The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think

by Jennifer Ackerman

'A celebration of the dizzying variety of bird life and behaviour, one that will enthral birders and non-birders alike' The Observer

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Genius of Birds, a radical investigation into the bird way of being, and the recent scientific research that is dramatically shifting our understanding of birds.

'There is the mammal way and there is the bird way.' This is one scientist's pithy distinction between mammal brains and bird brains: two ways to make a highly intelligent mind. But lately, scientists have taken a new look at bird behaviours they've previously dismissed as anomalies. What they're finding is upending the traditional view of how birds live, how they communicate, forage, court, survive. They're also revealing the remarkable intelligence underlying these activities, abilities we once considered uniquely our own - deception, manipulation, kidnapping, infanticide, but also, ingenious communication between species, collaboration, altruism and play.

Some of these behaviours are biological conundrums that seem to push the edges of - well - birdness: A mother bird that kills her own infant sons, and another that selflessly tends to the young of other birds. Young birds that devote themselves to feeding their siblings and others so competitive they'll stab their nestmates to death. Birds that give gifts and birds that steal, birds that dance or drum, that paint their creations or paint themselves, and birds that summon playmates with a special call - and may hold the secret to our own penchant for playfulness and the evolution of laughter.

Drawing on personal observations, the latest science, and her bird-related travel around the world, Ackerman shows there is clearly no single bird way of being. In every respect, in plumage, form, song, flight, lifestyle, niche, and behaviour, birds vary. It's what we love about them.

'Biologist and bestselling author Jennifer Ackerman knows what she's talking about . . . Chapter by meatily evidence-based chapter, she lays out the assumptions that underpin our understanding of birds - and then pecks them apart . . . Her knack for catching the personalities of different species in gorgeous, playful prose further collapses comfortable barriers between the human and the birdlike . . . More than it is a book about birds - and it is, indisputably, a book about birds - The Bird Way is about diversity and tolerance. A little bird told me that's just what we need in 2020' Daily Telegraph, ***** (Five Stars)

'Jennifer Ackerman is not a field researcher, but with her eye for a great story she converts the scientific findings of others into popular books. The real joy of her book is its close attention to some of the specialists of the region . . . Ackerman is also alive to the humour at play in field research' Mark Cocker, The Spectator

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Nature, Birds, Animals, Biology, Audiobook

368 pages, Hardcover

First published May 5, 2020

About the author

Jennifer Ackerman has been writing about science and nature for three decades. She is the author of eight books, including the New York Times bestseller, The Genius of Birds, which has been translated into more than twenty languages. Her articles and essays have appeared in Scientific American, National Geographic, The New York Times, and many other publications. Ackerman is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship in Nonfiction, a Bunting Fellowship, and a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Her articles and essays have been included in several anthologies, among them Best American Science Writing, The Nature Reader, and Best Nature Writing.

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review After the really rather good The Genius of Birds which was science light and anecdote heavy, I thought this might be an even better follow-up. Sometimes second books especially in the science realm are much better, with deeper research and perhaps a firmer grasp on how to write for the particular audience who would buy the book.

But it wasn't. More anecdotes, more speculation, less facts and less science. It read like all the out-takes and the research that didn't make it into the first book (understandably) were made into this one to follow on from the huge commercial success of the Genius of Birds.

I hate to be so harsh, because the author's writing is good and the books are both interesting, but they don't have a backing of hard science and the title of this book at least to me, implies it will. So 3 star. Reviewed 9 Feb. 2022
__________

Reading notes "There is the mammal way and there is the bird way.” This is one scientist’s pithy distinction between mammal brains and bird brains: two ways to make a highly intelligent mind." Considering I'm reading, I, Mammal: The Story of What Makes Us Mammals, I thought this would make a great companion book to read.

[Tim Null · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I see it, there are at least three ways to organize a nonfiction book. One is the textbook way where the author presents currently accepted facts and theories in an organized way. Two, there's the historical way where the author discusses the progression of accepted facts and theories as they progress over time. Third, there's the anecdotal method where information is presented via interesting stories. This method resembles a collection of short stories.

The Bird Way book uses the anecdotal method where the stories are all presented in a logical and organized way so you can proceed from first story to last and come away with a thorough understanding of bird behavior, or you can hop around and pick out a story or two that please you at the moment.

The overall organization of the book is by topics. The topics are Talk, Work, Play, Love, and Parent. I found it helpful to add a friendly 'ing' to the end of each topic title.

To help give you a feel for this book, I'll provide the opening paragraph and an anecdote from my favorite story.

The opening paragraph first. "'There is the mammal way, and there is the bird way.' This is one scientist's pithy distinction between mammal brains and bird brains: two ways to make a highly intelligent brain."

My favorite story comes from the birds at play section that discusses Mathias Osvath's research with ravens. Osvath explained that there were seven ravens participating in his experiments. The six ravens that live at his aviary and a wild raven who watches them through a window. Whenever they do an experiment, they open the door, and the wild raven walks in, participates in the experiment, and then walks out when the experiment is over.

So remember the next time you call someone a bird brain, you are giving that individual the highest possible compliment.

