I have always loved Corvids, particularly crows. My encounters with Ravens are dismally few, but striking. The author managed to capture their intelligence very well. The idea that ravens might actually lead predators TO prey was intriguing to me; especially in light of the near cougar attack related in the book.

Die-hard birders and lovers of corvids will really like this book. If you don't fall into one of those categories, you may still like it, but will probably find parts of it tedious. I really liked it! ( )

i found this very hard to read..... ( )

Leddy Library subscribes to the Birds of North America database, found here:
http://winspace.uwindsor.ca/cocoon/li...

I am a great fan of the work of Bernd Heinrich into the behaviour of all corvids, but particularly his devotion to ravens. Like Konrad Lorenz, he has created a great corpus of scientific, anecdotal, and valuable information on one of - or the most - intelligent bird out of all the aves.

His writing style is lucid, with a clear narrative voice that is neither too sentimental, nor too detached and scientific. He relates personal anecdotes with care, and is always conscious of not trying to overly anthropomorphise the behaviours of the ravens he raises, and observes in nature.

His experiments themselves are clever, and more fun still is when the raven conquers almost every single one with aplomb and accord.

This book is a must have for anyone who appreciates raven, and a wonderful text in general, helping the world to better understand an oft-demonised bird. ( )