Eco-mythology and eco-history frame the author’s hypothesis that birds led humankind ‘around the world from one Garden of Eden to another’ enabling physical sustenance and inspiring many cultural and spiritual practices. Ben Gagnon, has won awards as a newspaper reporter, editorial writer, documentary filmmaker, long-range city planner, and novelist. This book of non-fiction was triggered by his curiosity that winter solstice-aligned temples are often found in the wintering grounds of migratory bird. In the book, he writes of the influence of birds on humankind including the development of speech and music. He traces the spread of humankind against the migratory paths of birds. He argues that birds led to fertile areas, offered an early warning system against danger, and were a source of nutrition. He suggests that the mystery of the bird’s patterns of departure and return led to a range of cosmic and cultural beliefs. The book is a compendium of ancient myths and offers insights into the development of rituals and religions. Whilst the book was fascinating, I felt it deserved more exploration than I was able to give. It is not a light read; it is peppered with fascinating theories which are breaking new territory. At times it felt more like an inventory of examples rather than an engaging text. People with an interest in anthropology, mythology and eco-history may find this a valuable intersectional read. However, I feel that it will have a niche audience. Having shown their key role in global evolution and ecosystems, the book ends with a lament of the decimation of bird populations stating, ‘It’s not too late to reverse the trends but the clock is ticking.’ We must take heed. ~ Meryl White - Progressive Voices 47

What Gagnon does here si to wonderfully weave a most dedicated and mindful telling of both bird lore and science told through the ages, that not only details how the two were entwined early on (migration routes) but how humans also learnt how to sing and make music; all due to the birds’ most harmonious and melodic of sounds. Trust me when I say that even if you have no interest in birds or the history of the human race, but you find yourself lost for something to read, this is an incredible book to have ready. ~ Exclusive Magazine, Review

I can’t resist literature about natural history that successfully merges modern science and mythology. This is Ben Gagnon’s territory, and his beautifully written and deeply intelligent book captured me from the second sentence: ‘Church of Birds combines modern science and ancient myth to tell a long-forgotten story about the profound bond between humans and birds, a story much older than previously imagined.’ Gagnon goes on to tell us how bird migration mapping, human fossil records and recent scientific research all show that ‘our most distant ancestors consistently chose to live in prime bird habitat, a wise choice for an opportunistic species that was itself migratory.’ At this point, I stop and think about how often birds occur in, for instance, Celtic and Grail mythology, my own areas of study: the oracular Bran and his sister Branwen from the Mabinogion were associated with corvids; Gawain with a hawk; Rhiannon had three magical birds; and Olwen too had bird connections. It is said that Ogma, the sun-god, created the Ogham alphabet from watching the legs of that magical, secretive bird sacred to the druids, the crane, in flight (Hermes/Mercury is also credited with creating the Roman alphabet from the same phenomenon). This book explores similar examples of ideas around our acquisition of language from birds, and many more besides, whether in myth or current research. Gagnon also tells us how many creation myths across the globe celebrate birds teaching humans how to speak, an idea confirmed by genetic and linguistic studies at separate universities (for instance, a recent linguistic study undertaken at MIT concluded that human language developed by imitating the melodies of birdsong); and like any true mythologian he believes that myths tell us in an ancient symbolic system what science will later come to discover and explain. At this point, I’ve only covered the short introduction and a paragraph or two from the first chapter, and already I’m excited and intrigued by what is to follow. Gagnon’s strength is in bringing both ‘systems’, the mythic and the scientific, together to work in synergy, and his book is an energetic, visionary and carefully-researched exploration of how we can see with more depth into the ancient relationship between humans and birds, their intertwined history, when we take account of these different ‘languages’. The author possesses the rare art of writing in a way that is scholarly, imaginative and syncretic, and whether you are interested in the origins of human history, in birds, in myth and/or in the deep-time relationship between birds and humans, this book will both pique your curiosity and add greatly to your understanding. I can’t praise it enough. ~ Roselle Angwin, author of A Spell in the Forest

Church of Birds weaves an amazing tapestry of bird lore and science over the ages—from Neolithic to present times, including how humans learned from birds how to sing and make music and how bird migration routes were related to early ritual sites around the world. Those with an interest in world religions and spiritual practices, such as shamanism, are in for one surprise after another in this compelling book. ~ Nita Renfrew, healer, iconographer, writer, ordained interfaith/interspiritual/interspecies minister and member of the editorial board of The Journal of Shamanic Practice.