[Jenna ❤ ❀ ❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer Ackerman, author of the brilliant The Genius of Birds, now gives us another book about birds, specifically their behavior. This book is more anecdotal and observational than the previous book which, if I recall correctly, had more scientific facts. Because of that, I enjoyed the first more. 

There is some overlap but enough new material that readers won't mind. I skipped over the parts that I already know or have read about in other books.

I think those who enjoy bird-watching will love this book. I unfortunately found it tedious at times. There is an overwhelming amount of observational material of numerous bird species. This was entertaining in the beginning but as I got further into the book, my brain just wanted facts. I didn't care to learn about specific people or what they've seen birds doing. 

I'm probably not patient enough to be a serious bird watcher, though I do enjoy seeing them. There is much to admire in birds, much to be amazed by. Those who love birds will find plenty in this book to deepen their admiration.

3.5 stars rounded up. It's a good book, but a bit all over the place at times, and containing too many anecdotes for me.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

It turns out being called a "birdbrain" may be a compliment and not a pejorative.

Some things I learned about birds:

- Australia is where birdsong began. DNA analysis has revealed that songbirds, as well as parrots and pigeons, evolved on the continent and radiated outward, spreading around the globe in successive waves. The birds that carol the dawn chorus at my home halfway around the world in central Virginia--American robins, mockingbirds, warblers, sparrows, cardinals, finches--all descend from the early passerines of Australia.

- It is common for a species of bird to mimic the singing of other species of birds. But none does it quite like the superb lyrebird. Here's David Attenborough spying on one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSB71...

- Some birds get at food enclosed in hard shells or other tough packaging by dropping it on pavement to crack it open. Gulls drop clams, and crows and ravens drop nuts. Perhaps most notable is the lammergeier, or bearded vulture, a carrion-eating bird like the turkey vulture, but one that feasts on bones rather than flesh. Small bones it swallows whole; large femurs and ulnas it takes to the sky, letting them go from hundreds of feet over rocky outcrops to split them open and release the marrow. It has its favorite spots for bone breaking, known as ossuaries. This huge and lovely bird is thought to be the one that killed Aeschylus when it dropped a tortoise on the Greek playwright, mistaking his bald head for a stone.

- Birds in Australia -- Black kites and whistling kites -- will swoop down on a fire, pick up a smoldering stick in its claws, and drop it in a fresh patch of dry grass half a mile away. The bird then waits with its mates for the mad exodus of scorched and frightened rodents and reptiles. After dinner, and when that secondary area is burned, the kite will repeat the process. (I thought this might explain, if only in part, some of the devastating Australian wildfires, but the author didn't think so.)

- Veeries nesting in Delaware cut short their breeding season in years with the most numerous and intense hurricanes. Months in advance, they anticipate storms and adjust their migratory schedules for crossing the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea on their way to migration to South America to avoid the worst of the hurricanes. They also lay more eggs earlier in the season. How these birds know in May what will happen in August is a deep mystery, probably having to do with cues they pick up during their wintering season in South America. In their ability to predict the tropical storm season to come, the timing of nesting veeries is as least as good as--maybe a bit better than--the predictions by weather forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

- Several species of cuckoos are known as brood parasites, meaning the female cuckoo will sneak into the nest of another species of bird and exchange her egg with that of the host, letting the host bird do all the work, from incubation to feeding to rearing.

- At first blush, their reproductive organs seem all alike. Both male and female have a cloaca, an opening that in the male swells during the mating season, projecting outside their bodies. When birds mate, they briefly rub together their swollen cloaca, allowing the male's sperm to move from his cloaca to hers and then travel up her reproductive tract to fertilize her egg. (Bird cloaca also have a decidedly less sexy role: to excrete urine and feces.)

[Roy Lotz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is amazing how little you can know about something right in front of your eyes. For me, birds are a great example of this phenomenon. After all, they are creatures that I see every day, flying overhead, perching in treetops, floating in fountains, skipping on the ground, filling the air with music. Perhaps arrogantly, I had always assumed that these feathered bipeds were rather dim-witted, acting purely out of blind instinct. Certainly, pigeons do not inspire much admiration. But in this book, Ackerman demonstrates that birds—or at least some birds—are far cleverer than I ever suspected.

This book is full of surprising bird behaviors. Bird song, for example, is not just the mindless repetition of melodies to mark territory, but full of information. Most birds have a repertoire of alarm calls, and use these calls to distinguish between types of dangers (whether a predator is grounded, aerial, acutely or only somewhat dangerous, or a brood parasite). Even more impressive, some birds use alarm calls (often mimicking those of other species) to fool their neighbors, setting off false alarms in order to steal food or defend their nests. And singing is not simply genetic; social learning plays a large role in the process. The superb lyrebird, for example, does not primarily learn its imitative song by mimicking other birds in the area, but by imitating other lyrebirds. And many weeks of diligent practice are required in order to give a passing performance.

