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Summary: Intriguing Investigations into the Lives and Minds of Ravens
Review: In "Mind of the Raven", biologist Bernd Heinrich delves into the behavior of ravens as individuals who might have a conscious choice, as opposed to taking a strictly behavioral ecologist perspective of those behaviors as being simply the results of evolutionary necessity. Heinrich strives to share the insight into the world of ravens which he gained over the course of nearly a decade of studying and interacting with ravens, both wild and captive, at his Vermont and Maine homes. "Mind of the Raven" isn't confined to the birds' intelligence or consciousness, although chapters on these fascinating and controversial subjects are included. The "mind" of the book's title encompasses all behavior and experience in these birds' lives. Heinrich details innumerable observations and experiments which he conducted on the subjects of raven feeding and educating their young, cooperation, hunting, adoption, dominance, sensory perception, individual recognition, communication, fears, interaction with other animals, caching, deception, play, intelligence, and emotions. Heinrich seems to possess an insatiable -and infectious- curiosity about these magnificent birds, which is demonstrated in his exhausting and endlessly inventive experiments. Heinrich's studies are as controlled and straightforward as possible. And although they sometimes raise more questions than they answer, they never fail to entertain or to impress the reader with the complexity and variety of raven personalities. It's nice to read a book by a scientist who has such an enthusiasm for his field of study, as well as genuine affection for his subjects. "Mind of the Raven" is a very readable broad account of the lives and minds of these large, clever corvids that have so populated human folklore and experience for thousands of years. I recommend it to any bird-lover, and those who have occasion to observe ravens will find Bernd Heinrich's insights especially interesting.
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Summary: Thus quoth the raven: QUORK! You go, Bernd Heinrich!
Review: In this book, Mr. Heinrich does it again, with his apt, close-up observations of raven behavior that leave the mind in wonder at these most graceful, important birds. Why important? Read the book!As a wildlife rehabilitator and one who has been in the process of attempting to release an imprinted raven to the wilds, I have witnessed in this bird, many of the behaviors described by Mr. Heinrich, as he applies them to the eastern / northern subspecies of Corvus corax, called C.c. principalis. Since I am on the west coast and dealing with the smaller subspecies, C.c. sinuatus, I can only surmise that the behaviors he ascribes to his eastern broods are going to be similar to my western friends. Though indeed they are, I must also keep in mind that just as certain jay species have certain geographical dialects, so ravens must also, and this variable can also apply to behavior. Thank you, Bernd Heinrich, for publishing this wonderful work! I am in the midst of reading it and find it extremely valuable to my own studies and am consisistently engrossed and enthralled, entertained and educated, by your observations put into writing. As with Ravens In Winter, I am finding Mind of the Raven intensely gratifying in answering some of my questions and equally surprising in discovering that there is still so much more we need to learn about ravens as a species and corvids as a whole. Indeed, we can also learn something of ourselves, somehow. . .
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Summary: Mind of the Raven. An honest view without skullduggery
Review: In this day and age it is refreshing to find that there are researchers willing to share personel views along with the hard evidence of their findings. In the case of Dr.Heinrich I find that even when he makes an assumption it generally becomes fact with hard evidence to back his views. To read Mind of the Raven after reading his earlier book Ravens in Winter is to watch wisdom developing in what was already a very wise being. Mind of the Raven should be mandatory reading in all of our schools.It is an excellent example of how we should view all life forms within our world. With curiosity and understanding. JR.Inghram
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Summary: A wonderful wonderful book
Review: Living in the mountains of colorado, I first became aware of ravens when one followed while I was tracking elk in the back country. It followed me, flying along tree to tree, "talking" to me, cocking its head as if waiting for a reply. With that introduction, I started noticing other odd behavior... huge flocks wheeling, and playing with each other... mimicry of the calls of raptors... and so forth. I saw this book, and thought: its about time I learn something about the minds of these animals. Why do they do what they do? Well ravens are more interesting than I thought. Makes one wonder why social scavenger-hunters (humans, coyotes, ravens) turn out so clever regardless of where they pop out of the animal kingdom. BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT... Prof. Heinrich's narrative is totally engaging and entertaining. I found myself laughing over and over gain as he quietly dropped comments about famous ornithologists that have died climbing trees, or the risks involved in demonstrating which bumblebees are edible to one's experimental charges (ie showing young ravens what's good to eat). It becomes very clear ethologists are an interesting species in themselves. If you're interested in birds, or have ravens around, or generally interested in experimental ethology: this one is among the best
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Summary: Learn to Live from the Ravens
Review: Ravens know how to live, I watch them having a group boid outing over the hill windbreak saluting the evening sun and flying for the fun of it.
