10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2023

It was the same day George Floyd was killed. I knew he was also a former Marvel comic book writer and editor, but did not know that he also, unsurprisingly, had a history of involvement in LGBTQ and Black rights advocacy. It is a skillfully, beautifully written book about finding joy and spirituality in nature and birds.

Emotional 223

Emotional Birds Minneapolis Nepal 223

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 15, 2013

The single greatest challenge facing any book of science writing is balance. The authors resist getting mystical or sentimental, nor do they unduly move humans front and center except as fellow-beings that affect the environment their subjects live in (despite the subtitle.) Pinyon Jay by Dave Menke of the US FWS.

Humane 142

Humane Emotional Stray Dog Science 142

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

The opening beautifully encapsulates the essence of the book. The book, like the opening scene, is a deft combination of her personal observations of birds most of us rarely see, in a wild place very few people have visited, and of the natural histories of these birds. Do I need to say anything more? And, this was badly needed.

Fox 100

Fox Albatross Geese Bald Eagle 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 23, 2023

Not sure why they spend time in Shanghai in winter when they could come here though, but then again, I usually do not understand most of the behavior of humans either. Tiphys died either of a snakebite or of a mysterious illness but he was not killed by either a tiger or a rhinoceros. Yes, we have them in Shanghai as well.

Birds 215

Birds Eagles Elephants Rhinoceros 215

4 The Love Of Animals

MARCH 17, 2011

Dogs are able to detect diseases such as cancer and diabetes and warn humans of impending heart attacks and strokes. Many animals also display wide-ranging emotions, including joy, happiness, empathy, compassion, grief, and even resentment and embarrassment. In many ways, human emotions are the gifts of our animal ancestors.

Emotional 100

Emotional Animal Whales Whaling 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2020

The NYC owls have little to do with the book in front of me except that it too is about birds and people. The 26 essays in When Birds Are Near are all about the real-life and emotional spaces where people overlap with birds. Yes, there are scores of photos on Twitter accompanied by the expected exclamation points and emojis.

New York City 185

New York City Birds Owls Fox 185

Animal Person

MARCH 9, 2010

But I found that if my goal was for my message to be received, I had to judiciously use accurate terms because there was an intense emotional reaction to them that prevented the message from being received intact, or unadulterated by the emotional baggage. Often it permanently disables or kills. I could go on and on.

Animal 100

Animal Vivisection Suffering Emotional 100