The Private Lives of Public Birds: Learning to Listen to the Birds Where We Live

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The Private Lives of Public Birds is composed of fifteen essays about birds commonly found in California. Gedney presents each one by examining its environment and its role in its local habitat and revealing interesting details about its pattern of behavior. He also helps explain the songs they sing, which are mainly for territorial and mating reasons.

While I don’t live in California, I still found much value in this book. For instance, his essay on mocking birds gave me a new appreciation of all the work the male bird performs to acquire and retain a mate. These birds are common in my area, but I’ve never been particularly drawn to them until now.

I love that this book encourages us to look more closely at what is right under our noses. It might be a common sparrow in the winter or a squawking blue jay in spring. But whatever it happens to be, it has the power to bring joy to our daily lives if we take the time to slow down, look around, and listen a little more. Gedney presents it all in a beautifully written package sure to please any bird lover.


Reviewed By:

Author Jack Gedney
Star Count 4/5
Format Trade
Page Count 230 pages
Publisher Heyday Books
Publish Date 17-May-2022
ISBN 9781597145749
Bookshop.org Buy this Book
Issue May 2022
Category Science & Nature
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