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Silence of the Songbirds
A distinguished scientist reveals how we are losing the world's songbirds, why this predicts widespread environmental problems, and what we can do to save the birds and their habitats.
Wood thrush, bobolinks, the Eastern kingbird―migratory songbirds are disappearing at a frightening rate. Following the birds on their six-thousand-mile migratory journey, renowned biologist Bridget Stutchbury leads us on an ecological field trip to explore firsthand their major threats, and reveals what a vital part of our ecosystem they are.
Wood thrush, bobolinks, the Eastern kingbird―migratory songbirds are disappearing at a frightening rate. Following the birds on their six-thousand-mile migratory journey, renowned biologist Bridget Stutchbury leads us on an ecological field trip to explore firsthand their major threats, and reveals what a vital part of our ecosystem they are.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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274 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 2, 2015
I bought this book after hearing Dr. Stutchbury speak. This book got me to start buying organic bananas and bird-friendly coffee.
October 7, 2012
With this book, Bridget Stutchbury, ornithologist and currently professor at York University, Toronto, has made an important contribution to the popular science literature on birds of the New World. The focus is on the many bird species that are suffering long-term declines in their populations, especially neotropical migrant songbirds that breed in North America and spend the 'winter' (or more accurately, the non-breeding season) in Central and South America.
In nine chapters, Stutchbury leads the reader through key conservation issues affecting these birds in the breeding and non-breeding range. Some are very familiar to readers of the neotropical migrant bird literature: habitat loss and fragmentation at both ends of the range, brood parasitism by cowbirds and predation by feral cats in the breeding grounds, problems for migrants en route in stopover sites, and the conservation value of countryside and secondary habitats for birds, including shade coffee plantations in the south and the forests regenerating on abandoned agricultural land in the north. All of these have spawned a great deal of scientific literature and attention, particularly since the early 1990s. Two notable earlier books that brought to the fore the emerging concerns, including the alarming problems faced by neotropical migrant birds, were John Terborgh's 1989 book Where Have All the Birds Gone?: Essays on the Biology and Conservation of Birds That Migrate to the American Tropics and Scott Weidensaul's 1999 popular overview of the ecology of migrant birds Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds.
Stutchbury's book is a valuable addition to this literature in two ways. First, her book, published in 2007, brings the knowledge more up-to-date, introducing some recent studies that have improved or changed our understanding, for instance, studies on stopover ecology and edge effects. In addition, she describes some issues at greater depth, paying more attention than the earlier books on the subject. For instance, Chapter 6 on the ongoing scourge of pesticides is timely, evoking the awareness that even 50 years after Rachel Carson's ground-breaking book Silent Spring, the environmental problems created by pesticides remain as serious, if not more, today. Even as some of persistent organic pollutants, such as the organochlorines (OC) including DDT have been banned or reduced in several countries, new and more potent chemicals such as organophosphates and carbamates have taken hold. While some of these may not accumulate like the more persistent chemicals, they are more toxic at smaller doses to organisms in the environment (e.g., deadly organophosphates such as monocrotophos and carbamates such as carbofuran). They also affect human and animal health by disrupting hormonal or nervous systems, causing cancers, or having other detrimental effects.
Her final chapter is also interesting as it builds on the work of her students and herself, among others, on the importance of the presence of other individuals of the same species (conspecifics) for birds to establish themselves and breed successfully in habitats. Recent work on behavioural ecology, particularly related to breeding behaviour and breeding success, is described by Stutchbury, highlighting that "of paramount importance is whether or not [the birds] will lead a productive social life...". This has its own implications for conservation. As she concludes: "In terms of managing forests and landscapes to increase bird biodiversity, we have to do more than add trees and nest sites to forests. Birds need other birds; as the numbers of migrants continue to fall, this will only disrupt the mating system even more, and in turn the population decline will accelerate."
