like those Raffin is caring for, and as a volunteer, spending hours of my spring weekends dressed in a baggy white crane costume and rubber boots, exercising Whooping Crane chicks. I can personally attest to the different personalities of birds, although I didn’t find that Whooping Cranes exhibited many individual differences. They were very placid chicks, quite content to follow their odd leaders, draped in white, carrying a puppet to communicate with them and using a tape recorder of calls to make them feel comfortable. However, during my final year of this volunteer duty, I had occasion to exercise a group of three Sandhill Cranes and one Whooper. The differences between the two species were dramatic. The Sandhills soon figured out the game and would head off to do their own thing, while the Whooper and I would wander the enclosure, dutifully exercising together. I often called it my walking meditation—you had to remain silent and walk slowly, making sure that you didn’t step on the chick’s toes. Out on the rural facility where the crane breeding centre was located, it was a quiet environment beside a natural pond and I spent much of my time listening to and identifying the calls of wild birds beyond the enclosure.
Raffin explains clearly the challenges of keeping birds in captivity—they are sensitive creatures, often with very high blood pressures, which can easily be over-stimulated and suffer catastrophic deaths. They are susceptible to disease and often have very specific breeding or nesting needs. [For example, Flamingos require large flocks for successful nesting and zoos often put up mirrors in their winter quarters to visually increase the flock].
I think many of us can also relate to the incident which launched her into this world of breeding rare birds—that day that she stood on the side of a road, holding a wounded common bird, wondering what exactly to do with it. From such beginnings are great obsessions started.
October 19, 2014
When an author has a deep love for their subject it shows in the writing. Obviously Michele Raffin is for the birds.
A heartwarming true story of her effort to save our feathered friends both endangered and unwanted. I was aware that birds have more intelligence than most people give them credit for but I had no idea of the lengths they are willing to go to get their point across. There's a macaw that mimics the sounds of other pets to get her owner's attention. And a quail that makes "eek! eek!" sounds when receiving his favorite food but takes a "is that the best you can do?" stance when he doesn't. What started with a single dove found by the side of the road grows into an aviary containing hundreds. And what personalities are housed in the cages! We meet a prima donna, a lock picker, and a philosopher just to name a few.
If you have any interest whatsoever in ornithology this is ideal for you. Includes beautiful photographs by Michael D. Kern of some of the birds mentioned in the book.
A heartwarming true story of her effort to save our feathered friends both endangered and unwanted. I was aware that birds have more intelligence than most people give them credit for but I had no idea of the lengths they are willing to go to get their point across. There's a macaw that mimics the sounds of other pets to get her owner's attention. And a quail that makes "eek! eek!" sounds when receiving his favorite food but takes a "is that the best you can do?" stance when he doesn't. What started with a single dove found by the side of the road grows into an aviary containing hundreds. And what personalities are housed in the cages! We meet a prima donna, a lock picker, and a philosopher just to name a few.
If you have any interest whatsoever in ornithology this is ideal for you. Includes beautiful photographs by Michael D. Kern of some of the birds mentioned in the book.
January 23, 2015
The book description says exactly what the book is about. There are numerous stories about specific birds. It is these stories that capture the reader’s attention and heart. I was amazed by the antics of some of the birds. With other stories I laughed, and some saddened me. I was amazed by the communication and the strength of the bond between some of these birds and Michele, the author of the book and founder of the Pandemonium Aviaries. This conservation organization is dedicated to saving abandoned / damaged birds and breeding birds threatened by extinction. By reading these stories you understand what we will lose if these birds and others like them become extinct.
Good narration of the audiobook by Tamara Marston.
Good narration of the audiobook by Tamara Marston.
October 23, 2014
I need to add a "biiiiirds" shelf on here, since I've been slightly bird-crazy lately. But for good reason! Birds are awesome, and I can't have one so I'm living vicariously through these bird-nerds and their loud and crazy lives.
