In the Company of Crows and Ravens

Average customer rating:

Crow linguistics! What are those birds talking about?

Not so great for reference

a must read for the Corvidae fanciers of the world

Those noisy neighbours

Beautiful ink drawings

In the Company of Crows and Ravens
John M. Marzluff , John M. Marzluff , Tony Angell , and Paul Ehrlich
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0300100760

Book Description

“Crows and people share similar traits and social strategies. To a surprising extent, to know the crow is to know ourselves.”—from the Preface

From the cave walls at Lascaux to the last painting by Van Gogh, from the works of Shakespeare to those of Mark Twain, there is clear evidence that crows and ravens influence human culture. Yet this influence is not unidirectional, say the authors of this fascinating book: people profoundly influence crow culture, ecology, and evolution as well.

John Marzluff and Tony Angell examine the often surprising ways that crows and humans interact. The authors contend that those interactions reflect a process of “cultural coevolution.” They offer a challenging new view of the human-crow dynamic—a view that may change our thinking not only about crows but also about ourselves.

Featuring more than 100 original drawings, the book takes a close look at the influences people have had on the lives of crows throughout history and at the significant ways crows have altered human lives. In the Company of Crows and Ravens illuminates the entwined histories of crows and people and concludes with an intriguing discussion of the crow-human relationship and how our attitudes toward crows may affect our cultural trajectory.

Customer Reviews:

Crow linguistics! What are those birds talking about?.......2007-08-29

I enjoyed each chapter in this book. Findings from the authors' field observations and original research with crows--by attaching transmitters to the birds, rather than relying on banding and a possible future sighting--provide a fascinating and unique insight into the lives of these smart and sensitive creatures. Did you know that crows usually mate for life or until "death do us part"? That there are actually scientists who specialize in crow linguistics? What are those crows in my yard saying? After reading this book I've started listening more carefully and have decided their whisper songs might be in Italian! I've given this book as gifts to friends. The illustrations are beautiful and don't miss a word of the text!

Not so great for reference.......2007-04-10

I bought this book hoping for a lot of good reference art. Although there are a number of good illustrations, its mostly text, which i haven't bothered to read, since i was only interested in the art. I'd look for another book if you want good reference.

a must read for the Corvidae fanciers of the world.......2007-03-29

This is a wonderful book, the authors have discovered so many interesting insights & amusing observations of the Corvidae family with the most fabulous crow art!

Those noisy neighbours .......2007-02-16

They lack the colour glories of parrots and lorikeets. They're not like the little tweetie birds of our childhood books. Probably the best known of them is Poe's bleak image - perched atop a skull croaking its dismal litany. Long before Poe, however, the corvids had gained a shady reputation in Western European legends and myths. Crows and ravens were messengers of dark fortunes sent by agents of evil intent. As is so often the case with relying on literature to depict Nature, the legends misled us. The reality is far more interesting and explains more than fiction ever has. Marzluff and Angell, are dedicated scholars in the history and legends of the corvids. This book reflects well that background, and their combined skills present what they've gleaned with style and wit.

Perhaps no other species has shown how Darwinian adaptability can work as have crows, the authors suggest. Once wild and scattered, the crow has become habitated to human settlement. They were certainly scavengers at human feeding sites, whether people were hunters or scavengers themselves. Agriculture clearly brought them from the forests to the fields we planted. Grain crops - "the staff of life" - enticed them to our neighbourhoods quickly. The rise of cities only intensified the contact and offered the crow fresh opportunity. The "fast-food" restaurant, with its Dumpsters and scattered, food bearing trash, brings them hovering over what they clearly find a delicacy. They may even become selective, choosing the more brightly-coloured fries container over an equally laden drab one. It's even possible that the newly inhabited urban existence may be enhancing their numbers. The hunting activities in farmland is lacking in the city, but there are many nesting sites. We may complain about their noisy presence, but we brought them into our neighbourhood.

Nobody has ever questioned the intelligence of the Corvus genus. Crows, ravens, rooks and their relations are considered grand tricksters at best, and opportunist thieves at least. Their intelligence is stated by the authors as being the equivalent of "flying monkeys". Marzluff and Angell relate how crows in Japan took up residence near a driving school. They learned to drop nuts under the tires of stopped autos, returning to retrieve the meat after the wheel passed over and crushed the nut. The talent spread out over time and crows many kilometres away now practice the feat. Antics of this sort have been observed over the centuries, with our culture adopting Corvid elements into stories and descriptions. What are the wrinkles alongside the eyes of the elderly, but "crow's feet". We'll pass over the origins of "eating crow".

Corvid intellect goes beyond tricks and chance. The authors have witnessed both a murder of a crow by its fellows. They've also observed "funerals" in which a mob of crows silently surrounds a departed member [not the "murdered" one] for a long period, only to depart without a sound beyond the flutter of wings. Quiet crows are unusual. They also, it has been learned, developed the ability to count. Tests conducted with crows indicate they can count to five. They also "play". According to the authors, crows will slide down snowbanks or another smooth surface much as otters do, and with as little discernible purpose. Perhaps it's indicative that the Norse god Odin had two ravens, Thought and Memory as companions.