The only aspect where the book falls a little short is in the missed opportunity to describe parallel research and findings from the Old World. The author makes passing mention of similar bird declines noticed in the UK, and in the Europe -- Africa migrations, but does not expand on it. Are the patterns similar, or different, and in what ways? Similarly, there is an entire chapter devoted to shade-coffee plantations and birds, which retains an exclusive New World focus. There is a significant body of work from the Old World on the conservation values of shaded plantations, home gardens and the like, with significant similarities and some key differences, which finds no mention. As in science, so in scientific communication, it seems, that each region progresses sometimes as if the other hardly exists.
Written in an easy and simple style, this is overall a good book for the shelf of anyone interested in birds and conservation. The author highlights what individuals, as conscientious consumers, can do to minimise their environmental footprint, such as by buying shade-grown coffee and organic produce, keeping bird-eating cats indoors, or turning down lights in cities during the migration season. In a few places the writing sparkles and it feels like we are accompanying her and her students on a morning walk, through the forests of Pennsylvania or Panama, watching birds and learning about their ecology and behaviour from someone who really knows them well.
In nine chapters, Stutchbury leads the reader through key conservation issues affecting these birds in the breeding and non-breeding range. Some are very familiar to readers of the neotropical migrant bird literature: habitat loss and fragmentation at both ends of the range, brood parasitism by cowbirds and predation by feral cats in the breeding grounds, problems for migrants en route in stopover sites, and the conservation value of countryside and secondary habitats for birds, including shade coffee plantations in the south and the forests regenerating on abandoned agricultural land in the north. All of these have spawned a great deal of scientific literature and attention, particularly since the early 1990s. Two notable earlier books that brought to the fore the emerging concerns, including the alarming problems faced by neotropical migrant birds, were John Terborgh's 1989 book Where Have All the Birds Gone?: Essays on the Biology and Conservation of Birds That Migrate to the American Tropics and Scott Weidensaul's 1999 popular overview of the ecology of migrant birds Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere with Migratory Birds.
Stutchbury's book is a valuable addition to this literature in two ways. First, her book, published in 2007, brings the knowledge more up-to-date, introducing some recent studies that have improved or changed our understanding, for instance, studies on stopover ecology and edge effects. In addition, she describes some issues at greater depth, paying more attention than the earlier books on the subject. For instance, Chapter 6 on the ongoing scourge of pesticides is timely, evoking the awareness that even 50 years after Rachel Carson's ground-breaking book Silent Spring, the environmental problems created by pesticides remain as serious, if not more, today. Even as some of persistent organic pollutants, such as the organochlorines (OC) including DDT have been banned or reduced in several countries, new and more potent chemicals such as organophosphates and carbamates have taken hold. While some of these may not accumulate like the more persistent chemicals, they are more toxic at smaller doses to organisms in the environment (e.g., deadly organophosphates such as monocrotophos and carbamates such as carbofuran). They also affect human and animal health by disrupting hormonal or nervous systems, causing cancers, or having other detrimental effects.
Her final chapter is also interesting as it builds on the work of her students and herself, among others, on the importance of the presence of other individuals of the same species (conspecifics) for birds to establish themselves and breed successfully in habitats. Recent work on behavioural ecology, particularly related to breeding behaviour and breeding success, is described by Stutchbury, highlighting that "of paramount importance is whether or not [the birds] will lead a productive social life...". This has its own implications for conservation. As she concludes: "In terms of managing forests and landscapes to increase bird biodiversity, we have to do more than add trees and nest sites to forests. Birds need other birds; as the numbers of migrants continue to fall, this will only disrupt the mating system even more, and in turn the population decline will accelerate."
The only aspect where the book falls a little short is in the missed opportunity to describe parallel research and findings from the Old World. The author makes passing mention of similar bird declines noticed in the UK, and in the Europe -- Africa migrations, but does not expand on it. Are the patterns similar, or different, and in what ways? Similarly, there is an entire chapter devoted to shade-coffee plantations and birds, which retains an exclusive New World focus. There is a significant body of work from the Old World on the conservation values of shaded plantations, home gardens and the like, with significant similarities and some key differences, which finds no mention. As in science, so in scientific communication, it seems, that each region progresses sometimes as if the other hardly exists.
