The Private Lives of Public Birds: Learning to Listen to the Birds Where We Live

by Jack Gedney, Anna Kus Park (Illustrations)

A book to help the ordinary birdwatcher appreciate the fascinating songs, stories, and science of common birdsJack Gedney’s studies of birds provide resonant, affirming answers to the 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, each enlivened by a hand-drawn portrait by artist Anna Kus Park.

Genres: Birds, Nonfiction, Nature, Animals

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2022

Reviews

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of essays calling attention to the evolutionary successful birds who we sometimes dismiss because they are so common, without taking time to appreciate why they are so common. These essays showcase the many ways these bird enhance our landscape and give California its sense of place.

[Sarah Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my nature reading kick, I picked this title up, not knowing to expect a sudden embrace of warmth and humor.
This book is like chatting on the porch with an old friend and a cup of tea. Or with the knowledgeable professor who so loves his subject that he gushes infectiously about it.
Gedney’s prose is often poetic. His writing is delightfully insightful not just about the birds he observes, but about our shared humanity.
He brings birds to life as much as Mark Twain does in What Stumped the Bluejays, and with almost as much wit.
His writing gives birds dignity, and readers the urge to immediately go outside to watch and learn from the birds with one’s own eyes and ears.

[Carli Langevin]

read this with the goal to like birds more and it helped !!

[Ross Mckinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Private Lives of Public Birds is a lyrical book by an author who loves the sound of birds in his life. Not just the forced listening of a birding walk, but rather the soundtrack of the every day. It's a California focused book, so to my North Carolina trained ears, many of the stories were like tales from foreign lands, but Gedney never fails to engage. That he can wax poetic about the silent life of the Turkey Vulture, providing a vital service to us all, was a bit of an expansion from his usual focus on bird song, but it's a lovely chapter about a homely and vital bird. If you like birds, and you like good writing, I can highly recommend "The Private Lives of Public Birds." It may not be a page turner, but you'll find yourself enmeshed nevertheless.

[Kirsten Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are times when Jack Gedney’s writing is pompous and precious but then he writes a chapter on a bird you feel you know and he gets its - to your mind - exactly right. I live in Eastern Canada but most of his California birds are in my area too so quite relatable.

[Marc Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of essays about the local birds of California. The author also included some great information about how to be a better birder, but also really how to take life a little bit slower and enjoy the bird songs in your community. I will be taking a lot more walks without my airpods so I can listen to the symphony happening on my local streets.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and Poetic. Really enjoyed it.

[LA Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

2022 Book #60
The Private Lives of Public Birds: Learning to Listen to the Birds Where We Live
by Jack Gedney (2022)
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨(3.5/5)

Enjoyed reading this 15 chapter book, each featuring a different bird of California. The author emphasizes listening to birds wherever you go instead of seeking them out. Mindfulness is an every day practice, especially in the natural world. Another great read in my nonfiction November!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed opinions. On the one hand, I appreciate Gedney's unabashed love of birds. I can't imagine him ever calling a bird a "trash bird," and in fact, his book's subjects contain a fairly high percentage of those common birds too many people disdain. On the other hand, his anthropomorphic and literary way of describing the birds and their actions results in some misleading moments. Northern Mockingbirds are not the only males to take on the main parenting duties for fledglings while the female lays a new clutch, Red-tailed Hawks are not the only birds to kite, male Anna's Hummingbirds don't rely only on display to attract females but also on the quality of their tail chirps. I would caution a new birder to keep reading other books to gain a more well-rounded knowledge but also to be inspired by Gedney's passion.

[Kate Lipman · Rating 5 out of 5]

eye and ear opening

I can’t wait to share this with my friends. I also hope there will be a sequel with tidbits and poetry about more common birds.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read, just wish the subtitle said California or Western so it was more clear what you’re getting.

[Daphyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute perfection for bird lovers who live in CA. I will read this over and over.

