What do you think?
Rate this book
Birdology: Adventures with a Pack of Hens, a Peck of Pigeons, Cantankerous Crows, Fierce Falcons, Hip Hop Parrots, Baby Hummingbirds, and One Murderously Big Living Dinosaur
Meet the a flock of smart, affectionate, highly individualistic chickens who visit their favorite neighbors, devise different ways to hide from foxes, and mob the author like she’s a rock star. In these pages you’ll also meet Maya and Zuni, two orphaned baby hummingbirds who hatched from eggs the size of navy beans, and who are little more than air bubbles fringed with feathers. Their lives hang precariously in the balance—but with human help, they may one day conquer the sky.
Snowball is a cockatoo whose dance video went viral on YouTube and who’s now teaching schoolchildren how to dance. You’ll meet Harris’s hawks named Fire and Smoke. And you’ll come to know and love a host of other avian characters who will change your mind forever about who birds really are.
Each of these birds shows a different and utterly surprising aspect of what makes a bird a bird—and these are the lessons of Birdology : that birds are far stranger, more wondrous, and at the same time more like us than we might have dared to imagine. In Birdology, beloved author of The Good Good Pig Sy Montgomery explores the essence of the otherworldly creatures we see every day. By way of her adventures with seven birds—wild, tame, exotic, and common—she weaves new scientific insights and narrative to reveal seven kernels of bird wisdom.
The first lesson of Birdology is that, no matter how common they are, Birds Are Individuals, as each of Montgomery’s distinctive Ladies clearly shows. In the leech-infested rain forest of Queensland, you’ll come face to face with a cassowary—a 150-pound, man-tall, flightless bird with a helmet of bone on its head and a slashing razor-like toenail with which it (occasionally) eviscerates people—proof that Birds Are Dinosaurs. You’ll learn from hawks that Birds Are Fierce; from pigeons, how Birds Find Their Way Home; from parrots, what it means that Birds Can Talk; and from 50,000 crows who moved into a small city’s downtown, that Birds Are Everywhere. They are the winged aliens who surround us.
Birdology explains just how very "other" birds Their hearts look like those of crocodiles. They are covered with modified scales, which are called feathers. Their bones are hollow. Their bodies are permeated with extensive air sacs. They have no hands. They give birth to eggs. Yet despite birds’ and humans’ disparate evolutionary paths, we share emotional and intellectual abilities that allow us to communicate and even form deep bonds. When we begin to comprehend who birds really are, we deepen our capacity to approach, understand, and love these otherworldly creatures. And this, ultimately, is the priceless lesson of Birdology : it communicates a heartfelt fascination and awe for birds and restores our connection to these complex, mysterious fellow creatures.
Snowball is a cockatoo whose dance video went viral on YouTube and who’s now teaching schoolchildren how to dance. You’ll meet Harris’s hawks named Fire and Smoke. And you’ll come to know and love a host of other avian characters who will change your mind forever about who birds really are.
Each of these birds shows a different and utterly surprising aspect of what makes a bird a bird—and these are the lessons of Birdology : that birds are far stranger, more wondrous, and at the same time more like us than we might have dared to imagine. In Birdology, beloved author of The Good Good Pig Sy Montgomery explores the essence of the otherworldly creatures we see every day. By way of her adventures with seven birds—wild, tame, exotic, and common—she weaves new scientific insights and narrative to reveal seven kernels of bird wisdom.
The first lesson of Birdology is that, no matter how common they are, Birds Are Individuals, as each of Montgomery’s distinctive Ladies clearly shows. In the leech-infested rain forest of Queensland, you’ll come face to face with a cassowary—a 150-pound, man-tall, flightless bird with a helmet of bone on its head and a slashing razor-like toenail with which it (occasionally) eviscerates people—proof that Birds Are Dinosaurs. You’ll learn from hawks that Birds Are Fierce; from pigeons, how Birds Find Their Way Home; from parrots, what it means that Birds Can Talk; and from 50,000 crows who moved into a small city’s downtown, that Birds Are Everywhere. They are the winged aliens who surround us.
Birdology explains just how very "other" birds Their hearts look like those of crocodiles. They are covered with modified scales, which are called feathers. Their bones are hollow. Their bodies are permeated with extensive air sacs. They have no hands. They give birth to eggs. Yet despite birds’ and humans’ disparate evolutionary paths, we share emotional and intellectual abilities that allow us to communicate and even form deep bonds. When we begin to comprehend who birds really are, we deepen our capacity to approach, understand, and love these otherworldly creatures. And this, ultimately, is the priceless lesson of Birdology : it communicates a heartfelt fascination and awe for birds and restores our connection to these complex, mysterious fellow creatures.
260 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
294 people are currently reading
2681 people want to read
About the author
Sy Montgomery
63 books2,041 followersPart Indiana Jones, part Emily Dickinson, as the Boston Globe describes her, Sy Montgomery is an author, naturalist, documentary scriptwriter, and radio commentator who has traveled to some of the worlds most remote wildernesses for her work. She has worked in a pit crawling with 18,000 snakes in Manitoba, been hunted by a tiger in India, swum with pink dolphins in the Amazon, and been undressed by an orangutan in Borneo. She is the author of 13 award-winning books, including her national best-selling memoir, The Good Good Pig. Montgomery lives in Hancock, New Hampshire.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
July 26, 2022
Cross-posted from my blog, where it is much, much easier to link fun stuff like videos of cockatoos dancing, birdcam links and scientist profiles: https://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2014/...
Two and a half stars.
I’m a bird lover, so Birdology seemed an easy sell. The subtitle elaborates: “Adventures with a Pack of Hens, a Peck of Pigeons, Cantankerous Crows, Fierce Falcons, Hip Hop Parrots, Baby Hummingbirds, and One Murderously Big Living Dinosaur.”
How easy? I spent one winter on the EagleCam watching Raptor Resource Project’s Decorah eagles raise three chicks (and what a nail-biting April that was during snowstorms), another winter watching PheobeAllen‘s garden hummingbird raise two chicks in the middle of a rosebush (have you seen how far a mom’s beak goes down baby’s throat?), have friends with chickens (and can re-tell the story of Rosie the pet chicken), keep up somewhat with animal intelligence research, have a mixed aviary of finches and technically take responsibility for three parrots.
As the subtitle states, there are seven sections, each focusing on a particular bird species. ‘Chicken’ is based on Montgomery’s own little flock, ‘Dinosaur’ is about searching for the elusive cassowary, ‘Hummingbirds’ is about her feeding babies at a rescue, ‘Falcons’ is about her developing a relationship with a hunting hawk, ‘Pigeons’ is based on pigeon racing, ‘Parrots’ is about her dancing with Snowball the dancing cockatoo, and ‘Crows’ is about an urban flock of crows, wrapping it up with musings on bird urbanization. Each section contains some basic biology about the species, along with different representations or meanings that species has in human culture, and perspectives from Montgomery’s own interactions as she sought out those interacting with the species.
