An exquisitely illustrated journey through the complex and crucial relationship between humans and birds. Avian Illuminations examines the many roles birds have played in human society, from food, messengers, deities, and pets, to omens, muses, timekeepers, custodians, hunting companions, decorative motifs, and, most importantly, embodiments of our aspirations. Boria Sax narrates the history of our relationships with a host of bird species, including...

"Part detective history, part memoir, in this book Jill Hunting tells the story of her journey across the United States and into the realms of prehistory, national history, and family history as she follows her great-grandfather's trail to the fossil bed where he discovered an 83-million-year-old avian dinosaur"--