press.princeton.edu New A Sparrowhawk’s Lament How British Breeding Birds of Prey Are Faring

Britain is home to fteen species of breeding birds of prey, from the hedgerow-hopping Sparrowhawk to the breathtaking White-tailed Eagle. In this handsomely illustrated book, acclaimed British lmmaker and naturalist David Cobham o ers unique and deeply personal insights into Britain’s birds of prey and how they are faring today. He delves into the history of these marvellous birds and talks in depth with the scientists and conservationists who are striving to safeguard them. In doing so, he pro les the writers, poets, and lmmakers who have done so much to change the public’s perception of birds of prey. Thanks to popular television programs, the Victorian myth that any bird with a hooked beak is evil has been dispelled. However, although there are success stories— ve birds of prey that were extinct have become reestablished with viable populations—persecution is still rife: so much so that one bird of prey, the Hen Harrier, became virtually extinct in England as a breeding bird in 2013