New Title

     Stutchbury, Bridget. The Private Lives of Birds: A Scientist Reveals the Intricacies of Avian Social Life. 2010. Walker and Company. Hardbound: 249 pages. Price: $25.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: The Private Lives of Birds is a treasure trove of fascinating insights into bird behavior. But understanding the social lives of birds does much more than slake our curiosity. Aware that many birds will not occupy an area unless other birds are already there, biologists used mirrors and two-dimensional cutouts to lure Atlantic puffins to establish colonies off the coast of Maine, getting curious puffins to visit the site and linger long enough to encounter a live bird. As Stutchbury says, “Trying to save birds without understanding what makes them tick is a shot in the dark … birds are highly social, and their social needs are at least as important as their physical needs.”
RECOMMENDATION: An interesting introduction into bird biology.