One of the most astonishing sections in this book concerns the Australian fire hawks. For decades, scientists have known that birds of prey gravitate towards bush fires, in order to pick off escaping animals. More controversial—but attested to by a great many observers, including Abroginal Australians—is the possibility that these hawks intentionally spread fires by picking up burning sticks and dropping them in a dry patch. If this is true, these hawks would be the only non-human species to intentionally manipulate fire. Another, marvelous chapter describes the intricate behaviors that have developed around army ants. Much like a fire, the marching ants cause other creatures to flee; and some birds have evolved to specialize in this kind of foraging. They even keep track of where the ants nest, and periodically check up on old nesting sites.

My favorite section was on bird intelligence. I had no idea that corvids (crows, jays, magpies, and ravens) were such brainy creatures. Ravens especially are adept at manipulating tools, solving puzzles, and working together in order to solve complex problems. Somewhat less clever, though far more endearing, are the kea parrots of New Zealand. What makes this species so special is their penchant for play, even giving primates a run for their money when it comes to curiosity and buffoonery. Ravens like to play, too, though their curiosity is tempered by a powerful fear of novel objects; they are neophobes, whereas the kea are neophiles. What is more, ravens live in social groups defined by strict hierarchies, with lots of in-fighting, while the kea seem to live in relatively egalitarian arrangements with almost no conflict. It is curious that intelligence could take such different forms.

The final section concerns reproduction, and is equally fascinating. I was most intrigued by the genetic arms race between brood parasites and their hosts. To avoid Cuckoo’s parasitizing their nests, birds learn to make ever-more subtle distinctions between genuine eggs and imposters. Some birds even go a step further, and sing a special note while eggs are incubating, which a fledgling bird must reproduce or risk eviction. But Cuckoo’s respond by ever-more convincing imitations of their hosts’ eggs and young. Nature can be a pretty gruesome place. Somewhat more heartening is the practice of cooperative breeding, wherein unrelated birds work as a team to tend and guard their nest. Ironically, however, this practice may have originated when birds started becoming brood parasites on members of their own species, though this is just speculation.

In all, it is hard for me to imagine a better book on birds than this one. Ackerman is a talented writer who brings a palpable love of the subject into every sentence. More importantly, like any great book on science—maybe any great book in general—Ackerman manages to find the astounding within the mundane, putting some wonder back into our quotidian lives.

[Olive Fellows (abookolive) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The below review originally appeared on Open Letters Review:

Following the success of The Genius of Birds in 2016, science writer Jennifer Ackerman returns with another avian-centric book, The Bird Way: A New Look at How Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think. While The Genius of Birds zoomed in specifically on bird intelligence, this new work takes a broader approach and aims to aid the human species in understanding what the world looks like to our feathered friends.

Readers, particularly those who have not yet fallen under the spell of birds, may wonder why Ackerman would add to the teetering pile of bird books already published (which includes not one, but two of her own previous works), but the endlessly entertaining content of the book provides the answer: not only does there seem to be a limitless well of information about these fascinating creatures, but our understanding of them is constantly growing and changing. Observations made in previous decades and cemented in textbooks can change on a dime when prolonged studies or advanced technologies reveal long-hidden secrets.

For example, we have only begun to understand that there exists an immense world outside of human perception; dogs can hear pitches the human ear can’t perceive, sound waves illustrate a world for bats and dolphins that we cannot navigate without special equipment, and birds have a seat at that table as well. It turns out that bird movements don’t merely seem zippily fast, they’re actually far too nimble for the human eye. In a chapter discussing male bird courtship displays, Ackerman explains:

We humans are constrained not just by our limited senses but by our perception of time. In the bird world, things happen fast, sometimes too fast for us to see. To make a point in talks, Mike Webster of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology shows a real-time video made by biologist Lainy Day of a male black manakin displaying in the forests of Guyana. In the film, the male manakin looks like it's simply hopping up and down. Then Webster plays Day’s high-speed video, which shows hundreds of frames per second, as the female manakin would see it. Jaws drop, and there’s an audible gasp from the audience. Between the little hops, the male completes a full-body, 360-degree flip, a high speed somersault too quick for us to see.

She adds an additional example of high-speed cameras picking up a species of African songbirds tap-dancing “in perfect time with their song.” Birds have been staging their own variety shows this whole time, and our limited eye capacity leaves us painfully without tickets.

With countless scientists wielding binoculars faced upwards, new information about the estimated 10,000 species of birds on the globe continues to flood in, expanding our knowledge base, shattering previously conceived notions, and making it abundantly clear that birds are far more impressive than ever realized. Beyond their transcendent visual abilities, birds communicate, hunt down food, engage in play, and raise young in unique ways suited to the challenges of their environments. Some choice examples from each of these categories appear in The Bird Way; Ackerman pulls from the latest studies and makes the science sing.

At the core of the book is a desire for the readers to see that, while we share a planet with birds, we occupy very different worlds. Our limitations as a species may keep us from ever getting the true bird’s-eye view of the planet in the literal sense, but advances in science can give us an idea. Ackerman takes that new science and makes it accessible for the bird-loving laymen amongst us. Equally as approachable as The Genius of Birds and with an enthusiasm that will make the reader excited to turn the pages, The Bird Way gives us visiting privileges into the world of these winged wonders.

