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Flyaway: How A Wild Bird Rehabber Sought Adventure and Found Her Wings
In this captivating memoir, Suzie Gilbert tells the rollicking story of how she turned her family life upside down to pursue her unusual passion for rehabilitating wild birds. Fans of Michael Pollan, James Herriot, and Elizabeth Marshal Thomas are sure to find much to cherish in Flyaway.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
18 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
About the author
Suzie Gilbert
5 books31 followersSuzie Gilbert is a writer, wildlife rehabilitator, and author of Flyaway: How a Wild Bird Rehabber Sought Adventure and Found Her Wings (HarperCollins), and Hawk Hill (Chronicle Books). She lives in New York’s Hudson Valley. Unflappable, available March 24, is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 9, 2010
I think I read this book at exactly the right time. I currently have a tiny seven-inch-long bearded dragon* in my bedroom. Since getting her on June 13th, things have changed around here. I get up at 6am whether I like it or not because that's when her lights come on and she wakes up, climbs out of her hammock** and starts looking around for food. I go and put some reptile pellets, vegetables and kale in her feeding dish, give her pieces of vegetables from my hand, take her out, pet her, let her watch the computer screen, put her back in, and then give her either live crickets or dead ones from a can. Oh yes, I have had to face my fear of crickets. I hate crickets so much. Or, I used to. Now I get to put them in the tank and watch my tiny pet predator go after them with the precision of a cheetah on the plains of Africa and it's great. The canned crickets are pretty gross, though. They are all juicy and yucky and dark colored, unlike the light tan crickets from Petsmart.
Then I go to work and come home and give her more dead crickets and try not to throw up from the smell.
And then her light turns off at 8 o'clock and we turn the bedroom lights off because she can't sleep with them on, and it makes us sleepy and we go to bed earlier. Which is probably a good thing.
And that is absolutely nothing compared to what Suzie Gilbert and other wildlife rehabilitators do on a daily basis for the mammals, reptiles and birds that surround us every day. Whether they are affected by humans, disease, other animals, or the environment, wild animals need care too, and Suzie Gilbert opened my eyes to what the people who care for them have to do. My developing bond with Loki let me see especially how people come to care for animals beyond cats and dogs. How a lizard or a bird can have its own personality. And how caring for an animal can make you do gross stuff like cut up baby mice or spoon crickets out of a refrigerated can.
The author takes us through an intensely personal journey, as she faces the difficulty people who care for animals face. When you have taken in one injured animal, what's another? And another? You can't just leave them to die. And it takes an immense personal toll. There are many you cannot save even with dedication and time and you know injured animals will never stop coming.
Suzie's love for birds (and all animals) shines through her text. I felt as though I was there with her in the story. It's a wonderful book.
* She will eventually be two feet, according to what I've read. Crazy. This is her now.
** Yes, she has a hammock. She sleeps clinging to one of the suction cups every night. Whatta weirdo.
Then I go to work and come home and give her more dead crickets and try not to throw up from the smell.
And then her light turns off at 8 o'clock and we turn the bedroom lights off because she can't sleep with them on, and it makes us sleepy and we go to bed earlier. Which is probably a good thing.
And that is absolutely nothing compared to what Suzie Gilbert and other wildlife rehabilitators do on a daily basis for the mammals, reptiles and birds that surround us every day. Whether they are affected by humans, disease, other animals, or the environment, wild animals need care too, and Suzie Gilbert opened my eyes to what the people who care for them have to do. My developing bond with Loki let me see especially how people come to care for animals beyond cats and dogs. How a lizard or a bird can have its own personality. And how caring for an animal can make you do gross stuff like cut up baby mice or spoon crickets out of a refrigerated can.
The author takes us through an intensely personal journey, as she faces the difficulty people who care for animals face. When you have taken in one injured animal, what's another? And another? You can't just leave them to die. And it takes an immense personal toll. There are many you cannot save even with dedication and time and you know injured animals will never stop coming.
Suzie's love for birds (and all animals) shines through her text. I felt as though I was there with her in the story. It's a wonderful book.
* She will eventually be two feet, according to what I've read. Crazy. This is her now.
** Yes, she has a hammock. She sleeps clinging to one of the suction cups every night. Whatta weirdo.
April 28, 2010
Suzie Gilbert is a crazy bird lady. But she's a good kind of crazy. The kind of crazy that makes the world a better place, one small, precious life at a time.
Birds, even the most intimidating raptors, are among nature's most vulnerable of creatures. They break easily, and, if left injured in the wild, die easily.
With most injuries to wild birds coming, directly or indirectly, at the hands of their human neighbors -- from our buildings, our power lines, our cars, our lawn chemicals and the myriad of other ways we have of unwittingly destroying wildlife -- rehabbers like Suzie Gilbert pick up the slack for the rest of us. They work with no financial rewards and at considerable personal sacrifice, both material and psychological, to give these delicate creatures a fighting chance at a life that would have been otherwise lost.
