If anyone has the claim to being America’s best-loved bird, it’s the robin. These cheerful and universally recognized creatures love hanging out in the front lawn, pulling up earthworms and gorging themselves on berries. They’re joyfully welcomed as the first sign of spring, and their cheerful chirps brighten moods wherever they’re found, although they often...| US Bird History
In his richly researched newsletter, amateur historian Robert Francis takes deep dives into the country's complicated and ever-changing relationship with birds.| Audubon
Sportsmen were the first to protect America’s birds – by reserving birds for themselves| birdhistory.substack.com
A few months ago I wrote a piece for Bird History about eating robins. When I started researching the article, I figured it would be something short and straightforward: “Isn’t it interesting that people used to eat robins? Here are some recipes.” Of course, once I started digging in, I learned that the story was...| US Bird History
Robins were a popular American dish for hundreds of years. What did it take to get them off the menu?| birdhistory.substack.com
Every bird, big or small, was fit for the table. A unique book from 1867 catalogued 120 different kinds that people used to eat.| birdhistory.substack.com
One Duck’s Journey from Pond to Table| birdhistory.substack.com
Enslaved men and women in America’s South developed their own ornithology. To them, birds meant forced labor. But they also meant food, opportunity, and sometimes even freedom.| birdhistory.substack.com
If you've never heard of a canvasback, you're not alone. But a hundred years ago, this duck was America’s most famous — and most exclusive — dish.| birdhistory.substack.com