Why Birds Sing - A Journey Into the Mystery of Bird Song (Paperback, New Ed)

The astonishing richness of birdsong is both an aesthetic and a scientific mystery. Evolutionists have never been able to completely explain why birdsong is so inventive and why many species devote so many hours to singing. The standard explanations of defending territories and attracting mates don't begin to account for the variety and energy that the commonest birds exhibit. Is it possible that birds sing because they like to? This seemingly naive explanation is starting to look more and more like the truth. "Why Birds Sing" is a lyric exploration of birdsong that blends the latest scientific research with a deep understanding of musical beauty and form. Drawing on conversations with neuroscientists, ecologists, and composers, it is the first book to investigate the elusive question of why birds sing and what their song means to both avian and human ears. Whether playing his clarinet with the whitecrested laughing thrush in Pittsburgh, or jamming in the Australian winter breeding grounds of the Albert's lyrebird, Rothenberg immerses himself in the heart and soul of birdsong. He approaches the subject as a naturalist, philosopher, musician, and investigator. An intimate look at the mostlovely of natural phenomena, and now with a CD with over one hour of music and birdsong, "Why Birds Sing" is a beautifully written exploration of a phenomenon that's at once familiar and profoundly alien.

General

Imprint:	BasicBooks
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	April 2006
First published:	March 2006
Authors:	David Rothenberg
Dimensions:	235 x 156 x 20mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback •  CD
Pages:	271
Edition:	New Ed
ISBN-13:	978-0-465-07136-4
Categories:	Books > Sport & Leisure > Natural history, country life & pets > Wild animals > Birds & birdwatching
LSN:	0-465-07136-8
Barcode:	9780465071364

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!