Birdmania: A Remarkable Passion for Birds

Originally published in German, this wide-ranging but selective account describes people for whom birds have been an obsession, vocation, or hobby. Among those profiled are egg and specimen collectors, researchers of behavior, recreational birders, and many others. Brunner's emphasis on the extreme sometimes makes distinguished academics and explorers come across as eccentric or peculiar. Birdmania would be improved if explanatory captions for the interesting illustrations had been placed next to them instead of in an eight-page appendix. The engaging text unfortunately is marred by errors, such as the statement that Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) hunted with Audubon (1785–1851). In two places one reads of Berwick's Swan, properly called Bewick's Swan. Brunner has a breezy style, but at times his compelling subject is laden with a fatuous, superficial quality. However, the author has done impressive research, providing birth and death dates for his many individuals spellbound by birds, citations to relevant literature, and historical context. While Americans are featured here, Birdmania has an Old World bias.