Alas, despite Montgomery’s solid educational credentials and my own fascination with the topic, I had a very hard time maintaining interest in Birdology. It could be because I’ve run into at least a third to half of the information before (Irene Pepperberg should be a household name for every parrot owner), but honestly, I think it boils down to Montgomery’s story-telling style being a complete miss. At the end of the book, I felt like I knew as much about Montgomery as I did about the topics she covered. For instance, Montgomery:
-is a vegetarian
-owns a flock of chickens
-gets lost easily
-knows how to say “I have broken my eyeglasses” in Italian
-likes the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
-had a mechanical dinosaur as a child named King Zor
You’re getting it, right? She plays as much of a role in the stories as the birds. Her interactions with the birds, some background research, various anecdotes, poetry and literature, as well as references to popular culture means it was a lot less interesting than it could have been for me. I get it: she’s supposed to be our human translator, our medium for experiencing the avian world and showing its connection to our own, but that really isn’t how I like my science journalism. I mean, that’s more than a bit species egotistical, right? Claiming a book is about birds when really it is about yourself, humanity (usually Western) and our interactions with/about birds.
Sadly, the writing style didn’t help as the focus seemed digressive and scattered. As she pulled from multiple sources, she’s interrupting her story about interacting to tell a bit of avian background, reference a video or research project, mention the bird’s relationship to culture, or reminisce on her own reaction to the bird. It results in a frequently narrative-challenged story. On the positive side, it’s clear Montgomery has a passion for birds, biology and humanism. She conveys her enthusiasm without sounding completely dippy. Her language is often poetic, both a positive and a negative in science writing; great when describing a visual such as of a flock of birds in flight, but not as thoughtful or logical when describing behavior. Because she is right, in one respect–the avian mind is an alien one, and interpreting perception and behavior of birds through our own (or mammalian) physiology and culture is a highly challenging.
My favorite chapters were ones where she appeared least or were more focused by plot: the drama of hunting the cassowary, raising rescued baby hummingbirds, urban crows. I suppose the end flap truly does describe the book best: “it communicates a heartfelt fascination and awe for birds and restores our connection to these complex, mysterious fellow creatures.” A number of my book-friends liked it a great deal (although it is worth noting that they often characterized themselves as non-bird people), so by no means take my reaction as a lack of recommendation. I’d recommend it for people with a vague curiosity (or even dislike) of birds, an interest in science journalism but little general knowledge about the field.
Next up on the science non-fiction list: a return to one of my favorite science authors –David Quammen‘s Spillover.
Two and a half stars.
I’m a bird lover, so Birdology seemed an easy sell. The subtitle elaborates: “Adventures with a Pack of Hens, a Peck of Pigeons, Cantankerous Crows, Fierce Falcons, Hip Hop Parrots, Baby Hummingbirds, and One Murderously Big Living Dinosaur.”
How easy? I spent one winter on the EagleCam watching Raptor Resource Project’s Decorah eagles raise three chicks (and what a nail-biting April that was during snowstorms), another winter watching PheobeAllen‘s garden hummingbird raise two chicks in the middle of a rosebush (have you seen how far a mom’s beak goes down baby’s throat?), have friends with chickens (and can re-tell the story of Rosie the pet chicken), keep up somewhat with animal intelligence research, have a mixed aviary of finches and technically take responsibility for three parrots.
As the subtitle states, there are seven sections, each focusing on a particular bird species. ‘Chicken’ is based on Montgomery’s own little flock, ‘Dinosaur’ is about searching for the elusive cassowary, ‘Hummingbirds’ is about her feeding babies at a rescue, ‘Falcons’ is about her developing a relationship with a hunting hawk, ‘Pigeons’ is based on pigeon racing, ‘Parrots’ is about her dancing with Snowball the dancing cockatoo, and ‘Crows’ is about an urban flock of crows, wrapping it up with musings on bird urbanization. Each section contains some basic biology about the species, along with different representations or meanings that species has in human culture, and perspectives from Montgomery’s own interactions as she sought out those interacting with the species.
Alas, despite Montgomery’s solid educational credentials and my own fascination with the topic, I had a very hard time maintaining interest in Birdology. It could be because I’ve run into at least a third to half of the information before (Irene Pepperberg should be a household name for every parrot owner), but honestly, I think it boils down to Montgomery’s story-telling style being a complete miss. At the end of the book, I felt like I knew as much about Montgomery as I did about the topics she covered. For instance, Montgomery:
-is a vegetarian
-owns a flock of chickens
-gets lost easily
-knows how to say “I have broken my eyeglasses” in Italian
-likes the song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
-had a mechanical dinosaur as a child named King Zor
You’re getting it, right? She plays as much of a role in the stories as the birds. Her interactions with the birds, some background research, various anecdotes, poetry and literature, as well as references to popular culture means it was a lot less interesting than it could have been for me. I get it: she’s supposed to be our human translator, our medium for experiencing the avian world and showing its connection to our own, but that really isn’t how I like my science journalism. I mean, that’s more than a bit species egotistical, right? Claiming a book is about birds when really it is about yourself, humanity (usually Western) and our interactions with/about birds.
Sadly, the writing style didn’t help as the focus seemed digressive and scattered. As she pulled from multiple sources, she’s interrupting her story about interacting to tell a bit of avian background, reference a video or research project, mention the bird’s relationship to culture, or reminisce on her own reaction to the bird. It results in a frequently narrative-challenged story. On the positive side, it’s clear Montgomery has a passion for birds, biology and humanism. She conveys her enthusiasm without sounding completely dippy. Her language is often poetic, both a positive and a negative in science writing; great when describing a visual such as of a flock of birds in flight, but not as thoughtful or logical when describing behavior. Because she is right, in one respect–the avian mind is an alien one, and interpreting perception and behavior of birds through our own (or mammalian) physiology and culture is a highly challenging.
My favorite chapters were ones where she appeared least or were more focused by plot: the drama of hunting the cassowary, raising rescued baby hummingbirds, urban crows. I suppose the end flap truly does describe the book best: “it communicates a heartfelt fascination and awe for birds and restores our connection to these complex, mysterious fellow creatures.” A number of my book-friends liked it a great deal (although it is worth noting that they often characterized themselves as non-bird people), so by no means take my reaction as a lack of recommendation. I’d recommend it for people with a vague curiosity (or even dislike) of birds, an interest in science journalism but little general knowledge about the field.
Next up on the science non-fiction list: a return to one of my favorite science authors –David Quammen‘s Spillover.
June 6, 2011
I'm not a bird or a birdologist. I sorta like them, I guess. I think sparrows are amazing. When I eat outside, I always share my food with them. I like loons. I think any raptor is awesome. I can remember with clarity every time I saw a bald eagle in the wild. And here's a true story, once when I was leaving the subway, there was a falcon eating a pigeon on the sidewalk. There were three of us who stood enchanted and then some woman came up and said, "Oh my god, what if a child see this?". Um, the kid will take a pic. Honestly, as a child I got up early to watch Lorne Greene's New Wilderess, and I always rooted for the predator. I like crows and ravens. I feed ducks sometimes.
But I don't keep a book with the list of bird's I've seen. I can't, like a friend, tell the difference between hawks just by looking at them (outside of there's a smaller one and a bigger one). Sometimes when I feed birds, I only do so to amuse my cats (birders, take heart, the cats are indoor cats). Despite the robin couple that nests in my yard every year, I am convinced that robins are plotting to take over the world and only the sparrows stand in the way. (I mean look at those Robin eyes). And I don't want to "own" a bird.
So why did I read this book? Because I heard the author talk on NPR's morning edition. She was talking about trying to find a cassoway (Chapter 2 in the book), and she was really funny. Because the people on Morning Edition liked the book, and unlike a famous book review section, NPR has never steered me wrong on books that I think sound interesting.
I now like chickens.