I used to think I wasn't much into nonfiction because I've read some boring stuff, but books like this one give them a good name. There wasn't a single boring sentence throughout. Michele Raffin rose from clueless bird-noob with a soft spot for an injured dove to an owner of one of the most successful bird sanctuaries in the world in about ten years. She has large flocks of amazing birds such as the Victoria crown pigeon
Green naped pheasant pigeon
I looked up all the birds she mentioned, and some of them are unbelievably gorgeous:
Lady Gouldian Finch
Bleeding Heart Pigeon
Plum-headed Parakeet
The Diva-licious African Crane
And many more.
Michele Raffin writes with amazing empathy for these birds. I never knew how strong their personalities were or just how tightly they can wrap a measly human around their finger. Her dedication is nothing I've seen before. I'm pretty blown away by how this woman found birds, how much she invested in them right off the bat, and how she barely hesitated to let birds take over her life. She's sure lucky to have a pretty great husband and kids, who seem to just shake their heads and chuckle at their crazy bird poop-covered Michele yet run and help when needed. Especially her husband who got singled out by Amigo the parrot with an affectionate nickname of "Asshole!" What a fun house to live in.
It's too bad that the aviary is closed to the public, because I'd go visit Pandemonium when in SF. I'll just keep watching her youtube videos and looking at pretty bird pictures.
The females of the Eclectus parrot are always blue and red, and the males are green! So cool!
-I got a free copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review-
I used to think I wasn't much into nonfiction because I've read some boring stuff, but books like this one give them a good name. There wasn't a single boring sentence throughout. Michele Raffin rose from clueless bird-noob with a soft spot for an injured dove to an owner of one of the most successful bird sanctuaries in the world in about ten years. She has large flocks of amazing birds such as the Victoria crown pigeon
Green naped pheasant pigeon
I looked up all the birds she mentioned, and some of them are unbelievably gorgeous:
Lady Gouldian Finch
Bleeding Heart Pigeon
Plum-headed Parakeet
The Diva-licious African Crane
And many more.
Michele Raffin writes with amazing empathy for these birds. I never knew how strong their personalities were or just how tightly they can wrap a measly human around their finger. Her dedication is nothing I've seen before. I'm pretty blown away by how this woman found birds, how much she invested in them right off the bat, and how she barely hesitated to let birds take over her life. She's sure lucky to have a pretty great husband and kids, who seem to just shake their heads and chuckle at their crazy bird poop-covered Michele yet run and help when needed. Especially her husband who got singled out by Amigo the parrot with an affectionate nickname of "Asshole!" What a fun house to live in.
It's too bad that the aviary is closed to the public, because I'd go visit Pandemonium when in SF. I'll just keep watching her youtube videos and looking at pretty bird pictures.
The females of the Eclectus parrot are always blue and red, and the males are green! So cool!
-I got a free copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review-
August 12, 2014
We can't quote arcs? A friend was recently explaining to me that she didn't grow up with animals and it wasn't until she met her husband that she started to see things differently. Her husband would say, "Look at that little fellow" over there and she began to see dogs not merely as animals but as individual creatures with their own personalities. It was a startling revelation for her and one that opened her eyes to the world in an entirely new way. The Birds of Pandemonium is overtly about a bird rescue but more importantly it allows readers to see birds in a way they may not have before. Michelle Raffin writes in a down to earth, humorous way all the while educating us about these creature portraits of creatures that enable the human species to see the similarities we share with all the other species on the planet and to celebrate the differences. I am certain that whether you like fiction or non fiction the way you look at birds will be forever changed
March 26, 2019
This is an eye opening look at not only exotic and rare birds, but the whole whole world of humans who collect and breed them. I have to admit I am one of those people who is not wild about being in a tight enclosure with free roaming birds flapping above my head (like at the Central Park Zoo), and I have referred to New York street pigeons as "rats with wings."
However, if the stories in this book are true (and the author is not projecting her own wishful thinking on her beloved pets), birds -- especially Macaws and other parrots -- are a lot smarter than I thought. It's as though they not only mimic, but understand human speech. I admire Raffin's determination to save these amazing birds, even if she does come off as kind of crazy. It seems that her family takes a back seat to the birds' well being and every penny her husband makes goes toward bird food and veterinary visits.