[Bronwyn Ceridwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a generally worthwhile, well-written title that just happens to exemplify why I personally struggle to find bird books that match my sensibilities. I appreciated the way the author champions the common birds that many folks would deem boring, including a chapter on my own neighborhood favorite, the Northern Mockingbird. His passion is palpable, and the way he breaks down their seemingly mundane day-to-day behaviors is highly engaging. If that's all this book was, I'd easily give it four stars at least!

However, this is a collection of essays, which means Mr. Gedney spends roughly half the page count wax(w)ing poetic instead. Alas, these bursts of purple (finch) prose are where my attention started to drift. In my chest beats the heart of a scientist, not a poet; I think birds are perfectly fascinating on their own, without having to torture the English language in an attempt to make them seem cooler. But, yes, I realize it's my fault for picking up a book that the blurb on the back literally describes as "bursting with poetic allusions".

There's also the all-too-common obsession with birds that mate for life, as if this makes them morally superior. Why are nature writers always so obsessed with monogamy? Look, folks, my heart's not made of stone. The stuff about the "quiet songs" that mated birds sing in the privacy of their nests made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! That being said, it's rich being lectured about, say, not judging vultures for feeding on carrion (I don't, by the way), only to turn around and shame hummingbirds for not believing in bird marriage...

[Patti C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me be clear, I am not a birder. But I was intrigued by the subtitle of this book “Learning to listen to the birds where we live.” Even though the author chooses to focus on birds in California, there are plenty local to my area. The author does provide thorough descriptions of different birds’ coloring and song, but he does so in the most lyrical, pensive, poetic way that I found myself re-reading passages because they were so beautifully phrased. And day by day, I am now paying more attention to the birds in my backyard and everyday life and enjoying them, which is its own reward.

[Michael Helm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a remarkable book - never read a bird book like it. It is a celebration and a rather deep look at certain birds, pretty common ones at that, and a look at how they fit in to their place.

The author has a unique style and approach.

He has a column in a local newspaper and a blog, which includes some of the material from the book, and some that didn't get in the book (great article about Violet-green swallows, for instance).
https://natureinnovato.com/birds/

[Lauren Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The prose in this book felt like a warm hug. Engaging, welcoming and matter of fact. Perfect for the novice birder. As a runner when I’m on the trails I notice wildlife, especially birds. I doubt any other animal would fascinate me as much. This books takes the common backyard birds we see and allows us to see their ferocity, compassion and all round raw animal behavior. The scientific birding books are great, but this one offers a warmth most other birding books are missing

[Linda Dickinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a relatively new birder, I loved this book! The factual information it provides regarding a variety of common birds as well as the anecdotal stories and tidbits of information about each were fascinating. I listened to it as an audiobook and found the tone and delivery of the reader to be engaging and pleasant. I’ve now listened to it twice and feel significantly more knowledgeable about owls, jays, sparrows, and many others!

[emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realizing that "some people see hundreds of birds daily, and some see none, even though they live on the same street" has fundamentally changed me! So has feeding a raven a cashew :)
Also google image surprise of a lifetime when I looked up the author to find out how I can visit his nature shop and buy bird seed. Jack Gedney if you read your own reviews I want you to meet my roommate.

[Mike B]

Helps you appreciate the local birds. Although this book focuses on CA birds - but some are ubiquitous - the general concept is that you can appreciate what's around you if you know what to look for.

[Lucas Deng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greatly enhanced my awareness of birds near me.
Gedney blends scientific observations with interpositions of observations of nature. As somebody who knew basically nothing about birds/birding, it drew my attention to the charming animals that live next to me.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book written by a kind of philosopher poet about the birds he lives with in his neighborhood in California. I know about half of them myself.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Who knew birds were so romantic?
Besides 18th century poets...

2024 Reading Challenge: Non-fiction

[Beatrice]

A really lovely paean to our common California-dwellers.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A handful of essays that explore the behaviors of everyday birds of California. A beautiful exploration of how connecting with nature can deepen our understanding of ourselves.