Montgomery takes seven types (species) of birds and uses them to illustrate facts about birds in general. She starts close to home with her wonderful description of the Ladies, her chickens. Apparently, chickens know faces and give eggs as presents. Montgomery then travels farther afield and goes Down Under to see a Cassoway. I now want to see a cassoway in the wild too, the leeches, I can live without. The cassoway is a dinosaur type bird that weighs 150 pounds and has been know to kill people (and check thier backpacks for possible weapons). Then she chronicles the rearing of baby hummingbirds and how they may (or may not) make it into the wild. Then it is a visit with falcons where she provides a first hand account of training the birds who, if you are lucky, will become your partner. I learned several intersting things about bird eyes and hummingbird bodies in these chapters. Then it's off to the races with the pigeons. Then an introduction to two famous parrots - Snowball and Alex. Finally, she focuses on crows.
Montgomery effortlessly mixes story telling with science, teaching as she amuses the reader. What comes across in every word is how much love and respect Montgomery has for the birds. She does not romantize them (in fact, when dealing with the falcons, she makes sure to include plenty of bloody stories, not just about bloody prey either). Some momoments are laugh out aloud funny and others are "wow, that is so cool". This makes for the best reading.
Pardoxically, while Montgomery deromantizes and demystifies birds, she makes them even more special. The romance changes from a "romantic" view to a true romance of loving the birds even when they draw blood.
I love this book.
But I don't keep a book with the list of bird's I've seen. I can't, like a friend, tell the difference between hawks just by looking at them (outside of there's a smaller one and a bigger one). Sometimes when I feed birds, I only do so to amuse my cats (birders, take heart, the cats are indoor cats). Despite the robin couple that nests in my yard every year, I am convinced that robins are plotting to take over the world and only the sparrows stand in the way. (I mean look at those Robin eyes). And I don't want to "own" a bird.
So why did I read this book? Because I heard the author talk on NPR's morning edition. She was talking about trying to find a cassoway (Chapter 2 in the book), and she was really funny. Because the people on Morning Edition liked the book, and unlike a famous book review section, NPR has never steered me wrong on books that I think sound interesting.
I now like chickens.
Montgomery takes seven types (species) of birds and uses them to illustrate facts about birds in general. She starts close to home with her wonderful description of the Ladies, her chickens. Apparently, chickens know faces and give eggs as presents. Montgomery then travels farther afield and goes Down Under to see a Cassoway. I now want to see a cassoway in the wild too, the leeches, I can live without. The cassoway is a dinosaur type bird that weighs 150 pounds and has been know to kill people (and check thier backpacks for possible weapons). Then she chronicles the rearing of baby hummingbirds and how they may (or may not) make it into the wild. Then it is a visit with falcons where she provides a first hand account of training the birds who, if you are lucky, will become your partner. I learned several intersting things about bird eyes and hummingbird bodies in these chapters. Then it's off to the races with the pigeons. Then an introduction to two famous parrots - Snowball and Alex. Finally, she focuses on crows.
Montgomery effortlessly mixes story telling with science, teaching as she amuses the reader. What comes across in every word is how much love and respect Montgomery has for the birds. She does not romantize them (in fact, when dealing with the falcons, she makes sure to include plenty of bloody stories, not just about bloody prey either). Some momoments are laugh out aloud funny and others are "wow, that is so cool". This makes for the best reading.
Pardoxically, while Montgomery deromantizes and demystifies birds, she makes them even more special. The romance changes from a "romantic" view to a true romance of loving the birds even when they draw blood.
I love this book.
December 3, 2011
A reference to this book made it into my wedding vows. I'm not really sure you can give a book a much higher compliment than that. And it wasn't even me who put it there! Let me explain.
I like Sy Montgomery. I enjoyed Walking With the Great Apes: Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, Birute Galdikas and The Man-Eating Tigers of Sundarbans. I adored The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood. But this is my very favorite Sy Montgomery book so far.
In each chapter she profiles a different kind of bird with which humans have some sort of interesting story: chickens, pigeons, falcons, parrots, crows, and cassowaries, that sort of thing. Each chapter is fascinating, and each neatly slots into the story she's telling of humanity's relationship with birds.
But it was the chapter on hummingbirds--namely baby orphan hummingbirds--that swept me off my feet. Raising and rehabilitating orphaned hummingbirds is something I had never even thought about. Reading this exquisitely heartbreaking chapter, I commented to my then-fiance, "We're putting up the hummingbird feeder next summer." Further along: "And we're planting a hummingbird garden in the sideyard." And finally: "And I may be quitting my job to go raise baby hummingbirds." He gently reminded me that that's a decision we have to make as a team now. But then in our wedding vows, he promised to support me even if I quit my job to raise orphan hummingbirds.
This is that kind of book. I highly recommend it to everyone.
I like Sy Montgomery. I enjoyed Walking With the Great Apes: Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, Birute Galdikas and The Man-Eating Tigers of Sundarbans. I adored The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood. But this is my very favorite Sy Montgomery book so far.
In each chapter she profiles a different kind of bird with which humans have some sort of interesting story: chickens, pigeons, falcons, parrots, crows, and cassowaries, that sort of thing. Each chapter is fascinating, and each neatly slots into the story she's telling of humanity's relationship with birds.
But it was the chapter on hummingbirds--namely baby orphan hummingbirds--that swept me off my feet. Raising and rehabilitating orphaned hummingbirds is something I had never even thought about. Reading this exquisitely heartbreaking chapter, I commented to my then-fiance, "We're putting up the hummingbird feeder next summer." Further along: "And we're planting a hummingbird garden in the sideyard." And finally: "And I may be quitting my job to go raise baby hummingbirds." He gently reminded me that that's a decision we have to make as a team now. But then in our wedding vows, he promised to support me even if I quit my job to raise orphan hummingbirds.
This is that kind of book. I highly recommend it to everyone.
December 5, 2021
Rant alert.
Announcing that I am Done with Sy Montgomery books. I like the subjects that she writes about. I do not like the way she writes at all. Everything HAS to be in superlatives, for one. This adventure was the BEST or the MOST DRAMATIC or the AWFULEST that humans have ever possibly lived or breathed or dreamt of. And, it got really old. The other thing that I didn't catch on to until this book is that she can't get basic facts straight - or chooses not to do so if they don't fit into the superlative category. The one that immediately grabbed my attention was when she and a friend were in a car driving from somewhere in Eastern Massachusetts back to New Hampshire. And, they got into an argument/discussion "for hours" before realizing they were crossing the border into Connecticut instead of New Hampshire. Has anyone ever seen how large Massachusetts is on a map? My family is from there. You cannot drive "for hours" south in Massachusetts. It's just not big enough. Another MA driving story talks about taking 45 minutes to get to the Mass Pike, from a town about 3 miles off it. Not happening, even in bad traffic from that part of the state. Why put it down on paper? By the way - that parrot that Dolly Madison rescued from the White House in 1814? It's name, per 95% of sources on the internet, is Polly. Not Uncle Willy. Also, Dolly M did not rescue the Declaration of Independence. It wasn't stored there. It was with the other important documents that were hauled away in carts and hidden in a house outside of town. This kind of thing absolutely made me want to rip my hair out.
Stories 4 stars
Author and Editor 1 star.