As far as preserving the many species facing extinction in the wild (expecially the Crown Victoria Pigeon which is native to New Guinea), it seems like a losing battle because their habitat is being destroyed to satiate this week's fad for Red Palm Oil. What else is new?
However, if the stories in this book are true (and the author is not projecting her own wishful thinking on her beloved pets), birds -- especially Macaws and other parrots -- are a lot smarter than I thought. It's as though they not only mimic, but understand human speech. I admire Raffin's determination to save these amazing birds, even if she does come off as kind of crazy. It seems that her family takes a back seat to the birds' well being and every penny her husband makes goes toward bird food and veterinary visits.
As far as preserving the many species facing extinction in the wild (expecially the Crown Victoria Pigeon which is native to New Guinea), it seems like a losing battle because their habitat is being destroyed to satiate this week's fad for Red Palm Oil. What else is new?
April 10, 2015
Raffin's passion for birds is contagious and she shares many heartwarming and educational stories of her various rescues and acquisitions. I learned about birds while enjoying the intelligence, distinct personalities, and antics of her various feathered charges. A delightful story!l
July 24, 2015
Well that was a quick and enjoyable read! "The Birds of Pandemonium" is the wonderful true story of the author's unplanned second career in avian conservancy. After rescuing one wounded pigeon on the side of the road, Ms. Raffin's journey to founder of a non-profit bird sanctuary (on her home property!)is almost too storybook to believe. Along the way the reader learns a lot about birds both common and rare or endangered. Every new addition to the impromptu rescue and recovery aviary in her backyard brings about new lessons and at least one emotional wave. The poor woman goes from ecstatic joy to heart-breaking sorrow and back again with such frequent regularity that you almost have to question her sanity (or her family's). But such is the case with many who dearly love their animal companions and in the end you have to admire her fortitude and perseverance. You also have to marvel at the antics of the birds themselves who all have unique personality traits to endear you to them. I've labeled this book as "professional development" because it is a good example of how to make your passion a career.
February 20, 2017
This was a splendid read on birds. Michele Raffin is the founder of the non-profit organization Pandemonium. This sanctuary is a place where birds of all kinds can find a safe haven. It's a beautiful book that remains lighthearted yet never fails to point out the exact situation of birds in our day and age. You can tell the massive effort Raffin has taken to provide these birds a home. Not many people would go to such lengths.
I love animals. I have been reading non-fiction books about animals since I was young but am always learning something new. I went into this not knowing much and was shocked at just how perilous the situation for birds is. It's sad that the reality that we may only see some of these species in photographs is so definite.
If you love animals, birds, or have read Soul of an Octopus, you should definitely give this book a go. It didn't make my cry like Soul of an Octopus but it definitely had its heartwarming/pounding moments
I love animals. I have been reading non-fiction books about animals since I was young but am always learning something new. I went into this not knowing much and was shocked at just how perilous the situation for birds is. It's sad that the reality that we may only see some of these species in photographs is so definite.
If you love animals, birds, or have read Soul of an Octopus, you should definitely give this book a go. It didn't make my cry like Soul of an Octopus but it definitely had its heartwarming/pounding moments
January 19, 2015
A delightful book about the author's efforts to save and conserve endangered birds after initially rescuing birds that were surrendered or abandoned by their owners. It is filled with many poignant stories.
March 12, 2018
I had no idea what this book was about before I started reading it. Well, that's not entirely true, I did assume it was about birds :). But since this is the book pick for March at our local art museum's book club/tours, something I love to do, I ordered it from the library and started reading it just a few short days ago.
