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The design and origin of birdsHere comes the beak!THE DESIGN AND ORIGIN OF BIRDS This book about birds is by an artist who loves them, having observed and painted many all over the world. Birds have also been key in his conversion to Christ (see http://www.nwtv.co.uk/pages/arts/art/phsnow/phsnow.htm). The aim is set early — ‘to help us understand how we can do better, and the role that creation plays in our science, history, religion and daily lives, and even our future’ — and Snow cites both Job and Solomon saying we are to ‘look to creation for instruction, and particularly birds’. The book is divided into design, structure and function, feathers and flight, courtship, breeding and nesting, before delving into birds’ origins and ending with their role in religion. Throughout, one sees the attention to detail in Philip Snow’s observations, although at times the science lacks clarity (he admits to not being a scientist). Overall he imparts wonder at the design of birds, and points us to the Creator God — Jesus. The illustrations are plentiful and useful, but not well placed in the text and, sadly, for such an often colourful subject, no colour — surely this is an error for a book on birds! Much is excellent in the early chapters but there is some dissatisfaction. There are teasing comments raising unanswered questions. For example, what does the ‘Cain and Abel syndrome’ in eagles teach us? How does bird behaviour instruct us when showing polygamy, promiscuity and leaving all chick-rearing to one of the pair (apart from describing much human behaviour)? The repeated reference to ‘one truthful scientist/ biochemist’ is equated to scientists who say things that support creationism — the attribute may be accurate, but it grates, implying scientists generally are dishonest — not my experience scientifically. The origins/creation/evolution commentary initially covers birds but then moves on to the wider debate. This section would have been better focussed on birds alone, which is the strength of the book. The final chapter on birds and religion shows people’s fascination with birds throughout history, ending with personal reflection and a call to look at creation and see the Creator, to see the world and read the Bible, to turn to Christ and ‘soar on wings like eagles’. The book, sadly, only partly meets its aim. If you want a book about birds that goes deeper than photographs and superficial descriptions, that acknowledges God the Creator, you can find much here, but not a complete scientific reference on birds, nor a theological text on gaining instruction from nature. Kevin Charman,
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