2.5 rounded up because it wasn't the birds' fault
Announcing that I am Done with Sy Montgomery books. I like the subjects that she writes about. I do not like the way she writes at all. Everything HAS to be in superlatives, for one. This adventure was the BEST or the MOST DRAMATIC or the AWFULEST that humans have ever possibly lived or breathed or dreamt of. And, it got really old. The other thing that I didn't catch on to until this book is that she can't get basic facts straight - or chooses not to do so if they don't fit into the superlative category. The one that immediately grabbed my attention was when she and a friend were in a car driving from somewhere in Eastern Massachusetts back to New Hampshire. And, they got into an argument/discussion "for hours" before realizing they were crossing the border into Connecticut instead of New Hampshire. Has anyone ever seen how large Massachusetts is on a map? My family is from there. You cannot drive "for hours" south in Massachusetts. It's just not big enough. Another MA driving story talks about taking 45 minutes to get to the Mass Pike, from a town about 3 miles off it. Not happening, even in bad traffic from that part of the state. Why put it down on paper? By the way - that parrot that Dolly Madison rescued from the White House in 1814? It's name, per 95% of sources on the internet, is Polly. Not Uncle Willy. Also, Dolly M did not rescue the Declaration of Independence. It wasn't stored there. It was with the other important documents that were hauled away in carts and hidden in a house outside of town. This kind of thing absolutely made me want to rip my hair out.
Stories 4 stars
Author and Editor 1 star.
2.5 rounded up because it wasn't the birds' fault
June 12, 2010
Sy Montgomery has a real knack for writing the kind of non-fiction books I love to read. They are always packed with interesting, little-known facts, lovely people, and the adventures Sy always seems to have whenever she is researching a book. Birdology does not disappoint! Each chapter is about a different species of bird that illustrates and essential characteristic of the species. Along the way I meet pigeon racers, falconers, and wildlife rehabilitators. I fell in love with the birds - the Ladies, Sy's pack of hens, Maya and Zuni, two baby hummingbirds, Snowball, the dancing cockatoo, and so many others. The personal stories and vignettes were so entertaining and skillfully written that I was almost to the end of the book before the hidden agenda was revealed. As the last sentence of the book reads, "It is our duty and privilege to protect them." Beatifully written, easy to read and entertaining, educational. and with an important message - I'm not sure how Sy Montgomery packed so many things into this book, but it is well worth the read!
April 18, 2011
I’ve been taking my time reading Birdology by Sy Montgomery, savoring the stories, peck by peck or is that page by page.
Everyone that I know that has read this before me, bird lovers all, seem to pick their favorite chapter and bird to exclaim about. Some enjoyed reading about feeding baby hummingbirds (very interesting and hard work), some liked learning more about the birds of prey, what it means to study falconry and others couldn’t believe the lineage and sheer size of The Cassowary. The Adventures with a Pack of Hens is a real hoot!
For me, it was the crows all the way. My dad loved crows and he often spent hours and hours just watching them; at least he did when he retired and actually had time to, well, “sit and watch the crows”. He always said they were smart and loved to imitate their call, “Caw, Caw, Caw”. I believe he was able to communicate with those that frequented his yard. He knew they held meetings and were that they were very family focused.
Montgomery really gives us a picture of this bird that is loved by some and hated by others. One guy goes so far as to say, “They’re like rats with feathers!” He’s not alone in this opinion. Crows are one of the bird groups that are in no danger of extinction. A roost can contain over 200,000 birds. One, on the Delaware River had 500,000. One at Ft Cobb, Oklahoma, had more than 2 million. That’s more than even Alfred Hitchcock could imagine. But crows are fascinating and if you take the time to read this book you’ll see why.
Montgomery is called “Part Indiana Jones and part Emily Dickinson.” by The Boston Globe. I intend to read more of her books.
Everyone that I know that has read this before me, bird lovers all, seem to pick their favorite chapter and bird to exclaim about. Some enjoyed reading about feeding baby hummingbirds (very interesting and hard work), some liked learning more about the birds of prey, what it means to study falconry and others couldn’t believe the lineage and sheer size of The Cassowary. The Adventures with a Pack of Hens is a real hoot!
For me, it was the crows all the way. My dad loved crows and he often spent hours and hours just watching them; at least he did when he retired and actually had time to, well, “sit and watch the crows”. He always said they were smart and loved to imitate their call, “Caw, Caw, Caw”. I believe he was able to communicate with those that frequented his yard. He knew they held meetings and were that they were very family focused.
Montgomery really gives us a picture of this bird that is loved by some and hated by others. One guy goes so far as to say, “They’re like rats with feathers!” He’s not alone in this opinion. Crows are one of the bird groups that are in no danger of extinction. A roost can contain over 200,000 birds. One, on the Delaware River had 500,000. One at Ft Cobb, Oklahoma, had more than 2 million. That’s more than even Alfred Hitchcock could imagine. But crows are fascinating and if you take the time to read this book you’ll see why.
Montgomery is called “Part Indiana Jones and part Emily Dickinson.” by The Boston Globe. I intend to read more of her books.
January 14, 2011
I had a terrible experience living with a particularly foul canary growing up. This bird did nothing to endear itself to anyone. (Projectile pooping, anyone?) We mostly wanted it to be night so we could cover it up and forget it was there. Sad, but true. Anyway, this did nothing to foster any love I could possibly have had of birds. So, when I read a review of this book, why would I even bother to care? I'm not sure, but I did and I HAD to read this book....and then I devoured every single word. From the 'ladies' Montgomery makes her New Hampshire home with to the Hummingbirds I was on pins and needles worrying to see if they would survive to the story Montgomery tells of Cornell University's homing pigeon who has particular taste in travel that I retell to all sorts of people, I LOVED this book and have found a whole new fondness for birds. (on paper!) Montgomery has a very approachable writing style and, as I am currently reading another of her books, I can tell you they are engrossing and read like novels!
March 24, 2021
As dinosaurs I like birds just fine. As fellow creatures I have a love hate relationship with them. A budgie owned by friends of my parents attacked me when I was two. They think he took a dislike to my bright red hair.
So I tend to give them a wide berth. There has been a multiyear war going on between some cardinals and some blue jays in my back yard over territory for years, the result of which being I have cardinals that squawk like blue jays and a dog that knows that jays leave the nest before they can fly.
I spend a good deal of early summer scooping up teenage jays, dodging angry bird parents while I relocate their kids to the side of the fence with no border collie access.
Sy Montgomery makes these creatures seem delightful and easier to understand even for me. How can a creature descended from an ancient reptile teach us more about how our brains work than when the study of other primates? Birds are better tool users, for one thing! Some of them talk. Remember my cardinals!
I did enjoy this book. It helped me connect with my daughter, too, who has gotten involved with falconry and birds of prey.
So I tend to give them a wide berth. There has been a multiyear war going on between some cardinals and some blue jays in my back yard over territory for years, the result of which being I have cardinals that squawk like blue jays and a dog that knows that jays leave the nest before they can fly.
I spend a good deal of early summer scooping up teenage jays, dodging angry bird parents while I relocate their kids to the side of the fence with no border collie access.
Sy Montgomery makes these creatures seem delightful and easier to understand even for me. How can a creature descended from an ancient reptile teach us more about how our brains work than when the study of other primates? Birds are better tool users, for one thing! Some of them talk. Remember my cardinals!
I did enjoy this book. It helped me connect with my daughter, too, who has gotten involved with falconry and birds of prey.
January 17, 2012
Although I love books that give you information on things about which you know very little, I have to say that we're reading Bill Bryson's At Home while I read Birdology and it's helped me figure out why I find Sy Montgomery's book slightly annoying. There's too much Sy; too much "I did this and then I felt that" and I found I didn't really care. Loved learning about hummingbirds; find crows and the city fascinating, but Bryson doesn't intrude on his subject. I'm sure it's noble to include the names and descriptions of so many of your sources, but it makes for jittery narrative. Nonetheless, I'll read THe Good Good Pig and try to keep an open mind.