Every life is precious. Every bird is special. And Suzie Gilbert's Flyaway is a window into one woman's determination that those platitudes be lived, not just uttered.
Highly recommended, especially if you're a crazy bird person.
Birds, even the most intimidating raptors, are among nature's most vulnerable of creatures. They break easily, and, if left injured in the wild, die easily.
With most injuries to wild birds coming, directly or indirectly, at the hands of their human neighbors -- from our buildings, our power lines, our cars, our lawn chemicals and the myriad of other ways we have of unwittingly destroying wildlife -- rehabbers like Suzie Gilbert pick up the slack for the rest of us. They work with no financial rewards and at considerable personal sacrifice, both material and psychological, to give these delicate creatures a fighting chance at a life that would have been otherwise lost.
Every life is precious. Every bird is special. And Suzie Gilbert's Flyaway is a window into one woman's determination that those platitudes be lived, not just uttered.
Highly recommended, especially if you're a crazy bird person.
September 30, 2010
Non-Fiction
This is a special gem of a read filled with the ups and downs, laughs and heartbreak of animal rescue, in this case, wild birds.
Suzie Gilbert is a wild bird rehabber, taking in birds who are injured or orphaned. Her passion for rehabbing birds grew to include her husband and two children -- and pretty much took over her entire life. She had birds in dog crates, birds in the bathroom, birds outside in specially built rehab enclosures, whatever it took.
She describes her life with the birds with such clarity that I feel like I can see the birds she is talking about. (Illustrations of many bird species appear throughout the book.) Suzie is an excellent story teller and writer -- I think anyone who loves animals or has ever fed a stray cat or taken in an animal in need of help or rescue will enjoy this book.
Suzie tells of the joys, the successes, and the bird hijinks that made me laugh. She also honestly deals with the burnout, feelings of failure, being overwhelmed by the desperate need and simply not being able to help all the birds that need help. Suzie constantly deals with the guilt of taking too much time from her family life to devote to the birds. I enjoyed her descriptions of her childrens' enthusiasm and assistance with the birds over the years. Suzie and her family are fun and lively. I got a kick out of the names they chose for the birds (in one set of two birds, one was named Lo, the other Behold).
I loved her stories about the various bird species, from small songbirds to birds of prey, to crows, herons, grackles, you name it!
Being a back yard bird enthusiast myself, this book really touched my heart! Congrats and a big thank you to Suzie and all the rehabbers out there whose hard work is rewarded only by the sight of a healthy bird they have nursed back to health flying away.
This is a special gem of a read filled with the ups and downs, laughs and heartbreak of animal rescue, in this case, wild birds.
Suzie Gilbert is a wild bird rehabber, taking in birds who are injured or orphaned. Her passion for rehabbing birds grew to include her husband and two children -- and pretty much took over her entire life. She had birds in dog crates, birds in the bathroom, birds outside in specially built rehab enclosures, whatever it took.
She describes her life with the birds with such clarity that I feel like I can see the birds she is talking about. (Illustrations of many bird species appear throughout the book.) Suzie is an excellent story teller and writer -- I think anyone who loves animals or has ever fed a stray cat or taken in an animal in need of help or rescue will enjoy this book.
Suzie tells of the joys, the successes, and the bird hijinks that made me laugh. She also honestly deals with the burnout, feelings of failure, being overwhelmed by the desperate need and simply not being able to help all the birds that need help. Suzie constantly deals with the guilt of taking too much time from her family life to devote to the birds. I enjoyed her descriptions of her childrens' enthusiasm and assistance with the birds over the years. Suzie and her family are fun and lively. I got a kick out of the names they chose for the birds (in one set of two birds, one was named Lo, the other Behold).
I loved her stories about the various bird species, from small songbirds to birds of prey, to crows, herons, grackles, you name it!
Being a back yard bird enthusiast myself, this book really touched my heart! Congrats and a big thank you to Suzie and all the rehabbers out there whose hard work is rewarded only by the sight of a healthy bird they have nursed back to health flying away.
January 19, 2016
If you are interested in the plight of birds in their danger-filled world, this is a well-written, informative, sometimes sad, sometimes funny memoir by a bird rehabber who juggles her job with raising two children. The little part on George the crow is enough to make you see the value of one bird. It left me with a huge amount of respect and admiration for wildlife rehabilitators and what they do. Most of the birds who they help have been injured by humans, intentionally or unintentionally, and the book educates us on what to do and not to do to make their lives easier and longer. Outdoor cats, feral and domestic, for instance, are responsible for the deaths of billions of birds a year. The book spurred me to get the name and number of close-by wildlife rehabbers, in case I see a bird or animal in distress, and to order window decals for my sliding glass doors to prevent bird strikes! If you can, donate to wildlife organizations! A very good book, I thought.
February 12, 2024
Inspiring story.
