Product Description
Caring for orphaned animals at her own zoo in the tropical country of Belize, Sharon Matola became one of Central America’s greatest wildlife defenders. And when powerful outside forces conspired with the local government to build a dam that would flood the nesting ground of the only scarlet macaws in Belize, Matola was drawn into the fight of her life.

In The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw, award-winning author Bruce Barcott chronicles Sharon Matola’s inspiring crusade to stop a multinational corporation in its tracks. Ferocious in her passion, Matila and her confederates–a ragtag army of courageous locals and eccentric expatriates–endure slander and reprisals and take the fight to the courtroom and the boardroom, from local village streets to protests around the globe. Barcott explores the tension between environmental conservation and human development, puts a human face on the battle over globalization, and ultimately shows us how one unwavering woman risked her life to save the most beautiful bird in the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

well written book
Along with an intense history of the country of Belize, you get a great story of a marvelous woman and her love for animals.These are her children.She will not let anyone harm them in any way.Her efforts also benefit mother nature.Great story.A must buy.Then you have to go experience the zoo in Belize!

Mark

Best Book Ever!
I love birds, and it is very hard to come by a book that involes birds that isn't a book a about how to care for them. This book captivated me since the first time I read the title. I hope all readers enjoy!

Chronicles her battles from courtroom to village
Caring for orphaned animals at her zoo in tropical Belize, Sharon Matola became one of Central America's greatest wildlife defenders. Her greatest fight happened when the local government wanted to build a damn that would flood the nesting ground of the only scarlet macaws in Belize. Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw chronicles her battles from courtroom to village, exploring tensions between the press for human development and environmental concern. Any general lending library will find this a vivid memoir.

the Last flight of the Scarlet Macaw
This is a "must read" for anyone interested in trying to save a species.
I feel badly that this woman tried so hard but in the end..lost out and the Scarlet Macaw remains in grave danger today.I had a special interest as I had owned a young one hand raised by a lady in Florida.They are so intelligent and need to be kept free, uncaged and protected.

A bit of a misnomer
I enjoyed this book, but the title is a bit misleading.Not only is the last flight of the scarlet macaw not on the horizon (there are tons of them in south america), but there is very little about the bird in the book.Having said that, the book is lively and very illuminating as to how environmental fights go down in the developing world.The account of the legal proceedings is interesting, but ultimately it leads the reader to conclude that the argument for conservation needs to be made other ways...through pocketbook impacts through ecotourism, education, something.But it's easy to lose hope---we in North America have driven large populations of our own native animals to extinction--why would others be any smarter? ... Read more

Product Description
These sociable, intelligent, brilliantly colored parrots make good pets. They can be taught to speak and perform tricks. Titles in the extensive Complete Pet Owner's Manuals series provide pet owners with basic information on keeping healthy, contented, well-cared-for animals. The series includes approximately 175 titles and covers pets of every kind: dogs, cats, and birds of many breeds, as well as fish, reptiles, rabbits, hamsters, and just about any other animal that people keep as a pet. Facts and advice cover all aspects of pet care, which include proper feeding, housing, health care, grooming, training, and much more. The text in each manual is supplemented with many vivid, full-color photos, and with instructive, anatomically accurate line art. Each manual has been individually written by a breeder, trainer, veterinarian, or experienced animal specialist. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Elementry
This book read in very good condition...it was but 4 pictures were neatly out along with info I wanted to read.

Nice little book
This is a nice little book with quite some interesting facts about macaws. Don't expect too much of it though. Our macaw was already adult when we got it and reacted quite opposite than suggested in the book. For instance when we placed a fresh branch with leaves, the bird didn't like it at all and refused to come near to it until we moved it to the house's floor (our bird house is 2 x 1.75 x 1.8 meters). When the bird goes to the floor to take a bath, he walks way around it. When we give him a dry piece of wood (of the sane tree) he likes it much better.
Still the book contains valuable information. We will have to read some more books in order to be able to recommend others.