May 28, 2024
4,5/5, ponieważ każda z takich książek to kolejna zdobyta wiedza, kolejna otwarta furtka i niezwykła frajda, ale to tylko ogół, a jak jest w przypadku Ptakologii?
Ciekawie jest czytać lekturę, gdzie pojawiają się mięsożerne myszołowy, a autorka jest wegetarianką o dobrym sercu. Ludzka empatia wobec zwierząt to piękna cecha i powinien ją mieć każdy z nas, ale świadomość tego, że natura jest brutalna, a zwierzęta nie żyją tak, jak człowiek uważa za moralne, jest równie ważna.
W końcu nazywamy kury (które swoją drogą nie są głupim drobiem, jak to przedstawia nam popkultura) kanibalami, a z drugiej strony mnóstwo ludzie uwielbia delfiny, które są kompletnymi bojebusami, no ale trzepią kasę w oceanariach, a wszyscy zestawiają lwa ze szlachetnymi cechami, chociaż samce zabijają młode swoich rywali I jakoś nikt nie robi o to rabanu.
Ciekawie jest czytać lekturę, gdzie pojawiają się mięsożerne myszołowy, a autorka jest wegetarianką o dobrym sercu. Ludzka empatia wobec zwierząt to piękna cecha i powinien ją mieć każdy z nas, ale świadomość tego, że natura jest brutalna, a zwierzęta nie żyją tak, jak człowiek uważa za moralne, jest równie ważna.
W końcu nazywamy kury (które swoją drogą nie są głupim drobiem, jak to przedstawia nam popkultura) kanibalami, a z drugiej strony mnóstwo ludzie uwielbia delfiny, które są kompletnymi bojebusami, no ale trzepią kasę w oceanariach, a wszyscy zestawiają lwa ze szlachetnymi cechami, chociaż samce zabijają młode swoich rywali I jakoś nikt nie robi o to rabanu.
February 24, 2013
Sy Montgomery has written a fascinating book about her experiences with hens, cassowaries, hummingbirds, hawks, pigeons, parrots, and crows.
Sy does a great job describing the antics of her chickens and the neighbor's flock! This chapter alone made the book worthwhile!
I have been wanting to get some chickens for several years now, but afraid to put the money into it only to have the cops force me to get rid of them. There are plenty of videos on YouTube to get anyone started, I liked these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r84D8...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PscVYf...
I had never even heard about the cassowary, a fierce ancient bird that lives today in Australia.
Hummingbird rescue is a demanding job; I felt the stress as I read about hand raising baby hummingbirds! I love hummingbirds and put my feeder out for them in the summer, and I enjoy watching them at the feeder or on my flowers. They don't let me get close enough to take pictures.
Can you imagine hunting with a dog and a hawk? Sy has done it! Not my thing, but still very interesting!
The chapter on parrots was fantastic! Sy teams up with Irene Pepperberg and explores parrots and language. I had previously read Irene's book, which is also good, but not as good as this one!
Some of Irene's parrots move to the beat of popular music and seem to love music! You can find plenty of videos of the dancing parrots on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6mhka...
How do you feel about crows? They are very intelligent, but not overly attractive, and they often fly in huge flocks. If they roost in your yard or business parking lot, it is a real problem.
I did learn something about crows that I had been wondering about for some time. I live across the street from the woods where we have 2 pairs of owls from time to time and lots of red tailed hawks. I spend a lot of my free time out in my gardens and I frequently hear a big commotion in the woods, then I see crows chasing a hawk out of the woods. Seems backwards. The neighbors and I had guessed that the hawk grabbed a baby crow for a quick snack. Read the book and find out why this strange phenomena occurs.
Check out the intro to this book if you think you might be interested:
http://symontgomery.com/?page_id=400
My favorite pets are the ones flying around my backyard!
I got a new bird feeder for Christmas that sticks to the window; I love it. Take a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moVYU6...
I fill the bird bird feeders when it starts to get cold:
I love watching the suet feeder attached to the kitchen window:
Sy does a great job describing the antics of her chickens and the neighbor's flock! This chapter alone made the book worthwhile!
I have been wanting to get some chickens for several years now, but afraid to put the money into it only to have the cops force me to get rid of them. There are plenty of videos on YouTube to get anyone started, I liked these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r84D8...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PscVYf...
I had never even heard about the cassowary, a fierce ancient bird that lives today in Australia.
Hummingbird rescue is a demanding job; I felt the stress as I read about hand raising baby hummingbirds! I love hummingbirds and put my feeder out for them in the summer, and I enjoy watching them at the feeder or on my flowers. They don't let me get close enough to take pictures.
Can you imagine hunting with a dog and a hawk? Sy has done it! Not my thing, but still very interesting!
The chapter on parrots was fantastic! Sy teams up with Irene Pepperberg and explores parrots and language. I had previously read Irene's book, which is also good, but not as good as this one!
Some of Irene's parrots move to the beat of popular music and seem to love music! You can find plenty of videos of the dancing parrots on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6mhka...
How do you feel about crows? They are very intelligent, but not overly attractive, and they often fly in huge flocks. If they roost in your yard or business parking lot, it is a real problem.
I did learn something about crows that I had been wondering about for some time. I live across the street from the woods where we have 2 pairs of owls from time to time and lots of red tailed hawks. I spend a lot of my free time out in my gardens and I frequently hear a big commotion in the woods, then I see crows chasing a hawk out of the woods. Seems backwards. The neighbors and I had guessed that the hawk grabbed a baby crow for a quick snack. Read the book and find out why this strange phenomena occurs.
Check out the intro to this book if you think you might be interested:
http://symontgomery.com/?page_id=400
My favorite pets are the ones flying around my backyard!
I got a new bird feeder for Christmas that sticks to the window; I love it. Take a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moVYU6...
I fill the bird bird feeders when it starts to get cold:
I love watching the suet feeder attached to the kitchen window:
May 13, 2010
I think this book gave me cavities, as it was far too sentimental for my tastes. Many of the descriptive words had religious connotations, implying that nature's wonder and beauty is tied to a divine design - can't scientific complexity provoke a sense of awe all by itself? Of course, the book is a personal account, so I have no room to judge its subjectivity. I just think I'd have enjoyed it more if the author had stayed away from using such saccharine language.
July 12, 2024
I am obsessed with this book and also now apparently obsessed with birds. Cannot recommend this enough it was such a lovely breath of fresh air for me and got me out of a reading slump. I’ve never read a book like this in my life, and have a feeling I will be devouring non-fiction bird/animal books for quite a while after this.
I had no idea how much I loved birds before I read this. Found myself stopped on the sidewalk after work staring at a group of sparrows (probably sparrows? I’ve got lots of passion and no practical knowledge lol) for at least 20 minutes. We’ll see if this excitement sticks around, but this book my have set me on a lifelong birding journey.
Five enthusiastic stars. If anyone wants me to talk at you about birds for hours let me know.
I had no idea how much I loved birds before I read this. Found myself stopped on the sidewalk after work staring at a group of sparrows (probably sparrows? I’ve got lots of passion and no practical knowledge lol) for at least 20 minutes. We’ll see if this excitement sticks around, but this book my have set me on a lifelong birding journey.
Five enthusiastic stars. If anyone wants me to talk at you about birds for hours let me know.
