Birds in Our Lives/Ashish Kothari. New Delhi, University Press, 2007, xvi, 292 p., tables, ills, (pbk). ISBN 81-7371-586-6.

    Contents: Preface and Acknowledgements. 1. Birds, birds, everywhere. 2. Birds in Indian culture. 3. Ornithology through Indian history. 4. Brought in by the wind: the wonder of migration. 5. What good are they to us? Birds in India's economy. 6. An ill wind blows: Indian birds in danger. 7. The winds of change: conservation of India's birds. References and bibliography. Annexures: 1. Threatened birds of India. 2. Important bird areas of India. 3. Ramsar sites in India. 4. Some periodicals on Indian birds and related issues. Picture Credits.

    "Birds in Our Lives provides glimpses of the incredible diversity of India's birds: the ecosystems where different kinds of birds are found, the various ways -- cultural and economic -- in which birds have touched our lives, as well as a brief account of the history of ornithology in India. It stresses on the serious threats that bird habitats and populations face, and gives a sense of both the continued erosion of Indian bird life, as well as the rapidly growing efforts to save it. Finally, it provides key pointers for what needs to be done if we want to save this precious natural heritage." (jacket)

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