[Peter Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is nature writing at its very best. Journalist Jennifer Ackerman has emerged as one of the leading voices for our avian friends. She travels the world to introduce us to some amazing birds and the painstaking research being done to better understand them. I lost count of the number of times I wrote “wow” in my marginalia.

North American birds are on the whole boring according to Ackerman, but in Australia, New Zealand and the tropics, their behavior is even more distinctive than their often colorful plumage. From laughing and tool making to cooperative parenting, birds have more going on upstairs than I ever imagined. I also thought I had learned about the birds and the bees long ago, but I don’t remember studying their “cloaca” (a three-in-one orifice).

Perhaps I will develop the patience to go bird watching when I am in my 70s, but in the meantime, I have put out feeders and birdbaths. Two of our most frequent flyers are acorn woodpeckers, which have “one of the most complex communal nesting systems of any vertebrate” (p. 319) and Anna’s hummingbirds, which Ackerman wonderfully describe as “a ton of truculence packed into a feathered fraction of an ounce” (p. 13). When I’m reading outside they can hover inches from my face. Males have dazzling ruby red throats when light is reflected at certain angles. Feeding frenzies are punctuated by dogfights and dive bombings. Just as I was reading Ackerman’s description, a female hummer crashed into the sliding glass door of my study. I scooped her up and marveled at how tiny she was. Before I could offer her some sugar water, she flew off into our nearby redbud tree.

“The Bird Way” is a welcome respite from a world turned upside down by Trump’s kakocracy (rule by the worst people). Corvids (crows) over Covid-19! My next bird books will be the lighter “The Birds of Pandemonium: Life Among the Exotic and the Endangered” and the more academic “Parrots of the Wild: A Natural History of the World’s Most Captivating Birds.” Ackerman has a brilliant chapter on New Zealand’s stupendous kea parrot, but I need to better understand the yellow-naped Amazon I grew up with. Poncho could outlive me...

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a survey of bird behavior. It is organized in topical chapters: Talk, Work, Plan, Parent and Think.

I was not too far into it when I realized that I am more suited to a book on a particular species than to a book covering the birds of the world. Because there are so many bird species, some of the chapters are overloaded with examples. At times examples are merely sentences or paragraphs. While I wanted more information on many of the topics, I realized the impossibility of that in a book on “Birds”.

I learned how some bird species attack ants and humans, start fires to prey on fleeing creatures, communicate danger and form "mobs" to attack large prey, have nest eggs that are not necessarily from monogamous relationships, may destroy their own eggs and hatchlings, can be taught to construct and use tools and connect nouns with their object, kidnap and enslave young birds, attack people near their nests and steal sunglasses, pens and tie up traffic. I also learned that in addition to bird population declines due to pollution, Europe is experiencing a 13% decline in birds that feed on insects.

My favorite parts were where several pages were devoted to one or two species focusing on a specific behavior.

The chapter in the Play section mostly devoted to ravens and kias was the best for me. Here, Jennifer Ackerman gave a good feel for the research and the researchers as well as bird behavior. Other sections with similar focus were the shared parenting colonies of the wooing habits of the bowerbirds.

If you like a survey style book, and want to learn some interesting things about birds, this is for you.

[Meagan Houle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated by birds, by their eccentric behaviour, their otherworldly intelligence, their endless diversity. So when I picked up "The Bird Way," I expected to learn a lot about those things. What I didn't expect was to learn so much more, not as much about birds, but about humans and our relationship to the natural world around us. I kept messaging my friends, brimming with new information and insight.
"Hey, did you know that one theory behind the dawn chorus is that birds use it as a collective exercise in affirmation, community, and joy? Imagine if humans used their mornings for such a pursuit, instead of rushing around guzzling coffee and scarfing down breakfast?"
"Hey, did you know that birds play, even as adults, and that 'play' in humans can include anything, like a hobby, that brings us joy for no productive reason? Oh, and it helps our brains develop and stay healthy. What would happen if we valued play as much as some bird species do?"
"Hey, did you know some birds parent as a community, rather than as individuals or bonded pairs, just as many humans do in village settings? Wouldn't it be great if we did this more?"
The journey was long, winding, and full of words I had to Google, but I enjoyed it immensely, and can't recommend this wide-ranging book highly enough to any lover of birds, from the most casual to the most ardent. You're in for a treat, and a massive info dump besides.

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this a lot more than I actually did. It suffers from the same problem her previous book (The Genius of Birds) does: long lists of bird species that perform some action in slightly different ways, interspersed with descriptive passages of the forest/marsh/jungle/grassy plain/cityscape/whatever environment a particular species inhabits. So, for instance, in the section on "Talk," you get the following: species 1 goes "tweet tweet," species 2 goes "squawk, squawk," species 3 goes "chirp, chirp," species 4 goes "hoot, hoot," species 5 goes... Then, after a short interlude describing the hike/slog/trek/trudge/stroll through the forest/marsh/jungle/grassy plain/cityscape, you get another list of birds that do something similar. Interminable. But, apparently, I am one of the very few readers who feels this way, so your mileage may vary.

[Scribe Publications]

[A]n exploration of ‘surprising and sometimes alarming behaviour’ of everyday avian activity … Extreme behaviour reveals insights and new perspectives on birds' adaptation abilities and flexibility of mind. Ackerman is a smooth writer; her presentation of ideas is deft, and her anecdotes are consistently engaging … Ackerman demonstrates bird science as an evolving discipline that is consistently fascinating, and she offers brilliant discussions of the use of smell, long overlooked but indeed deployed for navigation; courtship signals; predator avoidance, and, not surprisingly, locating food … A brightly original book sure to please any nature lover. STARRED REVIEW
Kirkus Reviews

A wonderful read. Every page will increase your awe of birds.
Tim Low

The complex behaviour of birds recounted here demonstrates that birds have sophisticated mental abilities previously unrecognised by conventional avian research. Ackerman supports her thesis with descriptions of the behaviour of an entertaining variety of birds from across the world. She brings scientific research alive with personal field observations and accounts of her encounters with colourful and fascinating birds. Throughout, Ackerman reminds readers that birds are thinking beings — their brains are wired differently than those of mammals, giving them increased brain power despite their small size. She further makes the case that bird intelligence shows that humankind is not alone in using language and tools or constructing complex structures and manipulating other creatures … This work will engage all readers interested in learning more about birds and natural history. STARRED REVIEW
Mark Jones, Library Journal

Her research shows how some avian actions indicate ingenious adaptations … Ackerman’s vibrant writing ensures that all things bird are thoroughly compelling and enjoyable. STARRED REVIEW
Nancy Bent, Booklist

In The Bird Way, Jennifer Ackerman digs deeper and ranges farther into bird behaviour, pulling tasty stories out of rich ground as she hops across the continents … Like a bowerbird, Ms. Ackerman gathers and displays treasures to amaze and delight — then lets the scientists’ stories take centre stage … Refreshingly, Ackerman spotlights a number of female researchers.
Wall Street Journal

After reading Ackerman (The Genius of Birds), you may listen harder to the various chirps, cheeps and coos coming from your backyard. Her new book reminds us that we have a lot in common with birds — like us, they are capable of deception and manipulation, not to mention cooperation, culture and communication.
The Washington Post

From tales of dazzling plumage to anecdotes about almost unfathomable mimicry, Jennifer Ackerman’s The Bird Way is a walk through the mysteries, wonders, and peculiarities of the avian world ... Ackerman’s excitement and love for it are evident in her writing. Her superb storytelling paints a rich picture that engages the reader’s imagination, making sometimes-hard-to-grasp research accessible.
Science Magazine

The Bird Way builds on her previous volume The Genius of Birds (2016), already considered a classic … The real joy of her book is its close attention to some of the specialists of the region, including a large group of nectar-loving birds, the honeyeaters.
Mark Cocker, Spectator Australia

A fresh account of the world of birds, written to showcase the many marvels revealed by modern tracking and recording techniques … Ackerman’s account is often jaw-dropping, and never more shocking than when she assembles the evidence for the cultural sophistication of birdsong.
Simon Ings, New Scientist

[O]ur understanding of bird behaviour is undergoing a revolution, and nearly every page of this often lyrical and sometimes funny book contains some fresh wonder … [S]plendid and spellbinding … The Bird Way shows us a new way to view birds, yes — but perhaps even better, through their eyes, intellect, and more-than-human senses, it lets birds reveal to us the hidden realities of our shared world.
Sy Montgomery, The American Scholar

[The Bird Way] upends the traditional view of how birds conduct their lives with fascinating insights into communication between species, their co-operation, collaboration, altruism, culture and play.
The Courier Mail

Fascinating.
The Senior

[A] thrilling book.
Helen Elliott, The Australian

[The Bird Way] makes for interesting reading.
Goulburn Post

Eye-opening … Birds are more intelligent, strategic, manipulative, playful, collaborative and creative than they have been given credit for. Like a morning chorus, The Bird Way gives voice to a bird’s view of the world.
Fiona Capp, The Age

Fascinating and engrossing.
WIRES Wildlife Rescue

The Bird Way is a fascinating and thorough exploration of the lives of what are surely the most beautiful creatures on Earth. Throughout the book, Jennifer Ackerman provides a wealth of facts and introduces us to many recent developments in the study of these animals … Those who break out binoculars on a regular basis will obviously be fascinated by this book, but so will anyone interested in questions of language, cognition, culture and intelligence.
Penelope Cottier, The Canberra Times

Jennifer Ackerman presents a gee-whiz compendium of bird behaviour, from parrots to penguins … Ackerman’s readable stories will make you rethink who we share the Earth with. FOUR STARS
SA Weekend

[Onceinabluemoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible facts about such diverse behavior fluttering around us, from fire starters to building giant compost heaps to bury their eggs I was astounded, entertained and repulsed, page after page!

[Story · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating!

[rozey]

considering getting back on here as opposed to storygraph 😮 anyways, this book rocks & ackerman knows how to make a compelling, accessible book about birds!! did you know that some birds (like greater anis) are polyamorous?! and, despite the term “lovebird,” a small percentage of birds mate for life or even momentarily pair up? so much good stuff in this book…

[Jorge Zuluaga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esta claro que no hay una sola manera de ser un pájaro, como tampoco la hay de ser un humano. Así, con una de las geniales frases que usa Jennifer Ackerman para concluir "La conducta de los pájaros", me gustaría resumir mi impresión sobre este libro.

Y es que después de leer, con este, dos libros sobre pájaros de Jennifer, creo que si empezará otro y otro más y así casi indefinidamente, no solo el tema no se agotaría, sino que además, por lo menos yo, no dejaría de seguir comprándolos y leyéndolos. Los pájaros, y las aves en general, son inagotables.

"La conducta de los pájaros" es una secuela de "El ingenio de los pájaros" (mi reseña sobre esté último por aquí), pero en realidad parece, simplemente, la continuación de ese, su primer best seller. En este nuevo libro Jennifer expande su mirada desde el "ingenio" hacia otros aspectos de la vida de las aves igualmente atravesados por su avanzada cognición. Desde sus sofisticados sistemas de producción de sonido y los resultantes lenguajes que los humanos nos esforzamos por entender, pasando por el juego (¡increíble capítulo!) hasta llegar al sexo y la crianza.

Los pájaros son animales tan conocidos por todos y tan desconocidos por la mayoría. Cada página de Jennifer cierra un poquito la brecha que nos separa a la inmensa mayoría de los humanas de los que posiblemente son los animales más complejos que ha producido la evolución natural en 3800 millones de años.

Se puede pensar que la emoción que tengo fresca después de leer este libro o el hecho de no ser un experto en insectos eusociales o monos del nuevo mundo, ni siquiera en biología en general, me hace exagerar. Pero si de algo me puedo preciar por mi área de investigación (astrobiología y ciencias planetarias) es de haber leído un poquito sobre la evolución de la vida compleja en la Tierra, la evolución de la inteligencia y la posibilidad de vida en otros mundos, lecturas que me han enseñado a apreciar los productos más increíbles de la evolución. En todas esas lecturas difícilmente había visto descrito de forma tan clara el hecho de que en el árbol de la vida (o de la telaraña si quieren), al menos en los rincones que conocemos bien, no hay un grupo de organismos en los que hayan surgidos mecanismos biológicos mas sofisticados y comportamientos más extraños, como en las aves.

Si aún así, siguen creyendo que exagero, dejemos que sea Jennifer, que lleva años estudiando e investigando los pájaros la que lo diga: [Los pájaros] son tan incoherentes, tan impredecibles y tan variados como ningún otros grupo de animales de la Tierra. Punto.

¿Y nosotros, me refiero a nuestra especie, tan admirada y cuyos logros parecen superara a los de cualquiera que haya existido antes, incluso después?. También Jennifer se permite aclararlo: Es posible que [como especie] estemos solos cuando nos inventamos razones según las cuales somos especiales..

Como siempre el libro está lleno de datos increíbles. Imposible resumirlos en una reseña. Algunos los he compartido de forma desorganizada en Twitter, cuál más increíble que el anterior.

¿Defectos?. Como cualquier libro. El primero y más notable es la total ausencia de fotografías. Aparte de unas bonitos dibujos que abren cada capítulo, el libro no tiene una sola imagen. Cero. Entiendo que eso hace que muchos lectores podamos disfrutar de un texto a un precio razonable. Pero, ¡por favor! ¡todos queremos conocer a las aves de las que nos habla Jennifer!.

En más de una ocasión (y como debe pasarnos a todos), me pase minutos alejado de la lectura tratando de encontrar la imagen de alguno de las increíbles especies de pájaros descritas por Jennifer.

Y es que por las páginas de "La conducta de los pájaros" desfilan cerca de ~200 especies diferentes (estimo que hay en promedio 1 cada 2 páginas). Me quito el sombrero delante de Maria Dolores Ábalos la traductora de la edición que tuve el placer de leer. Personalmente no me imagino el tamaño de la tarea de encontrar el nombre vulgar en castellano de todas las especies recogidas en el libro. Y es que, como una curiosidad, Jennifer rara vez usa el nombre científico de los pájaros de los que habla, una elección que, personalmente, encuentro muy acertada.

Otro defecto es que la lectura se pone a veces un poco pesada. Esto, por el exceso de nombres de pájaros distintos o el excesivo nivel de detalle en muchas de las anécdotas que relata.

Por estas razones no le pongo su merecidas 5 estrellas. Se supone que la calificación y la reseña debe servir a otros para tomar la decisión de si invertir el tiempo en leer el libro. Digamos que cada 5 personas que leen esta reseña y deciden leer "La conducta de los pájaros", tal vez 1 encontrará el libro imposible de terminar.

Solo me resta decir que espero que hayan pájaros en otros planetas.