What a treat!! Michele Raffin was a successful venture capitalist in Silicon Valley. But as sometimes happens, an out-of-the blue incident turned her into a bird rescue operation that then led her to become a bird species rescue non-profit. This out-of-the-blue incident was her finding an injured dove along an expressway that she took to a vet. This dove died very soon after but its lasting legacy was Michele's interest, passion, obsession about saving birds. She soon learns about the crazy male-dominated world of bird fanciers/breeders, they learn about the crazy bird-rescue lady, she names her business Pandemonium Aviaries in 1996 and becomes a non-profit and recognized expert in conservation breeding of exotic birds in 2009.
Michele lives with her husband and three children on an acre in Los Altos, California. They all live with the several hundred (now) birds of Pandemonium. At first her family resisted more birds and more aviaries - all built on that acre of land surrounding their home -but they must have seen how futile that resistance was and eventually got swept up in her work and love of saving animals. I kept wondering what it would be like to be a neighbor - birds, especially exotic ones, are not quiet!
I was drawn in immediately as Michele describes the daily morning dance with her rescued companion birds. She starts each day with rock and r&b music to wake these birds up and get them going. It was so fun to picture them all squawking, talking and dancing, but also you'd have to be a little crazy to want to do that every morning! She ends the book with her triumphant Tedx talk for children likening what she does to creating an ark, which brought tears to my eyes after reading her story of all the challenges she faced and her dedication and determination to her cause. You can see that talk and learn more about Pandemonium Aviaries on their site. http://www.pandemoniumaviaries.org/
What a treat!! Michele Raffin was a successful venture capitalist in Silicon Valley. But as sometimes happens, an out-of-the blue incident turned her into a bird rescue operation that then led her to become a bird species rescue non-profit. This out-of-the-blue incident was her finding an injured dove along an expressway that she took to a vet. This dove died very soon after but its lasting legacy was Michele's interest, passion, obsession about saving birds. She soon learns about the crazy male-dominated world of bird fanciers/breeders, they learn about the crazy bird-rescue lady, she names her business Pandemonium Aviaries in 1996 and becomes a non-profit and recognized expert in conservation breeding of exotic birds in 2009.
Michele lives with her husband and three children on an acre in Los Altos, California. They all live with the several hundred (now) birds of Pandemonium. At first her family resisted more birds and more aviaries - all built on that acre of land surrounding their home -but they must have seen how futile that resistance was and eventually got swept up in her work and love of saving animals. I kept wondering what it would be like to be a neighbor - birds, especially exotic ones, are not quiet!
I was drawn in immediately as Michele describes the daily morning dance with her rescued companion birds. She starts each day with rock and r&b music to wake these birds up and get them going. It was so fun to picture them all squawking, talking and dancing, but also you'd have to be a little crazy to want to do that every morning! She ends the book with her triumphant Tedx talk for children likening what she does to creating an ark, which brought tears to my eyes after reading her story of all the challenges she faced and her dedication and determination to her cause. You can see that talk and learn more about Pandemonium Aviaries on their site. http://www.pandemoniumaviaries.org/
January 18, 2015
I loved this book. It was so inspiring to learn how a woman who once knew nothing of birds had an injured bird fall into her life. After rescuing a few & a adopting more she had in 3 years time over one hundred birds in her backyard. A few more years after that her house & yard became a non-profit & recognized across the country for ever-growing success at breeding some of the world's most endangered species of birds. Her accounts of discovering the unique personalities of the birds, who came to her after years of abuse or a lifetime with the same loving family but suddenly in her care, profoundly blasts away all misconceptions of the intelligence of the bird brain. Overcoming so many heart-wrenching events that could have brought anyone into a deep depression, her living birds, who survived her human-error mistakes pushed her to keep trying. No longer was hers the casual collection of misfit pet birds in her backyard aviary. The love the birds showed her over & over again gave her the strength to solve the daily problems & strive to do more. Where once it was a single aviary, her backyard became a sanctuary for more than 60 aviaries of birds. No matter the monetary value placed upon them by the rest of the world, whether a tiny quail from a live-bird meat market or giant macaws, she gave them all the value, attention, & love they deserved & needed desperately, many having never received it before in their long-lived, previously difficult lives. Her work would be taken to the next level with the hatching of species' eggs no other breeder or zoo could perform. In a field where most experienced experts were men, overnight breeders & zoos came to finally respect her work & take her seriously. A profound true story that tugs at the heart over & over again. I finished the book hopeful & anxious to achieve my own dreams. What kind of better book is there?
