If you take time to observe our bird companions, you will come to the same conclusion. While it works differently than the human brain, the avian brain is equally awesome and amazing.
Beautiful, thoughtful essay Perry! You know how much I adore birds too. And that video! 240mph! Amazing 🤩 Makes one emotional. Everything so intricately wired. Thank you 🙏🏻
Migration has always amazed me. Also nest building. Your loving and informative presentation about birds invites reconsideration. I have a new respect for bird brains.
Birds have been on my mind this week, too. We have an evening view of a cardinal nest from our living room. We have spent countless hours mesmerized by their life; this week their babies hatched. One of my kids is a mini bird expert and can recognize them by sounds and sight. Relayed all kinds of cool facts about cardinals to me. Thank you for this wonderful spotlight on bird brains!
That is so exciting to see baby birds and how the cardinal parents take care of their young. So wonderful that one of your kids has become such a bird lover. So beautiful. Thanks for sharing, Jenn.
Yes Perry, I do agree there are many, many humans who are great stewards of our Earth and I try my best to be one of them. I recently became a member of CCL (Citizens Climate Lobby) which is a grassroots organization reaching out to politicians who are ultimately the ones who legislate for a healthier climate. Thank you for your Substack and love of birds and beauty, you are an inspiration.
Excellent essay Perry. My constant favourites of birds and intelligence are the Black-capped Chickadee and the Common Crow. I am heavily biased in their favour though as I've come to be familiar with some regulars on my Nature hikes. For the chickadees, it's their curiosity plus their spatial memory of where they store seeds. For the crows, it's that look of recognition of a fellow intellgent being.
Also, that footage of the Peregrine Falcon in her stoop dive is amazing. I have been fortunate a few times in my life to see Peregrines either perches or flying, but haven't seen them diving yet!
True; and each bird species has something special to offer. Today I saw a sparrow come near me with a look of recognition in his eyes. He hopped near me and then picked up some seeds. I found it touching.
A lovely tribute to the intelligence of birds. Thank you for all the background info, the poetry and beautiful videos. Truly incredible fellow creatures.
Excellent article, Perry & Arya. The Ackerman book is one of the best out there, I’m glad you featured it here in your post. We have so much to learn from birds about our own place in the natural world. Loved the video of the shape shifting Peregrine.
Thank you, Heidi. Ackerman really understands the avian mind. And respects it so much. Yes, the Peregrine Falcon diving with her wings tucked in looked so impressive that my 16-year-old son (not easily impressed, natch) watched with eyes wide open and admitted “Falcon is amazing.” I was so happy to hear that.
Perry, I love your bird articles and I love birds- they are fascinating to watch. I observed a robin interacting with the water from a sprinkler, and a chickadee hop along a roof line, tilting her head down in many spots to check to see if a cat was hiding under a tall arborvitae- when she discovered that yes, indeed there was a kitty lurking, she flew away. Amazing creatures, intelligent and they can run fast with those tiny legs! I learn so much from nature and wish everyone would, too, so they would stop destroying the preciousness.
Yes, I noticed too that the birds can run fast and often like to scoot and hop on the ground. We can learn from Nature and although I have received much formal education, for which I am grateful, during the latter part of my life (Act 3), the natural world has been my school master and my guide. Thank you, Robin, for your support in words.🕊🦜
Happy weekend and enjoy our feathered friends, teachers and guides! It is my pleasure to read and support you, Perry, in words, as you stated. Cheers to all of this!
My dad breeds racing pigeons and invests hours of time and love into their care. It always amazes me how they know where home is and where to fly back to, regardless of where they set off from. Clever birds.
I too am amazed by racing pigeons, as I was when I read about carrier pigeons used during the Second World War to convey messages that could not be intercepted. I can truly understand why your dad cares for the pigeons. Birds give more than they receive. Willingly.
I love that this is his passion. He monitors their diets, includes things like garlic for their little hearts, and speaks to them all daily. They all have names. They all matter.