¡Lean el libro! ¡lean a Jennifer Ackerman!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I debated reviewing this book separately from The Genius of Birds, because it shares all of the same strengths. The writing was beautiful and the anecdotes were too good not to share. What I wanted to add, though, is that the organization of this book appealed to me a bit more. The chapters on how birds play were particularly delightful. Several chapters in this book were more focused on a single bird than in the previous book. This made it easier to get into the stories the author was telling. I especially loved one whole, wonderful chapter on Keas, which are definitely my new favorite birds. I'd recommend this slightly more highly than The Genius of Birds. I would also recommend picking this up if you enjoyed the author's first book. There's some overlapping material, but it's handled well and covered briefly.This review was originally posted on Doing Dewey

[Nancy Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful book. It reminds the reader that birds, like mammals, cover a vast spectrum of behavior and physical attributes. One thinks of a songbird when one thinks of a bird. But the class Ava encompasses species from the beelike hummingbird (a biologist friend told me once that, ecologically speaking, a hummingbird is a butterfly) to the ostrich, who runs and kicks as fiercely as a horse and flies like an elephant. The albatross and other marine birds who spend days soaring and never touching the ground. Penguins who swim like seals.
Their behaviors and levels of intelligence are just as varied. Author Jennifer Ackerman's enthusiasm for the wonders of bird society and thinking is contagious. The Bird Way was a joy to read.

[Orsolya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birds are absolutely incredible in every way. They are insanely intelligent with more neuron connections, brain development and cognitive skill than apes and chimps; they are capable of physical feats that are Olympic athlete-level and are the only species, besides humans, to construct functional tools and decorate their homes aesthetically. Birds can hear tones humans can’t even fathom and see ultraviolet colors that we could never process. These creatures also are the only species with the most distinct appearances and lifestyles across the board in their genus. These facts hardly even begin to explore the magnificence of birds. To dive deeper, Jennifer Ackerman, the bird expert and author behind the critically-acclaimed mega-hit book, “The Genus of Birds”; is back with, “The Bird Way: A New Look at how Birds Talk, Work, Play, Parent, and Think”.

Ackerman’s thesis with “The Bird Way” is a cognitive, behavioral and nueroscientific approach to highlighting the lives of birds and the latest advances (psychological and technological) in the ornithology world. In fact, “The Bird Way” is akin to a pop psych/neuroscience text with the presentation following the same structure of an overall look at the topic, discussion, debunking myths and offering case studies both experienced by Ackerman primarily or popular in the field. “The Bird Way” is an excellent introduction into ornithology but will also turn everything you know upside down and will catch readers up to speed with recent developments.

“The Bird Way” follows the subtitle, dividing the subject matter into hyper focusing on: talk, work, play, love, and parenting; exposing overall trends while specifically highlighting example bird types with the leading experts and researchers. Ackerman’s depth of study is deep, nuanced and unbiased even with her passion for birds allowing “The Bird Way” to speak for itself. Ackerman offers a well-rounded proper scientific view by suggesting various hypotheses and ‘why’ arguments rather than pushing her personal agenda on readers. “The Bird Way” is certainly academic in every way and yet not overwhelming or confusing to average readers. Calling “The Bird Way” compelling or riveting is an understatement: it is the epitome of educational entertainment for bird-lovers, everywhere.

Don’t necessarily expect “The Bird Way” to be fully conclusive as the studies mentioned are on-going and still being researched. Ackerman isn’t attempting an end-all text but rather an expose editorial update on birds. Bird-lovers will rejoice while newbies are drenched with excitement and sharable information.

Ackerman’s writing is concise with clarity, a friendly tone and a readable narrative accented with scholarly streams. “The Bird Way” reads smoothly which is precisely why the material is ‘sticky’ and memorable.

A negative, if it can be deemed as such, is the focus of “The Bird Way” encompassing mostly the bird populations of Australia. This makes sense because (1) Birds (and songbirds) literally evolved from Australia (2) Most of the bird studies have been/are conducted in the Aussie terrains and (3) Australia is the home of the most unique breeds and outliers. That being said, “The Bird Way” feels as though it should be re-named, “The Bird Way of Australia” and consequentially leaves readers world-wide feeling ‘left out’. This isn’t a huge downfall but certainly noticeable.

Readers must take care to have internet access readily available while reading “The Bird Way” as cross-referencing photos, videos and articles related to the birds mentioned in the text is basically mandatory. One has to visualize all the sensory descriptions made by Ackerman (although it would have been helpful for Ackerman to include color plates within “The Bird Way”).

“The Bird Way” occasionally falls victim to repetition but this solidifies the material rather than bogging down the reader and weakening the piece. “The Bird Way” has a steady and passionate tone and beat. Ackerman retains this tantalizing formula to the final pages– even the afterword is interesting! “The Bird Way” is simply satisfying and a ‘feel good’ read.

Ackerman supplements “The Bird Way” with a lengthy Further Reading/Notes list for readers curious to continue studying the topic.

“The Bird Way” is a stupendous piece that effectively portraits the science of birds with the latest field information and is written in a lovely, understandable and gripping way. “The Bird Way” is close to perfect possessing finesse and artful composition and is absolutely recommended for all bird-lovers whether new to the subject or a well-versed expert.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded up to 3.5 stars. Like many other reviewers who read this book, I just really found it difficult to compare to the author’s previous work, The Genius of Birds.

