"Dazzling . McCommons adorns his narrative with colorful characters that bring fascinating depth to the historical period . the result is an immersive saga of a shift in both public conscience and everyday practice."-- Publishers Weekly, starred review "The book can be read as a history of the U.S. through birds, as, oddly enough, one can't fully be told without the other.[McCommons's] prose shines. A definitive history of bird conservation in America.

"-- Kirkus Reviews , starred review "When food, fashion, market forces, and even scientific inquiry demanded the deaths of birds, a colorful cast of turn-of-the-century Americans rose up in protest. James H. McCommons' insightful history chronicles battles for bird protection in every corner of the country, waged with words and images and sometimes with guns. The Feather Wars is a reminder of the power of grassroots conservation and a plea to continue the fight." -- Melissa L. Sevigny, author of Brave the Wild River "A unique and valuable historical journey highlighting the efforts of the men and women who labored to conserve the birds of this country." -- Joel Greenberg, author of A Feathered River across the Sky: The Passenger Pigeon's Flight to Extinction and To Life: Jews Exploring Nature "At the turn of the 20th century, birds in America were being slaughtered by the billions--for fashion, food, and the pet trade--pushing some species to the edge of extinction. Feather Wars tells the fascinating and often overlooked story of how this crisis ignited a nationwide campaign to protect them.

This is more than a history of birds--it's a story about the birth of modern environmental consciousness in America." -- Rene Ebersole, Editor-in-Chief, Wildlife Investigative Reporters & Editors re being slaughtered by the billions--for fashion, food, and the pet trade--pushing some species to the edge of extinction. Feather Wars tells the fascinating and often overlooked story of how this crisis ignited a nationwide campaign to protect them. This is more than a history of birds--it's a story about the birth of modern environmental consciousness in America." -- Rene Ebersole, Editor-in-Chief, Wildlife Investigative Reporters & Editors re being slaughtered by the billions--for fashion, food, and the pet trade--pushing some species to the edge of extinction. Feather Wars tells the fascinating and often overlooked story of how this crisis ignited a nationwide campaign to protect them. This is more than a history of birds--it's a story about the birth of modern environmental consciousness in America." -- Rene Ebersole, Editor-in-Chief, Wildlife Investigative Reporters & Editors re being slaughtered by the billions--for fashion, food, and the pet trade--pushing some species to the edge of extinction.

Feather Wars tells the fascinating and often overlooked story of how this crisis ignited a nationwide campaign to protect them. This is more than a history of birds--it's a story about the birth of modern environmental consciousness in America." -- Rene Ebersole, Editor-in-Chief, Wildlife Investigative Reporters & Editors.