February 19, 2019
Sy Montgomery was the 2019 featured speaker at my daughter's high school....an event called Books For Lunch that is the sole fund-raiser for the PTA each year. I attended a dinner event with Sy and then heard her speak at the larger Books For Lunch conference. I found Sy to be a down-to-earth, extremely relatable woman, and I LOVE what she is doing as an author. She is passionate about pairing the natural history of animals with stories about her experiences with those animals that make the reader relate, understand, sympathize and empathize with each species. This is a way to increase interest in the natural world and conservation and I would love to see more scientists and writers sharing their experiences in this positive, empowering way. I am thrilled that our school included books by Sy Montgomery in their science curriculum this year in order to engage the children with the author when she visited as well as with their classes and the need to practice taking care of the world around us.
Birdology was a good read. Five stars for clarity of each subject, for writing style, for stories that complemented each other but were entirely different in composition. The chapter about Hummingbird rehab has the reader rooting for the orphaned hummingbirds. Sy learns to fly a raptor, and falls in love with the ferocity of feelings that the sport engenders in the chapter about hawks. Do most people really understand what chickens are like? Sy's opening chapter about her "girls" will surely cause many readers to rethink their "relationship" with chickens. The chapter on Cassowaries, ancient birds that are a visual link to the world of Dinosaurs, startled me, because I had forgotten about the existence of such birds. Her experience is transcendent, and I would love to have the chance to glimpse one if I am ever in the right part of Australia. There are other chapters about crows, pigeons, and one amazing parrot (Snowball) that will have you googling Youtube videos to watch him dance, and reading in amazement about why his rhythm skills are notable to humans.
This book is not a compelling page-turner. It IS an interesting, thought-provoking, enriching read. Perfect for bird-lovers, animal-lovers, or information seekers. Perfect to read to children who love animals. A chapter a night would have worked well for my own children when they were younger, and I will surely pass this book along to my nieces and nephews. Thank you, Sy Montgomery, for enlightening the human race, who have often retreated from the natural world, about the lives of other animals that do intersect with our own lives.
Birdology was a good read. Five stars for clarity of each subject, for writing style, for stories that complemented each other but were entirely different in composition. The chapter about Hummingbird rehab has the reader rooting for the orphaned hummingbirds. Sy learns to fly a raptor, and falls in love with the ferocity of feelings that the sport engenders in the chapter about hawks. Do most people really understand what chickens are like? Sy's opening chapter about her "girls" will surely cause many readers to rethink their "relationship" with chickens. The chapter on Cassowaries, ancient birds that are a visual link to the world of Dinosaurs, startled me, because I had forgotten about the existence of such birds. Her experience is transcendent, and I would love to have the chance to glimpse one if I am ever in the right part of Australia. There are other chapters about crows, pigeons, and one amazing parrot (Snowball) that will have you googling Youtube videos to watch him dance, and reading in amazement about why his rhythm skills are notable to humans.
This book is not a compelling page-turner. It IS an interesting, thought-provoking, enriching read. Perfect for bird-lovers, animal-lovers, or information seekers. Perfect to read to children who love animals. A chapter a night would have worked well for my own children when they were younger, and I will surely pass this book along to my nieces and nephews. Thank you, Sy Montgomery, for enlightening the human race, who have often retreated from the natural world, about the lives of other animals that do intersect with our own lives.
April 17, 2020
„Ptakologię” polubiłem na przekór własnym potrzebom literackim. Zazwyczaj nie lubię książek napisanych przez lekko pretensjonalne, zbyt uduchowione, dość zamożne i zbyt kwiecisto się wysławiające Amerykanki (z Amerykanami jest podobnie). A Sy Montgomery czytało mi się przyjemnie, z lekkim marszczeniem nosa i niewielką dawką narzekania. Może dlatego, że jej świat wydaje się być utopią – oto siedzi sobie w domku, sąsiedzi są mili, z nikim się nie kłóci, pod nogami chodzą kury i inne stworzenia, nad głową latają papużki i nic z tego nie śmierdzi, a idealna pieczeń z idealnego wegańskiego przepisu przygotowuje się bez poparzeń. Jest to wizja kompletnie odjechana i jest Sy Montgomery trochę jak Oprah Winfrey, ale obie panie podziwiam i jestem w stanie zrozumieć, że ważny w ich wypadku jest wizerunek, dokładnie przycięty.
„Ptakologia” oprócz niepokojącego jednak wizerunku autorki oferuje nam poznanie zwyczajów kur, wron, papug czy gołębi, a więc zwierząt, z którymi nie tak trudno nam się spotkać. Nie trzeba jechać nad Bug, by zobaczyć gołębia, jak i papużki są dość łatwo osiągalne, wystarczy odwiedzić redaktorę Wróbel. A tak jeż, koty, żywe krewetki… a nie, wróć. To nie o tym. Zatem „Ptakologia” opowiada o zwierzakach znanych, niekoniecznie lubianych ale dość nam bliskich. I opowiada o nich przyjemnie, dobrym tempem, trochę zabawnie, trochę czasem zbyt popadając w tony ewangeliczne, ale na pewno nie obrażając niczyjej inteligencji. No dobra, trochę jednak obrażając. Otóż autorka czasem postanawia poinformować nas o czymś trywialnym, jakby sprawdzając, czy skończyliśmy podstawówkę i tak na przykład podkreśla, że „tylko z zapłodnionych jaj wykluwają się młode”.
Za to narobił się Adam Pluszka, który lokalizował książkę na język Mickiewicza. Pani Montgomery lubi bowiem gry słowne i jest dość czuła na brzmienie słów, co chwilami wymagało od tłumacza ciekawych decyzji. Pluszka podjął decyzje trafne i nawet kilka razy zapominałem, że przecież to polska wersja. Dobra książka do dobrej herbaty.
„Ptakologia” oprócz niepokojącego jednak wizerunku autorki oferuje nam poznanie zwyczajów kur, wron, papug czy gołębi, a więc zwierząt, z którymi nie tak trudno nam się spotkać. Nie trzeba jechać nad Bug, by zobaczyć gołębia, jak i papużki są dość łatwo osiągalne, wystarczy odwiedzić redaktorę Wróbel. A tak jeż, koty, żywe krewetki… a nie, wróć. To nie o tym. Zatem „Ptakologia” opowiada o zwierzakach znanych, niekoniecznie lubianych ale dość nam bliskich. I opowiada o nich przyjemnie, dobrym tempem, trochę zabawnie, trochę czasem zbyt popadając w tony ewangeliczne, ale na pewno nie obrażając niczyjej inteligencji. No dobra, trochę jednak obrażając. Otóż autorka czasem postanawia poinformować nas o czymś trywialnym, jakby sprawdzając, czy skończyliśmy podstawówkę i tak na przykład podkreśla, że „tylko z zapłodnionych jaj wykluwają się młode”.
Za to narobił się Adam Pluszka, który lokalizował książkę na język Mickiewicza. Pani Montgomery lubi bowiem gry słowne i jest dość czuła na brzmienie słów, co chwilami wymagało od tłumacza ciekawych decyzji. Pluszka podjął decyzje trafne i nawet kilka razy zapominałem, że przecież to polska wersja. Dobra książka do dobrej herbaty.
April 29, 2017
What I liked about this book was that, while still educating the reader about certain sciences of birds, each chapter felt like a new adventure, and therefore seldom felt dry or tedious to read. I have to say, Sy Montgomery seems to live an exciting life! Expeditions in Australia studying emus; an adventure to find the elusive, and potentially dangerous modern dinosaur that is the cassowary; having acquaintances with whom she is able to apprentice as hummingbird rehabber, falconer, and cockatoo dance partner. I hope that someday I will have half as many exciting excursions to speak of!
