What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World
Jon Young
eBook
(Mariner Books, May 8, 2012)
A guide to listening to songbirdsâthe key to observing nature in a whole new way. Includes audio of bird vocalizations! A lifelong birder, tracker, and naturalist, Jon Young is guided in his work and teaching by three basic premises: the robin, junco, and other songbirds know everything important about their environment, be it backyard or forest; by tuning in to their vocalizations and behavior, we can acquire much of this wisdom for our own pleasure and benefit; and the birdsâ companion calls and warning alarms are just as important as their songs. Birds are the sentries ofâand our key to understanding the world beyond our front door. By learning to remain quiet and avoid disturbing the environment, we can heed the birds and acquire an amazing new level of awareness. We are welcome in their habitat. The birds donât fly away. The larger animals donât race off. No longer hapless intruders, we now find, see, and engage the deer, the fox, the red-shouldered hawkâeven the elusive, whispering wren. Deep bird language is an ancient discipline, perfected by Native peoples the world over. Finally, science is catching up. This groundbreaking book unites the indigenous knowledge, the latest research, and the authorâs own experience of four decades in the field to lead us toward a deeper connection to the animals and, in the end, ourselves. âHe can sit still in his yard, watching and listening for the moment when robins and other birds no longer perceive him as a threat. Then he can begin to hear what the birds say to each other, warning about nearby hawks, cats, or competitors. Youngâs book will teach you how you, too, can understand birds and their fascinating behaviors.â âBirdWatching âHere is the ancestral wisdom passed down from Apache elder Stalking Wolf to renowned tracker Tom Brown to Jon Young himself, who in turn passes on to the reader the art of truly listening to the avian soundscape. With all senses more finely tuned, youâll find yourself more aware of your surroundings, slowing down, and reconnecting with a native intelligence and love of the natural world that lies deep within each of us.â âDonald Kroodsma, author ofThe Singing Life of Birds and Birdsong by the Seasons