All about Birds: A Short Illustrated History of Ornithology

by Valérie Chansigaud

Overview

Colorful, musical, graceful, easily observed—birds have always fascinated amateur and professional naturalists alike. This richly illustrated book tells the fascinating story of ornithology from ancient times to the present. Filled throughout with paintings, drawings, photographs, and diagrams, many of them in brilliant color, All about Birds is a fast-paced chronological account of the personalities and milestones that have shaped this most popular of sciences—from Aristotle, Audubon, and Darwin to Peterson and Sibley. These key figures and events are also documented in a unique twenty-page illustrated color timeline at the end of the book. Brief individual chapters cover antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the seventeenth through twentieth centuries. With its beautiful design and illustrations, and its concise and informative text, this lively book will delight anyone who loves birds.

• A clear and concise chronological account, from antiquity to the present
• Richly illustrated throughout with some 250 images, many of them in color
• Unique 20-page illustrated color timeline documents key figures and events

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691145198
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	03/21/2010
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Valérie Chansigaud holds a PhD in environmental science.

What People are Saying About This

Frank Gill

This is the deepest and most thorough history of ornithology that I have seen. The mixture of history, biographical sketches, period illustrations, and science give it a broad appeal, and the writing is quite engaging. An important feature of the book is its coverage of European ornithology, which nicely complements books on the history of American ornithology and birding. The book's timeline is especially valuable.
— Frank Gill, former president of the American Ornithologist's Union

From the Publisher

"This is the deepest and most thorough history of ornithology that I have seen. The mixture of history, biographical sketches, period illustrations, and science give it a broad appeal, and the writing is quite engaging. An important feature of the book is its coverage of European ornithology, which nicely complements books on the history of American ornithology and birding. The book's timeline is especially valuable."—Frank Gill, former president of the American Ornithologist's Union

Editorial Reviews

"Anyone who is more than casually interested in birds will heartily welcome the publication of All About Birds. . . . Following a timeline (which is outlined in the back of the book) Chansigaud provides entries about all of the major contributors to bird science. Fully half the volume is devoted to the 19th century during which ornithology came into full flower. The book is richly illustrated, very accessible, and has a good bibliography."—-Wayne Mones, Audubon

"Beautifully illustrated. . . . If you want a basic primer on who was studying birds in former ages, this is a good place to start."—-Mark Cocker, Birding

"Well illustrated often with period bird art. . . . [A] good introduction to the history of ornithology."—-Ian Paulsen, Birdbooker Report

"For the serious birder it is a very enjoyable read for those rainy days when getting out into the field isn't an option. It reads easily and makes very frequent use of period illustrations and photographs to give us a real taste of the evolution of man's understanding of birds. From the days when the preferred tool of devoted birders like John James Audubon was a hunting rifle to the advent of modern bird photography, Chansigaud's All About Birds is an eye-opener and a page turner."—-Brad Sylvester, Manchester Bird Watching Examiner

From the Publisher

"Chansigaud, an environmental scientist, provides a concise history of the study of birds. . . . This carefully written, scholarly work should be valuable to academic libraries that support studies of ornithology, vertebrate biology, and the history of science."

Choice

"What a treat! In a concise, beautifully illustrated 239 pages, Valerie Chansigaud offers a history lesson on the study of birds. We meet Aristotle, Audubon, Darwin, and many other ornithologists, artists, and photographer who devoted their lives to understanding birds."

Birder's World

"A wonderful, easy to follow history of ornithology. . . . Cover to cover, All About Birds is loaded with illustrations, photographs, and diagrams of the people, birds, and events that have advanced ornithology and led to modern day birding."

Birdfreak.com

"A fast-paced chronological account of the personalities and milestones that have shaped this most popular of sciences."

