Ever since her daughter rescued a fledgling rook years ago, Esther
Woolfson has been fascinated with corvids, the bird group that
includes crows, rooks, magpies, and ravens. Today, the rook, named
Chicken, is a member of the Woolfson family, along with a talking
magpie named Spike, a baby crow named Ziki, a starling, a parrot,
and others. From their elaborate bathing rituals to their
springtime broodiness and tendency to cache food in the most
unlikely places, these corvids share a bond with humans that one
might never have imagined before reading this book.Letting her
experience speak for itself, Woolfson likens the fears and foibles
of corvids to those of humans, taking into account the science of
bird intelligence, evolution, song, and flight. She highlights
their big personalities and capacity for affection: Chicken hates
computers and machines, while she loves evening neck scratches on
Woolfson s knee. It is through this intimate lens that Woolfson
invites us to reconsider the kind of creature capable of being man
s best friend."
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Review This Product
Wed, 21 Apr 2010 | Review
by: Sean H.
Look past Woolfson's sometimes convoluted sentences and occasional use of uncommon vocabulary, and you'll be richly rewarded with an attitude-changing first-hand account of living with birds. "Corvus" is an extraordinary account of the author's life, satisfyingly absorbed and brightened by unexpectedly sharing the Scottish family home with birds.
The book is touching, academic, very well researched. Simultaneously scientifically informative, historically enlightening and warm, it will light the ornithological flame in any but the deadest of souls, rekindling a true appreciation of our feathered friends.
An unexpectedly brilliant piece of literature. I was very disappointed when it came to an end.
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