That is beautiful Trudi! What a special dad! I adore my pigeon visitors! They love to sit on the top of my garden hutch. Birds are my friends in the garden 🥰
Thank you for your insightful piece. Birds’ quiet resilience and intelligence offer a subtle lesson in harmony and adaptation. Perhaps our true challenge is to attune ourselves to their wisdom.
Amazing two videos, Perry; thank you for that. The quote from Voltaire at the beginning of 'The Genius of Birds' trailer is something I've long felt. And yet powerful people in powerful positions think Nature is something to be 'controlled' and 'dominated'. How disconnected can one be? A considerable amount, unfortunately.
And 240+ mph for a diving falcon - amazing. Thanks for the article.
Power of birds existence millions of years, perhaps their numbers rebound and resist the avian flu’s that drop them from the sky. Mutations could be the key factor to survival at its demise along with the heat of planet. But birds have learned to fluff and preen themselves to keep warm or cool. Humans will survive and build dome cities or live under water and ground or migrate to another planet to desecrate.
If things heat up in accordance to worst-case scenarios and the Earth is in the midst of a Sixth-Extinction event, if I was a betting man, I would bet on the birds. Some would bet on humans, but they would be risking long odds. Humans populating another planet is at best a pipe dream, but most likely a delusion, coming out of the minds of people who are not down-to-earth.
Beautiful, thoughtful essay Perry! You know how much I adore birds too. And that video! 240mph! Amazing 🤩 Makes one emotional. Everything so intricately wired. Thank you 🙏🏻
Thank you, @Deborah T. Hewitt. Falcon diving down at 240 mph is truly awesome.
Migration has always amazed me. Also nest building. Your loving and informative presentation about birds invites reconsideration. I have a new respect for bird brains.
So glad to hear it, Annette.
'...much higher cognitive clout per pound than do mammalian brains.'
Interesting facts about birds, Perry.
It makes you appreciate birds and their intelligence more...plus making think twice about using 'bird-brain' as a demeaning term.
Yes, indeed. We know more about our feathered friends and their high intelligence; and bird brain is a high compliment.
Birds have been on my mind this week, too. We have an evening view of a cardinal nest from our living room. We have spent countless hours mesmerized by their life; this week their babies hatched. One of my kids is a mini bird expert and can recognize them by sounds and sight. Relayed all kinds of cool facts about cardinals to me. Thank you for this wonderful spotlight on bird brains!
That is so exciting to see baby birds and how the cardinal parents take care of their young. So wonderful that one of your kids has become such a bird lover. So beautiful. Thanks for sharing, Jenn.
Yes, I was the one getting schooled! Thank you for the wonderful article.
Like you, I love birds and they bring me daily joy. I shall seek out the Ackerman book and thank you for such an inspiring piece.
Deborah, it was indeed my pleasure.🕊🦜
Humans are an invasive species.
We certainly act as if we are; some of us, however, are trying to live in harmony with Nature, recognizing that we are one species out of many.
Yes Perry, I do agree there are many, many humans who are great stewards of our Earth and I try my best to be one of them. I recently became a member of CCL (Citizens Climate Lobby) which is a grassroots organization reaching out to politicians who are ultimately the ones who legislate for a healthier climate. Thank you for your Substack and love of birds and beauty, you are an inspiration.
Thank you, Marilyn.🕊🦜
Excellent essay Perry. My constant favourites of birds and intelligence are the Black-capped Chickadee and the Common Crow. I am heavily biased in their favour though as I've come to be familiar with some regulars on my Nature hikes. For the chickadees, it's their curiosity plus their spatial memory of where they store seeds. For the crows, it's that look of recognition of a fellow intellgent being.
Also, that footage of the Peregrine Falcon in her stoop dive is amazing. I have been fortunate a few times in my life to see Peregrines either perches or flying, but haven't seen them diving yet!