ISLE

Anyone lacking encyclopedic knowledge of bird artists will learn something new in every section of this book. Collectively, their remarkable images of birds not only brighten All About Birds but awaken the reader, whose aesthetic engagement with birds will be at or near the height of experience by this reading. . . . This book, no doubt, will reinforce la passion in those who already know something of the field and will instill it in all for whom ornithology awaits as revelation.

BioScience - Shepard Krech III

For the serious birder it is a very enjoyable read for those rainy days when getting out into the field isn't an option. It reads easily and makes very frequent use of period illustrations and photographs to give us a real taste of the evolution of man's understanding of birds. From the days when the preferred tool of devoted birders like John James Audubon was a hunting rifle to the advent of modern bird photography, Chansigaud's All About Birds is an eye-opener and a page turner.

Manchester Bird Watching Examiner - Brad Sylvester

This is an excellent book for any birder or bird lover who's curious about how human knowledge and interest in birds has evolved. Starting Aristotle and surveying European and American bird observers, this book traverses the centuries smoothly and clearly. It brings bird knowledge, now formally dubbed ornithology, up to the very recent past.

Towheeblog - Harry Fuller

Anyone who is more than casually interested in birds will heartily welcome the publication of All About Birds. . . . Following a timeline (which is outlined in the back of the book) Chansigaud provides entries about all of the major contributors to bird science. Fully half the volume is devoted to the 19th century during which ornithology came into full flower. The book is richly illustrated, very accessible, and has a good bibliography.

Audubon - Wayne Mones

Well illustrated often with period bird art. . . . [A] good introduction to the history of ornithology.

Birdbooker Report - Ian Paulsen

Beautifully illustrated. . . . If you want a basic primer on who was studying birds in former ages, this is a good place to start.

Birding - Mark Cocker

This is an excellent book for any birder or bird lover who's curious about how human knowledge and interest in birds has evolved. Starting Aristotle and surveying European and American bird observers, this book traverses the centuries smoothly and clearly. It brings bird knowledge, now formally dubbed ornithology, up to the very recent past.
— Harry Fuller

Towheeblog

For the serious birder it is a very enjoyable read for those rainy days when getting out into the field isn't an option. It reads easily and makes very frequent use of period illustrations and photographs to give us a real taste of the evolution of man's understanding of birds. From the days when the preferred tool of devoted birders like John James Audubon was a hunting rifle to the advent of modern bird photography, Chansigaud's All About Birds is an eye-opener and a page turner.
— Brad Sylvester

Manchester Bird Watching Examiner

Well illustrated often with period bird art. . . . [A] good introduction to the history of ornithology.
— Ian Paulsen

Birdbooker Report

Beautifully illustrated. . . . If you want a basic primer on who was studying birds in former ages, this is a good place to start.
— Mark Cocker

Birding

Anyone lacking encyclopedic knowledge of bird artists will learn something new in every section of this book. Collectively, their remarkable images of birds not only brighten All About Birds but awaken the reader, whose aesthetic engagement with birds will be at or near the height of experience by this reading. . . . This book, no doubt, will reinforce la passion in those who already know something of the field and will instill it in all for whom ornithology awaits as revelation.
— Shepard Krech III

BioScience

This book provides useful context to what we know about birds today and why it matters. It is enhanced not only by an index, but also an illustrated timeline and a bibliography for further study. If you're interested in the history of natural history, this book would be a worthwhile purchase.
— Tom Palmer

Lakeland Ledger

This book provides useful context to what we know about birds today and why it matters. It is enhanced not only by an index, but also an illustrated timeline and a bibliography for further study. If you're interested in the history of natural history, this book would be a worthwhile purchase.

Lakeland Ledger - Tom Palmer

Anyone who is more than casually interested in birds will heartily welcome the publication of All About Birds. . . . Following a timeline (which is outlined in the back of the book) Chansigaud provides entries about all of the major contributors to bird science. Fully half the volume is devoted to the 19th century during which ornithology came into full flower. The book is richly illustrated, very accessible, and has a good bibliography.
— Wayne Mones

Audubon