Raising Susan: A Man, a Woman, and a Golden Eagle

by Bill Burns

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 077373161X
• ISBN13: 9780773731615
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Stoddart
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

A surprising book

This book surprised me. I am not inclined to read books about humans relating to birds or animals. Once I began to read Raising Susan, however, I became increasingly captived. It told an amazing story in a seamlessly detailed and dramatic way. With a man, a woman, and a golden eagle as its protagonists, the story is really a strange love story, filled with obstacles, breakthroughs, heartbreak, joy, and even violence, as the eagle attacks the man who seeks to be close to her. Read it and believe it.

An Astounding True Story

This is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable nature stories I have ever read; full of drama and even physical conflict as Susan, the abused golden eagle the Hyndmans brought to their avian santcuary, attacked Cecil Hyndman. Not once, but three times, almost blinding him in the most serious attack. Yet Susan showed she had a less fercious side, bonding so closely with Adele she was able to stroke and kiss the large eagle with an almost 8-foot wingspan. Susan responded with physical proof of her deep attachment to Adele by laying 17 eggs in captivity, some directly into Adele's hands -- the only female eagle to do so in captivity. The Hyndmans raised other large birds of prey at Featherland, including a female great horned owl that also laid 14 eggs. The Hyndmans were also famous for teaching many birds considered untrainable to speak. They were referred to as modern-day "Dr. Dolittles" -- an apt description. This book tells the intertwined and convoluted story of what must surely be one of the oddest love stories ever -- between a man, a woman and a golden eagle.

Raising Susan By Bill Burns

Bill Burns has done an exemplary job of capturing the interaction between Susan, a golden eagle with a five foot wing span, four inch claws and a brutal beak and Cecil and Adele Hyndman. Their challenging and intimate relationship with Susan took place over a twenty-five year period. The meticulous notes that Cecil kept of Susan the eagle and some three hundred other birds he cared for in Feartherland provide us with insight and understanding of birds not recorded elsewhere. It was Cecils dream to be recognized not as an untrained ameteur bird lover but rather as an authority on birds and their capacity to interact in amazing ways with humans.Burns has enabled Cecil to do this in relating what he learned about the golden eagle who shared such a major part of his life. If you love eagles this story will surprize and amaze you. Burns has written a very fine book.