Written in an easy and simple style, this is overall a good book for the shelf of anyone interested in birds and conservation. The author highlights what individuals, as conscientious consumers, can do to minimise their environmental footprint, such as by buying shade-grown coffee and organic produce, keeping bird-eating cats indoors, or turning down lights in cities during the migration season. In a few places the writing sparkles and it feels like we are accompanying her and her students on a morning walk, through the forests of Pennsylvania or Panama, watching birds and learning about their ecology and behaviour from someone who really knows them well.
March 24, 2009
For all that the topic is one in which I have a deep interest, this was not the book for me. The author sticks to what she knows, a few birds common to the eastern seaboard. And her authorial voice, one that smacked of upper middle class entitlement (as she described walks in the woods at her Pennsylvania farm and walks near her other home in Toronto), left me wishing she could explicate the problem without so injecting that note. There's lots of "doom and gloom" in the book but it's mostly, except for the details specific to the birds, a rehash of "old news" environmentally and ecologically speaking. She does a single page just at the end of the last chapter that sets out some simple things that we could all do to not only save the songbirds but save out environment as well, things that we've mostly read in a dozen other formats over the years.
February 26, 2020
Quite the informative little "read." I really liked this "book." Occasionally, it's a bit of a drag. I get lost frequently when authors describe scientific studies. But overall, a very thought-provoking book, and kind of a downer too. We're chopping down all the forests. Cats are eating the birds. Birds are crashing into towers and buildings. AND YOU'RE DRINKING THE WRONG COFFEE. I can't imagine that any of these problems will ever be fixed. It is sad to think that within probably 50 years, there will be no more birds, because you just HAD TO HAVE YOUR FOLGERS, YOU SCUM. So decide to go birding now, with me, and identify as many birds as you can before they all perish forever.
October 2, 2014
Very interesting, lots of good information, but also depressing.
April 9, 2024
The author paints a pretty bleak picture of the future. We all know it. Our small contributions can help somewhat by just being aware. I think the pesticide concern probably can answer some weird health issues that our country is unable to solve. If we/they poison things in nature eventually it will enter the food chain. I'm looking at fruit and vegetables differently...like where did this come from?? I washed my apple for an extra long time this morning. I get mail order catalogs on a regular basis, flipped one over last night, was happy it was made by the forest conscious products, but holding it made me think how unnecessary the frequency of receiving it. Ouch. I enjoyed this book(not sure that's the right word). Maybe better to say its an important read.
February 7, 2018
(Nonfiction, Nature)
I’ve noticed in the last few years and especially in the spring and summer of last year that there are fewer songbirds trilling their calls around our country property.
Since reading Silence of the Songbirds, I have a good idea why this is – not that it makes me feel any better.
Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring is still a classic on this subject, but Stutchbury’s book is an up-to-date consideration of the whole of North America.
These are disturbing facts; I often see in my mind’s eye, even now three years after first reading of them, all those dead hawks falling from the sky over southern fields.
4 stars
I’ve noticed in the last few years and especially in the spring and summer of last year that there are fewer songbirds trilling their calls around our country property.
Since reading Silence of the Songbirds, I have a good idea why this is – not that it makes me feel any better.
Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring is still a classic on this subject, but Stutchbury’s book is an up-to-date consideration of the whole of North America.
These are disturbing facts; I often see in my mind’s eye, even now three years after first reading of them, all those dead hawks falling from the sky over southern fields.
4 stars
November 25, 2017
This is a great book for bird- or wildlife-minded individuals looking for a comprehensive guide to the research available on bird declines, as well as concrete strategies we as consumers can follow to help wild birds. Despite talking about all the challenges birds face and the many aspects causing their declines, this book still manages to keep an upbeat tone rather than one of doom and gloom. The author presents a problem and then offers solutions and opportunities for progress. I enjoyed this book.
June 29, 2021
Informative, thought provoking and inspirational. A lot of scientific research presented in a really easy to understand way, and easy for readers to relate to. Problems were discussed in detail and then simple solutions were provided so readers can take action themselves. Highly recommend for anyone interested in bird and wildlife conservation.
June 28, 2023
This was a fairly good book. I found at least 3 typos in my copy. She uses words like: may, might, should, could, probably, estimates and other such words too much for a science book. And I am simply not convinced that climate change is affecting bird populations as much as she seems to 'probably' think. Love the anecdotes about individual species.