I enjoyed that each chapter focused on a separate adventure, and that the applicable science was filtered in. This way the book seemed to flow more like a memoir than an informational text.
I particularly loved the opening chapter about her chickens, the Ladies. As a fellow chicken owner and lover, I found myself agreeing with her as she explains that each of her birds have distinctly unique personalities and that chickens aren't just dumb fowl. I laughed out loud as she writes out their different vocalizations phonetically, easily conjuring images of my own birds doing just as she describes.
My favorite part of the book is when she described her experience studying under her master falconer friend. Specifically, the section on how the raptors are "trained". The bit that sticks with me the most was a quote that she includes from another falconer saying "you train a hawk to accept you as their servant". As someone who is involved with wildlife rehabilitation and raptor handling, this couldn't resonate more true! No matter the length of time you have experience with any given bird, if you don't follow their lead and pick up on their cues, they don't hesitate to remind you that "hey, you might think we're friends, but I'm still wild, remember?" So, you build trust with the raptor, and while you may think you are the one in charge, really you are humbly serving the true master.
I enjoyed that each chapter focused on a separate adventure, and that the applicable science was filtered in. This way the book seemed to flow more like a memoir than an informational text.
I particularly loved the opening chapter about her chickens, the Ladies. As a fellow chicken owner and lover, I found myself agreeing with her as she explains that each of her birds have distinctly unique personalities and that chickens aren't just dumb fowl. I laughed out loud as she writes out their different vocalizations phonetically, easily conjuring images of my own birds doing just as she describes.
My favorite part of the book is when she described her experience studying under her master falconer friend. Specifically, the section on how the raptors are "trained". The bit that sticks with me the most was a quote that she includes from another falconer saying "you train a hawk to accept you as their servant". As someone who is involved with wildlife rehabilitation and raptor handling, this couldn't resonate more true! No matter the length of time you have experience with any given bird, if you don't follow their lead and pick up on their cues, they don't hesitate to remind you that "hey, you might think we're friends, but I'm still wild, remember?" So, you build trust with the raptor, and while you may think you are the one in charge, really you are humbly serving the true master.
May 15, 2013
I loved reading this book, which is a well balanced blend of science and up close personal adventures with birds. Years of experience with birds went into the writing. Besides raising her own brood of personality filled chickens, Sy pursued the giant, dinosaur-like cassowary in an Australian jungle, helped rescue a baby hummingbird the size and weight of an air bubble, partnered with a hawk trained to hunt with humans, kept vigil as homing pigeons raced back to their loft, danced with Snowball the YouTube sensation cockatiel, witnessed thousands of crows roost together in one very overwhelmed small town, and talked with loquacious parrots and the language researcher who trained them and worked with the renowned parrot Alex. Birdology gave me a fascinating glimpse into what we can know about the hearts and minds of a species with surprising amounts of individuality, social awareness, and intelligence.
December 16, 2010
I wanted to read this book after my family aquired a flock of chickens. I loved the book. It was highly interesting and well-written. I have to say, though, the author is bird crazy. No, no, I mean *cuh-ray-zee*. It's not a bad thing, not by any stretch. The craziness contributed to the wonderfulness of the book. (And I want to read her book about her pet pig.) But there were times when the craziness reached epic proportions and I just had to laugh at the outrageousness of it all.
January 23, 2015
This book is AMAZING! Each chapter is about a different type of bird,and each is filled with amazing,and fascinating info about them,plus some wonderful personal stories.
I always wanted a flock of chickens,and the chicken chapter was a delight to read,especially getting to know "the ladies",but each chapter was very informative and entertaining.
Highly recommended for everyone who has an interest in birds.
I always wanted a flock of chickens,and the chicken chapter was a delight to read,especially getting to know "the ladies",but each chapter was very informative and entertaining.
Highly recommended for everyone who has an interest in birds.
August 13, 2010
I loved this book which I read in Seattle where I was fortunate to see humming birds for the first time. The chapter on humming birds was especially meaningful. An excellent range of stories reveals the intricacies of bird behaviour as witnessed by the carers. A good reason to watch and admire birds wherever you are!
March 1, 2018
Unfortunately, it was not really what I expected it to be. It was too much about humans, mostly of course Sy Montgomery herself, and will all respect for her I do not really care. The informations about birds were interestig, though.
August 26, 2024
Montgomery encourages empathy for birds, but stresses that birds are not at all like people. They are dinosaurs in the very best possible way.
January 25, 2021
I have spent the last 2 months living in a house with a green-cheek conure, so suffice it to say I am not currently feeling much love in my heart towards birds. And yet Sy Montgomery still managed to hold me captive on the topic for roughly 250 pages. That is all you need to know about how wonderful this book is.
March 17, 2019
Brilliant! Enchanting and Engrossing ... now I have several new titles to delve into by bird species.
July 1, 2018
I admit I was reading this book with a goofy grin on my face.
Finally I find someone outside sterile textbooks talking about complex socialising and specific speech of a hen flock (a phenomena I noticed as an inquisitive kid on a farm during summer holidays. I could watch and interact with them for hours) and is using warm, endearing language when describing their life with chickens.
My kind of people.
And from there, it only gets better. The recounts of episodes with different bird species are a delightful and informative read, teaching about the nature of these fascinating animals and their relationships with humans. When you think about it, not an easy feat as the author herself is repeatedly reminding herself, and us, not to anthropomorphize the birds.
The bonus for me was the fact that the author and I seemed to resonate in our impressions; I have had a chance to see a cassowary in the Sydney zoo and agree it is a living dino (or at least, more so than my budgies are), I know exactly what she means when she describes the air around a raptor in yarak or gossamer fragility of a humming bird.
Special kudos to the author for putting in a word for the two of maybe most misunderstood and abused species that live among us; the pidgeons and the crows. They are truly remarkable in their own right, only if one cares to stop and consider.
I would recommend this book to anyone because it is interesting, informative, relevant, well written and, after all, a human story. The storytelling is intimate, captivating, makes you stick around till the end and afterwards makes you feel like you partook in a versatile, interdisciplinary and intelligent discourse.
Finally I find someone outside sterile textbooks talking about complex socialising and specific speech of a hen flock (a phenomena I noticed as an inquisitive kid on a farm during summer holidays. I could watch and interact with them for hours) and is using warm, endearing language when describing their life with chickens.
My kind of people.
And from there, it only gets better. The recounts of episodes with different bird species are a delightful and informative read, teaching about the nature of these fascinating animals and their relationships with humans. When you think about it, not an easy feat as the author herself is repeatedly reminding herself, and us, not to anthropomorphize the birds.
The bonus for me was the fact that the author and I seemed to resonate in our impressions; I have had a chance to see a cassowary in the Sydney zoo and agree it is a living dino (or at least, more so than my budgies are), I know exactly what she means when she describes the air around a raptor in yarak or gossamer fragility of a humming bird.
Special kudos to the author for putting in a word for the two of maybe most misunderstood and abused species that live among us; the pidgeons and the crows. They are truly remarkable in their own right, only if one cares to stop and consider.
I would recommend this book to anyone because it is interesting, informative, relevant, well written and, after all, a human story. The storytelling is intimate, captivating, makes you stick around till the end and afterwards makes you feel like you partook in a versatile, interdisciplinary and intelligent discourse.