Helpful info
Good information but not quite the book I was looking for. Most information I already had on hand.Book is in great condition and I will keep for friends who are anticipating a Macaw purchase. Thanks for quick shipment.

General Information
This is a great reference for general needs information. A good place to start with a new Macaw. VERY helpful, especially during those first few days, you will get help to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes and make your experience more positive from the very start.

GET THIS HELPFUL BOOK
This book is a must for anyone who owns a Macaw.Its easy reading and very helpful. I highly recommend it.You wont be disappointed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Don't waste your money
The pictures in this book are very nice, but that's it!This book is not worth reading and you would be doing your bird a great injustice if you followed any advice from this person.If you want a good book on parrots try "Parrot Training" by Bonnie Munro Doane.

Avoid this book
Of all the books I have read on parrot care, this is perhaps the worst.Particularly terrible is the suggested wing-feather trim, which would lead to a sedentary, unhealthy bird.Much of the advice in the book is contrary to accepted, modern practices.Do not buy it, and if you already own a copy, do the world a favor and destroy it.

This book is hazardous to your bird's health!
As a veterinary technician in an avian hospital, I can tell you that this book gives poor and even dangerous advice concerning the care of macaws and other exotic birds.The avian veterinarians with whom I work have read the book and feel the same way.I would strongly discourage anyone from purchasing this book.Your local avian veterinarian would be much better suited to recommend books which give accurate information about birds and their care. Great photographs are the ONLY benefit of owning this book but hardly worth the false information printed within.

All Around Excellent Book
I think this book is excellent for beginners with Macaws and even people who know about them and want to know a little more. It has everything you need to know, in fact the entire series of pet books from Barrons does. I just wish they had a web site... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Well worth your money.
I bought this book because I had an interest in keeping a hyacinth macaw. This book is very detailed in how to care for the many types of macaws that allowed as pets. And I think this is the only book that in very good details tell you how to care for a hyacinth macaw. I was very happy with my purchase.

Outstanding photo printing methods.
I am still stunned with the beautiful quality of the photographs in this book.Worth the price if for no other reason than the way these photos were printed.I've never seen it done like this before.Very unusal method.

Out of Date Book
The text is probably a direct translation from German. Has some funny expressions, rarely used in English. The information on classification of macaws is out of date. The same goes for the other information in the book. Too often some irrelevant and not so important historical notes are given, like dates of hatching in some zoos from the last century, or first pairing, etc. There is lack of consistence in dealing with the species description. The book is good for its superb photos. It is also maybe the only one to have drawings of the extinct macaw species. Otherwise, ... nay!

Beautiful high gloss photo's
4 Stars for the incrediable photos! Outdated material and it's text appears to be translated from German, but the photos are awesome.The test does get into each Macaw type and their respective geographic information that is interesting, but most any other data should be read elsewhere in a more updated, newer U.S. text.

Great Pix - Lax Content
If you want some of the MOST beautiful pictures of macaws to ever grace an item in print, this book is for you. Some features include illustrations of extinct macaws, and a discussion of native habitat.

The one complaint I have about this book is the elementary content; add to that the horribly DATED information on diet, behaviour, etc., ...

Still, buy it for the photos alone! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

lots of knowledge information
I love this book it has beautiful pictures, lots of information on everything.I would recomend to to any bird owner...

Macaw Madness at its Best!
The book is an excellent resource for anyone who owns a macaw and provides valueable insight to those considering a macaw. Considering it was published in 1996, the information is still practical and worthwhile. I do not agree with the opinion about hybrid macaws but it is minor compared to the vast in-depth reading it provides regarding husbandry, geographical information, physiological information, etc. A must-own for anyone who loves these magnificent birds!

A Must Have Book
Although three people are listed as being the authors of this book, the impressive list of contributors as photographers, design, consultants, collaborators and acknowledgments goes on for three full pages.