July 5, 2018
Loved this book despite the ominous warning. Bird life is so fascinating to me
April 15, 2020
This book in an important read for everyone. How our actions affect the world around us from insects, to chemicals to buildings to cats.
July 31, 2024
As always, I love this kind of content, even if some of the bad news presented is a bummer.
April 9, 2016
3.5 stars.
Mostly due to various human activity, many species of songbird are dying out. This book takes a look at the reasons why, and also suggests ways we can help. Some causes that are investigated are deforestation, pesticides, urban areas, and more. Suggestions to help: buy shade grown coffee and organic products. Stutchbury also describes why birds are so important to our environment and why it would be a bad thing to continue to lose them.
It was very interesting. I put up a bird feeder about a year ago and I really enjoy watching the birds that come, so that may have helped make the book more appealing to me, as well as my interest in environmental issues. Unfortunately, I didn’t read the book all in one go. It was set a aside a few times, so I wonder if I may have rated it a bit higher even, if I had been able to read it all at once.
Mostly due to various human activity, many species of songbird are dying out. This book takes a look at the reasons why, and also suggests ways we can help. Some causes that are investigated are deforestation, pesticides, urban areas, and more. Suggestions to help: buy shade grown coffee and organic products. Stutchbury also describes why birds are so important to our environment and why it would be a bad thing to continue to lose them.
It was very interesting. I put up a bird feeder about a year ago and I really enjoy watching the birds that come, so that may have helped make the book more appealing to me, as well as my interest in environmental issues. Unfortunately, I didn’t read the book all in one go. It was set a aside a few times, so I wonder if I may have rated it a bit higher even, if I had been able to read it all at once.
August 14, 2009
An eye opening and sad commentary for migratory songbirds.
________________________________________
"Ten Ways to Help Migratory Songbirds
Buy Shade Coffee
Buy Organic Produce from Tropical Countries (e.g. bananas, pineapple)
Buy Organic for Crops that Pose the Greatest Pesticide Risk to Birds (e.g. potatoes)
Go Pesticide-free on Your Lawn
Buy Wood and Paper Products Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
Buy Paper Products (e.g. toilet paper, paper towel) made from Recycled Paper
Turn Your Lights Off at Night during Migration
Reduce Bird-Window Collisions by Moving Bird Feeders
Make Your Backyard Bird-friendly by Planting Shrubs and Trees
Keep Your Cat Indoors"
The Savvy Reader: April 21,2008
http://savvyreader.typepad.com/my_web...
________________________________________
"Ten Ways to Help Migratory Songbirds
Buy Shade Coffee
Buy Organic Produce from Tropical Countries (e.g. bananas, pineapple)
Buy Organic for Crops that Pose the Greatest Pesticide Risk to Birds (e.g. potatoes)
Go Pesticide-free on Your Lawn
Buy Wood and Paper Products Certified by the Forest Stewardship Council
Buy Paper Products (e.g. toilet paper, paper towel) made from Recycled Paper
Turn Your Lights Off at Night during Migration
Reduce Bird-Window Collisions by Moving Bird Feeders
Make Your Backyard Bird-friendly by Planting Shrubs and Trees
Keep Your Cat Indoors"
The Savvy Reader: April 21,2008
http://savvyreader.typepad.com/my_web...
November 30, 2015
If you are old enough to have read Rachel Carson's Silent Spring and remember the pessimistic future foretold therein, this is the natural followup to cheer you up--at least a little. Stutchbury brings the reality to the surface once again, after these many years, but along with that reality, she brings an incredible array of interesting facts about birds, and our dependence upon their existence. Stutchbury also completes the story on a positive note by letting us know what we can do to help. I can't resist adding that the author's often humorous style of presentation is so very welcome in a book that presents such a scary picture of the future. For example, I hope you will enjoy the marginally x-rated description of the Hooded Warbler's community life in chapter nine.
