A History of Ornithology

"What did we know about birds a thousand years ago, and how has our understanding developed? Which species did we first recognise, when did people begin to record their sightings, and how were the puzzles of bird behaviour and ecology gradually unravelled? A History of Ornithology offers a complete history of bird watching in Britain, a classic for every nature lover's bookshelf." "Peter Bircham looks at the history of British ornithology, spanning a millennium and exploring along the way the first bird book, the earliest British lists, various notable scientists, collectors and artists, the first studies of migration, and the challenges presented by classification. He traces the development of the British Ornithologists' Union and other organisations, and finishes with a review of the current state of ornithology in Britain."--BOOK JACKET.