When There Were Birds

A landmark book that charts humanitys changing relationship with birds - from the ancient Egyptians to the twenty-first century

A marvellously original slice of social historyDaily Mail

The facts and folklore of birdlife are dissected in admirable detail in this handsome bookSunday Times

Roy and Lesley Adkins are masters of their craftBBC Countryfile Magazine

No other group of animals has had such a complex and lengthy relationship with humankind as birds. They have been kept in cages as pets, taught to speak and displayed as trophies. More practically, they have been used to tell the time, predict the weather, foretell marriages, provide unlikely cures for ailments, convey messages and warn of poisonous gases.

When There Were Birds is a social history of Britain that charts the complex connections between people and birds, set against a background of changes in the landscape and evolving tastes, beliefs and behaviours. It draws together many disparate, forgotten strands to present a story that is an intriguing and unexpectedly significant part of our heritage.