December 26, 2013
This is a fascinating but sobering book that explains why the songbird population is diminishing so rapidly. The author is knowledgeable about birds and their behavior, specifically about the migrant birds who spend the winter in Central America and then migrate to North America to breed. Stutchbury explains the dangerous conditions these animals face along their journey and makes suggestions on what can be done to mitigate their ever-increasing death rates. Hopefully, we will be able to save the songbirds from extinction. The book renewed my resolve to make environmentally-friendly choices when I'm able to do so.
June 16, 2012
We've noticed over the years that we are seeing fewer types of birds in our patch of forest, but I assumed that this was largely the result of global warming. Having read this book I now realize that there are a host of reasons why this is so, from light pollution, pesticide use, cell and wind towers, loss of habitat both in wintering grounds and breeding areas and predators. It seems to me that in the not too distant future we will no longer hear the dawn chorus of singbirds in our forest. What a pity for future generations!
February 28, 2008
I am currently reading this and I find it hard to put down. It's so good to read a book where her descriptions of the Panama rain forest reminds me of the first 26 or so pages of James Mitchner's description of the forming of the Islands in his" Hawaii" moved me to tears because of his descriptive beauty (I think I reread those pages 3 times over before going on in the book). Bridget is a great writer and scientist and I am so glad I have been fortunate enough to meet and get to know her.
March 27, 2010
This book inspires me to be even more vigilant abou buying organic. We always hear about the health benefits for people, but the effect pesticides have on birds and wildlife is catastrophic - espcially in Latin America where many of our birds winter. This book goes into more than just pesticides - it's all things that affect our songbirds. Fairly easy to read even with all the very specific things scientists write about.
April 4, 2012
This is a fascinating and highly readable book for anyone interested in birds or nature. It's very accessible for those of us without science backgrounds and contains so much interesting information. You'll never drink coffee again without thinking about where and how it's grown. And you'll never hear the songbirds in your backyard without wondering about how far they've flown and what obstacles they've surmounted on their flight.
October 11, 2013
This is a must read, depressing as it is. Songbirds, as suggested by the author, just might be the canary in the cage with regards to the human species. After all, their numbers are dwindling astoundingly as a result of habitat loss and pesticides and other man-made reasons. These are all indicators of well being not only for birds but for humans and the planet. However, there are things that you can do, such as buying shade coffee and organic vegetables.
November 12, 2015
I really enjoyed this book- it was well written and accessible whilst still taking time to discuss the science behind the trends, which is something I find popular science books can struggle with sometimes. The author also makes some useful suggestions for things that the reader can consider doing to help fight the songbird decline. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone with and interest in birds and the environment.
April 21, 2008
Packed with lots of good information, and pretty well-written. In a few sections her arguments felt glossed over and/or one-sided. Still, a compelling summary of how songbirds fit into the global ecosystem, and how they are (or aren't) finding ways to integrate themselves into a rapidly changing environment.
April 6, 2008
A very insightful book about the decline of migratory songbirds across North and South America and how this is affecting world ecosystems. Filled with lots of informative, entertaining bird behavior anecdotes. An enjoyable read for anyone gaga about birds. I think it is an important read for non-bird lovers too, though it might not be such fun reading in that case.
July 27, 2011
I love birds. Living out in the country I have the oppurtunity to help so many that are close to endangered. This book helped me realize what my property needs to support migratory birds and their habitats. There is a lot of tragedy in the book and the future looks bleak for many species. I also found the book VERY repititious. However, Stutchbury knows what she's talking about.
August 23, 2014
Staeted out rather slow for me..and then suddenly POW! It really got my attention. Fascinating information and very disturbing learning. Motivated me to take personal action and do what I can to help save our songbirds.
October 5, 2014
The author did a great job of laying out a TON of facts in a really interesting way; she did a great job of explaining some pretty complex topics (OPs, OCs, carbamates, etc). Definitely makes you want to take action and do something good for the earth, and the birds!
September 20, 2009
Really good book on migratory songbirds, why they are declining, and what you can do about it to help them.
July 8, 2010
This book was more like a lay textbook on the life and habitat of songibrds. I learned a lot about songbirds. Probably a bit more than I wanted to know. Stilll I'm glad I read it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews