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A review by scribepub
The Bird Way: a new look at how birds talk, work, play, parent, and think by Jennifer Ackerman
[A]n exploration of ‘surprising and sometimes alarming behaviour’ of everyday avian activity … Extreme behaviour reveals insights and new perspectives on birds' adaptation abilities and flexibility of mind. Ackerman is a smooth writer; her presentation of ideas is deft, and her anecdotes are consistently engaging … Ackerman demonstrates bird science as an evolving discipline that is consistently fascinating, and she offers brilliant discussions of the use of smell, long overlooked but indeed deployed for navigation; courtship signals; predator avoidance, and, not surprisingly, locating food … A brightly original book sure to please any nature lover. STARRED REVIEW
Kirkus Reviews
A wonderful read. Every page will increase your awe of birds.
Tim Low
The complex behaviour of birds recounted here demonstrates that birds have sophisticated mental abilities previously unrecognised by conventional avian research. Ackerman supports her thesis with descriptions of the behaviour of an entertaining variety of birds from across the world. She brings scientific research alive with personal field observations and accounts of her encounters with colourful and fascinating birds. Throughout, Ackerman reminds readers that birds are thinking beings — their brains are wired differently than those of mammals, giving them increased brain power despite their small size. She further makes the case that bird intelligence shows that humankind is not alone in using language and tools or constructing complex structures and manipulating other creatures … This work will engage all readers interested in learning more about birds and natural history. STARRED REVIEW
Mark Jones, Library Journal
Her research shows how some avian actions indicate ingenious adaptations … Ackerman’s vibrant writing ensures that all things bird are thoroughly compelling and enjoyable. STARRED REVIEW
Nancy Bent, Booklist
In The Bird Way, Jennifer Ackerman digs deeper and ranges farther into bird behaviour, pulling tasty stories out of rich ground as she hops across the continents … Like a bowerbird, Ms. Ackerman gathers and displays treasures to amaze and delight — then lets the scientists’ stories take centre stage … Refreshingly, Ackerman spotlights a number of female researchers.
Wall Street Journal
After reading Ackerman (The Genius of Birds), you may listen harder to the various chirps, cheeps and coos coming from your backyard. Her new book reminds us that we have a lot in common with birds — like us, they are capable of deception and manipulation, not to mention cooperation, culture and communication.
The Washington Post
From tales of dazzling plumage to anecdotes about almost unfathomable mimicry, Jennifer Ackerman’s The Bird Way is a walk through the mysteries, wonders, and peculiarities of the avian world ... Ackerman’s excitement and love for it are evident in her writing. Her superb storytelling paints a rich picture that engages the reader’s imagination, making sometimes-hard-to-grasp research accessible.
Science Magazine
The Bird Way builds on her previous volume The Genius of Birds (2016), already considered a classic … The real joy of her book is its close attention to some of the specialists of the region, including a large group of nectar-loving birds, the honeyeaters.
Mark Cocker, Spectator Australia
A fresh account of the world of birds, written to showcase the many marvels revealed by modern tracking and recording techniques … Ackerman’s account is often jaw-dropping, and never more shocking than when she assembles the evidence for the cultural sophistication of birdsong.
Simon Ings, New Scientist
[O]ur understanding of bird behaviour is undergoing a revolution, and nearly every page of this often lyrical and sometimes funny book contains some fresh wonder … [S]plendid and spellbinding … The Bird Way shows us a new way to view birds, yes — but perhaps even better, through their eyes, intellect, and more-than-human senses, it lets birds reveal to us the hidden realities of our shared world.
Sy Montgomery, The American Scholar
[The Bird Way] upends the traditional view of how birds conduct their lives with fascinating insights into communication between species, their co-operation, collaboration, altruism, culture and play.
The Courier Mail
Fascinating.
The Senior
[A] thrilling book.
Helen Elliott, The Australian
[The Bird Way] makes for interesting reading.
Goulburn Post
Eye-opening … Birds are more intelligent, strategic, manipulative, playful, collaborative and creative than they have been given credit for. Like a morning chorus, The Bird Way gives voice to a bird’s view of the world.
Fiona Capp, The Age
Fascinating and engrossing.
WIRES Wildlife Rescue
The Bird Way is a fascinating and thorough exploration of the lives of what are surely the most beautiful creatures on Earth. Throughout the book, Jennifer Ackerman provides a wealth of facts and introduces us to many recent developments in the study of these animals … Those who break out binoculars on a regular basis will obviously be fascinated by this book, but so will anyone interested in questions of language, cognition, culture and intelligence.