June 4, 2010
I read this for my bookclub. Of course then I didn't go to the meeting...but that's another issue. It's a book I would never read in a million years otherwise, but it's an engaging, lively account of life as a bird rehabber. Who knew people did this? Suzie Gilbert is a good writer who has a sense that her avocation is clearly crazy--spending time, money, and love on saving a sparrow. I know God keeps his eyes on the sparrow, but apparently so does Suzie. I can't recommend this book highly because it is so specialized, but if you find yourself dreaming of blue jays, this might be the book for you.
May 27, 2015
This is one of the best books I have read as an adult. It touched my heart. Having a fondness for all living creatures, I decided to read a true story about a wildlife bird rehabilitator who happens to live in the Hudson Valley. I really know nothing about wild birds and believed all the myths, for example, don't touch a baby bird that falls out of the nest because the parents will not take it back, blah, blah, which is untrue. I learned more than I ever thought I would about wild birds, how clever they can be and their importance in the world. Give this book a try.
March 13, 2009
This book tells the story of Gilbert becoming a home-based bird rehabber, and is filled with stories of her interactions with birds, from great blue herons to crows to Cooper's hawks. Most of her stories are uplifting and entertaining, but some are heart-rending; both her successes and her failures are presented here. I really enjoyed and appreciated this book, and would recommend it to anyone who loves birds and dreams of living closer to them.
April 14, 2010
This is the story of Suzie Gilbert and her astounding love for wild birds. From childhood, Suzie has loved and cared for many wild creatures but has been attracted mainly to wild birds. After working as a volunteer at an animal hospital near her home, Suzie begins to come home with abused and unwanted birds that she happily adopts into her family. Deciding that this is not enough, she makes a decision to run a wild bird rehabilitation center from her house. Building space for the birds and setting up shop on the slope of her large yard are only the early steps, and for Suzie, the easiest. Soon she is receiving wounded birds from all over the area and her phone is ringing non-stop. The idyllic job she envisioned is soon wearing thin and she spends a good deal her time agonizing over the fates of even the smallest of her patients and the worries that the birds are eating most of the attention that should be going to her young children. As she relates miraculous stories of survival and terrible stories of loss, Suzie not only bonds with the birds that she has decided to give her life to, but bonds as well with a large network of animal rehabbers all over the world. But after five long years, the losses begin to outweigh the saves and Suzie is headed toward an emotionally harrowing cliff. She must decide if giving up the bird rescue will save her fragile emotional health, and that of her family, or if she should continue doing the work she loves. As she lovingly demonstrates in her attention to the sick and injured birds she deals with daily, sometimes you just have to "bring them back and let them go," a fate that she must also painfully adhere to. Both amazingly tender and heart-rendingly sad, the story of Suzie and her avian companions will bring its readers both joyous smiles and sorrowful tears.
I love reading real-life stories about animals and their caregivers. I usually learn a great deal about what it takes for these animals to survive and the impact they have on their human handler's lives. This story was no exception. By peeking into the life and psyche of Suzie Gilbert, I discovered an amazing plethora of bird facts and myths and was fully able to see the sacrifices that Suzie made in her life in order to help save these wondrous creatures.
This book was unique among the animal tales that I have read for several reasons. One of the first differences that I noticed was the strident attitude that Suzie had about the careless and negligent humans who put these beautiful animals at risk every day. As she explains, about 99 percent of the accidents that befall wild birds can be directly attributed to humans. From your basic garden variety cruelty to the attempts of developers to clear inhabited land for building projects to negligent cat owners who let their animals roam freely outdoors, Suzie explains it all. Far from being beseeching, her anger at these people and situations comes shooting off the page in her vitriolic sentiments. And as I was to discover while I was reading, her anger is completely justified. The birds that make their way into her refuge are scared, confused and sometimes gravely injured. Suzie does the best she can to provide care for the birds but often there is nothing she can do for them but let them die with dignity. Each death seems to take a piece of her soul.
The second way that this book was different than most was the very candid way that Suzie related her mental frailties and fears concerning the birds. When she first begins to have thoughts of running a bird rehab from her home, her heart is light and she harbors dreams and visions of a fulfilling and successful operation in which she will finally be able to do the work she was born to do. But as the rehab becomes a reality, Suzie becomes ever more nervous about the birds that she will be caring for. Is she giving them the right care? Has she made a mistake in taking all types and species of birds instead of specializing? Is she a horrible mother for spending more time with her birds than her children? Will her children grow up scarred from having to help their mother take care of the injured animals? These things weigh heavily on her mind, and although she does some amazing things with her facility, she can never outrun her demons and spends a lot of time being anxious, angry and afraid. These sections of the book were filled with pathos and pain, and it was like looking directly into the brain of someone who was torn to bits by the decisions that she had to make. While I championed the work she was doing, I felt very sorry that there was so much turmoil going on inside her heart.
