Birds in the Calendar

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27465

Title

Birds in the Calendar

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Frederick G. Aflalo's *Birds in the Calendar* offers twelve naturalist sketches of British avian life, one for each month. Blending scientific observation with historical context and sporting tradition, the book explores the habits, diets, and behaviors of species from the pheasant to the robin, celebrating their unique roles in the English landscape.

Summary up to 500 words

Originally published in 1914, Frederick G. Aflalo's *Birds in the Calendar* offers a series of ornithological sketches dedicated to specific months and their representative avian inhabitants. The work serves as both a practical guide for birdwatching and a philosophical commentary on the relationship between humans and wildlife in rural England. Aflalo deliberately adopts the naturalist's perspective over that of the sportsman, arguing that while birds like the pheasant are prized for sport, their true interest lies in their habits and history. The book begins in January with the pheasant, a non-native species introduced by the Romans. Aflalo examines its rivalry with foxes, its polygamous nature, and its diet, noting that while it can damage crops, it also consumes destructive larvae. He highlights the bird's precocity and the striking difference in plumage between sexes. February features the woodcock, a scarce and elusive species protected by law. Aflalo details its unique breeding habit of carrying young between its legs and discusses its historical decline and subsequent recovery due to protective legislation. Moving through the seasons, the text explores the cuckoo in May and the swifts, swallows, and martins in July. Aflalo describes the incredible speed and flight patterns of swifts, noting their rare contact with the ground and their ability to navigate narrow obstacles with precision. He also recounts the fierce territorial battles between swallows and sparrows for nesting sites. The narrative shifts to waterfowl in November, discussing the dietary habits of ducks and the commercial value of eider down. The final chapter, December, focuses on the robin. Aflalo contrasts the bird's gentle reputation with its aggressive reality, emphasizing its remarkable tameness and trust in humans. He illustrates this with anecdotes of robins nesting in human dwellings and even under scaffolding planks. The book corrects popular misconceptions, such as the myth that nightjars steal milk, and addresses the tension between hunting traditions and conservation. Throughout, Aflalo weaves historical anecdotes and legal contexts to provide a comprehensive view of British birdlife, celebrating the diversity of species while advocating for a deeper understanding of their natural behaviors.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27465.epub.noimages

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data/epubs/pg27465.epub

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2026-07-06 09:00 UTC

Categories

• Science
• Nature