Listening to a Continent Sing (ebook)

Argumento de Listening to a Continent Sing (ebook)

"The story is charming, funny, poignant, and heartwarming. . . . If you are going to treat yourself to one special gift this summer, make it this one!"--Cathy Taibbi, Examiner.com

"Our sophistication in listening to birdsong and our enjoyment have been greatly facilitated by the writings of Don Kroodsma. . . .[Listening to a Continent Sing] provides a delightful, vicarious ride across our country."--Herb Wilson, Portland Press Herald

"Kroodsma delivers a continent-wide perspective on birdsong, weaving behavior, habitat, and evolution into a fabric that is rolled out as he and his son make the East-West journey by bicycle. There is no better guide to take you on this journey, as no one has the breadth of knowledge and field experience with birdsong that Kroodsma has."--Greg Budney, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

"Kroodsma evokes the profound pleasure of rising before dawn to listen to the morning songs of the birds and ending the day with their evening choruses. . . . An informative exploration of the subtleties of bird songs."--Kirkus

"Listening to a Continent Sing will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in the outdoors, by cyclists, and above all by birders. I have only just begun reading the book, but I already suspect that it will turn out to be one of the outstanding popular birds books of the year."--The Curious Naturalist blog

"Birdsong maven Donald Kroodsma’s travel journal is a welcome addition to the cycling-road-trip genre that began over a century ago. . . . It’s the author’s knowledge of birdsong . . . that makes this book so delightful."--Natural History

"Blurring the lines between travelogue and casual scientific observation, Listening to a Continent Sing recounts their journey and transports the reader into the mind of a scientist renewing his awe of nature through an endearing portrayal of avian vocal communication and behavior. In its refreshing mix of history, linguistics, biology, and ethology, Listening to a Continent Sing brings back the joy and enthusiasm for scientific pursuits that can sometimes wane with time."--Helen J. Barr, Science

"While the book may be categorized as a birding adventure, it is also the story of a father and son deepening their bond as they cycled by day and camped by night together for 10 weeks."--Jennifer J. Meyer, Orange County Register0How to Listen Using the QR Codes vii
Acknowledgments xi
Prologue xiii
1. Beginnings 1
2. Peace, and War 12
3. Lemonade 20
4. Blue Ridge Dawn 30
5. A Virginia High 44
6. Appalachia 56
7. Boone Country 68
8. A Ride in Heaven 74
9. Laid Up 82
10. On the Road Again 86
11. Dawn Sweeps the Shawnee 96
12. The Ozarks 106
13. A Prairie Gem 115
14. Kansas Oceans 125
15. Shortgrass Prairie 136
16. Western Birds 146
17. Riding the Rockies 153
18. Sage and Song 163
19. Hello, Wyoming 173
20. The Oregon Trail 179
21. Grand Tetons 190
22. Into the Fire 199
23. Caterpillars Marching 207
24. Chief Joseph Pass 217
25. Lewis and Clark 225
26. Pacific Islands Incoming 233
27. Ascending into Oregon 242
28. Geological Chaos 251
29. Over the Cascades 261
30. A Homecoming 270
31. Land’s End 280
Epilogue—Where Are They Now? 287
Notes 289
References 295
Index 299