While Flocks Last - Hardcover

Elder, Charlie

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0593061047 ISBN 13: 9780593061046

Publisher: Bantam Press, 2009

Synopsis

A worrying number of Britain's birds are in population freefall. We have lost well over half of our familiar house sparrows and starlings over the last twenty-five years, songbirds haven't much to sing about these days and many birds of woodland, wetland and upland are now living on a wing and a prayer. Armed with a field guide and a half-decent pair of binoculars, Charlie Elder travels the length and breadth of the British Isles to spot forty bird species in serious decline - the UK's Red List. He looks at why their numbers have fallen, what efforts are being made to encourage their recoveries and meets experts and enthusiasts who are working to make a difference. He also examines just why birds matter in the first place and considers the role of the birdwatcher - one species that is certainly not in decline. "While Flocks Last" will fascinate the vast swathe of people who are interested in birds, as well as those concerned about conservation issues. Charlie Elder's humorous and personable approach will appeal to those wearied by doom and gloom environmentalism but keen to know more about where all our birds have gone...

About this title

About the Author

Charlie Elder is a journalist. For the last twenty years he has worked for papers ranging from the Times of Tonga in the South Pacific and Hampstead and Highgate Express in north London to the Daily Telegraph and the Evening Standard. He is currently chief sub-editor on The Herald in Plymouth. He lives with his wife and two daughters on the edge of Dartmoor.

From the Inside Flap

A worrying number of Britain s birds are in population freefall. We have lost a staggering 60 per cent of our familiar house sparrows and starlings over the last twenty-five years, songbirds haven t much to sing about these days and many birds of woodland, wetland and upland are now living on a wing and a prayer.

Armed with a decent pair of binoculars and a biological safety suit (in case of a bird flu outbreak), Charlie Elder travels the length and breadth of the British Isles to spot forty bird species in serious decline the RSPB s Red List . He looks at why their numbers have fallen, what efforts are being made to encourage their recoveries and how experts and enthusiasts are working to make a difference. He also examines just why birds matter in the first place and considers the role of the birdwatcher one species that is certainly not in decline.
While Flocks Last targets the vast swathe of people who are interested in birds, as well as those concerned about conservation issues. Charlie Elder's humorous and personable approach will appeal to those wearied by po-faced environmentalism but keen to know more about where all our birds have gone ...

Edition details

• Publisher: Bantam Press
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0593061047
• ISBN 13: 9780593061046
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336