James H. McCommons
February 2, 2026
In the late 19th Century it was an all-out war on birds. Millions were shot for the market every year, egret and heron colonies were ravaged for ladies’ hats, and breeding habitat was rapidly being converted to factories and houses. Slowly over the decades, attitudes towards our natural heritage changed thanks to the considerable efforts of a few dedicated people. Tonight on Inquiry we talk with JAMES H. McCOMMONS, professor emeritus at Northern Michigan University, and a veteran journalist specializing in ecology, environmental, and travel topics. His new book is THE FEATHER WARS AND THE GREAT CRUSADE TO SAVE AMERICAN BIRDS.
