Birds Britannica is a publication of immense importance. Neither an identification guide nor a behavioural study (although both these subjects enter its field), it concentrates on our social history and on the cultural links between humans and birds.<BR>What makes Birds Britannica of special significance is the inclusion of observations and experiences from more than 1,000 naturalists and bird lovers. These contributions from the public touch on avian ecology; the lore and language of birds; their myths, the art and literature they have inspired; birds as food; and the crucial role they play in our sense of place and the changing seasons.<BR>Birds Britannica has taken eight years to research and write, and has been assembled by a team which includes some of the finest writers and imagemakers of British wildlife. On one level, it is a collection of humorous stories, field observations and tales of joy, wonder and occasional woe; on another, it is a nationwide chronicle.