The amount of information that Suzie supplied about the birds was one of my favorite aspects of the book. It was never overwhelming and always interesting, and I found myself not only learning about different species of bird, but also general facts that are common among all birds. I had no idea that baby birds had to eat every fifteen minutes from sunup to sundown, or that vultures regurgitate the contents of their stomachs when they are distressed. I also didn't know that most birds should not be socialized to accept humans and was surprised to learn that birds will not neglect a baby bird that has fallen from its nest and has been touched by human hands. Suzy is clear and informative with her facts about the birds, debunking myths and making these wild creatures and their habits seem astounding.
There is also a lot of humor in the book. These are the tales of a freezer full of frozen rats being accidentally discovered by her husband; stories of birds that seem almost human; and the parrot who resides in her house screaming out the word "WAR" when one of the wild birds gets loose in the house. She speaks about the baby duck that happily watches television with her children, and George, the raven who touched her heart and healed her aching spirit. Her birds do the unthinkable and their well-being is the reason she strives against the grain to provide them with a safe haven and a loving touch. They are creatures who amaze and startle. Suzie never loses respect for the birds she cares for, despite the long hours and inconvenience that they bring into her life.
This is definitely a book that is worth reading. If you are a lover of animal stories, the book is a must read. I think the book says a lot about the difference that even one dedicated person can make in the world surrounding them, and it is not only a love story about birds, but a story that will touch even the most hardened reader. The information that is imparted is not in the least overwhelming, but instead delightful and thought-provoking. In a world where people are usually only out for themselves, Suzy Gilbert does the unthinkable and transforms the lives of all the creatures she touches, and she is a very admirable woman. An amazingly worthwhile read. Recommended.
I love reading real-life stories about animals and their caregivers. I usually learn a great deal about what it takes for these animals to survive and the impact they have on their human handler's lives. This story was no exception. By peeking into the life and psyche of Suzie Gilbert, I discovered an amazing plethora of bird facts and myths and was fully able to see the sacrifices that Suzie made in her life in order to help save these wondrous creatures.
This book was unique among the animal tales that I have read for several reasons. One of the first differences that I noticed was the strident attitude that Suzie had about the careless and negligent humans who put these beautiful animals at risk every day. As she explains, about 99 percent of the accidents that befall wild birds can be directly attributed to humans. From your basic garden variety cruelty to the attempts of developers to clear inhabited land for building projects to negligent cat owners who let their animals roam freely outdoors, Suzie explains it all. Far from being beseeching, her anger at these people and situations comes shooting off the page in her vitriolic sentiments. And as I was to discover while I was reading, her anger is completely justified. The birds that make their way into her refuge are scared, confused and sometimes gravely injured. Suzie does the best she can to provide care for the birds but often there is nothing she can do for them but let them die with dignity. Each death seems to take a piece of her soul.
The second way that this book was different than most was the very candid way that Suzie related her mental frailties and fears concerning the birds. When she first begins to have thoughts of running a bird rehab from her home, her heart is light and she harbors dreams and visions of a fulfilling and successful operation in which she will finally be able to do the work she was born to do. But as the rehab becomes a reality, Suzie becomes ever more nervous about the birds that she will be caring for. Is she giving them the right care? Has she made a mistake in taking all types and species of birds instead of specializing? Is she a horrible mother for spending more time with her birds than her children? Will her children grow up scarred from having to help their mother take care of the injured animals? These things weigh heavily on her mind, and although she does some amazing things with her facility, she can never outrun her demons and spends a lot of time being anxious, angry and afraid. These sections of the book were filled with pathos and pain, and it was like looking directly into the brain of someone who was torn to bits by the decisions that she had to make. While I championed the work she was doing, I felt very sorry that there was so much turmoil going on inside her heart.
The amount of information that Suzie supplied about the birds was one of my favorite aspects of the book. It was never overwhelming and always interesting, and I found myself not only learning about different species of bird, but also general facts that are common among all birds. I had no idea that baby birds had to eat every fifteen minutes from sunup to sundown, or that vultures regurgitate the contents of their stomachs when they are distressed. I also didn't know that most birds should not be socialized to accept humans and was surprised to learn that birds will not neglect a baby bird that has fallen from its nest and has been touched by human hands. Suzy is clear and informative with her facts about the birds, debunking myths and making these wild creatures and their habits seem astounding.
There is also a lot of humor in the book. These are the tales of a freezer full of frozen rats being accidentally discovered by her husband; stories of birds that seem almost human; and the parrot who resides in her house screaming out the word "WAR" when one of the wild birds gets loose in the house. She speaks about the baby duck that happily watches television with her children, and George, the raven who touched her heart and healed her aching spirit. Her birds do the unthinkable and their well-being is the reason she strives against the grain to provide them with a safe haven and a loving touch. They are creatures who amaze and startle. Suzie never loses respect for the birds she cares for, despite the long hours and inconvenience that they bring into her life.