Penelope Cottier, The Canberra Times
Jennifer Ackerman presents a gee-whiz compendium of bird behaviour, from parrots to penguins … Ackerman’s readable stories will make you rethink who we share the Earth with. FOUR STARS
SA Weekend
Kirkus Reviews
A wonderful read. Every page will increase your awe of birds.
Tim Low
The complex behaviour of birds recounted here demonstrates that birds have sophisticated mental abilities previously unrecognised by conventional avian research. Ackerman supports her thesis with descriptions of the behaviour of an entertaining variety of birds from across the world. She brings scientific research alive with personal field observations and accounts of her encounters with colourful and fascinating birds. Throughout, Ackerman reminds readers that birds are thinking beings — their brains are wired differently than those of mammals, giving them increased brain power despite their small size. She further makes the case that bird intelligence shows that humankind is not alone in using language and tools or constructing complex structures and manipulating other creatures … This work will engage all readers interested in learning more about birds and natural history. STARRED REVIEW
Mark Jones, Library Journal
Her research shows how some avian actions indicate ingenious adaptations … Ackerman’s vibrant writing ensures that all things bird are thoroughly compelling and enjoyable. STARRED REVIEW
Nancy Bent, Booklist
In The Bird Way, Jennifer Ackerman digs deeper and ranges farther into bird behaviour, pulling tasty stories out of rich ground as she hops across the continents … Like a bowerbird, Ms. Ackerman gathers and displays treasures to amaze and delight — then lets the scientists’ stories take centre stage … Refreshingly, Ackerman spotlights a number of female researchers.
Wall Street Journal
After reading Ackerman (The Genius of Birds), you may listen harder to the various chirps, cheeps and coos coming from your backyard. Her new book reminds us that we have a lot in common with birds — like us, they are capable of deception and manipulation, not to mention cooperation, culture and communication.
The Washington Post
From tales of dazzling plumage to anecdotes about almost unfathomable mimicry, Jennifer Ackerman’s The Bird Way is a walk through the mysteries, wonders, and peculiarities of the avian world ... Ackerman’s excitement and love for it are evident in her writing. Her superb storytelling paints a rich picture that engages the reader’s imagination, making sometimes-hard-to-grasp research accessible.
Science Magazine
The Bird Way builds on her previous volume The Genius of Birds (2016), already considered a classic … The real joy of her book is its close attention to some of the specialists of the region, including a large group of nectar-loving birds, the honeyeaters.
Mark Cocker, Spectator Australia
A fresh account of the world of birds, written to showcase the many marvels revealed by modern tracking and recording techniques … Ackerman’s account is often jaw-dropping, and never more shocking than when she assembles the evidence for the cultural sophistication of birdsong.
Simon Ings, New Scientist
[O]ur understanding of bird behaviour is undergoing a revolution, and nearly every page of this often lyrical and sometimes funny book contains some fresh wonder … [S]plendid and spellbinding … The Bird Way shows us a new way to view birds, yes — but perhaps even better, through their eyes, intellect, and more-than-human senses, it lets birds reveal to us the hidden realities of our shared world.
Sy Montgomery, The American Scholar
[The Bird Way] upends the traditional view of how birds conduct their lives with fascinating insights into communication between species, their co-operation, collaboration, altruism, culture and play.
The Courier Mail
Fascinating.
The Senior
[A] thrilling book.
Helen Elliott, The Australian
[The Bird Way] makes for interesting reading.
Goulburn Post
Eye-opening … Birds are more intelligent, strategic, manipulative, playful, collaborative and creative than they have been given credit for. Like a morning chorus, The Bird Way gives voice to a bird’s view of the world.
Fiona Capp, The Age
Fascinating and engrossing.
WIRES Wildlife Rescue
The Bird Way is a fascinating and thorough exploration of the lives of what are surely the most beautiful creatures on Earth. Throughout the book, Jennifer Ackerman provides a wealth of facts and introduces us to many recent developments in the study of these animals … Those who break out binoculars on a regular basis will obviously be fascinated by this book, but so will anyone interested in questions of language, cognition, culture and intelligence.
Penelope Cottier, The Canberra Times
Jennifer Ackerman presents a gee-whiz compendium of bird behaviour, from parrots to penguins … Ackerman’s readable stories will make you rethink who we share the Earth with. FOUR STARS
SA Weekend