October 24, 2014
Founder of a sanctuary aptly named Pandemonium Aviaries, Michele Raffin describes the trajectory of her accidental career in this anecdotal, entertaining memoir. In 1996 a random rescue of a wounded dove on the Lawrence Highway led to an introduction to local ‘master’ bird guy Louis Brown, who took Raffin under his wing. Clearly, bird rescuers flock to the SF area. At the time, the Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992 had sparked a surfeit of homeless doves and pigeons, many of which Raffin adopted. Pandemonium became home to a potty-mouthed parrot called Amigo (who called the author's husband 'Asshole') as well as Harli and Peeki, a pair of gay lorikeets. Raffin has become to exotic birds as Jane Goodall is to gorillas: a voice in the field of animal protection. Not only does she advocate for housing birds who’ve outlived or been abandoned by their human companions due to straitened financial circumstances, she valiantly defends the much-maligned common pigeon. What emerges is the community of bird rescuers who adopt a single-minded way of life that insures they are “never lonesome… our answering machine was full of offers that were hard to refuse." Not for fans of Hitchcock's avian masterpiece (based on the Daphne du Maurier story), The Birds. PS Just read that her husband divorced her and came out of the closet. This puts a different spin on her obsession.
November 11, 2015
Michelle Raffin didn't know anything about birds when an injured dove came into her life. She took it to an avian veterinarian and that experience led to visiting an exotic bird breeder. She and her husband left there with several varieties of exotic pigeons. Over time, she got involved in rescue and rehab until her suburban backyard was full of aviaries.
The learning curve when keeping birds is steep. It is especially hard when trying to keep and breed endangered species that haven't done well in captivity before. A lot of luck and detective skills are needed. I don't think I would do well with this because it is more similar to ranching than keeping pet birds. You need to focus on the good of the flock more than on what is best for an individual bird. That can lead to making some hard choices if you are attached to the birds.
I am familiar with mostly with parrots and didn't know much about the personalities of the birds that she focuses on. It was interesting to hear about their lives. She does have some parrots inside. She has a morning dance party with them. I'm trying to get my Senegal parrot to be more active so maybe I'll try this too.
This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story
February 9, 2015
I received The Birds of Pandemonium by Michele Raffin from a Goodreads giveaway. To my surprise and delight this is a bright yellow hardcover book. The dust cover has a beautiful picture of a Lady Ross's turaco named Amadeus one of the author's many rescue birds. Many other color pictures of Pandemonium's birds are inside.
My delight did not end with the book cover. Ms. Raffin's rescue efforts start with one injured bird on the side of the road. She had a love for stray animals all her life. She ends up with a large sanctuary for endangered exotic birds. The various personalities of these birds is such fun. Many are parrots with hilarious vocabularies. The effect of these birds on Michele and her family is at times funny and sad.
We follow the various stages Pandemonium and Michele Raffin go through as the aviary goes from a small privately owned venture to large not for profit organization. All the stages are a learning experience for the reader and such a joy to read about. Though I may be biased since I am a nature lover, animal lover and more specifically a birder. I really believe if you are concerned about our planet and preserving as many animal species as possible you will love this book.
My delight did not end with the book cover. Ms. Raffin's rescue efforts start with one injured bird on the side of the road. She had a love for stray animals all her life. She ends up with a large sanctuary for endangered exotic birds. The various personalities of these birds is such fun. Many are parrots with hilarious vocabularies. The effect of these birds on Michele and her family is at times funny and sad.
We follow the various stages Pandemonium and Michele Raffin go through as the aviary goes from a small privately owned venture to large not for profit organization. All the stages are a learning experience for the reader and such a joy to read about. Though I may be biased since I am a nature lover, animal lover and more specifically a birder. I really believe if you are concerned about our planet and preserving as many animal species as possible you will love this book.