True; and each bird species has something special to offer. Today I saw a sparrow come near me with a look of recognition in his eyes. He hopped near me and then picked up some seeds. I found it touching.
A lovely tribute to the intelligence of birds. Thank you for all the background info, the poetry and beautiful videos. Truly incredible fellow creatures.
Thank you, Veronika. Truly amazing fellow creatures.
Excellent article, Perry & Arya. The Ackerman book is one of the best out there, I’m glad you featured it here in your post. We have so much to learn from birds about our own place in the natural world. Loved the video of the shape shifting Peregrine.
Thank you, Heidi. Ackerman really understands the avian mind. And respects it so much. Yes, the Peregrine Falcon diving with her wings tucked in looked so impressive that my 16-year-old son (not easily impressed, natch) watched with eyes wide open and admitted “Falcon is amazing.” I was so happy to hear that.
The experience with your son is a wonderful example of this ability of birds to open our hearts and minds to the natural world. Love it.
Perry, I love your bird articles and I love birds- they are fascinating to watch. I observed a robin interacting with the water from a sprinkler, and a chickadee hop along a roof line, tilting her head down in many spots to check to see if a cat was hiding under a tall arborvitae- when she discovered that yes, indeed there was a kitty lurking, she flew away. Amazing creatures, intelligent and they can run fast with those tiny legs! I learn so much from nature and wish everyone would, too, so they would stop destroying the preciousness.
Yes, I noticed too that the birds can run fast and often like to scoot and hop on the ground. We can learn from Nature and although I have received much formal education, for which I am grateful, during the latter part of my life (Act 3), the natural world has been my school master and my guide. Thank you, Robin, for your support in words.🕊🦜
Happy weekend and enjoy our feathered friends, teachers and guides! It is my pleasure to read and support you, Perry, in words, as you stated. Cheers to all of this!
My dad breeds racing pigeons and invests hours of time and love into their care. It always amazes me how they know where home is and where to fly back to, regardless of where they set off from. Clever birds.
I too am amazed by racing pigeons, as I was when I read about carrier pigeons used during the Second World War to convey messages that could not be intercepted. I can truly understand why your dad cares for the pigeons. Birds give more than they receive. Willingly.
I love that this is his passion. He monitors their diets, includes things like garlic for their little hearts, and speaks to them all daily. They all have names. They all matter.
That is beautiful Trudi! What a special dad! I adore my pigeon visitors! They love to sit on the top of my garden hutch. Birds are my friends in the garden 🥰
Birds are good friends to have, Deborah 🥰
Beautiful, as these birds should.
Dear Perry,
Thank you for your insightful piece. Birds’ quiet resilience and intelligence offer a subtle lesson in harmony and adaptation. Perhaps our true challenge is to attune ourselves to their wisdom.
My thoughts, augmented man.
Amazing two videos, Perry; thank you for that. The quote from Voltaire at the beginning of 'The Genius of Birds' trailer is something I've long felt. And yet powerful people in powerful positions think Nature is something to be 'controlled' and 'dominated'. How disconnected can one be? A considerable amount, unfortunately.
And 240+ mph for a diving falcon - amazing. Thanks for the article.
Thank you Josh; I could not agree more.
Birds of a feather flock together. We as humans just need to hear their song and what they say.
Power of birds existence millions of years, perhaps their numbers rebound and resist the avian flu’s that drop them from the sky. Mutations could be the key factor to survival at its demise along with the heat of planet. But birds have learned to fluff and preen themselves to keep warm or cool. Humans will survive and build dome cities or live under water and ground or migrate to another planet to desecrate.
If things heat up in accordance to worst-case scenarios and the Earth is in the midst of a Sixth-Extinction event, if I was a betting man, I would bet on the birds. Some would bet on humans, but they would be risking long odds. Humans populating another planet is at best a pipe dream, but most likely a delusion, coming out of the minds of people who are not down-to-earth.