This is definitely a book that is worth reading. If you are a lover of animal stories, the book is a must read. I think the book says a lot about the difference that even one dedicated person can make in the world surrounding them, and it is not only a love story about birds, but a story that will touch even the most hardened reader. The information that is imparted is not in the least overwhelming, but instead delightful and thought-provoking. In a world where people are usually only out for themselves, Suzy Gilbert does the unthinkable and transforms the lives of all the creatures she touches, and she is a very admirable woman. An amazingly worthwhile read. Recommended.
August 3, 2023
"In this captivating memoir, Suzie Gilbert tell the rollicking story of how she turned her family life upside down to pursue her unusual passion for rehabilitating wild birds.
"Through adolescence and into adulthood, Suzie Gilbert struggled to find her calling. But when she took a job working at the animal hospital near her home in New York's Hudson Valley, her passion was born. She began bringing abused and unwanted parrots home and volunteering at a local raptor rehabilitation center, activities she continued for the next eleven years, even as she started a family. then came the ultimate commitment to her cause: turning her home into Flyaway, Inc., a nonprofit wild bird rehabilitation center.
"Gilbert chronicles the years of her chaotic household-cum-bird- hospital with delightful wit, recounting the confusion that ensued as her husband and two young children struggled to live in a house where parrots shrieked Motown songs, nestling robins required food every twenty minutes, and recuperating herons took over the spare bathroom. Gradually, however, the birds came to represent the value of compassion and the importance of pursuing even the most unlikely of dreams.
"Often funny, sometimes painful, Gilbert's encounters with these beautiful creatures reveal profound truths not only about animals but also about our own lives -- lessons of birth and death, suffering and empathy, holding on and letting go.
"Original, lyrical, and highly entertaining, Flyaway will forever change the way you see this amazing member of the animal kingdom."
~~front flap
I can hardly add to that description -- the book is all that and more. But the funniest line in the whole book: "Here, you dropped your duck."
"Through adolescence and into adulthood, Suzie Gilbert struggled to find her calling. But when she took a job working at the animal hospital near her home in New York's Hudson Valley, her passion was born. She began bringing abused and unwanted parrots home and volunteering at a local raptor rehabilitation center, activities she continued for the next eleven years, even as she started a family. then came the ultimate commitment to her cause: turning her home into Flyaway, Inc., a nonprofit wild bird rehabilitation center.
"Gilbert chronicles the years of her chaotic household-cum-bird- hospital with delightful wit, recounting the confusion that ensued as her husband and two young children struggled to live in a house where parrots shrieked Motown songs, nestling robins required food every twenty minutes, and recuperating herons took over the spare bathroom. Gradually, however, the birds came to represent the value of compassion and the importance of pursuing even the most unlikely of dreams.
"Often funny, sometimes painful, Gilbert's encounters with these beautiful creatures reveal profound truths not only about animals but also about our own lives -- lessons of birth and death, suffering and empathy, holding on and letting go.
"Original, lyrical, and highly entertaining, Flyaway will forever change the way you see this amazing member of the animal kingdom."
~~front flap
I can hardly add to that description -- the book is all that and more. But the funniest line in the whole book: "Here, you dropped your duck."
June 22, 2020
Suzie Gilbert writes of her life as a bird rehabilitator. While her stories are sometimes amusing, they are often heartbreaking as she describes her work to save birds often injured due to interactions with humans. The life of a wildlife rehabilitator requires commitment and compassion; it is full of hard work, drudgery, heartbreak, and sometimes reward. God bless the people who see the value of a single life and are willing to do all they can to save it.
June 7, 2021
Wonderful Look at the Heart of a Rehabber
I was a (supposedly Only) seabird rehabber for thirteen years, and I appreciated the honesty of Suzie Gilbert in revealing the heartache and emotional stress - as well as the endless hard work - that rehabilitation requires, yet somehow always conveying the uplifting aspects of it that keep people slogging on year after year...
Well done!
I was a (supposedly Only) seabird rehabber for thirteen years, and I appreciated the honesty of Suzie Gilbert in revealing the heartache and emotional stress - as well as the endless hard work - that rehabilitation requires, yet somehow always conveying the uplifting aspects of it that keep people slogging on year after year...
Well done!
August 10, 2017
Very educational
Birds have always fascinated me, but I can't even name most of the ones I see. Reading about the rehabilitation of so many wild birds was interesting and educational. I never knew of the existence of rehabilitators but I am happy they do
Birds have always fascinated me, but I can't even name most of the ones I see. Reading about the rehabilitation of so many wild birds was interesting and educational. I never knew of the existence of rehabilitators but I am happy they do
May 4, 2022
Suzie finds her calling in rescuing injured birds, but the more she gets into it the more she realizes she needs to make a choice.
Super fun read about Suzie's experiences as a wild bird rehabber while raising two young children.
