What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World - Jon Young

What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal the Secrets of the Natural World (Mariner, $14.95) is a fascinating new instructional guide as perfect for the experienced birdwatcher as it is for the aspiring naturalist. Jon Young shares decades of experience and scores of anecdotes to explain how learning to observe carefully and to understand the language and behavior of both unusual and ordinary birds can help us see and appreciate the complexity of the natural world, even in an urban environment like Washington, D.C. Descriptions of flight patterns, distinct bird calls, and avian reactions to disruptions in territory are fundamental aspects of the book; throughout, Young provides online links so readers can listen to the songs, chatter, and warning calls he mentions.