Female Heroes of Bird Conservation

It is an extremely depressing truth that women’s contributions to science are often overlooked. Historically, it was commonplace for women’s scientific work to either be ignored or stolen. Although modern women are much better represented, a leaky pipeline (the phenomenon by which capable individuals from minority groups are gradually lost from the scientific workforce) still poses massive problems for equality and diversity targets. Representation is key, and so it is refreshing to find a book dedicated to highlighting the profiles of female ornithologists.

Female Heroes of Bird Conservation wears its heart on its sleeve. Readers looking for a clinical account of the scientific contributions of female ornithologists should look elsewhere. Through poignant retellings of these women’s lives, this book aims to inspire its readers to reach the same lofty heights as its subjects. It is clear that the author, Rosemary Low, has more passion in her little finger, than most people have in their entire bodies. Her dedication to her subject matter is obvious in the meticulously researched accounts and the emotional language used to express her admiration for their accomplishments. What better voice to tell the stories of these women who are too often forgotten?

The book is divided between female ornithologists of the past and present. Although initially a little chaotic in structure, I learned a huge amount from the first half (historical female ornithologists) about the origins of my discipline and the role women played in its history. As an ornithologist who specialised in individual differences in behaviour, I find it particularly enlightening to see how many of these women were drawn to birds due to their unique personalities: a concept that would not be truly accepted by science for another hundred years. There are occasions when I wonder if the lens under which the early female ornithologists have been placed might be a touch too forgiving. It cannot be denied that these women were ahead of their time and overcame monumental prejudice in their determination to contribute to science. Despite this, additional analysis of the role that privilege and colonialism played in their success would have been both relevant and fascinating.    

Diversity is addressed more strongly in the second half, which examines women working in ornithology today. The prose benefits from the author’s lived experience, as she has spent time with these women over the years. You will particularly enjoy these chapters if you share the author’s love of parrots or have an interest in techniques such as captive breeding or reintroduction programmes. Although other topics do make an appearance, given the range of issues existing in modern ornithology, some readers might find this focus limited. Regardless, the truth remains that these women have remarkable stories to tell, and I am pleased that this book exists to preserve their legacy.

Book reviewed by Fionnuala McCully