Super fun read about Suzie's experiences as a wild bird rehabber while raising two young children.
March 11, 2018
Magical,both uproariously funny and soul-searchingly deep.If you love birds,animals and our glorious but threatened natural world, you will love this book. God bless you Suzie Gilbert!
May 20, 2022
Excellent! If you love birds you will love this book.
September 9, 2023
I absolutely loved this book, 100% would recommend.
October 12, 2016
I liked this book for a few different reasons. The first being it made me think of two dear friends. Altho they're not rehabbers, they ought to be. It was a good read, but not riveting. I came to think rehabbers are insane. They are spitting in the ocean yet they carry on and much of the costs comes out of their own pockets. Gilbert was funny, serious and yes, at times, quite insane. I think she's still at it.
February 12, 2017
The author runs a one-person wild bird rehabilitation center on her property in upstate New York. The book describes how she started it and ran it for the first two years, while raising her two young children. She describes the whole process, including building the "flights" and other structures; deciding what kinds of birds, and in what conditions, to take on; the irresistible pressures to change those decisions; the permit and reporting processes, including eventually incorporating as a nonprofit; and working with the local, regional, and national networks of people doing related work. And she throws in a healthy dose of wildlife and environmental advocacy. None of this is at all tedious or slow reading, as it mingles seamlessly with the stories of the birds themselves, which make up most of the book.
The birds are wonderful. Robins, crows, warblers, ducklings, hawks, her own pet parrots, and many more. The author is an excellent storyteller, and her stories are heartwarming, heartbreaking, and hilarious in turn. Her style of humor is a bit Erma Bombeck-ian. I could have done without some of the self-deprecation, but I can see that it was therapeutic for her. Her family is a big part of the story, and that works well; her husband is amazingly patient and supportive, and her kids delightful. Her website and her blog, both currently active, have additional stories that aren't in the book.
Here is what she says in answer to critics who think small-scale rehabbers don't make much difference and are "a bunch of bunny-huggers wasting their time." "Although wildlife rehabilitation begins with the individual, there is a ripple effect that extends far beyond the single animal. If critics of wildlife rehabilitation are looking for numbers, they will find them not in the release rates of a single rehabilitator but in the numbers of people who have been reached and educated because of her (or him)." She goes on to talk in addition about the value of the individual (bird, animal, or person) and the importance of putting value into wildlife in a culture where the bottom line is so often strictly financial.
And did I mention? She has heart, a lot of it. I highly recommend this book.
The birds are wonderful. Robins, crows, warblers, ducklings, hawks, her own pet parrots, and many more. The author is an excellent storyteller, and her stories are heartwarming, heartbreaking, and hilarious in turn. Her style of humor is a bit Erma Bombeck-ian. I could have done without some of the self-deprecation, but I can see that it was therapeutic for her. Her family is a big part of the story, and that works well; her husband is amazingly patient and supportive, and her kids delightful. Her website and her blog, both currently active, have additional stories that aren't in the book.
Here is what she says in answer to critics who think small-scale rehabbers don't make much difference and are "a bunch of bunny-huggers wasting their time." "Although wildlife rehabilitation begins with the individual, there is a ripple effect that extends far beyond the single animal. If critics of wildlife rehabilitation are looking for numbers, they will find them not in the release rates of a single rehabilitator but in the numbers of people who have been reached and educated because of her (or him)." She goes on to talk in addition about the value of the individual (bird, animal, or person) and the importance of putting value into wildlife in a culture where the bottom line is so often strictly financial.
And did I mention? She has heart, a lot of it. I highly recommend this book.
February 23, 2010
I'm only about a third of the way through this book but am really enjoying it, and have already laughed out loud at least half a dozen times. As I former wild bird rehabber I totally understand how wonderful and frustrating it can be. As someone who current rescues cats, I understand how difficult/frustrating/exhausting it is to take on a job that pays nothing, that requires total commitment (no vacations or days off), and that forces you to make decisions about who to help and who to turn away. I've had to make many life or death decisions, and it's a terrible feeling. However, if I said "yes" to everyone who needed help I'd ultimately end up being able to help no one because I was overwhelmed and burned out. I really identify with many of the issues the author wrestles with, and think this book will end up on my ""Books I'd Like to Own" shelf when I'm finished reading.
Right now the book has 4 stars instead of 5 for the amount of blame the author places on outdoor cats for the decline in songbird/native bird populations. I wish all cats lived indoors, so I don't advocate any free-wandering felines. However, for every study that shows outdoor cats kill millions of wild birds, there's another study showing that the first study was grossly misleading. I think the true numbers are probably somewhere in-between those quoted by the feral cat haters and feral cat supporters, so I would have appreciated a more middle-of-the-road approach. No one can argue that the number one cause of the decline in native bird populations is habit loss/human encroachment, and I would have rather seen that pointed out. There wouldn't be any free-roaming pet cats in songbird habitats if humans didn't live there, too. Cats are a threat to birds, yes, but so are habitat loss, pesticides, invasive species, global warming, etc. etc.
