Mind of the Raven: Investigations and Adventures with Wolf-Birds (P.S.)

A wonderful, amazing book, originally recommended by the author of another book on Ravens - Chris, the Raven Master at the Tower of London. If you love bird-watching and want to know why our feathered companions behave the way they do, this book tells you some of the answers with huge love and respect for animals that Heinrich has studied for decades. Strangely, the book helps you to understand human behaviour too. His discovery of the symbiotic link between Ravens and Wolves or surrogate wolves (dogs, bears and humans) is a fabulous piece of research. Everything is connected, and as a conservationist, it gives me great hope that we can re-educate people to open their eyes and start acknowledging these connections, instead of micro-managing a planet we hardly know. The world is a much more delicately interconnected and deeply interwoven place than we can see at a glance. It's time we all stopped and stared more.

I first bought a copy of this in paperback a few years ago, but I lent it to a friend last year. As it doesn't look like there's any danger of it being returned soon, I treated myself to the hardback as, having recently started spending some time working with a young raven, I fancy giving it another read. This is packed with facts, research and studies on ravens. Despite being a university professor and having published many scientific papers, Mind of the Raven is an accessible and enjoyable read for the more intellectually-challenged among us (i.e. me). I learned a lot about ravens and gained a much deeper understanding of their behaviour and love for the mysterious raven from this book. A fascinating book about fascinating birds.

If you enjoy nature and animal behaviour or find it even mildly interesting - this is probably for you. I only read this having after read 'Why We Run' by Bernd Heinrich. He seems to make everything captivating by talking about science, being descriptive and unsolves puzzles as the book goes on. It's like you're almost him and experiencing what he has done first hand. Bernd is an interesting man himself, far from average and that results in interesting unique reads. Would recommend him as an author despite reading only 2 of his books. Will most likely read some more from him.

Bought as a gift... Until I unwrapped it and read a few sentences to see if the gift I'd gotten was a good one. Two chapters later, which I burned through just standing in the middle of the room, completely oblivious to my surroundings. Instead of bringing the sunscreen like I was supposed to, I went back outside and gave it to my partner (several weeks before her actual birthday) because I was so ridiculously excited for her to read it.

If you like ravens, don't waste your time to hesitate, just take and read it! A little bid academic, but his style of writing is funny and interestiog enough to read through if you are not an academic person.

I found it hard going at times but an informative book.

The book of all books by Bernd Heinrich and the condition and price to match the book "What a Bargain" from Powellsbookstore. USA.

Science at its best, precise and readable for everybody with a healthy interest in nature. We are full cousins, nearly !

Given as a gift. The recipient enjoyed the read.

Me ha parecido bastante entretenido de leer y aporta algunos datos sobre la inteligencia de las aves que me han resultado bastante interesantes. Lo recomiendo.

In short: If you are curious about real life with ravens, specially if you life in area with ravens, this is the book. This is not for "fast reading", text is small and not organized for "read it and know all about it in 8 hours". I love it.

livre anglophone broché à couverture cartonnée souple moyen format ancien (1999) consacré à l'intelligence du corbeau; après une courte introduction, l'auteur, Bernd Heinrich, professeur de biologie américain mais aussi passionné d'oiseaux a adopté et vécu avec des grands corbeaux (Corvus corax) et nous livre ses observations dans 29 chapitres d'un texte clair très peu illustré (quelques gravures et photos n&b) 01: devenir un père-corbeau (11 pages) 02: une expérimentation de terrain (19 pages) 03: des corbeaux dans la famille (18 pages) 04: pots pour bébés (15 pages) 05: éducation (9 pages) 06: destin d'un jeune corbeau (9 pages) 07: mettre en place un territoire (10 pages) 08: pistage et capture de corbeau (15 pages) 09: partenariats et réseaux sociaux (14 pages) 10: partage et coopération dans le couple (6 pages) 11: chasse et nourrissage (9 pages) 12: adoption (9 pages) 13: discrimination sensorielle (8 pages) 14: reconnaissance individuelle (17 pages) 15: voisins dangereux (11 pages) 16: communication vocale (15 pages) 17: prestige chez les corbeaux (10 pages) 18: frayeurs de corbeau (10 pages) 19: des corbeaux et des loups à Yellowstone (10 pages) 20: de l'oiseau-loup à l'homme-corbeau (9 pages) 21: Tulugaq (10 pages) 22: cachettes, pillages et subterfuges (14 pages) 23: moralité, tolérance et coopération (11 pages) 24: le jeu selon les corbeaux (15 pages) 25: actes délibérés? (17 pages) 26: Tests de QI pour corbeaux (13 pages) 27: cerveaux et volume cérébral (7 pages) 28: conscience et émotions chez les corbeaux (9 pages) 29: retour à la nature (10 pages) cet ouvrage absolument passionnant enthousiasmera tous les amateurs d'oiseaux et d'animaux en remmettant en cause bien des certitudes sur la supériorité de l'homme; si vous avez trouvé ce commentaire utile merci de cliquer ci-dessous

Wonderful book. Three years ago I befriended a pair of Ravens who visit me daily. They have become very approachable (they allow me within a foot of them) and every year they bring their young to meet me when they have left the nest. I was very amazed when I read this book and I realized that it was not always the same two that appeared, but they all greeted me in the same manner, arrived at the same time, knew where I threw the food, etc. So apparently they communicate with one another and are all able to recognize me (they do not allow strangers to approach them). Once while feeding them I was interrupted by a phone call, went inside and forgot that I had left the container of food open on the deck. When I went back out the food was untouched and they were still waiting politely for my return. These are birds that I have watched take a whole plastic bag of garbage from a neighbor's can. Amazing birds!