Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds

Book excerpt: An ornithology researcher reveals the amazing talents and personalities of common birds in this joyful celebration for backyard bird watchers and nature lovers. Some birdwatchers will hop the red-eye to Costa Rica if a rare species is reported to be in residence. Here, author Lyanda Lynn Haupt makes the argument for sticking close to home. She muses on the tarnished reputation of the starling, the sexed-up antics of male woodpeckers, and the mysterious behavior and startling population explosion of crows in her hometown. Through the eye and voice of this talented writer, birds provide a fascinating point of contact with the natural world at large.