(As a total aside, I'd love to see the author spend a year or so doing feral cat work, like TNR, to see if it affected her feelings for cats. I'm sure she's no fan of a policy like TNR because it allows cats to roam free, but would she feel the same way if she grew close to a colony and got to know its individual members?)
Right now the book has 4 stars instead of 5 for the amount of blame the author places on outdoor cats for the decline in songbird/native bird populations. I wish all cats lived indoors, so I don't advocate any free-wandering felines. However, for every study that shows outdoor cats kill millions of wild birds, there's another study showing that the first study was grossly misleading. I think the true numbers are probably somewhere in-between those quoted by the feral cat haters and feral cat supporters, so I would have appreciated a more middle-of-the-road approach. No one can argue that the number one cause of the decline in native bird populations is habit loss/human encroachment, and I would have rather seen that pointed out. There wouldn't be any free-roaming pet cats in songbird habitats if humans didn't live there, too. Cats are a threat to birds, yes, but so are habitat loss, pesticides, invasive species, global warming, etc. etc.
(As a total aside, I'd love to see the author spend a year or so doing feral cat work, like TNR, to see if it affected her feelings for cats. I'm sure she's no fan of a policy like TNR because it allows cats to roam free, but would she feel the same way if she grew close to a colony and got to know its individual members?)
September 21, 2011
I love animals but I've had little up-close and personal experience with birds. This book was a vicarious thrill..I don't ever expect to hold a Great Blue Heron in my arms, or have a young crow gently stroke my face with his beak, but reading this book its as close as I'll ever get.
In addition to being terrific with birds (and her kids) she's is a great writer. Example... in this passage she is describing a visit to her"flight", a large enclosed habitat where birds live until they are strong enough to be released. The flight is divided into two sections so she can separate species that may not get along together. In this case she is leaving the section where the songbirds are recuperating to check on the other side. "Next door things were not so genteel. If the songbird flight was an English drawing room, jay/grackle flight was the local pub: noisy, boisterous, and full of outsized personalities looking house trouble."
It's not all fun. The author shares her strong opinions on how people are the greatest threat to birds. If you have an outdoor cat be prepared for a tongue-lashing.
In addition to being terrific with birds (and her kids) she's is a great writer. Example... in this passage she is describing a visit to her"flight", a large enclosed habitat where birds live until they are strong enough to be released. The flight is divided into two sections so she can separate species that may not get along together. In this case she is leaving the section where the songbirds are recuperating to check on the other side. "Next door things were not so genteel. If the songbird flight was an English drawing room, jay/grackle flight was the local pub: noisy, boisterous, and full of outsized personalities looking house trouble."
It's not all fun. The author shares her strong opinions on how people are the greatest threat to birds. If you have an outdoor cat be prepared for a tongue-lashing.
May 14, 2012
This was between 3-4 stars for me, but went with 4 for what I learned about birds. I've always thought that I will know when I'm officially old because I will start being interested in birds. Well, it's happened. I've worked in dog rescue for years so could easily relate to how quickly you get over your head when you volunteer. I had a really hard time with the very sad stories and could very well relate to the character who continually brought the author birds that were way beyond saving and then made her do the dirty work, and then resented her for having done that. Her husband's dialogue in the book was great. He is much much much more saintly than my spouse. It's easy when you try to help a few to end up taking on the world and getting very burned out. I have always hated crows and she made me look at them differently, so that alone was worth a star in my book.
She didn't mention it much, but I couldn't quite get my head around the amount of bird poop she must have dealt with on a daily basis. Loved her kids.
She didn't mention it much, but I couldn't quite get my head around the amount of bird poop she must have dealt with on a daily basis. Loved her kids.
April 23, 2011
Excellent! I loved this book. I am always drawn to books about birds, particularly people's experiences with wild birds. This was such a wonderful read - part entertainment, part education. Gilbert's five years experience as a rehabber out of her home provides and amazing amount of stories and experiences, some of which seem so outrageous as to wonder how it could possibly be true. The stories made me anxious for the day when we will live in a less populated area and can enjoy seeing birds in our yard again, to watch them up close and their habits and activities. The story was humorous, insightful, as well as sad, the wrench Gilbert felt with each loss was tangible, as was the joy and thrill. The tension built at the end and I wondered anxiously at whether Gilbert was going to hold onto her sanity or lose it all. A wonderful account of her five years as a rehabber, even with the difficulties they held, I hope Gilbert finds worth in them, as I certainly did.
March 28, 2012
This is one of those absolutely wonderful wildlife books. Like most wildlife books, the reader is regaled with interesting, amusing, heartwarming, and sometimes heartrending tales. These stories are greatly informative about many species of birds, and the trials of a wildlife rehabilitator.
