'The Book of Birds': Not just identifying avian species, but relating to them
Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris's "The Book of Birds" goes beyond field-guide identification, aiming to foster a deeper emotional and relational connection between readers and avian species through prose and illustration.
Background
- Robert Macfarlane is a celebrated British nature writer known for works like *The Old Ways* and *Underland*; Jackie Morris is a renowned wildlife artist and illustrator, best known for *The Lost Words* — their previous collaboration that reclaimed nature vocabulary for children.
- *The Book of Birds* is their latest joint project, blending lyrical prose (Macfarlane) with detailed watercolor paintings (Morris). Unlike a traditional field guide that focuses solely on identification (plumage, calls, range), this book aims to convey the cultural, emotional, and ecological significance of birds — "relating to" rather than just "identifying" them.
- This reflects a broader trend in contemporary nature writing away from dry scientific cataloging toward a more immersive, storytelling approach that reconnects readers with the natural world. The article's framing matters because it challenges the utilitarian mindset that treats nature as a resource or a checklist of species.