While you really do have to appreciate the love and dedication Ackerman has for the avian population, as others have said, this book may be better for those truly enthralled by all things bird, rather than the occasional reader just looking to pick up facts on these fascinating creatures.

Unlike Genius of Birds, The Bird Way seemed to take a much more “hands on” approach, with Ackerman describing her many outings with other ornithologists, such as her observations with them on their chosen bird to research, that research they’ve now contributed to our present-day knowledge of avian behavior which has helped us to eliminate long held biases thanks to less devoted researchers who simply made too many assumptions based more on arrogance and ignorance than any real exploratory scientific field research.

Some of the things I learned - like the depraved sexual behaviors of penguins! - had me a bit traumatized, lol. After all, you always think of penguins being these warm, loving, monogamous creatures, administering such tender care to the eggs of their unborn young. But the rape and necrophilia - yikes! Wanted to maintain the sweet image I had of these adorable (well, or so I thought!) animals.

It’s still a fun read that I’d recommend... it’s just quite heavy on very minute details, so if that’s not for you, perhaps check out her other book instead!

[Michael Livingston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This feels in some ways like a book for Ackerman to use up all the exciting facts and stories she learned when writing The Genius of Birds that couldn't be squeezed into that first book. It's a wonderful collection - I especially found the sections on song and mimicry enthralling (and a bit saddening, given that covid is going to keep me from visiting the lyrebirds out at Sherbrooke this year). I'm a bit obsessed with our avian pals, but this is such an accessible and fascinating book that I think almost anyone would enjoy it.

[Correen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ackerman divided her look into the five major topics: Talk, Work, Play, Love, and Parent. Distributed throughout is how they think, plan, and make quick decisions.

Every chapter is packed with stories, descriptions, facts, and questions about what is not known, and updates on previously ideas about the birds. She includes birds from every continent with special interest in Australia.

Her own experience is noteworthy but she also includes many researchers in each continent, telling the stories of their work and discoveries. The amount of new materials is noteworthy.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys reading biology, nature, or is a bird enthusiast.

[Chrissie]

***************
Birds by the Shore: Observing the Natural Life of the Atlantic Coast, but this is a reissuing of the earlier book Notes from the Shore and it is not just about birds, as the new title indicates!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Moving Book about Birds.

The books covers the science in the life of birds. It gives great information in about the origin of birds, the history of science in birds and some really interesting weird facts. It isn't A topic I know much about but I learned a lot.

[Jude Rizzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this a 4.5. A comprehensive and well written analysis of everything in the world as experienced by birds. This book was divided into sections examining areas of parenting, play, reproduction, work and communication. I feel I learned so much information and now know calling someone a birdbrain should be a compliment.

[Leela · Rating 5 out of 5]

super excellent, jam-packed with fascinating behaviours – maybe my favourite nature book so far?

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! I found myself going to the internet and you tube to take a look at the descriptions of the songs, nest building, mating dances and clever behavior.

Ackerman has written another book about birds, The Genius of Birds, which I loved also. I love birds. I love listening to their songs. I also love learning as much as I can about them.

[Tim Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Birds are about songs and plumage. But you can't hear the songs in any book, and in this book you can't see the plumage, either.

The whole book is grossly under-illustrated. We deserve twenty pages of photographs, mostly in full colour. But we get none. Just a few monotone sketches. The only colour is on the front cover.

This is a subject that demands coffee table treatment. Masses of rambling text doesn't cut it.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. When I began it, a couple of months ago, it blew my mind. I had no idea of the breadth and depth of knowledge emerging from the community of scientists studying bird behaviour. It is exciting to follow the upending of long-held assumptions as observation and analysis moves out of the boundaries of the northern hemisphere and once-exclusively male observers. I talked about the book in every conversation.

I slowed down when I reached the final section, Parent. At the time I was observing a pair of doves whose behaviour was changing, possibly, I thought, because of parenting demands. I’d hoped for answers from the book, but found it didn’t work that way. I needed to do my own observation and gather further information.

That isn’t finished, but my reading of the book now is. The final chapter on cooperative parenting brought me full circle to the awesome start of the book’s journey - the challenge of assumptions and entrenched beliefs, and a cautionary tale of how ‘difficult ecological conditions’ set the scene for ‘societal collapse’, bullying and violence in the avian world.

We would do well to appoint and honour augers.

Ackerman is a fabulous writer and storyteller. By relating her engagement with and learning from other scientists in the field she both draws us into the learning community and tells an important sub-story of collaboration and knowledge generation. It’s also a story of the Southern Hemisphere from a perspective of respect and science.

“Individual variation in birds may bring some resilience. It’s the stuff of evolutionary change and also of keen problem solving” . That’s about as relevant to humanity as anything I’ve read this year.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I did not enjoy this quite as much as Ackerman's The Genius of Birds, I still was happily entertained by stories of the wiles and ways of birds worldwide.
2021 Popsugar Reading Challenge: A book set mostly or entirely outdoors

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.

A fascinating and easy-to-follow read that had me stopping every few pages to spout fun facts to anyone within ear shot. Immediately loaning this book to both my parents.

The main takeaway: birds are, like, really smart.