Reviews

• A tale of two of our best-loved categories of wildlife, their elaborate and often surprising interactions, and the dedicated scientists trying to untangle them. An absorbing, enriching account by a reliable (and very well-travelled!) expert witness.
  —Ian Carter, author of Rhythms of Nature and The Hen Harrier’s Year
• Ollerton gives us a masterful perspective on the biodiversity and evolution of the pollination of flowers by birds. A superbly written collection of vivid stories, plenty of knowledge, amusement, and passion for nature within a perfectly-blended cocktail of ornithology and botany.
  —Professor Pedro Jordano, evolutionary ecologist, Doñana Biological Station
• Since the dawn of life on Earth, living things have co-evolved with our planetary environment and with each other. It is this interconnectedness that, almost paradoxically, underlies both the resilience and fragility of our world. There is perhaps no better example than the remarkable relationships between birds and flowering plants over the eons, adeptly explored by Ollerton in Birds and Flowers. Go on this amazing journey through time with Jeff and gain a better appreciation for our wondrous and beautiful living planet, the threat it is under today from human disturbance, and what we can still do to preserve it.
  —Michael E. Mann, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Earth & Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Our Fragile Moment: How lessons from the Earth's past can help us survive the climate crisis
• A charming and eye-opening exploration of the colourful interactions between birds and flowers, carried along by Ollerton’s engaging enthusiasm and wealth of entertaining stories.
  —Dave Goulson, author of Silent Earth, The Garden Jungle and A Sting in the Tale
• Ollerton takes us on a journey through deep time – wading through Jurassic forests – back to the dawn of an intimate relationship that evolved between birds and flowers: a story played out by hitchhikers, drunks and killers. Birds and Flowers challenges our perception of birds as mere natural curiosities, and puts them centre-stage in a quietly significant drama that first unfolded 50 million years ago: pollination.
  —Dr Chris Thorogood, Deputy Director of Oxford Botanic Garden and author of Chasing Plants
• Did birds start pollinating 110 million years ago? Why does Europe have so few bird pollinators? Why do some birds eat or destroy flowers? Does providing nectar feeders reduce the pollination of nearby wild flowers? Jeff Ollerton, a leading expert in pollination, tackles these and innumerable other questions in this enjoyable historical and ecological safari through the fascinating world of pollinators and pollinated plants.
  —William Sutherland, Department of Zoology and St Catharine’s College, University of Cambridge
• This is a fine example of a book which is pitched to increase the public understanding of ecology and evolution, and succeeds.
  —Mark Avery, author and environmental campaigner
• An important contribution to avian lore... I’ve little to add to the fulsome praise of other reviewers. Except that the writers style is surprisingly down to earth and chatty...having trudged through treacle with some academic works that in itself is a recommendation.
  —Bo Beolens, fatbirder.com
• Join Ollerton in exploring the fascinating relationship between birds and flowers. His blend of ecological and evolutionary insights, enriched with a personal touch, makes this book a must-read. Don't miss the chance to unravel the secrets of this marvelous interaction – a captivating exploration for anyone curious about the intricacies of our natural world.
  —Anna Traveset, Research Professor, Mediterranean Institute of Advanced Studies
• delightful... [Birds and Flowers] fills a unique niche, focusing on interactions between two of the most loved groups of organisms and doing so in a highly engaging yet highly informative way.
  —Diane R Campbell, Journal of Pollination Ecology
• ...intriguing, educational, and likely to make you look at some bird families in a different light.
  —John Miles, birdwatching.co.uk
• This book is eminently worthwhile reading for anyone, scientist or lay person, who loves birds and flowers.
  —Mariette Nowak, Birding
• Impressive (and delightful!)... It’s a pleasure to spend time with Ollerton’s prose.
  —Mark Gamin, 10,000 Birds
• very engaging... Ollerton’s book will certainly inspire this new generation of biologists to undertake additional field studies of interactions between birds and flowers. The book will also make an important contribution to the growing public awareness of the importance of pollination for the maintenance of biodiversity.
  —Steven D. Johnson, Current Biology
• Jeff Ollerton masterfully explores the intricate evolutionary dance between avian species and the floral world... Birds & Flowers is a delightful and educational read that will captivate anyone interested in ornithology, botany, or ecology.
  —Conservation Biology
• Jeff's enthusiasm, humour and vast knowledge of the subject makes him the perfect guide to this exploration of the long-standing relationship between birds and flowers. I found the dual focus of the book fascinating.
  —Nic Wilson, Guardian country diarist
• ...the book is very informative, well-written and enjoyable, and it should certainly be acquired by anyone interested in bird life and/or flowers, and natural history and histories, and I promise you that a new panoramic view of your favourite animals will open to you.
  —Jens M. Olesen, IBIS
• I picked up this book and assumed that it was 'just' about the link between birds and flowers. However, it is so much more! ...I would recommend this book!
  —David White, BTO News
• Jeff Ollerton's Birds and Flowers is a deep-time dive into the weird, wonderful, but always important inter-relationships between the two organisms. The author distils a mountain of diverse materials into an engaging personal story.
  —Mark Cocker, Country Life Books of the Year
• ...highly approachable and entertaining... Come for the bounty of fun facts (did you know some warblers and woodpeckers pollinate flowers?) and leave with a renewed appreciation of Earth’s biodiversity—and of the passionate dedication of scientists and conservationists to its study and protection.
  —Zoe Grueskin, Audubon Magazine