November 26, 2014
Birds of Pandemonium
(life among the exotic and endangered)
by Michele Raffin (2014)
Memoir
What started as a rescue operation over 15 years ago, is now a premier breeding facility and conservation program in California: Pandemonium Avaries, now a non profit organization with a volunteer staff of 63. Raffin has a masters from Stanford Business School, and won a gold medal at the 2011 Pan America Olympic Games.
From a wisdom of owls, a murder of crows, an kindness of ravens, an ascension of larks, a parliament of rooks, a lamentation of swans, an ostentation of peacocks, ...to a pandemonium of parrots. How appropriate.
She fell in love with birds, they returned the favor. Many breed here and no where else! There are over 360 birds, from 34 species, 6 nearly extinct. This is a remarkable story that doesn't require an ornithology degree, is full of humor and perfect for the holidays. There are many lovely colour photos full of the characters! Her husband and children were strong supporters, and now the birds are helping her cope with the dissolution of her marriage.
NB: She has done a fascinating TED talk, not to be missed.
NPR recommended. Don't miss it, especially for your non fiction Christmas readers.
4 stars
Buy the book and help her cause.
October 7, 2014
Pandemonium is the name of Michele Raffin’s aviaries, where she cares for Rare Exotic Birds. She begins her book telling the tales of her first little feathered rescues: a bird by the side of the road, the offer of a free bird, and later an introduction to a husband and wife team of rescue/breeders of endangered birds from all over the world. Soon she finds herself in a secretive society of bird traders who keep watch over the vanishing population of rare bird species. Every bird she acquires becomes a quest for more, and her family home/yard becomes filled and overflowing with gorgeous, amazing and entertaining birds in all sizes, shapes and colors. Lucky for us, the hardbound book has pages of professional photographs of the birds in the stories. This is the perfect gift for any bird lover, and for anyone who cares about endangered animals, animal rescue, or most importantly how birds are faring in the wild. I have raised a few different types of birds over the years and read up on each species, but I learned more through reading Michele’s story than in any book or nature special I’ve come across. The Birds of Pandemonium is a visual delight and a joy to read. 5 stars.
July 23, 2017
I am very very afraid of birds, but for some reason this book appealed to me. Probably because I like reading about science and nature.
Basically, this is the story of a doctor's wife who is the mother of several children and how she fell in love with birds. The family's life is changed as more and more aviaries are built on their property. It is fascinating to read about the many different species of birds including many endangered species and the author's hard work and sacrifice to keep them alive.
This book is also the author's journey from being an amateur bird lover scorned by male experts to a successful breeder of exotic species and authority in her own right.
Beautiful pics of some scary birds. Good read.
Basically, this is the story of a doctor's wife who is the mother of several children and how she fell in love with birds. The family's life is changed as more and more aviaries are built on their property. It is fascinating to read about the many different species of birds including many endangered species and the author's hard work and sacrifice to keep them alive.
This book is also the author's journey from being an amateur bird lover scorned by male experts to a successful breeder of exotic species and authority in her own right.
Beautiful pics of some scary birds. Good read.
June 7, 2015
so much I did not know about birds, especially wild and exotic ones. this book, was not only informative, but heart wrenching as well, as the author introduces us to so many of her birds at her sanctuary, both the good and tragic stories of many of them. Each one has its distinct personality and ALL of them show great depth of character, intelligence and singular personalities. Like us, they mourn, laugh, dance, show love and affection and just like us, hate some birds at first sight. An incredible journey into the souls of birds and the dedication of one person to try and save some of these birds from extinction through education and lots of love.
January 15, 2016
This was an amazing book. The brilliant combination of story and information makes this book great for anyone that likes to learn something new while reading a book. This book does not contain one major story, but has smaller linked together. Originally I didn't believe I would like this book, but after about a chapter I was hooked. To anyone reading this review I strongly suggest you read this book. Don't get the misconception that this book is only for bird lovers, this story can be read no matter your liking of birds. All in all this book has an emotional and absorbing plot that you will love.
