Robert Francis

American Birds Abroad To Europeans, America’s cardinals and mockingbirds were plenty exotic—and they couldn’t get enough of them. “You must have a hobby of some kind in these parts, or you will die,” wrote the Reverend C. D. Farrar, “therefore take my tip... See more

Republic of Feathers I’m writing a book! If you talked to me for more than five minutes at any point between 2020 and 2024, I probably rambled your ear off about The Power Broker. In case you haven’t read it (or haven’t patiently listened to me trying to ... See more

Bird City New York City Can’t Live With Its Birds, And It Can’t Live Without Them No place in America has occupied a more dramatic intersection between its people and its birds than New York City. It was the end of the rail for birds killed for food, whic... See more

Dying Birds and the March of Civilization Fearing extinction at the turn of the century The disappearance of the Passenger Pigeon caught Americans entirely by surprise. In 1882 there were massive pigeon roosts that stretched mile after mile, so large that... See more