The Birds of Pandemonium: Life Among the Exotic & the Endangered

The founder of a rare bird sanctuary shares a look at the lives of exotic birds and the people who care for them in this "anecdotal, entertaining memoir" (Publishers Weekly)

Michele Raffin is the founder of Pandemonium Aviaries, a conservation organization dedicated to saving and breeding birds at the edge of extinction. It is home to some of the largest populations of rare species in the world. And their behavior is even more fascinating than their glorious plumage or their songs.

Among the many avian characters we meet are Sweetie, a tiny quail with an outsize personality; Oscar, a Lady Gouldian finch who finds a way to reach the highest perches of his aviary to roost despite not being able to fly; and Amigo, an Amazon parrot with a surprisingly rude vocabulary. These birds fall in love, mourn lost loved ones, share jokes, feel jealous—and sometimes even murder each other.

Ultimately, The Birds of Pandemonium is about one woman's crusade to save precious lives, bird by bird, and offers insights into how following a passion can transform not only oneself but also the world.