This is a huge book (534 pages with the index starting on page 511) that certainly appears to cover everything about the large macaws that anyone would want to know.

The book is divided into three main parts with several chapters in each part. The first is Aviculture, written mainly by Joanne Abramson, the second is Veterinary Medicine, written by Brian L. Speer and the third is Conservation, written mainly by Jorgen B. Thomsen.

Over 300 beautiful colour photographs are used throughout the book submitted by 77 photographers as well as many detailed drawings by Marsha Mello.

Nutritional analysis charts are provided for nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables and pelleted diets.

It would be much easier to say what is NOT in this book than to list everything contained herein. Other than the fact that there is nothing written by myself, (grin) I could not think of anything else that could have been included here.

This book IS very expensive, but if you have a Macaw - or even if you love Macaws, you should really see if you can get your hands on a copy. I am sure that you will realize that it is worth every penny.

Large Macaws
I found this book to be very informative regarding almost all aspects of owning and living with a macaw.

Extremely Informative
...after reading and seeing all the information that is given, it was well worth it. This book has 100 times more information than any of the other books on macaws. It was definately worth the price. ... Read more

Product Description
Quick access to comprehensive information and expert guidance for parrot owners.

Parrots are loved for their intelligence, sociability, longevity and humorous, almost-human characteristics. These same attractive qualities demand serious consideration and commitment when acquiring a parrot.

The Parrot Companion provides practical knowledge gained from an expert's decades of experience with these birds. The author examines the 25 most common breeds, which include Greys, Amazons, caiques, conures, cockatiels and budgerigars. The data for each one compare principal characteristics such as voice shrillness, mimicry and potential behavioral problems.

The author emphasizes responsible ownership, with a focus on choosing the right bird and keeping it happy and healthy. Topics include:- Socializing a parrot- Safety tips- Avoiding behavior problems- Finding an escaped bird- Step-by-step training- Trimming flight feathers vs. clipping wings- The right equipment- Feather plucking, biting and screaming- Feeding, nutrition, health and grooming- Re-homing a parrot.

This comprehensive reference is filled with color photos and will be welcomed by new and long-time parrot owners. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A WASTE OF TIME/MONEY! Look elsewhere for guidence
This book offers little to no insight in to having/caring/training/managing a companion bird. It spends more time telling the reader all the difficulties of owning a bird, but never advises on how to actually avoid or manage the behaviors. I blasts you with how much a bird might scream or be messy and then say "but with a caring owner and the right situation the bird could be a great pet"!?!?!?! huh??? THAT IS REALLY HELPFUL...NOT! I found the information(lack of information)pointless for anyone that already owns a bird and sorely lacking for anyone that is thinking of purchasing or adopting one. Look elsewhere for any guidence!

The Parrot Companion: Caring for Parrots, Macaws, Budgies, Cockatiels and More
This was the first book I had bought on this subject and it was to help me make a decision on what type of bird I was going to get as a pet/companion (I had taken expert advice from a well established aviary and had whittled it down to either a Senegal or an Amazon).Whilst I found this book had a few good tips in various chapters the overall impression I was left with was very negative. I found the author sort of negative towards nearly every breed of bird featured (negative towards keeping one as a companion bird).I completely appreciate that prospective buyers need to understand the huge amount of time, patience and commitment needed to keep both bird & owner happy and I understand that was likely the author's goal but I felt that the book was nearly written to turn people off the idea of getting a bird.Fortunately it has not turned me off and I will still refer to the book for some of the advice on training/caging, etc which I do think will be useful to me.

