Alec H. ChisholmCritiques

In the Edwardian era, A.H. Chisholm was one of Australia's foremost amateur ornithologists, and a pioneering conservationist. Mateship with Birds is a series of essays that he wrote observing Australia's bird life at different times of the year.

Probably the best word to sum this book up would be "quaint". It is written in a prolix, bucolic style typical of Chisholm's time, and laced with grandiose literary allusions. There is very little science here; the book is mostly one man's observations, delivered in a quite anthropomorphic fashion.

I found it useful to have an online bird reference handy, especially since the names of some of the birds Chisholm writes about have changed. What he calls a "soldier bird" is now known as a noisy miner, for example. It's also nice to have some colour pictures to look at while appreciating Chisholm's descriptions.

I doubt that any modern bird-fancier would write such a book, but it still has interest and merit. The final chapter, on the disappearance of the paradise parrot, is a very early call to action on preserving endangered species. In a way, this chapter underscores a sad aspect of this book; many of the species that Chisholm talks about as common are now quite rarely seen; driven away by loss of habitat.

Classic

Alec Chisholm writes of his trip to Europe and Britain