...neatly allows reference to the Spitfire, popular songs and films, the foundation of the Royal Navy Birdwatching Society, the Dickin Medal, the Mass Observation project, the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, birdwatching by prisoners in the Far East and Sir Petr Scott. Together, the two books (this and The Role of Birds in World War One) compliment each other and the whole of Milton's lockdown project becomes apparent - and the charm of birds wins through.

Paul Bennett, Army Ornithological Society

This book has been another fascinating account of how war & nature are connected.

I really do recommend it to you.

Read the Full Review Here

Books2cover

An intriguing title draws you to this book. I found the content amazing as I knew very little about birds in the wars, but with the author's indepth research and passion for the subject, I cannot imagine anything was left out.

For the Love of Books

Review as featured in

Who Do You Think You Are

“A must read for anyone with an interest in World War Two history and/or ornithological history.”

The Birdbooker Report, May 2022

From the avian origins of the Government’s Mass Observation programme to record everyday life in Britain, to military personnel and Prisoners of War enjoying birdwatching in times of adversity, this book explores the numerous ways in which birds had an impact in the Second World War.

Read the full review here.

Lesley Hindley, British Trust for Ornithology

'HATS off to historian-ornithologist Nicholas Milton for this
entertaining account of the role of birds and birdwatchers
during the 1939-45 war...A word, too, for the book's range of illustrations, which excellently complement the text, and the superb jacket design by Paul
Wilkinson.'

The Lincs Bird Club Newsletter

The book is well-researched and easy to read. It is amusing in places, educational in others & I would definitely recommend it bird lovers but also to anyone with an interest in WW2.

NetGalley, Lucy Faulds

Featured as book of the month

Review as featured in:

Bird Watcher

Did studying birds really help us to win the 1939-45 war?
It seems a fanciful thought, but author Nicholas Milton makes an excellent proposition for it in a new book...
full review here

Jim Wright

a thoughtful, excellently-researched book full also of unique perspectives about wartime ornithology and its pioneers.
Full review here

RSPB Community Review

This interesting book looks at the role of various birds during World War Two, but the book also looks at the relationship between humans and birds during the war. Birds were used for numerous benefits during the war but especially used in films and books in varying locations as a patriotic symbol. Depending on where you were, you could be having contact with birds from all around the coast or at sea during fighting and convoys, you’ve also got soldiers having to have contact with birds on land and in different countries.

Now I’ve never been a bird watcher or anything close, but the title of the book intrigued me, and I’m really glad I got to read it as it was an interesting book and much more than you think it’s going to be. I actually feel like I’ve learnt a lot more, not just about war but a lot more about birds and the positives in little ways they bought during wartime. I would certainly recommend buying this book as it is a little out there but a really good and unusual read.

Read the full review here

The History Fella

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Role of Birds in World War Two by Nicholas Milton is a wonderfully entertaining and informative book that highlights the important role of the everyday, in this case birds, in raising morale during difficult times.

When I mentioned this book to a friend her first response was about pigeons. Admittedly, that was among my first thoughts as well. Milton goes far beyond just those birds directly involved in the war effort. Combining popular culture references with stories involving birds (and often other important humans) we learn just what birds meant to people.

I am not a birdwatcher hobbyist but, like so many others, I am easily captivated when I have an opportunity to observe a bird closely or a group of them going about their business. The pandemic, in much the way the war did at that time, has raised my awareness of these simple pleasures. This book shows that birds, and nature in general, are far more important to our lives than we sometimes realize.

I would recommend this to both bird lovers and those who like to read about the home front during wartime. The writing is engaging and the information is often surprising.

NetGalley, Jack Messer

As featured in

The Bookseller