Many of us have experienced the interruption, pleasant or otherwise, of a bird singing from high in the trees or a lone chirper perched outside a bedroom window and wondered what the song was about. Following a world expert on birdsong from the woods of Martha's Vineyard to the tropical forests of Central America, Don Staop brings to life the quest to unravel this ancient mystery: Why do birds sing and what do their songs really mean?
In this creative mixture of reportage, storytelling, and research, Stap distills the complexities of the study of birdsong and unveils a remarkable discovery that sheds light on the mystery of mysteries: why young birds in the suborder oscines--the "true" songbirds--must learn their songs while closely related birds are born with their songs genetically encoded. As the story unfolds, Stap contemplates our enduring fascination with birdsong, from ancient pictographs and early Greek soothsayers to the story of Mozart's pet starling. He identifies birds by their specific sounds and calls, and explains the true function of a bird's song, from mating calls to claims of territory.
In a modern, noisy world, it is increasingly difficult to hear the sounds of nature around us. Exploring birdsong takes us to that rare place--in danger of disappearing forever--where one hears only the planet's oldest music.
"A lucidly written combination of scientific lore and vivid reportage, the book is a thoughtful treatment of one of nature's most beguiling phenomena."
-- "Publishers Weekly"
"These birds are a perfect example of the complex learning that goes on in the natural world and the fact that animals group together to form their own culture. I thank Don Stap for taking me into the field with him and helping me see. I was completely fascinated."
-- Temple Grandin, author of "Animals in Translation"
"Popular yet thorough, shimmering with the romance of an arcane field."
-- "Kirkus Reviews"
"This is an authoritative and intriguing book about one of the great wonders and mysteries of nature. I read it with fascination and great pleasure."
-- Tracy Kidder, author of "House and Mountains Beyond Mountains"
""Birdsong" is a wonderful journey through the science, history, and biology of how and why birds sing. We highly recommend it for all bird lovers, nature lovers, and science enthusiasts."
-- Don and Lillian Stokes, authors of "Stokes Field Guide to Birds"
Don Stap's first work of nonfiction was A Parrot Without a Name. Currently professor of English at the University of Central Florida, he is a frequent contributor to Audubon magazine and has also written for Smithsonian, Travel & Leisure, and The New York Times.
Oxford University Press
Pub Date: June 15, 2006
0.67" H x 8.49" L x 5.54" W
272 pages
paperback