The Magic and Mystery of Birds: The Surprising Lives of Birds and What they Reveal about Being Human

OUT OF PRINT.  A delightful and profound look at the lives of birds, illuminating their surprising world and deep connection with humanity. Birds are highly intelligent animals, yet their intelligence is dramatically different from our own and until now has been little understood. As scientists come to understand more about the secrets of bird life, they are unlocking fascinating insights into memory, game theory, and the nature of intelligence itself. This book explores the astonishing homing abilities of pigeons, the good deeds of fairy-wrens, the influential flocking abilities of starlings, the deft artistry of bowerbirds, the extraordinary memories of nutcrackers, the lifelong loves of albatross, and other mysteries–revealing why birds do what they do, and offering a glimpse into our own nature. Noah Strycker is a birder and naturalist who has traveled the world in pursuit of his flighty subjects. Drawing deep from personal experience, cutting-edge science, and colourful history, he spins captivating stories about the birds in our midst and reveals the startlingly intimate coexistence of birds and humans. Wise, funny and insightful, this is a gripping and enlightening journey into the lives of birds.