Offer insights into differences between species so owners can tailor parrot choice and care
Responsible ownership of parrots means understanding thoroughly how to keep the bird happy and healthy - and THE PARROT COMPANION: CARING FOR PARROTS, MACAWS, BUDGIES, COCKATIELS AND MORE is the item of choice for so doing. Charts offer insights into differences between species so owners can tailor parrot choice and care, while safety tips for parrot and keeper, common behavior and physiological problems, step-by-step training, and more make for a pet owner's reference certain to receive popular attention in any lending library setting.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Beautiful and informative stunning
This has to be one of my favourites in my collection of parrot books.
Not only is the book up to date, informative and forward thinking, it is full of information on many species it has accompanying stunning colour photo's throughout and beautiful photo's relevant to the information provided.
For people yet to choose their companion and for those of us who already have our companions the book is a beautiful asset to your library!
Jan
... Read more

Product Description

On June 3, 1817, Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix set sail for the New World on an expedition sponsored by the Bavarian Royal Academy of Sciences. What he found in Brazil's thorny caatinga woodlands would one day transform our understanding about evolution, survival, and -- in the case of the long-tailed blue parrot now known as "Spix's Macaw" -- extinction.

In this fascinating natural history, esteemed environmentalist Tony Juniper brings the caatinga bird beautifully to life. Not long after Spix's discovery, his parrot -- whose beauty, dexterity, and clear-eyed passion made it a favorite among scientists and bounty hunters alike -- had become more valuable than heroin, and worth thousands of dollars on the black market. By 1990, only one lone male was known to be living in the wild.

Spix's Macaw tells the tale of Juniper's race to save the species, from joining an international rescue operation in the caatinga to calling on private collectors to mate their illegal birds to waiting in vain for a hybrid nest of eggs to hatch. His story brings new meaning to Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope Is the Thing with Feathers."

A heart-stopping homage to the long, lonely flight of the last Spix's Macaw, this is a compassionate addition to the annals of nature literature and an environmental parable for our time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

TOTALLY AWESOME AND RAD BOOK!!!
This book is about the the wondeful and beatiful Spix's Macaw. I goes to show how people are so selfish. in the book it amazed me that even when 1 spix macaw was left in the wild, noone cared except a handfulof people. The great thing about this book is that it's not only about Spix's Macaws but about other almost extinct animals ( and not just bird) Well yah, I don't wanna give out the sad parts, like the long and boring reviews that are written above or under me on this page, because the ending is so much not what you expected. Don't worry they don't become extinct!But this book isn't for everybody, if you have to do it for a book report ---don't! Only people who like birds and appreciate natur. For me it was easy , because I know a lot about bird, but if your just reading this book, I guarantee you won't understand it unless you rush too the internet or books, to figure out what they said.

Beautiful
This is a very beautiful book. About the years of struggle with trying to save a species from extinction while the greed of human animal "collectors" plunder these parrots from the wild and seal their fate.

This is a very emotional story of a species struggle for survival and it will open everyone's eyes on how we should be treating our planet earth with careful preservation so that no more of our living treasures are gone forever.

A very moving book with great successes and shocking surprises. You'll be cheering on the birds all the way through.

History of Spix's Macaw's Plight, Complete with Political Agenda.
Tony Juniper was a member of the 1990 expedition to Brazil that located the last Spix Macaw surviving in the wild, In "Spix's Macaw: The Race to Save the World's Rarest Bird", he tells the story of the species' history, its demise in the late 20th century, and efforts to preserve the Spix through captive breeding. The Spix's Macaw was always a rare bird, found only in the caraiba gallery woodlands of eastern Brazil. Named after Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix, a Bavarian naturalist who happened upon the bird in 1819 during a 4-year expedition to observe and catalog Brazil's fauna, the Spix Macaw was not observed in the wild again until 1903. But by then, captured Spix's Macaws were being exported to zoos and pet owners on several continents.

In exploring the scant history of its namesake, "Spix's Macaw" touches on the history of parrot-keeping and trading as well as the other blue Brazilian parrots: the Hyacinth, Glaucous, and Lear's macaws. The second half of the book addresses the efforts, politics, and progress in preserving the Spix's Macaw with the intention of restoring the species to the wild, including detailed accounts of how we got from having about 25 known living Spix's Macaws worldwide in the late 1980s to having over 60 by the year 2000. If that sounds promising, it is in the sense that it proves the birds can be bred with relative ease. But it's not if you consider the politics and posturing involved, which become obscenely obvious if you read this book.

