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Laura London's avatar

Grant: beautiful office! Please do more of these chats, this was wonderful.

Robert: I just became a fan! Where should I get started with reading your work if to understand your love of birds better?

I am interested in seeing them from your perspective, as I currently do not share your appreciation. But I find it fascinating, and in general I want to grow in appreciation for the order and harmony of nature. I love what you said here: “we are not as separate from nature as we might think” (paraphrase).

P.S. fun fact: Martha is at the Cincinnati zoo now, and I also visited her! There is a painting on the walls there that is really haunting, it makes you feel the loss of the passenger pigeons.

https://ruthven.com/shop/prints/martha-the-last-passenger-pigeon-2/

Robert Francis's avatar

That’s very kind of you to say, Laura! I did a three-part series a while back on Carolina Parakeets (now also sadly extinct), which might be a good place to start.

Part 1: https://birdhistory.substack.com/p/we-used-to-have-parrots

Part 2: https://birdhistory.substack.com/p/doomed-to-an-early-extinction

Part 3: https://birdhistory.substack.com/p/birds-weve-lost

Grant Mulligan's avatar

I found this recap of his work helpful when researching for the pod: https://birdhistory.substack.com/p/two-years-of-birds

Laura London's avatar

I will read this as well!

Laura London's avatar

Great I will read them! Thank you!

Grant Mulligan's avatar

Thank you, Laura! @Robert Francis was kind enough to be my guinea pig; I definitely want to do more!

Tina Marsh Dalton's avatar

This podcast was full of beautiful things I didn’t realize my life had been less beautiful without. I also loved coming back to the post and discovering you had the accompanying illustrations you discussed!

Grant Mulligan's avatar

Thank you, Tina! Which bird illustration was your favorite?

Tina Marsh Dalton's avatar

Well, I like the cactus, but old-school magpie is more relaxing in my current mood.