Birdland
A Journey Around Britain on the Wing
Published on 24. April 2025
Book
Hardback
320 pages
978-0-00-868818-9 (ISBN)
Description
A joyous celebration of Britain's rich bird life
In Birdland, journalist and lifelong birder Jon Gower explores our intimate connection with the bird life around us. From the symphonic song of the wren to the clack of a puffin's beak and from epic migrations to sunset murmurations, birds are commonplace miracles. No wonder they have inspired our artists, writers and songwriters. Whether rare or abundant, Jon Gower visits some of the best places in Britain to watch birds, searching for some species he has always wanted to see such as wryneck, dotterel and barred warbler.
But all is not well in Birdland. Gower charts the many changes to Britain's bird life over the last 50 years, as the countryside has seemingly emptied and in many ways fallen silent. He considers the effects of the climate emergency, the decline in biodiversity and warming oceans on birdlife and looks at work being done to mitigate these developments. But above all it is a celebration of birds and their being, and a call to arms to defend them. As Great Bustards return to our plains and eagles to our mountains, Jon Gower's book examines the future from a bird's-eye view.
In Birdland, journalist and lifelong birder Jon Gower explores our intimate connection with the bird life around us. From the symphonic song of the wren to the clack of a puffin's beak and from epic migrations to sunset murmurations, birds are commonplace miracles. No wonder they have inspired our artists, writers and songwriters. Whether rare or abundant, Jon Gower visits some of the best places in Britain to watch birds, searching for some species he has always wanted to see such as wryneck, dotterel and barred warbler.
But all is not well in Birdland. Gower charts the many changes to Britain's bird life over the last 50 years, as the countryside has seemingly emptied and in many ways fallen silent. He considers the effects of the climate emergency, the decline in biodiversity and warming oceans on birdlife and looks at work being done to mitigate these developments. But above all it is a celebration of birds and their being, and a call to arms to defend them. As Great Bustards return to our plains and eagles to our mountains, Jon Gower's book examines the future from a bird's-eye view.
Reviews / Votes
'Hope for the birds' future lies in the infectious enthusiasm of the people of birdland, just as the book's reading pleasure does. Gower achieves what he sets out to do: "kindl[ing] the light of care" by sharing joy for the birds, as much as the facts about them. A journey definitely worth taking.' Times Literary Supplement'A delightful peregrination around our nation in search not just of birds, but also what birds mean to us; jam-packed with fascinating cultural, scientific and human stories.' Stephen Moss
'An intelligent, enchanting and uplifting book.' Tristan Gooley
'Follow the song and be plunged into a world where you will be charmed by birds. Full of knowledge and emotion, this is a wonderful journey to take alongside such an erudite and passionate writer.' Beccy Speight, CEO of the RSPB
'A wonderfully descriptive avian journey around Britain. At once witty, poignant and delightful, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.' Iolo Williams
'A lovely book, born out of a lifetime's fascination. Gower is the perfect guide, knowledgeable, inquisitive, passionate.' James Macdonald Lockhart
'A truly beautiful book about birds and people, it is also a quiet masterpiece, by turns moving, funny and revelatory, about living in love with the world.' Horatio Clare
'This is Jon Gower in his absolute element - pursuing birds through landscape and language to every corner of Britain. Birdland is charming, sobering, exquisitely observed and, above all, inspirational.' Tom Bullough
'Magnificent. Jon Gower's patent love of art, culture, history and deep bird knowledge make up his exhilarating story. I never wanted it to end.' Roger Morgan-Grenville
'A wonderful blend of anecdote and knowledge, brimming with curiosity and erudition and full of fascinating stories.' Lev Parikian
'A readable tour of the state of Britain's birdlife.' Country Life
'Absorbing ... fascinating... . Gower has a colourful way of writing.' RSPB Book club
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
20 col plates (8pp)
Dimensions
Height: 236 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
522 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-868818-9 (9780008688189)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
04/2025
HarperCollins
€8.99
Available for download
Person
Jon Gower grew up in Llanelli, Wales and studied English at Cambridge University. A former BBC Wales Arts and Media correspondent, he has been making documentary programmes for television and radio for several decades. He has over thirty books to his name, in both Welsh and English. The Story of Wales, was published to accompany a landmark BBC series broadcast. His first book for HarperNorth, The Turning Tide, was an Irish and Welsh Waterstones Book of the Month. He lives in Cardiff, Wales.