Tony Juniper is a fluid writer who knows a lot about his subject and clearly cares about it, so "Spix's Macaw" is very readable. Unfortunately, the book's last two chapters are dedicated to demonizing the private owners of Spix's macaws, including those responsible for the breeding successes of the 1990s, and flogging the agenda of restoring the birds to Brazil and to their original habitat. Anyone who thinks that these initiatives are unreasonable or unproductive is apparently selfish, immoral, and actually criminal in the estimation of Tony Juniper. Juniper believes that forcibly removing the birds from their owners and handing them over to the entity that has had the least success in breeding them is the way to save the species. Brazil has had upwards of 35 years to organize breeding and conservation programs and has, instead, vacillated between indifference and incompetence. I wouldn't give Brazil a budgie. The international Recovery Committee didn't do much better, failing to ever produce a studbook and irresponsibly releasing a female Spix who was a known breeder back into her natural habitat -where she promptly died- while there were only 60 Spix's Macaws in existence! Only the death of the last wild Spix prevented them from releasing 4 more birds. Thank god for timely demises.

"Spix's Macaw" contains a lot of interesting information on the efforts to save this bird. Readers can decide for themselves if these efforts and Tony Juniper's agenda are misguided. But I was struck by the indifference to the birds themselves. For Brazil, which insists that all the world's Spix's Macaws -including those born elsewhere- are its "sovereign property", the macaws represent some sort of nationalism. Returning them to "the wild" is a battle cry for fanatic conservationists, who transform the birds plight into socio-political dogma. Private owners keep the birds for their own reasons. But no party in this book gives any indication of having an iota of respect for the creatures. The birds are eclipsed by every manner of agenda. Increasing the birds' numbers should be the primary goal, but it falls victim to Brazil's sweeping claims and self-righteous accusations. A pipe dream of reintroducing the Spix to its natural environment takes precedence over breeding. No one seems to know if the gallery forests could even support a flock of significant size, and, in any case, that habitat won't be there for long. It would indeed be ironic if a century from now parrot-lovers are thanking the private collectors and black marketeers of the 20th century for saving the Spix's Macaw from the fate that met its extinct cousin, the Glaucous macaw: Habitat Destruction. What the Spix's Macaw needs most is for the humans it depends on to swallow a heavy dose of realism.

Tony Juniper, Spix's Macaw: The Race to Save the World's Rar
In almost every way, this book is a wonderful read. It is ostensibly about Spix's Macaw, a bird fluttering on the edge of extinction (although no specific evidence is offered that it is "the World's Rarest Bird" (see p. [iii])). At the same time, the book deals with parrots in general, considers avian extinctions where relevant, and makes us think deeply about mankind's relationship with Nature.

The section on "parrots in history" is particularly good, although it is here that Juniper pulls the one major bona fide boner of his work. The Emperor Heliogabulus did not rule from 222 to 205 B. C. (see p. 37), but rather from 218 to 222 A. D. It is interesting to note that the bird shown in the portrait of William Brooke, Baron Cobham, appears to be an unknown variety of parrot (see p. 40) and to find that several Caribbean macaws have vanished since the early days of exploration (at pp. 119-20). Juniper doesn't miss a beat in pointing out that many of the parrots allegedly carried by pirates may have been worth more than the loot they stole (see p. 121)! We are shown the place of parrots in Christian theology- one supposedly learned to recite The Lord's Prayer (at p. 44) and are informed that parrot tongues were occasionally eaten to cure speech impediments (at id.). It is therefore strange to find no mention of the role of the "parrot spy" for plantation masters in Black American folklore (see Richard M. Dorson, American Negro Folktales 120-23 (1968)) and not to have Monty Python's Dead Parrot sketch mentioned until page 236.

