In 2004 Seattle Audubon’s team
began writing “compelling stories about the intriguing ways of birds.” These short,
one-two minute pieces, were recorded for local public radio. In 2006, the
program began to expand and is now heard on over 200 public radio stations. In
Austin, it can be heard as part of some Living on Earth segments on KUTX-90.5
FM. New and older segments can also be heard on-line at https://www.birdnote.org/shows/.
The book, BirdNote, edited by Ellen Blackstone with illustrations by Emily Poole, is a
compilation of 100 of the best stories from the radio show. Usually covering a
single page, with an illustration of the bird being discussed on the facing
page, each brief piece features the habits, quirks, songs, biology, and idiosyncrasies
of a bird. Articles include: Is anting an avian spa treatment? How does a finch’s
beak help it eat sunflower seeds? Why do some gulls have a red dot on their bills?
Did you know that Red-winged blackbirds have a harem? The bright red “epaulets”
warn other males to stay away from his many female companions. Roadrunners
sound like a lonely puppy. And Barn swallows are natural pest control. The
vignettes are informative, charming, poignant, and often humorous.
The short pieces make it easy
to dip in and sample entries, but the index also allows readers to look up
specific birds. This compilation, published in 2018, focuses a lot on birds of
the Pacific Northwest, understandable given the origins of the program. More
recent programs feature birds from all over North America, and even some
worldwide birds. A feature from the program that is not able to be replicated
in the book are the sounds and songs included in most episodes. These come from
BirdNote’s partnership with Cornell Lab of Ornithology. On the other hand, the
illustrations by Emily Poole are, of course, not seen with aural pieces and will be of special interest to artists and illustrators. Each segment is
vetted by experts and the readers are professional narrators, storytellers, and
DJs. Readers who are also listeners may hear these voices while reading an
episode.
Get a copy for yourself and as
a gift for a birding friend.
Note: This post was originally written for Travis Audubon's blog, Smoke Signals.
FTC Notice: I purchased a copy of this book for review.
No comments:
Post a Comment