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Summary: I saw it at the library and just had to read it!
Review: As a kid growing up in Southern California my dad pointed out a local flock of wild parrots to me. I did not believe him at first but their squawking was so distinctive there was no denying they were indeed parrots. I have been curious about them ever since. On a recent visit to San Francisco I was in the area of Telegraph Hill and I heard that familiar squawking and knew at once what it was. I was standing at the top of the hill, where Coit Tower is, when they swooped by. Amazing! I am so glad someone wrote this book.
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Summary: Wild magic in the heart of the city
Review: For one or two weeks every two months I live in an apartment at the base of Telegraph Hill, a place of true magic. I could not believe my ears the first time I heard the parrots, or my eyes, the first time I saw them! I soon found Mark Bittner's web site, complete with wonderful photos of the parrots and the story of his connection with them. What a pleasure, then, to find in my local Massachusetts book store, a copy of this wonderful book. Mr. Bittner takes us with him as his relationship with the parrots becomes inextricably woven into his life search for meaning. His study of the parrot's lives, first undertaken by chance, becomes a life's work of real interest to anyone who has an affection for animal life in general, or these amazing birds in particular.
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Summary: Amazing!
Review: I disagree with the reviewer who calls Mark Bittner a "loser in the lottery of life" and someone who substitutes relationships with animals for relationships with people. Bittner labels himself a "recluse" and a "hermit." His distance from people is, I believe, distinct from his connection with the parrots.What Bittner shares with us is the quest for his humanity. He confronts stubborn rebellion (his refusal to "just get a job"), the ugly realities of the way society works (homelessness, aging of his benefactor) and disingenous romanticism about our connections with nature (which leads to both the parrots' predicament and Bittner's desire early in the story to escape to "the country.") I have always wished I were one of those people who are born with a gift for communicating with wild animals. I am inspired by the idea that such a gift can be cultivated not bestowed.
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Summary: A tale for all
Review: I loved this book. It is the most human of stories. A man in search of himself and the world creatively finds a flock who finds him. Itis a gut wrenching story of love and boldness in the world. You DO NOT have to be a parrot lover to appreciate this very well written story. You will never see parrots the same way, or perhaps you will have the result I have had...we are all creatures of a flock. Highly recommended. See the film too! Bravo!
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Summary: Inadvertant Memoir
Review: I was attracted to this book because of my long-standing curiosity about the feral parakeets of San Francisco, where I grew up and still live. And it is definitely worth reading on that score -- Mark Bittner has more information to impart on those birds than any other source I've ever found. But the book is fascinating, too, because it is the truthful autobiography of someone who is, frankly, a loser in the lottery of life. Not a big loser -- he manages, barely, to escape from homelessness, and he (pathetically) substitutes relationships with feral parrots for normal human relationships. But he is so clueless in many obvious ways. Too poor to pay for practically anything, but he buys parrot books at the local bookstore, and is amazed at his discovery of the local library, where, gasp, he can read books for FREE. And it is intriguing to read his accounts of his petty descents into the rivalries of these animals, and his adoption of their aims and hostilities, in the absence of a normal human existence. By all means, get this book if you have ever wondered about the weirdo around the corner who can only interact with dogs, cats, birds, or whatever. And get it if you're curious about feral exotic birds -- he documents their lives like nothing I've ever read of before.
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Summary: incredible story
Review: I'm only halfway through this book right now, but I can't wait to finish it. It's funny and charming. I only started to read it because someone simply recommended it, I had no idea what to expect, but it really is amusing.
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Summary: Candid Memoir & Record of San Francisco's Wild Conures.