Juniper is excellent in painting a portrait of the life of a Spix's Macaw, as well as providing information on parrot "hand-eye coordination" (see pp. 42-43), "dialects" (at pp. 44-45), and bonding with specific individuals (at p. 50; I remember one Brazilian friend telling me of a family parrot who loved him, but who was finally given away because of his hostile attitude towards the boy's mother). What make's Juniper's book special, however, is the information and vignettes it contains: Tony Silva, the renowned breeder, whose bird-smuggling activities brought him a prison term (at pp. 77-80), the wildlife market at Duque de Caxias (at p. 89), the raid on a Paraguayan wildlife dealer's house (at pp. 139-41), and the tragicomic dance between Brazilian authorities and breeders to save Spix's Macaw (see pp. 160 ff.). At the same time, Juniper does not (and perhaps legally cannot) name names to accompany all the rumors of foreign bird ownership (see pp. 153-54) and fails to comment on what seems to be an obvious parallel between the world's first endangered species studbook (for the European Bison- started in 1932- see p. 159) and the political events which led to World War II and the Holocaust. Those who wish to read more in the area will be hindered by the fact that the volume has no bibliography.

What Spix's Macaw does do, however, is to bring home the poignancy of this dwindling species and to make us view its travails in a larger context. Despite minor faults, this book is a wonderful addition to any environmental bookshelf, and no one who reads the volume will put it down unmoved.

Samuel Pyeatt Menefee

Very reasonable logic and a good read for the parrot owner
Personally, I see a lot of the behavior of many of the environmentalist groups to be simply ridiculous and I think that's an important point for me to make in offering a review of this book.I'm not necessarily sympathetic to many of the ideas and policies of Greenpeace, PETA, Earth First or the like.I do keep a captive-bred blue and gold macaw and in casual hobby reading, I became aware of the conservation efforts being made to save the Spix's macaw some time ago.

There are two strong features about this book that really stand out in my mind and make it worthy of a five star rating.Most importantly, it's a very reasonable, logical account of the problems leading to the bird's extinction in the wild which I believe can be appreciated by almost anyone.While a story like this one can't be dealt with completely devoid of emotion, the book isn't a ridiculous, simple-minded, political work designed to preach to the converted.I feel the author remained as neutral as practically possible in his assessment of the situation and that he offers a book that could easily be stomached by people who simply don't care one bit.

The second thing that really brought this book home for me is that I believe it's a good selection for anybody who keeps parrots - macaws in particular.I've read so much garbage about parrot psychology in CPW, all the parrots as pets books and the like that I figured I just wasn't going to completely get it.This book offers many very interesting insights into the ways parrots may think as well as into their social interactions in and out of their flocks.

If you're loosely considering reading this one and you, like me, are not sold on the environmental "cause", please check this one out - it's well worth the short time it'll take to read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Interesting view of Costa Rica
We picked this up prior to visiting Costa Rica. Why Costa Rica? We wanted something somewhat rugged since the last trip we took out of the continent had been to London. I had been pushing for the Galapagos Islands since reading Gould's _Ever Since Darwin_, but that turned out to be too expensive. The brochures we picked up glowed with Costa Rica's glories, and it seemed to be in our price range--and it was. Jill pressed me to find a book about Costa Rica (a travelogue or similar, but not a guide book) since she had done the planning and agent interface. I couldn't find an armchair travel book, but I did discover this excellent book on the formation of Costa Rica's national park system.

