January 5th marks National Bird Day! A day that is meant to not only celebrate our friends in the sky, but bring awareness to bird conservation and preservation efforts as well. To do our part, here are five titles that focus on the enchanting life of birds.
Also to celebrate, enjoy this excerpt from Mary Oliver’s poem, Wild Geese–
“Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.”
The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
“In 2016, Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the world: Hatred and misinformation had become a daily presence on social media, and the country felt more divided than ever. In search of peace, Tan turned to the natural world just beyond her window and, specifically, to the birds visiting her yard. But what began as an attempt to find solace turned into something far greater–an opportunity to savor quiet moments during a volatile time, connect to nature in a meaningful way, and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired”– Provided by publisher.
What It’s Like to Be a Bird: From Flying to Nesting, Eating to Singing–What Birds Are Doing, and Why by David Sibley
“Explore more than two hundred species, and more than 330 new illustrations by the author, in this special, large-format volume, where many of the primary illustrations are reproduced life-sized. While its focus is on familiar backyard birds–blue jays, nuthatches, chickadees–[this book] also examines certain species that can be fairly easily observed, such as the seashore-dwelling Atlantic Puffin … And while the text is aimed at adults–including fascinating new scientific research on the myriad ways birds have adapted to environmental changes–it is nontechnical, making it the perfect occasion for parents and grandparents to share their love of birds with young children”–Back cover.
A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds
“An exhilarating exploration of the science and wonder of global bird migration. In the past two decades, our understanding of bird migration-the navigational and physiological feats that enable birds to cross immense oceans or fly above the highest mountains, to go weeks without sleep, or remain in unbroken flight for months at a stretch-has exploded. Scientists have made astounding discoveries: certain species, such as thrushes, can avoid dehydration over long flights by “drinking” from their own muscles and organs, extending their flight range by almost thirty percent, or more than two thousand miles, and while we’ve known for decades that birds are somehow able to orient themselves using earth’s magnetic field, a new leading theory is that they do so through a form of quantum entanglement. In A World on the Wing, author and researcher Scott Weidensaul shares these and other revelations to convey both the wonder of bird migration and its global sweep, taking the reader from the shores and mudflats of the Yellow Sea in China, to the remote mountains of northeastern India, and to the salt lakes in southern Cyprus in the Mediterranean. Weidensaul also introduces those trying to preserve global migratory patterns in the face of climate change and other rising challenges”– Provided by publisher.
The Wonder of Birds: What They Tell Us About Ourselves, the World, and a Better Future by Jim Robbins
“Part I. What birds tell us about the natural world — Birds: the dinosaurs that made it — Hummingbirds: the magic of flight — Canaries and black-backed woodpeckers: birds as flying sentinels — A murmuring of birds: the extraordinary design of the flock — Part II. The gifts of birds — The power of a feather — From egg to table part one: the chicken — From egg to table part two: wild birds — The miracle of guano — Nature’s cleanup crew — Part III. Discovering ourselves through birds — Bird brain, human brain — The surprisingly astute minds of ravens and crows — The secret language of birds — The bee-eaters: a modern family — Extreme physiologies: birds, the ultimate athletes — Part IV. Birds and the hope for a better future — Nature’s hired men: putting birds to work — The city bird: from sidewalk to sky — The transformational power of birds — Birds as social workers — Expanding our senses — Epilogue”: The future of birds.
Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration
“Flight Paths is the fascinating story of how a group of pioneering, passionate scientists co-opted almost every branch of science to solve the great mystery of bird migration … Looking closely not only at what these scientists were learning but also at how they were learning it, bird expert and science writer Rebecca Heisman describes the behind-the-scenes development of each technique used for tracking migratory birds, from the origins of bird banding to the latest in high-throughput genetic sequencing and space-based tracking systems. Along the way, Heisman touches on the biggest technological breakthroughs of modern science and reveals the almost-forgotten stories of the scientists who harnessed these inventions in service of furthering our understanding of nature”–Dust jacket flap.
Written by Ceilidh Jimenez