January 9, 2011
This is an excellent book which combines entertaining reading with interesting scientific facts about birds, our closest living relatives to dinosaurs. The author uses several very different types of birds to illustrate just how diverse this creature can be, from the very tiny hovering hummingbird to the six-foot flightless Australian cassowary.
Ms. Montgomery also devotes chapters to chickens, hawks, homing pigeons, crows and parrots. She takes us into remote parts of the world, and introduces us to knowledgeable and often eccentric people who are specialists on certain types of birds. Ms. Montgomery is adventuresome and curious, willing to risk her own safety to learn about and/or to see the bird she is seeking. In her chapter about chickens, however, she takes us into her own backyard to learn about and get to know the flock of hens living there.
The author isn't afraid to get her feet dirty or her clothes wrinkled or torn in her search for information and experience. She isn't put off by getting droppings in her hair if it means a closer connection with the bird. Yet, she has great respect and awe for the "wildness" of these creatures e.g. the talons of a hawk that can rip your arm, or the forceful beak of a large parrot that can amputate your finger.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys birds and bird watching. These are intelligent and clever beings, to be respected and revered as a species sharing our planet.
Ms. Montgomery also devotes chapters to chickens, hawks, homing pigeons, crows and parrots. She takes us into remote parts of the world, and introduces us to knowledgeable and often eccentric people who are specialists on certain types of birds. Ms. Montgomery is adventuresome and curious, willing to risk her own safety to learn about and/or to see the bird she is seeking. In her chapter about chickens, however, she takes us into her own backyard to learn about and get to know the flock of hens living there.
The author isn't afraid to get her feet dirty or her clothes wrinkled or torn in her search for information and experience. She isn't put off by getting droppings in her hair if it means a closer connection with the bird. Yet, she has great respect and awe for the "wildness" of these creatures e.g. the talons of a hawk that can rip your arm, or the forceful beak of a large parrot that can amputate your finger.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys birds and bird watching. These are intelligent and clever beings, to be respected and revered as a species sharing our planet.
November 5, 2010
I was so excited to read this book! I loved the topics covered, and after reading reviews, I was expecting to love every page. Eh...not so much. Some parts were really, really good. The Parrots section in particular was excellent, the chapter on hummingbirds struck a chord, as I had intently watched a hummingbird webcam of a nest with 2 babies all spring & summer! Even the chickens segment was pretty entertaining. The segment on searching for a Cassowary was way, way too pat. She saw one on the very last day of her stay, after she had been somehow divinely delayed? Really?
She totally lost me in the chapter on Raptors. "...perhaps these gorgeous creatures - whom I love like an Aztec loves the sun..." and "My whole soul feels like a yawning hole that only this bird can fill" and finally, "I am lost in her pleasure, lost in her beauty, drowning in my love of this bird." Are you kidding me??
I quit the chapter at that point, feeling just a wee bit voyeuristic. When Ms Montgomery focuses her intelligence on the scientific aspects of her topics, she soars as well as the birds she studies. But when she goes for the spiritual poetic slant, it feels like a 7th grader writing a romance novel. All in all, I learned a few really interesting things, but I wouldn't read another book by her, nor fully recommend this book.
She totally lost me in the chapter on Raptors. "...perhaps these gorgeous creatures - whom I love like an Aztec loves the sun..." and "My whole soul feels like a yawning hole that only this bird can fill" and finally, "I am lost in her pleasure, lost in her beauty, drowning in my love of this bird." Are you kidding me??
I quit the chapter at that point, feeling just a wee bit voyeuristic. When Ms Montgomery focuses her intelligence on the scientific aspects of her topics, she soars as well as the birds she studies. But when she goes for the spiritual poetic slant, it feels like a 7th grader writing a romance novel. All in all, I learned a few really interesting things, but I wouldn't read another book by her, nor fully recommend this book.
September 2, 2016
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. I can't believe it has been sitting on my end table for over a year now and I have never gotten around to reading it.
About a year ago I was given some 5 hen and a rooster. I never, ever thought I would like having chickens. I have become enthralled with them. They are so entertaining and comical. Who would have thought. I have had so many animals in my life from the normal ones to llamas but I have to say this is the only animal I've owned who has actually given me something tangible back (eggs). Oh, yeah, and fertilizer for my hay fields, too.
I have a friend with a cockatoo so of course loved the stories about parrots and such. I had never even heard of a cassowary so I was very interested to read about them.
Crows have always fascinated me so I liked that chapter. I think, all in all, I loved every chapter.
I was telling my friend about the book and she said she is reading the author's Pig Book now. We were both commenting we wished the author didn't live so far away so we could become friends and visit with her. She sounds like just our kind of gal.
About a year ago I was given some 5 hen and a rooster. I never, ever thought I would like having chickens. I have become enthralled with them. They are so entertaining and comical. Who would have thought. I have had so many animals in my life from the normal ones to llamas but I have to say this is the only animal I've owned who has actually given me something tangible back (eggs). Oh, yeah, and fertilizer for my hay fields, too.
I have a friend with a cockatoo so of course loved the stories about parrots and such. I had never even heard of a cassowary so I was very interested to read about them.
Crows have always fascinated me so I liked that chapter. I think, all in all, I loved every chapter.
I was telling my friend about the book and she said she is reading the author's Pig Book now. We were both commenting we wished the author didn't live so far away so we could become friends and visit with her. She sounds like just our kind of gal.
November 14, 2017
Birdology: part memoir, part science tome, part study of a love and obsession, part homesy coffee table chat with your dotty older aunt.
I was a bit concerned to start, as the introduction greets us with the author and a friend in church, which is always a terrible place to start when you're talking about science. The mood of the book tends to be far less scientific in general, talking about birds the author has known and loved, or met and loved, or thought about and loved. It's a singular obsession, and the book reads concurrently as an interesting glimpse into the minds of a huge group of animals that we understand minimally, as well as the manic ramblings of an obsessive. It's not an unsuccessful combination, peppering anecdotal stories and experiences with more general information about the birds in question, but the best of this book is when the voice is one of a storyteller, an observer, and one knowledgeable enough to insert further information into the dialogue, and less when it becomes about the personal. As such, the chapters felt longer than they really were. Nothing here is BAD, but it could have been so much better fine-tuned.
I was a bit concerned to start, as the introduction greets us with the author and a friend in church, which is always a terrible place to start when you're talking about science. The mood of the book tends to be far less scientific in general, talking about birds the author has known and loved, or met and loved, or thought about and loved. It's a singular obsession, and the book reads concurrently as an interesting glimpse into the minds of a huge group of animals that we understand minimally, as well as the manic ramblings of an obsessive. It's not an unsuccessful combination, peppering anecdotal stories and experiences with more general information about the birds in question, but the best of this book is when the voice is one of a storyteller, an observer, and one knowledgeable enough to insert further information into the dialogue, and less when it becomes about the personal. As such, the chapters felt longer than they really were. Nothing here is BAD, but it could have been so much better fine-tuned.
August 21, 2010
Naturalist Sy Montgomery has had a lifelong fascination with birds, from common species to the elusive and dangerous cassowary, the "living dinosaur" of the title. Birdology is a beautifully written account of her investigations into the evolution, individual personalities, and interaction with humans of these feathered marvels. Each chapter stands alone and takes a different tone: readers may laugh out loud at the essays devoted to parrots/cockatoos and "The Ladies," Montgomery's pet hens, but be sobered by the fragility of hummingbirds and shocked by the treatment afforded to hawks and pigeons in other sections. Those who like to read while they eat should be forewarned that the cassowary chapter contains descriptions of disembowelments and leeches.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews