The Genius of Birds

All you need to know about our fantastic feathered friends

There are a number of books I read over and again when I need to connect with the physical world beyond the office, laptop, automobile, cell phone, a 767 en route to Beijing, and more. I have read Bob Berman's "The Sun's Heartbeat" three times and look forward to reading it again soon. Peter Wohlleben's "The Hidden Life of Trees" is another favorite. I've read Thomas Seeley's "Honey Bee Democracy," and have placed it in the pile of books to read again by Christmas. I read the first edition of "Written in Stone," by Chet Raymo and his daughter Maureen, when it first came out in 1991. I wonder whether I should look at the most updated edition, because we know a lot more about geology today than forty years ago, but the original was so engaging I don't want to experience possible disappointment with an adulterated work. There are at least a half dozen other favorite s. I am adding "The Genius of Birds" to this list. It is well-written with plenty of humorous insights. It truly covers all you need to know about birds, starting with their dinosaur origins up through the latest findings that demonstrate that many species possess astonishing, though focused, intelligence. It highlights the role of evolution in putting some families -- e.g., corvids, parrots and sparows -- at the top of the pile of survivors because they use their brains to adjust to environmental challenges almost immediately. Sadly, other smaller-brained birds are doomed to extinction because after a million years of living in a stable environment, they are unable to adjust to even the smallest changes. A good book, worth at least two or three re-reads! Read more