Review: In 1988, Mark Bittner took a job as a housekeeper for an elderly woman in a building on San Francisco's famed Telegraph Hill. It offered a rent-free studio apartment, which was a real improvement for Bittner, a failed musician and occasional odd-jobber, who had recently been homeless. Little did he know at the time that the colorful noisy flock of birds outside his window would give his life purpose and allow him to find the perspective that he had sought through religion and philosophy. Like so many of us, he caught the bird-watching bug from observing his avian neighbors through his window. He felt compelled to learn about them, began to feed them, and embarked on the slow process of earning their trust. Unlike most of us, Mark Bittner's neighborhood birds were a flock of wild parrots, mostly cherry-headed conures. Some had been pets. Some were born in the wilds of San Francisco. They now all lived free in the city, eating from the trees in a nearby garden and from scattered bird feeders, and nesting in the local parks. Bittner set out to get to know these birds, with the hope of finding an avian friend who could remain free, yet enjoy his company. An odd goal perhaps, but, in interacting with the flock, Bittner got to know quite a few of the individual birds. Over the course of six years, he came to admire the standoffish but regal blue-crowned conure that he called Conner. He tried to save the lives of several juveniles who fell victim to a virus. He became too involved in flock politics. "The Parrots of Telegraph Hill" is a unique memoir of a man's relationship with a flock of parrots. Mark Bittner wasn't an avian expert and had to learn as he went along. He has an aimless personality that some readers may find annoying. But he's candid in recounting his failures, successes, and feelings about the birds. "The Parrots of Telegraph Hill" is an honest tale of love and self-discovery. Even if you don't find the author interesting, the birds are fascinating, and their behavior is described in detail. Also see the book's companion web site, www.wildparrotsbook.com, for color photos to accompany each chapter. The photos in the book are black-and-white.
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Summary: Great for anyone interested in parrots
Review: Like another reviewer, I found myself thinking the author should have grown up and gotten a life. The idea of his waiting for something magical to just "happen" while he bums around was irritating. But, having said that, the rest of the book was a delight. Fortunately, most of the book is devoted to the parrots. I laughed, I cried. Literally. The writing is easy and engaging and while I wished the photos were in color I was just pleased to see them. The photo of Tupelo is amazing and heartbreaking. The descriptions of each bird's personality and their interactions with each other and the author were insightful, sometimes amusing and always interesting. One of the best books I've read in a while. If you have even the remotest interest in parrots, read this book. I very, very rarely buy hardcovers but this was an exception and well worth the price. Unlike most other books, this one is NOT going to the used book store!
Rating:
Summary: Great for anyone interested in parrots
Review: Like another reviewer, I found myself thinking the author should have grown up and gotten a life. The idea of his waiting for something magical to just "happen" while he bums around was irritating. But, having said that, the rest of the book was a delight. Fortunately, most of the book is devoted to the parrots. I laughed, I cried. Literally. The writing is easy and engaging and while I wished the photos were in color I was just pleased to see them. The photo of Tupelo is amazing and heartbreaking. The descriptions of each bird's personality and their interactions with each other and the author were insightful, sometimes amusing and always interesting. One of the best books I've read in a while. If you have even the remotest interest in parrots, read this book. I very, very rarely buy hardcovers but this was an exception and well worth the price. Unlike most other books, this one is NOT going to the used book store!
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Summary: Captivating and personally involving
Review: Mark Bittner's book is a honest personal evolution that does the author and his avian subjects proud. The respect and admiration Mark has for the mixed conure flock he became involved with translates wonderfully to the printed page, as well as to Judy Irving's documentary by the same title. This book should be in every bird lover's library and anyone who's ever come to value a relationship with an intelligent being outside of Homo sapiens. Sometimes they have the most to teach us about ourselves. I am reminded of primate and cetacean researchers who get to know the social dynamics of primates and cetaceans in the wild; but this is more than a study of birds, it is a chronicle of parrot characters through health and sickness, the joy and dangers of an uncaged life. I have read several reviews mentioning the photos in the book are in black and white. Personally I was glad to have those photos of the parrots on every chapter page, and especially one of Tupelo, who there was not footage of in the documentary though her story was related and was very moving. I think the cover, which is in color, is wonderful and very eye-catching. I also love how Mark's own personality even comes across in the names he chose for the birds....often named after authors, philosophers, and artists he admires. And a couple from Van Morrison songs. I am loaning this book to everyone I know who would read it!
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