A writer and artist based in Munich and Burgundy, Anita Albus is a recipient of the Medal of Honor from the Federal Republic of Germany and known for her detailed nature paintings as well as for her essays, stories, and writings on art history. Here she weaves natural history and investigative reporting with mythological and cultural material in a surprisingly endearing account of ten rare or extinct bird species, from the tragic demise of the once-abundant passenger pigeon to the shooting death of the last Carolina parakeet in the wild, and the diverse cultural significance of the kingfisher. Poignant, heartwarming, even humorous, they are illustrated with her own and other artists' drawings and prints.

"A twinkle of humor and a twist of wit illuminate the stories of these birds and the human figures that go with them. Life is really a series of stories, and Anita Albus is a superb storyteller."—Robert Bateman