This is more of a history than a travel narrative, although the author did visit Costa Rica and its parks several times and gives his impressions of the area. It follows the combined attempts to set aside land for species habitat and ecological preservation, from the working of a couple of expatriated Norwegians through the two young university students who became the leaders of the National Park Service. Many of Costa Rica's park works have been ahead of their time, especially for the area of the world in which the work is being done. I am excited to see what I have read about, not only the good things like the parks themselves, but the parts that haven't gone quite right because of the need to balance on the fine line between preservation and tourism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Keeping a pet macaw
This book discusses keeping macaws as pets. It discusses how to tame a wild-caught macaw, and describes the nature of them. It does not describe the various species of macaws, and its photographs are mostly of hybrid macaws (which have fallen out of favor lately). This book is becoming a bit obsolete, but it still provides a reasonable insight into macaws. ... Read more

Product Description
Bess, George, and I volunteered to go to Costa Rica for some R&R: rest and research. See, Corcovado Ecologica, a popular resort and preserve, isn't only a beautiful getaway; it's also a great place to study three species of monkeys. Or so we thought.

When we arrived on the scene, we found the place in a shambles, and the monkeys were few and far between. And if the problem gets worse, the resort's going to be in trouble. Clearly my friends and I won't have much time for "monkeying around" on this trip -- we've got a case to crack!

Catch my next case:

Secret of the Spa ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Pseudo-intellectual gobbeldy-gook
This review is targeted at 'Murder of Crows' only, as I never read or saw 'Hyacinth Macaw'.I looked over 'Crows' at least eight times, and I still couldn't understand it.

Essentially, a teenage girl named Susanna moves into her uncle and aunt's house after her father died in a terrible accident involving chicken manure. She senses the weather is going to change, and tries to convince her skeptical family. They don't believe her, and it goes downhill from there.

The plotting of 'Crows' is about as logical as a couple of tourists setting out to see the Statue of Liberty, getting lost and ending up in Disneyworld after driving through Wisconsin. What seened to be the primary point was the environment and Susanna's awareness of it, but goes on so many tangents that it fails to make any point. The play explores the materiastic waste of American society, racism, war and spirituality. If they could have been woven together, the play would have been brilliant. Instead, these themes are seperate, unrelated capsules that are passed by so quickly that one wonders why they were mentioned in the first place. In the end, the story felt like one long tirade about nothing, the playwright being 'a rebel without a cause'.

The characters were, to say the least, forgettable. Susanna never develops as a character, nor do the rest of the cast. Any possibility 'Crows' had of characters forming any kind of human relationship was avoided like last week's leftovers. The primary conern apparently was try to create the weirdest people possible. This style of character has been successful, notably in the book 'Gormenghast'. However, the characters of 'Crows' are too boring to be Dickensenian Grotesques and too detached from humanity to be anyone the audience could care about.

The dialogue of this play consisted of people talking at each other, shouting or going onto pseudo-intellectual monologues. There was nothing profound, moving or even comical. The whole thing felt like an exercise for the playwright to demonstrate his intelligence. Plays are just as capable of being as meaningful, logical and comic as books. 'Murder of Crows' isn't one of them. Avoid these rants about nothing and read a more satisfying, substantial quirky play, like Friedrich Duerrenmatt's 'The Visit'.

Read these plays! (If you have a theatre, produce them!)
Mac Wellman is perhaps our greatest living playwright.

He is a poet and a verbal acrobat.The language sweeps over you and leaves you reeling to catch up--and you want to.He is a social critic and a cynic on one hand, but he has a great big heart and injects this warmth just when the characters are at risk of leaving you cold.A perfect balance.

These two plays are some of his best.The Hyacinth Macaw, in particular, is beautiful and original and moving and--perhaps above all--funny!

They are not necessarily easy reads.Mr. Wellman is an intellectual and makes no attempt to hide it.You may need to keep a dictionary handy (not an ordinary dictionary, the OED would be better).But the plays are more than worth the effort.Rich, real characters in often bizarre and unreal settings.This is Anti-Naturalism.

Highly, highly recommended.Mr. Wellman is genius underappreciated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Have You Seen Hyacinth Macaw?
ISBN 0440434505 - There's little to dislike about this book, and much to keep young readers turning the pages.