There's much more to be said about this book. As a resource, it's without peer, covering all aspects of Corvid life from mating rituals to nesting practices and territorial claims. As a narrative of observations, it reads much as an adventure story. You needn't be a fan of crows or ravens to enjoy this book. Angell's artwork greatly enhances the text, and is both informative and a treat in itself. The Corvids are your close neighbours and it's both pleasurable and profitable to read about who and what they are. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Beautiful ink drawings.......2007-01-19

In the Company of Crows and Ravens provides interesting information about species, habitat, range of the many many varieties of crows. However, it is the drawings that steals one's attention.

Average customer rating:

In The Company of Crows and Ravens
John M. and Angell, Tony Marzluff
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000P0ZQMW

Average customer rating:

In the Company of Crows and Ravens
John M.; Ehrlich, Paul R.; Angell, Tony; Marzluff, John M.; Angell, Tony; Ehrlich, Paul Marzluff
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OSO2M0

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Heathcliff Pigs Out

Manufacturer: Jove Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 9991375481

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Manufacturer: Charter Books
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GRQB0K

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ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000MOSLXM

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Geo Gatley
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ASIN: B000SAEZFI

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ASIN: 051509417X

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ASIN: B000FXURPA

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George Gately
Manufacturer: Charter Books
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Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KAEDX0

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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: 0441322107

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Manufacturer: Ace Books
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ASIN: 0441322417

Book Description

"I have been so wholly engrossed with my work for the last week or I should have responded sooner to your question: 'Are you going?' If a kind Providence and President Lincoln will permit, I am. I am Captain of as good, and true a band of patriots as ever rallied under the star spangled banner."-Rufus R. Dawes. A Full Blown Yankee of the Iron Brigade combines the personal experiences of Rufus R. Dawes with a history of the regiment in which he served. The Iron Brigade was the only all-Western brigade that fought in the eastern armies of the Union and was perhaps the most distinguished of the Federal brigades. Dawes is credited with a keen sense of observation and a fresh and vivid style. Seldom absent from the field during his entire three-and-a-half-year term, he chronicled Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chan-cellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness campaign, Cold Harbor, and the Petersburg lines. Perhaps most remarkable is the well-honed sense of humor he displayed about both the war and himself. Dawes's sophisticated account of significant military organizations and events improves our understanding of the epic of the Civil War. Rufus R. Dawes (1838-99) kept a journal throughout his war service, which he used in writing this memoir. He also relied on his own prolific correspondence with family members and on the reports by Federal and Confederate participants in the Official Records.

Customer Reviews:

Transformation of a Young Man at War.......2005-03-18

Rufus Dawes writes of his service as an officer of the Iron Brigade's 6th Wisconsin Volunteers from it's formation until his resignation in 1864. Dawes was continuously present in the field almost every day from the day he enlisted, and wrote to his wife even several times a week, yet the book fills a mere 318 pages. His work is based primarily on this large collection of letters his wife had kept throughout the war.

His retrospective reminiscences are interjected only to give us the larger context, and sometimes he quotes the Official Army Reports when helpful. Not only is Dawes a good writer, but because he rose to command the 6th Wisconsin Regiment, he was cognizant of both the big picture and the immediate details of soldier life.

Dawes is an eloquent and sensitive writer. Through Dawes' letters we can feel the stresses and tensions of army life. As a junior officer, Dawes notes his concerns over the seniority among Captains in the Regiment as his primary concern. By 1864, this has shifted to the simple desire to spend time away from the incessant bullets, death and discomforts of war. Dawes' passages on the 1864 Campaign really expresses how different the war became and how really weary the veterans had become. Dawes himself, an exuberant and optimistic spirit always, had become truly weary of war by 1864.

To have tramped with Dawes all over Virginia, to Antietam and Gettysburg and through the Wilderness is an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend this book for the general reader. Of all the first person accounts I have read by Iron Brigade soldiers, this is the easiest to read and follow, and is richly rewarding.

Great personal account of life in the Iron Brigade!.......2002-11-04

It's sometimes tough finding memoirs or diary accounts that don't get involved in writing battle history on a larger scale that doesn't have anything to with the person writing it. Rufus Dawes heavily battle tormented years in the hard fighting Iron Brigade only covers his involvment and the affairs of the Iron Brigade which I found refreshing to read. Rufus Dawes has wrote down a lot in his diary and also wrote many letters home which are presented very well throughout this book. Most of his diary writings mention the date and the events which occurred. Dawes manages to define daily life activity in the camp and soldier actions. What makes this book exciting is his detail for writing about his involvement at major battles such as Antietam, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor and more! Rarely receiving a single scratch, Dawes manages to live to write about his military life as other officers around him eventually become discharged while a majority die. He gets descriptive at times which captures the chaos and confusion of battle. His writings also talk a lot about the Iron Brigade and it's a great reference for those trying to understand how hard fighting this group of soldiers were. Unlike some recollections or memoirs, Dawes writes very well and makes this book easy to follow and read. At times Dawes was very detailed and explains many army movements and his thoughts about approaching battle and surviving the aftermath. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the Civil War and especially for those looking to learn about the Iron Brigade.

