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What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World
by
Jon Young
Companion audio files are available at www.hmhbooks.com/whattherobinknows
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...more
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...more
Hardcover, 241 pages
Published
May 8th 2012
by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
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At first I thought this was going to be a bit too New Age for me but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it, and it has changed my birding habits. Jon Young is a lifelong birder, naturalist and tracker. The book covers his theory and practice of learning "deep bird language." That is, that all birds have just a few basic types of calls, such as companion calls (between mated birds), songs, a young birds call for food and alarms. Most of the book focuses on alarms and being able to tell the difference...more
I had a lot of fun reading this book and hearing Jon Youngs tales about bird watching, bird behavior and animal behavior in general; it was fun and moving to a degree. He speaks a lot about New Jersey (but also other places) and as a native New Jersian I could really relate, as well as know what birds he was reffering to all the time (which is helpful). I felt that his behavioral explinations were direct and easy to understand (and the pysical and mental pictures included helped me grasp the con...more
A wonderful read. I've spent many many hours in the outdoors observing nature, and I've guessed about a lot of what I saw. Young's book is amazing. He helped me to see how the birds tell everyone who knows how to listen and watch - what's in the woods and what is happening all around them. He studies bird language and invites you too also. But, he shows you how. Select a sit spot where you stay and observe day after day - get to know the birds in your yard and their companion and alarm calls. He...more
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An excellent primer for anyone interested in taking birdwatching (and nature awareness in general) to the next level - the level of deep bird language leading to a subtler understanding of the natural world. On the surface, this book is specifically about learning the behaviors and vocalizations of your wild feathered neighbors; fundamentally, however, this is a book about the science of observation and the discipline of mindfulness, applicable to any facet of one's life. Being that the practice...more
Both newbie and experienced bird watchers will enjoy the author's research on bird vocalizations and behaviors, which tell us so much about what is going on around us. Access to audio files on the web make this book even more useful. The danger is that you may never be able to ignore the sounds of birds again. I would rate the book even higher if I did not need to look in another source to see the birds the author writes about; the newbies lose out here because, beyond the robin, most of the bir...more
I am not at a stage of life where I can find a sit spot, wait in silence for a half hour for the birds to get back to their "baseline" and then muck around getting to know my local critters. This book is so detailed and intricate that it was was over my head as a novice birder. Much of the content is better suited to in-person learning by a mentor. I gave it three stars because it seems like a fine book for someone who can devote the time to it. He also offers a free 8 week birding ecourse on hi...more
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 birds' companion calls and warning alarms are just as important as their songs.
Birds are the sentries—and our key to understanding the world bey...more
Birds are the sentries—and our key to understanding the world bey...more
A fascinating and practical tool for understanding the natural world - whether urban, suburban or rural - through paying close attention to bird vocalizations and behavior. It's a way to put oneself into harmony with nature through knowledge and respectful practice, and thus to be able to see more wildlife. It is also a plea to get in touch with a more primordial aspect of our consciousness that modern life has pushed aside, the aspect that connects us with our environment and our own depths. He...more
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I enjoyed this book and have noticed it already impacting the way I observe nature. Occasionally I notice birds startle now and top what I'm doing and pay attention to see the source of their panic.
Mostly though, I was really hoping to learn more or find something more earth shattering here. The premise: "The birds stay calm and freak out for reasons. Notice." Is not particularly fresh for me. Maybe if I get the chance to cultivate a sit spot I'll feel more enlightened.
Mostly though, I was really hoping to learn more or find something more earth shattering here. The premise: "The birds stay calm and freak out for reasons. Notice." Is not particularly fresh for me. Maybe if I get the chance to cultivate a sit spot I'll feel more enlightened.
The audio recordings are found on a website.
This should have really interested me. This book focuses mainly on a few species of birds and their full vocal repertoire, not just the song and call notes that we are most familiar with: Contact Calls, Territorial Aggression Calls, Adolescent Begging Calls, Alarm Calls & all their Variations. He also touches on female singing. Young even mentions the Cardinal’s Purr, he calls it the chrrr. This is a soft, almost toneless trill that males give imme...more
This should have really interested me. This book focuses mainly on a few species of birds and their full vocal repertoire, not just the song and call notes that we are most familiar with: Contact Calls, Territorial Aggression Calls, Adolescent Begging Calls, Alarm Calls & all their Variations. He also touches on female singing. Young even mentions the Cardinal’s Purr, he calls it the chrrr. This is a soft, almost toneless trill that males give imme...more
I loved this book!!! As an avid birder I may have more interest in it than a non-birder, but I really think this book may have changed my life. I'm already putting it to use, finding that I can understand why certain birds are doing certain things, and I feel more connected to the wildlife in my yard already. I've just read it once, but intend to read it again right away to reinforce what I've learned so far.
