The Feather Wars: And the Great Crusade to Save America's Birds

"A definitive history of bird conservation in America." (Kirkus Reviews, starred)

From the time the country was founded, early Americans assumed that the land's natural resources were infinite, including its birds, which were zealously hunted for food, game, and fashion. With the rapid extinction of the passenger pigeon--a bird once so numerous that its flocks darkened the sky in flight--many realized actions needed to be taken if other birds were to be saved. What followed was both a spiritual awakening and a great crusade to save birds and their habitat. The campaign took place on many battlefields: society teas in Boston, hunt clubs on the East Coast, the mangroves in the Everglades, and in the editorial pages of newspapers and periodicals. From many corners of the country the bird protection movement was born and brought together a remarkable coalition of people and organizations to save America's birds.

The Feather Wars is an entertaining and expansive work of American history, an incredible story about how disparate characters--progressive politicians, free-thinking society belles, nature writers and artists, bird-loving U.S. presidents, gunmakers, business titans, and brave game wardens--came together to save hundreds of species of birds. Heroes, martyrs, villains, and conflicted do-gooders--the early bird conservation movement had them all. Together they transformed how Americans thought and cared about birds, forever altering the American landscape.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 03/17/2026
ISBN: 9781250286895
Pages: 416
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 9.25h x 6.12w x 1.00d

Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 11/01/2025
Library Journal 01/01/2026 pg. 70
Publishers Weekly 01/05/2026