Customer Reviews:

A very powerful book.......2007-10-03

As my title states, this is a very powerful book. Mr. Boye walked the trail that the Cheyennes travelled in their tragic journey to get back home (from Oklahoma to Montana). Along the way the author meets up with two Cheyenne men who travel with him for the better part of the journey. When they leave he meets a mid-20s Japanese man who travels with him for a while. Why is this Japanese man touring the American West? Read the book to find out. Despite my praise for this book, my rating is a 4.5 out of 5. Why? I will give two examples (not that there are many more):
1 - On p. 225 he states that hundreds of Indians were killed at the Battle of the Blue Water (the number was about 86 and his own source--Utley, Frontiersmen in Blue--states 85).
2 - Following Little Wolf's capture his followers shortly after became scouts for General Miles to fight the Sioux. Boye only mentions his surrender. He should have gone on to include this important detail.

Having said that, the book is still a very good read and I really enjoyed his journey and his dramatic retelling of the Cheyennes' escape from Fort Robinson. I would like to know more about the film made by some Cheyenne's as mentioned in the book. Final verdict: Recommended.

This is one great book........2001-02-28

I'm not much for history as it is taught in our schools, but this book is great. It is a perfect blend of history, present day (in the form of the author's trip), and thoughts and stories from the author's personal life.

I recommend this tome to anyone that likes travel stories. Especially if you dont know, or want to know more about, the Cheyenne Exodus. Expensive, but worth the money.

HISTORY COMES ALIVE ON THIS FANTASTIC ADVENTURE.......1999-12-14

This is a magical walk through a dark time in American History...Alan's own experiences are so materfully intertwined with history on this voyage, the past truly comes alive as you feel every step and face every fear. With each step, with every encounter along the way, you can feel the ghosts of the Cheyenne people walking in your own shadow. Make no mistake, HOLDING STONE HANDS is a Masterpiece...you'll feel the pain of endless walking, the anger for what the Cheyenne people were forced to endure, and the sorrow for the pointless death as they tried to make their way to the only land they would ever call home.

In the spirit of Edward Abbey.......1999-09-13

This is a story of heartache and strength, of hope and struggle...it is the story of a man's love of the land and a people's fight to keep their homeland. Boye is a gifted and talented writer whose words flow as he leads us from page to page, back into the past and then gently into the present. He is a writer that truly cares about his story and the people that inhabit it. He opens his heart and the words come tumbling out. A wonderful MUST READ for all nature lovers and history buffs.

You will enjoy this walk.......1999-08-23

Alan Boye has written a stunning book on an obscure piece of Americana that will charm, amuse, and anger you. It will also touch your heart, and not only because of what happened to the Cheyennes 120 years ago, but also because of the people Boye meets on this journey and his--and your--reaction to them.

If you're willing to take this walk, by the middle of it what Boye has been experiencing and relating to you will gently and subtly make you more aware of the world and your place in it. By the end of the walk and the book, you will have shared with Boye and his Cheyenne friends their humanity and yours will be the better for it.

That's a big bite for a book on a singluar event in Cheyenne history, which most of us know little or nothing about. I'm not sure how Boye did it. Probably he used skill, tact, wit, and humanity. That's probably all it took, but it was enough.

Book Description

From the author of the award-winning Wild Orchids Across North America comes an informative, beautifulâ€”and at times poeticâ€”summary of one manâ€™s life as a birder. Journeying from the swamps of Alabama to the icy waters of QuÃ©becâ€™s GaspÃ© Peninsula, from the sky islands of Arizona to the birdfeeder in his New Hampshire backyard, Keenan describes the remarkable pageantry of North American birdlife. More than a mere journal or travelogue, however, Keenanâ€™s book offers the incisive observations of a passionate naturalist for whom no question pertaining to birds is insignificant or irrelevant. With more than 100 color illustrations, it is as much a treat for the eyes as it is for the mind.

Customer Reviews:

Any who love birds will find it most accessible.......2003-02-11

Birding Across North America: A Naturalist's Observations could be called a memoir of birding years, but it also holds plenty of practical details unique to the field guide, and description common to the travelogue. It may be hard to properly categorize this title, but any who love birds will find it most accessible. Individual chapters cover migration, reflections on domestic cats and wild birds, and basic elements of birdwatching in the East. A fascinating, revealing guide.

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