Abby Jones doesn't like her name - it's too boring. It is likely the only thing about this girl that IS boring. Hoping to become a detective like her friend Garcia when she grows up, Abby practices by keeping her eyes open, taking notes and jumping to conclusions. When a number of mysteries crop up at once, Abby works things out with the help of her friend Potsie. There's a missing girl, someone staying in the empty apartment next door, her brother's strange behavior and the pet store robbery that Garcia is working on, all at the same time. Can the girls find Hyacinth? And will Abby's brother, Dan, end up in jail because of a girl, a broken window and a dirty birdbath?

The story, like Abby's thoughts, seems to get convoluted sometimes, but things come out right in the end. The black and white illustrations by Anthony Kramer are nice, but don't add much to the book.

- AnnaLovesBooks

The best book I ever read!(...)
This book is a bit scary but, if you're age 9-11 and like to read this book is for you. If you like a good mystery read this book. It's AWESOME!(...)

Have you seen Hyacinth MacAw?
This and the other books about Abby and her friend used to be some of my favorite books when I was little. I reccomend it if you are 9 or 10 and like to read.

Fast action and lots of fun
The Abby Jones mysteries are invariably fast-paced, exciting, and funny.This one, the first, has the most surprisingly adventuresome action, what with jumping onto subways and chasing people around in bare feet, breakinginto apartment buildings, and climbing down onto a fire escape from a tallbuilding's roof.All in all a huge amount of fun.

This book is an excellent adventure for the 9-12 age group!
I had just bought this book for my daughter. Shehas often read it over and over,, and enjoys all the characters, plots, and settings. Definetly two thumbs up ... Read more

Product Description
12 x 12 closed, 12 x 24 open. All square wall calendars are 16 month style, so you can start using them from September. The text is in 5 languages: English, French, German, Spanish and Italian. The date grids are sensitive to U.K and European holidays as well as for the U.S.A. Moon phases and horoscope dates are shown on the date grid. ... Read more

Product Description
British artist Elizabeth Butterworth, has captured the beauty and variety of parrots, macaws and cockatoos. These are presented in this book in a series of paintings and sketches. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Beautiful book!
The pictures in this book of Elizabeth Butterworth's artwork are really incredible. This book would be an awesome gift for anyone who loves parrots. The pages are heavyweight paper and could be framed and put on the wall. I thoroughly enjoy this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys parrots and gorgeous artwork. I am a parrot breeder and many of my customers have enjoyed looking at the book.

Not what I expected
I was looking for books to help with the behavior of my macaw.This book is full of pictures, beautiful pictures.However, I really need help with my bird.Maybe I didn't read the description thoroughly enough.

"For the Parrot & Art Lover Both"
This is an oversized book of vividly colored line-drawings of the Cockatoo, Macaw, and Amazon parrots species.It's a truly magnificently produced book with Elizabeth Butterworth's beautiful artistic drawings that are just so realistic.You could actually frame many of these drawings, they are that good.There's a wonderful introduction about all these parrots by Elizabeth that is inspirational.If you're a lover of birds, or have companion parrots yourself, don't miss this book.

Excellent
One of the best bird drawings I have seen, they are so well done, that one wishes to frame each one of the them, if you like birds and you like colour this book is for you.

Parrots, MacAws and Cockatoos : The Art of Elizabeth Butterw
If you are a lover of cockatoo, macaw and amazon, the line-drawings of these birds will take your breath away. When I first opened the book, I gasped! Ms. Butterworth has captured the essence of their character, evenmore so than a photograph. The line-drawings in this book deserve to beframed and showcased in a prominent position in your home. I bought 3books. I framed pictures from the first, and kept the second for reference,and gave the third book as a gift to Dr. Bernadette Plair who is with theCincinnati Zoo. Dr. Plair recently (March 2000), successfully reintroducedthe blue and gold macaw back into the wild in Trinidad. ... Read more