United States
£ GBP
From a distance, gulls are beautiful symbols of freedom over the oceanic wilderness. Up close, however, they can be loud, aggressive, and even violent. Yet gulls fascinate birdwatchers, and seafarers regard them with respect and affection. The Gull Next Door explores the natural history of gulls and their complicated relationship with humans.
Marianne Taylor grew up in an English seaside town where gulls are ever present. Today, she is a passionate advocate for these underappreciated birds. In this book, Taylor looks at the different gull species and sheds light on all aspects of the lives of gulls.
The Gull Next Door reveals deeper truths to these remarkable birds. They are thinkers and innovators, devoted partners and parents. They lead long lives and often indulge their powerful drive to explore and travel. But for all these natural gifts, many gull species are struggling to survive. This book shows how we might live more harmoniously with these majestic yet misunderstood birds.
Marianne Taylor is a freelance writer, editor, illustrator, and photographer.
"Gulls polarize. Some see them as glorious and elegant masters of sea and air [...] Others vilify gulls as loud-mouthed and boisterous petty thieves intruding on their space. In The Gull Next Door, Marianne Taylor sets out to provide a deeper appreciation of these often maligned birds, and in his foreword David Lindo guarantees that ‘at the end you will have fallen in love with gulls’ [...] Will this book contribute to a positive development and will you fall in love with gulls? I am not a good measure of that, as I fell in love with gulls a long time ago, but if any book is to help to improve the public perception of gulls, this is the one!"
– Ruedi Nager, Ibis, 2021
"[An] information-packed book."
– Marc Bekoff, Animal Emotions
