World Without Birds

"This is a book about hope." If you look out the window, chances are high you'll spot a bird soaring in the sky or perched on a tree. Nearly 100 million Americans spend time birdwatching every year. Birds provide beauty, pollination, pest control, waste management, a food source, recreation, cultural enrichment, and many other functions important to human life and environmental balance. . . . . . . and now they're disappearing at ever greater rates, thanks to climate change, habitat destruction, and invasive species, among other causes. Written by an acclaimed journalist associated with the Audubon Society, World Without Birds examines the many factors contributing to this devastating loss and what our planet would look like in birds' absence. Organized by ecosystem, each chapter offers an overview of the birds in that environment, then case studies of both one avian species that has gone extinct and one whose numbers have recovered, balancing honesty and optimism for readers of all ages. The final chapter suggests actions that bird lovers can take to help preserve avian lives and habitats. Filled with gorgeous, colorful pictures, including richly illustrated bird guides for each ecosystem, World Without Birds shares a hidden true story of danger, discovery, and hope.