Dare to Bird

A powerful photographic journey that celebrates the healing power of birds.

Melissa Hafting is an ethical, passionate, and respected birder, photographer, and mentor. Her love for birding has helped shape who she is and has supported her mental health, enabling her to cope with the difficult aspects of grief and loss after the death of her mother and father.

Showcasing some of Melissa's most stunning bird images from the continental United States, Hawaii, and Canada, Dare to Bird explores the joy that birding and photography have brought to her life. It reveals how both have allowed her to foster meaningful connections with young birders from diverse backgrounds, the conservation community, eco-travel advocates, rare bird enthusiasts, and ethical wildlife viewing practitioners, all working to preserve bird habitats constantly under threat.

At the same time, she is determined to expand birding to include more BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour), women, and LGBTQIA+ individuals through youth outreach. She discusses the barriers, such as racism and sexism, she herself has faced in her journey to become part of the birding community.

The magical imagery of birds is unparalleled in this inspiring collection, and Hafting helps the reader to understand why she believes birds have the power to both save and heal us amid many of life's challenges.