Even though I'm a long term birder, I had only limited understanding of how birds communicate with their own and other species. Young reveals a world little known to me and explains how to learn to bird language. To this he explains why birds need to be aware of their baseline so they can maintain their equilibrium - avoiding those situations that dangerously drain them of heat and energy. Fascinating.
Jon Young's introduction in cultivating greater attentiveness to our bird neighbors and where we live is both natural sciences and invitation to spiritual practice, growing our awareness of our connections to all of life. Full of wisdom and observation, new and learning birders and long-time lovers of nature will meet or renew practices and appreciation for this world in which we live.
I'm so glad to be introduced to this inspiring naturalist's world view--one of expanding awareness through stillness, observation, and truly listening to the birds in any outdoor vicinity. I started enjoying this how-to-manual much more after visiting Jon Young's website at www.birdlanguage.com and watching a couple of videos of him speaking about the benefits and pleasures of connecting with birds and other critters.
This nonfiction, which is for every nature lover, tells how birds reveal the secrets of the natural world. Jon Young, a lifetime birder, knows birds. You’ll discover that there is a universal bird
Language that will speak to you whenever you go outdoors.
Language that will speak to you whenever you go outdoors.
sometimes the Author's enthusiasm outweighed the material presented which was plentiful. This book was written with the full intention to be read next to a computer where you can access all of the recordings the author refers to. It is a wonder why the format of this book was simply paper and not a futuristic link supplied usb supplemented reference.
This is really a book that you have to do more than just read to get the full value out of it. You need to sit in the same spot for 40 minutes a day for years, discerning bird calls. I'll get back to you...
I learned many things about bird language. The Zen-like aspects of the author's philosophy and teaching methods may shake your self-possession. Has an associated web site with bird calls, etc.
Was a little diappointed that this idea was not taken further. Found almost every observation to be review for me. I guess my diappointment was, I really learned nothing new from this book.
Not well written, but fascinating. A great audio library linked to the book is available on=line
Great book, fueling many impromptu bird walks and motivating me to strengthen and enrich my daily connection with nature. Awareness of bird language and behavior which was emphasized in this book watered my growing appreciation for birds. Recognizing my first Spotted Towhee scratching away at the soil a few yards away from me on a recent walk was a wonderful experience I may have passed by before adopting Young as my reading companion.
Though I sometimes got annoyed at how Jon Young seems to think he knows everything even while he says he doesn't, this is a super interesting book and has already changed the way I think about what's going on in nature. It's the kind of book I might consider actually buying just so I can refer back to it again and again.
For anyone interested in our natural world and how to begin to appreciate the wonders around us, the author has written this wonderful guide, and it all starts with finding your sitting spot,being still, and quiet and observing, slowly allowing yourself to be aware,and amazed at what you find.
As valuable to me as Tom Brown's "The Tracker" and my Peterson bird guide. The great thing about this book is that it takes a lot of the emphasis off of identification and focuses on understanding bird behavior in general. It also asks readers to listen holistically, to broaden the range of what we're hearing when we're listening to birdsong. The final chapters grind on about technicalities, though they may be of use to someone more invested in active listening. The appendixes and accompanying w...more
Terrific... a must read for birders
This is beyond what I want to know. There comes a time when its good but boring to me. Discovering communication from animals is discovering it for myself is more important. I didn't finish this book, but it might appeal to others. This just drove me crazy.
Enjoyed learning more about birds. Quiet time observeing is a fine way to spend time. Will read most anything about birds.
If you really want to learn about birds this is a fascinating read!
May 21, 2013
Anna
marked it as to-read
May 19, 2013
Annelise
marked it as to-read
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goodreads Librari...: What the Robin Knows: ISBN 9780547451251 | 2 | 14 | 15 fév. 10:52 | |
| On The Nature of ...: What the Robin Knows | 1 | 2 | 09 fév. 18:07 |
Jon Young is on the leading edge of animal tracking and understanding bird language. He has been exploring animal communication for 35 years and was mentored by the famous tracker Tom Brown Jr. as well as a tribal elder in Africa. Jon developed the 8 Shields Cultural Mentoring System, a model that has influenced more than 100 nature programs in communities in the U.S., Canada, and Europe and is al...more
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“If we learn to read the birds-and their behaviors and vocalizations-through them, we can read the world at large... if we replace collision with connection, learn to read these details, feel at home, relax, and are respectful--ultimately the birds will yield to us the first rite of passage: a close encounter with an animal otherwise wary of our presence.”
—
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