Birds and People Forum: consulting a Partnership
Birds are completely entwined with human lives in a thousand ways, as sources of protein, as symbols for everything from commercial businesses to the human soul, and as inspiration for art, poetry, myth, folklore and music.
Their central place in our affections is well demonstrated by the many millions of people who are supporters of the organisations that make up BirdLife.
A new website forum provides an opportunity to actively discuss the underlying cultural significance of birds, exploring the significance of an ever-present relationship that has existed throughout human history.
The Birds and People Forum brings together first-hand accounts from anyone who would like to contribute, from the general public, 
and from members of BirdLife all around the world, bringing together a global chorus on why birds are important and why we must all strive to conserve them.
The forum aims to gather hundreds, perhaps thousands of contributions on our relationship with birds. The forum allows for threads of discussion and topics where you can add your own comments.
Catalysing the forum is the well-known author, Mark Cocker, whose works on birds, birders and birding, have been published to acclaim, and who has had a long term working relationship with BirdLife. Submitted stories and anecdotes will contribute towards a ground-breaking book about the cultural importance of birds; a book to be published by Random House in collaboration with BirdLife in 2012. The wildlife photographer, David Tipling is providing imagery for the forum and the book.
Building on the conversations and discussions that emerge from the forum, and on research being undertaken, people’s observations will be acknowledged, and woven into the fabric of the text. BirdLife hopes to help Mark illustrate how birds enter our experience and help shape the way we define places, landscapes and even ourselves.
In total the forum will provide a basis for this incredible story of humankind’s singular, universal relationship with birds.
Get involved in the Forum: click here