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Corvus: A Life With Birds (2008)

by Esther Woolfson(Favorite Author)

3.96 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1847080294 (ISBN13: 9781847080295)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Granta Books

review 1: Thanks to Grrlbrarian over at the SMDB, I picked up this book from the library & am almost done. It's a quick read - being a memoir about living in a Scotland city with various feathered friends over the years - primarily Chicken, a rook, but also a talking magpie named Spike, and a crow named Ziki, as well as some odd psittacines and of course, the residents of the dovecote. It's all a bit cozy - Woolfson throws in some scientific background here & there and a few literary references as well. The artwork is a nice addition to the material. Worth a read if you're into stories of people and their animal companions.
review 2: This is a delightfully humorous and touching account of a life shared with birds. Okay, you might think, nothing so extraordinary about tha... moret, but these birds are not your common-or-garden budgies-in-a cage. It all started when Esther Woolfson took on a small flock of doves and became fascinated by them; eventually she gained a reputation as someone who knew about birds and when a tiny, almost bald, rook was brought to her what could she do but take her in. And so began her life with Chicken, who is later joined by Spike the magpie and various other feathered people. Her whole family become involved and quickly come to love these feathered additions to the household.It is difficult not to become involved with the antics of these birds as they enjoy the run of the house. They have distinct personalities, and although the author is at pains not to humanise these wonderful creatures, one can't help but become immersed in this household. There are chapters about birds in folklore, birdsong, bird physiology all of which are interesting and quite different in tone, and it's obvious the author knows her stuff, and when she doesn't she knows how to do her research, which was certainly the case when it came to feeding tiny birds of different breeds.The author explains her dilemma in having these essentially wild birds in her home, living what is an unnatural life. What would have happened to them had she not taken them in? Had they survived - which is doubtful as they had fallen out of their nests - they would almost certainly have been able to fly, nest and breed in the wild, albeit with a much shorter life. However living in the confines of a house they seem to have enjoyed a happy life, and we, through the pages of this book, are able to learn more about these wonderful corvids. I've always loved watching wild birds - I'm no twitcher, but I now find myself eagerly awaiting the daily arrival of a couple of magpies on my lawn - they see me first, I know, because no sooner is the food put down than they're there. They are fascinating to watch as they strut around. proudly showing off their black and white dinner suits. Wonderful.An enchanting read for anyone interested in nature in general and wild birds in particular. less

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