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Loading... The Birds of Pandemonium (edition 2014)by Michele Raffin
Work InformationThe Birds of Pandemonium: Life Among the Exotic & the Endangered by Michele Raffin
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. A fascinating read by a true bird fanaticist. First, she took in foster and rescue birds, particularly "companion birds". Then she began rescuing endangered "exotic" species, and ultimately breeding them to help try to re-populate and save them from extinction. Along the way, we lucky readers grow to understand how communicative birds are, what outsized personalities many of them have, and why she is so passionate about her avian friends. Illustrated with gorgeous photographs (truly--the photographer should have been credited on the title page, in my opinion). ( ) This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. In this charming memoir, Pandemonium Aviary's founder Michele Raffin describes her journey from attempting to rescue an injured bird on the side of the highway to becoming the head of a successful conservation non-profit that houses hundreds of birds in her converted backyard. The story is fascinating and inspirational, and full of charming human and avian characters. Raffin does a lovely job communicating the intelligence and emotional range of her charges, and the stunning color photos bring these exotic creatures to life. A genuinely fun and informative read. This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. The author's love affair with birds begins with a dove she is unable to save, and it grows to include rescue birds of numerous species. Then, in a decision that is both energizing and heartbreaking, Raffin becomes a breeding conservationist that focuses on ex-situ conservation of endangered species. These conservation breeding efforts are centered around six endangered species endemic to New Guinea or the Philippines, such as the Mindanao bleeding-heart. Their natural habitats are being decimated by palm oil plantations. The Birds of Pandemonium is not a pull-no-punches conservation plea. Raffin, who is friends with private breeders and relies on their expertise and support, is unable or unwilling to critique the greed that motivates much of the for-profit breeding industry. She touches at numerous points on the unwillingness of breeders to share their information. One suspects their secrecy is motivated by dollar signs not "snobbery [or] stubbornness" (198). The birds who reside at Michele Raffin's Pandemonium Aviaries are colorful characters. Raffin's life with her bird friends is zany and her cheeky prose style in The Birds of Pandemonium: Life Among the Exotic and Endangered reflects this. no reviews | add a review
Pandemonium, the home and bird sanctuary that Raffin shares with some of the world's most remarkable birds, is a conservation organization dedicated to saving and breeding birds at the edge of extinction, with the goal of eventually releasing them into the wild. Raffin discusses her crusade to save precious lives, and offers rare insights into how following a passion can transform not only oneself but also the world. No library descriptions found. |
LibraryThing Early Reviewers AlumMichele Raffin's book The Birds of Pandemonium was available from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Current DiscussionsNonePopular covers
Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)639.97Technology Agriculture & related technologies Hunting, fishing, conservation Conservation of biological resourcesLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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