I try to respect nature and am honestly curious about how the natural world operates. However, despite an immense appreciation of life, I am no scientific specialist or ornithological hobbyist (i.e., bird-watcher). As such, I cannot judge the academic merits of this text, but I can appreciate the literary merits. Ackerman dramatically brings alive the lives of birds in a way that demonstrates that much more is going on than first meets the eye.
The size of a rice kernel, birds’ brains are famously small, yet they have an incredible amount of neurons in such a small space. In the past, many explained that birds’ ways are hard-wired by genetics. The newer research that Ackerman cites clearly calls this into question. First, much diversity of behaviors exists within this population. Second, studies show that birds in different regions learn over time different practices. There clearly is a lot going on underneath a bird’s proverbial hood.
Ackerman demystifies birds’ social lives by showing their language, play, mating habits, and parenting schemes. For instance, cooperative parenting is a huge thing in the bird world. Who knew? Maybe we humans can learn from their example. The section on sex and mating is likewise fascinating due to varied rituals among many species. Some mental acumen is required to keep track of the different names of birds – of which I am frankly unfamiliar – but their behaviors, incredibly common among all birds, are fascinating in detail.
I would have liked to have read more about birds’ impact on humans and humans’ impact on birds. Only the final chapter addresses this, but more needs to be devoted to this topic. Can we humans learn anything from birds’ social behaviors? Can anything be specifically done to stop the tide of climate change on bird environments? What about insecticides limiting bird feeding? Ackerman addresses these questions at a high level, but more detail is clearly needed. I think this topic could have been addressed without delving head-first into a Silent Spring type of scenario.
Overall, this book aims to find an audience among the general public who are interested in newer research about birds. Writers, journalists, and those in the public sphere who want to learn about birds without reading a dry textbook will especially benefit from Ackerman’s lively style. When I next see a group of birds in a field along the side of the road, I might take a few more seconds to see what they’re up to. (Hopefully, I’m not driving a car!) When I do so, I will certainly think of her adages in this book.
The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think
By Jennifer Ackerman
Read by Jennifer Ackerman
Copyright (c) 2020
Penguin Random House Audio
ASIN B0815SDCG7
Audiobook
Genre: Ornithology, Natural Science
www.amazon.com