With the publication of "Church of Birds: An Eco-History of Myth and Religion", award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker, and novelist Ben H. Gagnon tells a long-forgotten story of the profound bond between people and birds, and how humanity's early eco-history ultimately shaped the world's global religions. Informative, fascinating, iconoclastic, thought-provoking, "Church of Birds: An Eco-History of Myth and Religion" will have a particular interest for students of the history of paganism, shamanism, the Abrahamic religions, and the symbolism of birds in religion. "Church of Birds: An Eco-History of Myth and Religion" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to community and academic library History of Religion and Metaphysical Studies collections and supplemental curriculum reading lists. ~ Midwest Book Reviews

Ben's book is an eco-history of human evolution supported by recent scientific discoveries, ancient myths, and sacred texts. Across dozens of cultures, migratory birds were seen as divine agents of a benevolent sun, delivering seeds to the landscape in spring and guiding souls to a heavenly paradise in the fall. From the Nazca lines in Peru to the Temple of Karnak in Egypt, Ben argues that ancient sites around the world paid homage to the sky and the birds that carved their migratory paths through it. ~ Graham Hancock

Church of Birds demonstrates beautifully our ancestors’ spiritual connection to the natural world, and more specifically to birds and their migrations. Mr Gagnon connect us back to the dawn of time. A must read. ~ Valerie Legeay, Past Life Regression (PLR) therapist

At a time when humanity desperately needs to see again with eyes of wonder and trust, Ben Gagnon’s Church of Birds offers healing, generating a fierce hope and commitment to our future that had seemed impossible. The cosmic vision with a restored sacred feminine and illuminating details are Hildegardian in their brilliance. ~ Rev. Judith Liro, Episcopal priest and co-founder of St. Hildegard’s Community

Ben Gagnon’s Church of Birds looks through the long lens of bird mythology to identify a lost language of symbolism and explore the uncanny borderland between the human and avian worlds. With its cross-cultural, trans-historical sensitivity, Church of Birds is environmentalism’s new face, and a daring pilgrimage linking the sacred to the material. ~ Jeffrey Mathes McCarthy, Director of the Environmental Humanities Graduate Program, and a Professor in the Honors College at the University of Utah

Church of Birds is about the impact of birds on human evolution from the time of the Neanderthals through to the rise of civilization. For those wishing to read how birds shaped humanity's beliefs and practices in magic and religion this is an essential new edition to the bookshelf. ~ Andrew Collins, history and science writer, co-author of Origins of the Gods

Church of Birds: An Eco-History of Myth and Religion is a fascinating study of the connection between the evolution of early human cultures world-wide and the migratory patterns of birds. Incredibly well researched and highly factual in detail, Gagnon explores how early humans looked to bird migration patterns for areas of settlement and over time developed a co-dependency that gave rise to the development of human societies and expressions of spirituality. The common threads found over millennia across the globe give the reader a comprehensive insight into the powerful connection our ancestors had with the natural world and the important role birds have always played within that connection. Simply remarkable and ground breaking. ~ James T. Powers, author of Ancient Wisdom, Modern Hope: Relearning Environmental Connectiveness

‘A beautifully written, intriguing and deeply intelligent work. The author’s strength is in bringing together the mythic and the scientific; the book is an energetic, visionary and carefully-researched exploration of how we can see with more depth into the ancient relationship between humans and birds, their intertwined history, when we consider both of these perspectives. Gagnon possesses the rare art of writing in a way that is scholarly, imaginative and syncretic.’ ~ Roselle Angwin, author of A Spell in the Forest

By rekindling the ancient and intimate bond between humans and birds, this book makes our soul sing (like birdsong, of course), lifts us into the migratory skies while rooting us as deeply into our ecosystem as the roots of the World Tree. In this time of evolutionary transition we need nothing more than to reconnect fully with the living world. Thank you, Ben H. Gagnon, for providing another stepping stone to take off into an interconnected, sustainable future. ~ Fred Hageneder, author of Healthy Planet - Global meltdown or global healing