May 21, 2021
The best book that I've read so far this year. It gave me a huge range of emotions spanning from happiness to sadness to humor and heartbreak. It was all great and you could see Michele Raffin love and passion from that first dove all the way to Pandemonium becoming a nonprofit. And as being a bird lover this book made me fall alittle more in love. It was fabulous and highly recommend. And I don't often read a lot of nonfiction but this was a great first toe inthe water. Really amazing and fell in love with every bird and the people that they lived with and each story touched a special place in my heart.
March 1, 2019
Very interesting stories, even more stunning bird profiles. One crazy bird lady. Somehow the writing style dampens my reading experience a fair bit. I think that might have something to do with reading Barry Lopez's Arctic Dreams at the same time... Michele Raffin's voice just seems too chaotic and shrewd.
The book is worth reading just for the birds themselves though. The tone of the book reminds me of Lab Girl by Jahren Hope.
Magnificent, magnificent birds. What more can I say? 2.5-star book, 5-star birds.
P.s. If you have read the book and found it acceptablely agreeable, don't watch the TEDx talk (and other interviews) by the author. It will be a waste of your time.
The book is worth reading just for the birds themselves though. The tone of the book reminds me of Lab Girl by Jahren Hope.
Magnificent, magnificent birds. What more can I say? 2.5-star book, 5-star birds.
P.s. If you have read the book and found it acceptablely agreeable, don't watch the TEDx talk (and other interviews) by the author. It will be a waste of your time.
October 15, 2014
I loved this book. While I doubt I would ever own a bird, they are fascinating creatures. The author shares stories from the birds she has rescued. Some are endearing, many beautiful, others relentlessly trying to outsmart her. The story of how she went from one bird to more than 200 and became a nonprofit is fascinating too but mostly I enjoyed their antics and how Michele and her family learned to understand their needs. I was sorry when it ended. I read the Kindle edition which includes some photos of these wonderful creatures.
Read
July 12, 2017The Birds of Pandemonium is an indulgent and sometimes heart-wrenching collection of stories that offer insight into the familiar and strange life of birds. It also covers their interaction with their human companions, particularly the author, Michele Raffin, who through a mix of happenstance and hard work breaks into the male-dominated bird industry and builds an amazing exotic bird sanctuary and breeding habitat. Whether you come to this book as a lover of birds or as an ornithological novice, you’ll leave with a greater appreciation of our winged friends. – Allison W.
April 12, 2020
A slight book but a fairly interesting read. The author obviously has her heart in the right place in wanting to care for other creatures, and it’s good that she is now breeding endangered species. However apart from a brief mention of the trade in wild birds, there is far too little of how evil the whole aviculture industry is and how it shouldn’t even exist. I know she takes in a neglected bird but she doesn’t realize her “I wanted a bird of my own” is part of the problem and lets bird breeders off far too lightly. No bird should ever be kept as a pet.
March 12, 2018
Not a book I would have picked up on my own, but it is the one that the Mpls Art Institute is featuring this month with their Inspired by Books art tours. Not being a bird person, I felt like I learned a lot about them and enjoyed the author’s stories of running a bird sanctuary, effects of rainforest destruction on bird populations, and the wacky and entertaining personalities of her birds. An interesting and engaging read.
October 14, 2022
A delightful good time
Reading this, I felt like I was in the Pandemonium Aviary, meeting and hanging out with delightful birds who would soon become friends. Every time one of Michelle's creatures died, I, too, was upset. I am in awe of how much she learned and shared about raising and conserving birds, especially exotic ones.
An entertaining, well-written book.
Reading this, I felt like I was in the Pandemonium Aviary, meeting and hanging out with delightful birds who would soon become friends. Every time one of Michelle's creatures died, I, too, was upset. I am in awe of how much she learned and shared about raising and conserving birds, especially exotic ones.
An entertaining, well-written book.
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