The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill: A Love Story . . .with Wings

Mark Bittner's book drew me in so fast that I didn't realize what I was doing until the telephone rang around page fifty. I've never had great empathy with any bird; I've always preferred mammals. However, after devouring this book I won't ever look at those feathered dinosaurs in the same way again. I'm not an easy weeper, but several stories within this book moved me to the point of having tears in my eyes and a choke in my throat. Bittner writes extremely well and the story he tells is far more than a history. The intensity of his relationship with this flock of wild and feral parrots develops with all the passion of a novel, yet Bittner manages to convey a complexity of information that is remarkable as he goes. You can read this book for the biography of a 'dharma bum' (his term, not mine), as a natural historical reflection with a vast amount of information on parrots, or as both with a generous dose of philosophy. The last of these can be a dangerous term to use, so let me add that I have never seen so cogent an explanation of why 'anthropomorphism' should not be a dirty word. A beautiful book, a gift from both the brain and heart of a good man.

This wonderful memoir of Bittner's life with the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill in San Franciso is vivid, bittersweet and extraordinarily moving. Like Jane Goodall, Bittner entered the animal world with little scientific knowledge; his interaction with the flock of brilliantly-colored conures was motivated by both his fascination with the birds and his own spiritual path, the latter of which had led him to a life of contemplation and solitude. And, like Goodall, Bittner began his life with the animals as an observor (though he soon became their caretaker as well). Looking at the flock through Bittner's keenly compassionate eyes is a revelation. While the book is seeded through with the scientific and historical facts that Mark picked up through occasional research, it is primarily an autobiography interwoven with the biographies of individual birds and bird pairs. What emerges in Bittner's portraits of the birds are creatures with distinct personalities, emotions, and intellects. Bittner's story is not sacchrine. He traces, with bracing and sometimes devastating simplicity, the sometimes difficult lives of his companions. He witnesses births and deaths, couplings and splits, and cruel illnesses. In turn, he notes the changing nature of his relationship with the flock, which is itself not untroubled. He questions the path he's taken in life and struggles with the limits of his compassion and dedication. His self-criticism is amazing, given the extraordinary lengths to which he went to protect and nurture the birds. I want to mention in particular the chapter entitlted, "Tupelo," which is the strongest testament to the worth and complexity of human-animal bonds that I have ever read. Some reviews have spoken of the power of Tupelo's story and its ability to alter the reader's perception of animals, and I thoroughly concur with that assessment. I ended this chapter in awe. Bittner has given us an unlikely story about a most unlikely community, and it isn't quite like anything else you will ever read. I can't recommend it more highly.

I'm completely besotted by this gorgeous, honest, funny and heartwarming book. Even though it isn't available in Australia, I had it imported via a local bookshop. If you're not a bird lover, you could become one after reading this book. If you are a bird lover like me, the book takes you on a deeply rewarding emotional journey. I fell in love, laughed and cried with every one of these feathery personalities. The book squeezed my heart, wrung it out, and filled it up, reminding me of the parrots I've met & loved in my life. The author's irrepressible urge to plant a kiss on his favourite birds and his willingness to share his meal with them made me smile because I know how that feels, and it may seem weird to non bird lovers. One also learns some interesting facts as the author has done some research in this area. Mark's life intertwined with the birds' is also an interesting story. Some people may judge his unusual spiritual approach about not getting a job, but in the bigger picture, one can see how his spiritual journey led him to where he is today. He writes with a refreshing honesty, and comes through as a sensitive and compassionate soul.

I loved this book. It is the most human of stories. A man in search of himself and the world creatively finds a flock who finds him. Itis a gut wrenching story of love and boldness in the world. You DO NOT have to be a parrot lover to appreciate this very well written story. You will never see parrots the same way, or perhaps you will have the result I have had...we are all creatures of a flock. Highly recommended. See the film too! Bravo!

In 1988, Mark Bittner took a job as a housekeeper for an elderly woman in a building on San Francisco's famed Telegraph Hill. It offered a rent-free studio apartment, which was a real improvement for Bittner, a failed musician and occasional odd-jobber, who had recently been homeless. Little did he know at the time that the colorful noisy flock of birds outside his window would give his life purpose and allow him to find the perspective that he had sought through religion and philosophy. Like so many of us, he caught the bird-watching bug from observing his avian neighbors through his window. He felt compelled to learn about them, began to feed them, and embarked on the slow process of earning their trust. Unlike most of us, Mark Bittner's neighborhood birds were a flock of wild parrots, mostly cherry-headed conures. Some had been pets. Some were born in the wilds of San Francisco. They now all lived free in the city, eating from the trees in a nearby garden and from scattered bird feeders, and nesting in the local parks. Bittner set out to get to know these birds, with the hope of finding an avian friend who could remain free, yet enjoy his company. An odd goal perhaps, but, in interacting with the flock, Bittner got to know quite a few of the individual birds. Over the course of six years, he came to admire the standoffish but regal blue-crowned conure that he called Conner. He tried to save the lives of several juveniles who fell victim to a virus. He became too involved in flock politics. "The Parrots of Telegraph Hill" is a unique memoir of a man's relationship with a flock of parrots. Mark Bittner wasn't an avian expert and had to learn as he went along. He has an aimless personality that some readers may find annoying. But he's candid in recounting his failures, successes, and feelings about the birds. "The Parrots of Telegraph Hill" is an honest tale of love and self-discovery. Even if you don't find the author interesting, the birds are fascinating, and their behavior is described in detail. Also see the book's companion web site, www.wildparrotsbook.com, for color photos to accompany each chapter. The photos in the book are black-and-white.