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Title details for The Private Lives of Public Birds by Jack Gedney - Available

The Private Lives of Public Birds

Learning to Listen to the Birds Where We Live

by Jack Gedney
Jonathan Todd Ross
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
A book to help the ordinary birdwatcher appreciate the fascinating songs, stories, and science of common birds.
Jack Gedney's studies of birds provide resonant, affirming answers to the questions: Who is this bird? In what way is it beautiful? Why does it matter? Masterfully linking an abundance of poetic references with up-to-date biological science, Gedney shares his devotion to everyday Western birds in fifteen essays. Each essay illuminates the life of a single species and its relationship to humans, and how these species can help us understand birds in general. A dedicated birdwatcher and teacher, Gedney finds wonder not only in the speed and glistening beauty of the Anna's hummingbird, but also in her nest building. He acclaims the turkey vulture's and red-tailed hawk's roles in our ecosystem, and he venerates the inimitable California scrub jay's work planting acorns. Knowing that we hear birds much more often than we see them, Gedney offers his expert's ear to help us not only identify bird songs and calls but also understand what the birds are saying. The crowd at the suet feeder will never look quite the same again. Join Gedney in the enchanted world of these not-so-ordinary birds.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    January 23, 2024

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9798350883817
      • File size: 180406 KB
      • Duration: 06:15:50

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      This audiobook is a paean to birds. It's almost poetry, and author Jack Gedney's lyrical style is exactly suited to listening, perhaps even more so than reading. The text is peppered with images like this, referring to Golden-crowned Sparrows: "Their crowns shine in the fading afternoon light." Narrator Jonathan Todd Ross captures the author's style; Ross's smooth voice and easy pace make listening pleasurable, and his conversational tone renders the text easy to follow. The content is California-centric, so listeners shouldn't expect a field guide to American birds. But the author's observations are generalizable, so listeners can expect to learn a lot about our backyard visitors. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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