Bernd has been interviewed at lauralee.com
Enjoy!
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Summary: Exciting, Informative, Awesome and Heartwarming
Review: Starting from a basic love of nature, with curiosity about why Ravens are considered so special by the original people of the Northwest where I live, I was drawn to read Mind of the Raven. Never did I suspect the enthralling, delightful adventure into the world of the zoologist, the process of inquiry that generates discoveries made with great dedication, and caring and a sense of humor that would make the reading of this book a page-turning thrill. Bernd Heinrich has a gift for igniting wonderment at all of the creatures and plants in our ecosystem, and while he is focusing on the raven in this book, his enthusiasm for all nature is eloquently expressed in a perfect blend of scientific inquiry, and life experiences a layman could understand and enjoy. His years of raven study and living in the wilderness, his scientific expertise honed by dedicated experience, combine to offer us the best of all reads, fun, information, inspiration and delight as well as a treasurestore of knowledge about the amazing raven. Read it!! I am now on my third book of his and will be sure to read them all. Enjoy!
Be inspired!
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Summary: Ravens, Ravens, Ravens
Review: There is not much for me to say that has not already been said by other folk. This is a spectacular look at the way life in field goes right and wrong for a biologist working in ecology. That he doesn't figure everything out is a perfectly alright with me. As a newbie to the field it makes me oh so happy to know that there is still plenty for a a budding ornithologist to do.
Great Work.
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Summary: Ravens, Ravens, Ravens
Review: There is not much for me to say that has not already been said by other folk. This is a spectacular look at the way life in field goes right and wrong for a biologist working in ecology. That he doesn't figure everything out is a perfectly alright with me. As a newbie to the field it makes me oh so happy to know that there is still plenty for a a budding ornithologist to do.
Great Work.
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Summary: Idiosyncratic, charming, thought-provoking and informative
Review: This book is a wealth of information about ravens. While most of other books are set in Maine, here Heinrich travels farther afield to discuss ravens in the Arctic, Yellowstone, a pet raven in Germany, and elsewhere -- in addition to his own wild and tame ravens in Maine.
I can imagine some scientists (and others) being annoyed by Heinrich's style. His research questions are guided by his own natural curiosity and not by what the scientific community defines as important. He isn't trained as an ornithologist. Heinrich clearly depends on his own observations and does not like to delegate -- so his methods are not those of a scientist running a lab or something like a lab. For most of us, though, these "faults" make him all the more interesting. He is certainly high on the list of authors I'd like to invite to dinner.
Heinrich also seems to be a born teacher. He does a great job explaining ravens as well as explaining the process of discovery that brings him to his conclusions.
If you think that a bird can't possibly be conscious (or self-conscious), that a bird can't be intelligent, and that a bird can't have a real personality, this book will drive you nuts. If you think any of those things are *possible*, Heinrich gives you some thought-provoking stories about ravens.
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Summary: Fascinating insights into the life and mind of ravens
Review: This is an amazing book. It's not an exaggeration to say that this is the most fascinating book I've ever read. I've always marveled at the idiosyncratic behavior of ravens, the sense of play that seems to pervade so much of what they do, and at their inventiveness. Reading this book takes me back the times I've sat in the mountains watching ravens. What an easy way to travel so far. And finally, after reading this book, I feel that I have at least a little insight into these incredible birds. I can't recommend this book too highly.
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