Mark BittnerResenhas

265

This is much more a personal journal than a story. The author emphasizes his own feelings and emotional reactions to the birds. Much of what he observes as the dynamics of the flock and personalities of individual birds is interesting, but there isn't much to pull it together.

I'm a pretty easy sucker for "here's my relationship with an animal/s" book, but this one is special. It's spiritual and respectful of living creatures and honest (sometimes jarringly so). I very much enjoyed it, it was a real can't-put-it-downer.

Mark Bittner was a homeless vagabond, failed musician and a self styled dharma bum. After wandering the streets of San Francisco staying wherever he could find shelter, someone told him about an ad for a caretaker of sorts for an elderly woman in exchange for a studio apartment. It was here that he discovered the parrots and began feeding them. Not finding much information about their history or habits, he determined to learn as much as possible and in the process befriended many of them. I normally love these kinds of books, but the writing style here was a bit dry and I was left often times wanting more. I was also disappointed in the photos that were included at the beginning of each chapter. All black and white. For a book about very colorful parrots, the inclusion of black and white photos of the subjects seemed strange. You can not see the subtle color variations he tells about in these photos. It was frustrating. The chapter "Consciousness Explained" seemed a bit self indulgent. I will also say that I found it very hard to like this man. His plan for just sitting around and letting life happen to him as part of his spiritual journey (which even that- he just sort of fell into), was all just irritating. I found myself struggling to finish it.

The story of one man's relationship with these parrots, mostly cherry-headed conures, which have established themselves in San Francisco. Bittner was living in a studio apartment on Telegraph Hill when he started feeding them at regular times, gradually getting the flock used to his presence until he could stand with birds eating from his hand and perched on his shoulders. The more he observed the birds, the more he wanted to know about them. He gave them names, sorted out some of their relationships, and rescued ones that were injured or sick. He began asking around about the parrots, trying to learn more about the origins of the flock. Surprised to find that no one was studying the conures, Bittner began taking detailed notes himself on their behavior, and after six years had become a local authority on the birds. He gave slide shows and lectures, and after the book was published, pushed to get legislation passed to protect the birds. His book is a wonderful read full of details about the parrots' distinct personalities. It's also a story of the author's own search for meaning in his life, for stability (in his early years in San Francisco he was homeless), spirituality and love.

I can't even tell you how much I love this book. I want the world to read it. I fell in love with the damned parrots and with Bittner's gorgeous sentences. This man can write. It's a book that can change your life, if even for a while.

Bringing closer understanding of the intelligence, communications and consciousness of animals. It is also the story the authors voyage of self-discovery. A real gem of a book, uplifting and positive.½