Perhaps the best thing about this book, is the documented struggle of the author with the human race. When becoming a rehabber, it is easy to also become a misanthropist. However, throughout the book the author is realistic about these feelings, and it is easy to tell how much she cares about all species, including humans.
The book is written well, contains many beautiful illustrations, and the characters themselves are interesting beings with separate, yet realistic, personalities.
Even if you don't know much about birds, I would recommend reading this book, especially if you are a wildlife lover, or just any animal lover.
Perhaps the best thing about this book, is the documented struggle of the author with the human race. When becoming a rehabber, it is easy to also become a misanthropist. However, throughout the book the author is realistic about these feelings, and it is easy to tell how much she cares about all species, including humans.
The book is written well, contains many beautiful illustrations, and the characters themselves are interesting beings with separate, yet realistic, personalities.
Even if you don't know much about birds, I would recommend reading this book, especially if you are a wildlife lover, or just any animal lover.
February 25, 2016
I was surprised how much I loved this book, I am a bird appreciator, but have never studied them or watched them particularly.
In this memoir we follow mainly the life of a lone wild bird rehabber, who ends up getting in a bit over her head with the amount and types of birds and problems they have. Her family although understanding and helpful at times, also sometimes resentful of the time she spends with the birds and not them.
This book has some beautiful bird drawings done of some of her rehabbed birds. I learned so much about the bird world the species and their temperaments, and what we need to do to help wildlife survive, and thrive.
This author along with the many others she worked with, from vets donating their time to the others who save wildlife, a constant exchange of information going back and forth, as to how something should be handled. These are the people who dedicate their lives to what some may feel is a lost cause, they thoroughly impressed me.
In this memoir we follow mainly the life of a lone wild bird rehabber, who ends up getting in a bit over her head with the amount and types of birds and problems they have. Her family although understanding and helpful at times, also sometimes resentful of the time she spends with the birds and not them.
This book has some beautiful bird drawings done of some of her rehabbed birds. I learned so much about the bird world the species and their temperaments, and what we need to do to help wildlife survive, and thrive.
This author along with the many others she worked with, from vets donating their time to the others who save wildlife, a constant exchange of information going back and forth, as to how something should be handled. These are the people who dedicate their lives to what some may feel is a lost cause, they thoroughly impressed me.
February 25, 2012
Really well-written memoir about a woman trying her hand at being a wild bird rehabber in the Hudson Valley. She realizes early on that she may be overextending herself, but finds it impossible to say no to an injured or orphaned bird. Pretty soon her springs and summers are filled with birds, and she starts to have a very difficult time balancing her family life, personal life, and her near-consuming passion for birds. And while she clearly saves a great many animals, she is haunted by the ones she can't, which ultimately leads to a moment of truth. For the most part she comes across as honest, funny, feisty, and likable, and that, combined with her writing skill, brings home the realities-- both the rewards and the frustrations--of wild animal rehabilitation.
September 7, 2016
Flyaway is a memoir of a bird rehabber in upstate New York who finds herself burning out because she cares too much. I genuinely enjoyed reading this book! I too love wildlife and I am in awe of those who work to rehabilitate injured animals and birds to the point that they may be released safely back into their habitat. I could empathize with the worry Suzie felt when a bird struggled to survive, the grief she felt when a bird was just too injured too survive, and the bittersweet celebration of releasing a healed bird she had come to know and love. I stumbled across this book in a used book store and I'm so happy I read it. The day after I finished the last page, we happened to be in Quechee, Vermont and I visited the VINS raptor center, a wonderful follow-up field trip!
July 18, 2009
This book is very enjoyable - and an inside view of what it's like to live in the world of a bird rehabber. It is a real emotional roller coaster ride. The humor is good, and the heart-wrenching moments when she loses a bird are poignant without being treacly. It is surprisingly frank, especially when she describes her battle with burnout and depression. It is also a fascinating study on the behavior of birds and humans. Suzie Gilbert and her like are unsung heroes doing good work with very little recognition.
July 13, 2012
I love birds and critters and am interested in being a rehabber and so this book would be interesting. Indeed, it is very interesting -- first because of the information on birds and second on the life of a rehabber. Very enlightening! Suzie is frank about the difficulties of juggling family and critters. She is an interesting woman who is doing what she loves with both her family and birds. This is a sweet book, though at times a little heavy handed with the breast-beating, poor me, mea culpa. All in all, a satisfying read. I definately recommend this book.
May 5, 2018
A book about a true, real life superhero. I enjoyed the pictures and stories of the birds she rehabbed. The stories are inspiring though they don't always end well. I would love to volunteer at a wildlife refuge like hers. I did find a couple of mistakes in the book, page 185 surroundings is missing an r and page 276 reads "I have a hit" which I believe was suppose to say I have one hit. I was into birding before but this book has inspired me more so. I am working on building some bird houses in my back yard. Enjoy. 🐦🕊🦃
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