"Hope Is the Thing with Feathers: A Personal Chronicle of Vanished Birds" by Christopher Cokinos is a non-fiction book that delves into the extinction of six North American bird species. The author, a poet and avid bird watcher, combines memoir, natural history, and an exploration of human behavior that led to the demise of these birds. The book is divided into chapters dedicated to each extinct species, including the Carolina Parakeet, Passenger Pigeon, Labrador Duck, Heath Hen, Great Auk, and Ivory-billed Woodpecker.
Cokinos weaves historical narratives, detailing the human actions that contributed to the extinction of these birds around the turn of the twentieth century. The title of the book is drawn from a poem by Emily Dickinson, and it reflects Cokinos's underlying plea for more humane treatment of the natural world and a reduction in human impact on the environment.
The author shares his personal experiences and travels to the last known nesting grounds of these birds, emphasizing the need for awareness and action to prevent the extinction of other species. Cokinos laments the loss of these birds as a loss of hope and wonder, urging readers to consider the impact of human actions on the environment and the importance of conservation efforts. Through his stories, Cokinos aims to bring attention to the unnecessary deaths of species on the brink of extinction and encourages readers to be more mindful of their impact on the natural world.
0