The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman

It´s are not just the complex social structures, the ability to learn to speak, etc, but especially the speed and accuracy of intelligence that may evolve higher than the one of other animals. Heinrich is a better scientist, better observer and better writer. The difference between Bernd Heinrich and Jennifer Ackerman, is one of degree. She gives far to few theories about the homing instinct and ability to navigate and since I'm reading The Homing Instinct: Meaning and Mystery in Animal Migration right now, I'm amazed by all the different methods birds and other animals have to find their way home. So I do question both when the author says, 'some scientists say' and when she goes off about, for instance the colour blue being so important to bower birds because it is the rarest colour in nature.

They hadn't watched the right documentaries! Indeed, the winner thought so too! But the females went off with the loser, one on each side of him inclining their heads towards him that, anthropomorphism or not, definitely looked like they were comforting him. Now,in the tv documentaries, which invariably are presented and written by men, the two drab females are supposed to remain with the winner.

The first bird beat the second one, he even lost a feather or two and slunk off. The two females stood together and watched the proceedings with interest. The two male birds flew into the air and had a considerable fight with feathers flying and the earth kicked up. Up strode another equally big and beautiful male accompanied by two drab females who were walking slightly behind him. We were able to get within 6' of the bird. It was spring, mating season and my son had got very close to a big, beautiful male bird and called me over. Once I had an experience with some wild golden pheasants in Kew Gardens in London. Witness Jane Goodall's paradigm-shifting observations of the Gombe chimps. I also have a problem with scientific pronouncements of animal behaviour being taken as gospel and anecdotes considered frivolous when they actually might be even more meaningful. I always have a problem with scientists' testing of animals because we are testing them in comparison to our own intelligence not to themselves.

But although it is science-based, to some extent, it is full of unproven theories and anecdotes, some of which are very charming and some which belabour the point at length. So since I liked Bernd Heinrich's Mind of the Raven and his other books on ravens, owls and geese, I prepared to meet another 5-star natural history book. I read this over Christmas mostly because a customer ordered four copies saying it was brilliant and would make great gifts.

The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman