Lawrence Kilham (1910–2000)

This author offers a type of book not often found. The core of the book is about different styles of observing and which styles have worked for the author at several different types of places. The author also encourages the observer to simply observe to learn the bird's habits and daily routines. he gets more enjoyment learning the birds daily routines than if he had kept moving to see other birds. It is this type of observation that is uncommon today and a book on this topic is worth reading. The stories told are interesting in themselves so the book is pleasant reading.… (mais)

The first half of this book was vary difficult for me to read. I am not an ornithologist, nor a biologist, nor a scientist in general. I am just interested in corvids, and mostly the crow and raven. After having read and having really enjoyed In the Company of Crows and Ravens, I thought that a more scientific approach would be fun.

That is not to say that it isn't brilliant and well thought out work. Kilham is a keen observer, and treats his subject with love and respect, although dryly and clinically. The information was good, and reliable, and I did not feel that he was expressing any agenda besides what he saw.

The second half of the book (his discussions of crows in New Hampshire, general discussion of crow behavior, and a brief discussion of ravens), were much more approachable to the layman, and I found a lot of fun little anecdotes that kept me liking it the rest of the way through.

All in all, it was a decent read. Anyone interested in crows and ravens would do well to read through it. Unfortunately, the fun chapters require the boring ones. One might need to be less of an "enthusiast" to read this and more of an "amateur ornithologist."… (mais)