Book Review
Enchantment by Birds
by Russell McGregor
Reading, like birdwatching, draws participants of every plumage, from the studious (ornithologists), to the appreciative (birdwatchers) and the voracious list-tickers among us (twitchers). Russell McGregor’s Enchantment by Birds is for all types of readers and birders – it’s a history of science, culture and the birdwatching community, a love letter to the Australian landscape, an education for the uninitiated and a delight for any appreciator of eloquent and enthusiastic writing.
The chapters are each written in honour of a species of bird, emblematic of different elements of the birdwatcher’s art (collecting, conservation, categorisation and many more). From Bowerbird to ‘Bin Chicken’, McGregor builds a case for our continued (and considered) responsibility to and enjoyment of our local (and introduced) feathered neighbours. In addition to chapters on more scientific questions such as taxonomy (‘Jacky Winter: Names’) and guidebook design (‘Collared Sparrowhawk: Innovating’), McGregor also presents more philosophical and approachable musings. These include issues such as ‘invasive’ species (‘Common Myna: Foreigners’), the magic of birdsong (‘White-throated Gerygone: Melody’), and the now-controversial practice of enticing birds to your garden with tasty treats (‘Rainbow Lorikeet: Feeding’).
McGregor summons a dizzying flock of quotations, and historical and personal anecdotes, resulting in an ornithological anthology – a collection of some of the best and most evocative language from the last 120+ years, mapping out changing attitudes and approaches to the art, science and methods of birdwatching.
Enchantment by Birds is not just a history of birds, but a history of Australia – our changing relationship with our environment, race, culture and class through our engagement with nature.
Whether you’re an avid avian enthusiast or as-yet uninitiated, Enchantment by Birds will open a door into understanding not just why so many Australians are passionate about birds today, but how that passion has evolved over the last century.
