چرا پرندگان می‌خوانند: سفری به درون رمز و راز آواز پرندگان

The astonishing variety and richness of bird song is both an aesthetic and a scientific mystery. Biologists have never been able to understand why bird song displays are often so inventive and why so many species devote so many hours to singing. The standard explanations, which generally have to do with territoriality and sexual display, don’t begin to account for the astonishing variety and energy that the commonest birds exhibit. Is it possible that birds sing because they like to? This seemingly naïve explanation is starting to look more and more like the truth.In the tradition of classic works by Bernd Heinrich, Edward Abbey, and Terry Tempest Williams, Why Birds Sing is a lyric exploration of bird song that blends the latest scientific research with a deep understanding of musical beauty and form. Based on conversations with neuroscientists, ecologists, and composers, it is the first book to investigate why birds sing and how, and what effect their music has on other animals—particularly humans. Whether playing the clarinet with the white-crested laughing thrush in Pittsburgh, or jamming in the Australian winter breeding grounds of the Albert’s lyrebird, Rothenberg journeys to the heart and soul of bird song. Why Birds Sing offers an intimate look at the most lovely of natural phenomena—with surprising insights about the origin of music.

A beautiful and surprising exploration of a phenomenon that is at once familiar and baffling: the mystery of why birds sing.

KLIATT

David Rothenberg is a jazz musician and philosopher and he approaches the question of why birds sing from both an emotional and intellectual vantage point. His analysis of birds' songs is done from the tradition of musicians who have tried to capture their songs through notations and physical recordings through the last centuries, but he also is philosophical about birds' motivations and individual talent and styles. This calls for some anthropomorphizing on his part, but his examples of birds that have "played along" with him and imitated and then incorporated his flute's notes into their songs seem to make a case for his theory. Also, there is the story of a lyrebird that heard the song of African birds, was released back into the Australian wilderness; years later, other lyrebirds were singing the tune of the African birds, which seems to make a case for his theory. What's the explanation for these phenomena? As the author says, "The science of bird song, like the art of bird song, is rich in hypotheses but thin on conclusions." It is his journey to understanding the music of birds that is so interesting, like the trip he and another musician took to Australia just to hear the only lyrebird "because he is the only member of his wary, elusive species who can stomach the sight and sound of human beings." The book is filled with illustrations and this paperback edition has a CD of music the author has written in response to bird song, often accompanied by birds. He also includes extensive notes and an index. While some students will find the material written at a very high level, those interested in music and nature will enjoy this book.

Annotation The astonishing richness of birdsong is both an aesthetic and a scientific mystery. Evolutionists have never been able to completely explain why birdsong is so inventive and why many species devote so many hours to singing. The standard explanations of defending territories and attracting mates don't begin to account for the variety and energy that the commonest birds exhibit. Is it possible that birds sing because they like to? This seemingly naive explanation is starting to look more and more like the truth. Why Birds Sing is a lyric exploration of birdsong that blends the latest scientific research with a deep understanding of musical beauty and form. Drawing on conversations with neuroscientists, ecologists, and composers, it is the first book to investigate the elusive question of why birds sing and what their song means to both avian and human ears. Whether playing his clarinet with the whitecrested laughing thrush in Pittsburgh, or jamming in the Australian winter breeding grounds of the Albert's lyrebird, Rothenberg immerses himself in the heart and soul of birdsong. He approaches the subject as a naturalist, philosopher, musician, and investigator. An intimate look at the mostlovely of natural phenomena, and now with a CD with over one hour of music and birdsong, Why Birds Sing is a beautifully written exploration of a phenomenon that's at once familiar and profoundly alien. American society has become anti-male. Men are sensing the backlash and are consciously and unconsciously going "on strike." They are dropping out of college, leaving the workforce, and avoiding marriage and fatherhood at alarming rates. The trend is so pronounced that a number of books have been written about this "man-child" phenomenon, concluding that men have taken a vacation from responsibility simply because they can. But why should men participate in a system that seems to be increasingly stacked against them? As Men on Strike demonstrates, men aren't dropping out because they are stuck in arrested development. They are instead acting rationally in response to the lack of incentives society offers them to be responsible fathers, husbands, and providers. In addition, men are going on strike because they do not want to be injured by the myriad of laws, attitudes, and hostility against them for the crime of happening to be male in the twenty-first century. Men are starting to fight back against the backlash. Men on Strike explains their battle cry, and offers helpful suggestions for men and for society. American society has become anti-male. Men are sensing the backlash and are consciously and unconsciously going on strike. They are dropping out of college, leaving the workforce and avoiding marriage and fatherhood at alarming rates. The trend is so pronounced that a number of books have been written about this man-child phenomenon, concluding that men have taken a vacation from responsibility simply because they can. But why should men participate in a system that seems to be increasingly stacked against them? As Men on Strike demonstrates, men arent dropping out because they are stuck in arrested development. They are instead acting rationally in response to the lack of incentives society offers them to be responsible fathers, husbands and providers. In addition, men are going on strike, either consciously or unconsciously, because they do not want to be injured by the myriad of laws, attitudes and hostility against them for the crime of happening to be male in the twenty-first century. Men are starting to fight back against the backlash. Men on Strike explains their battle cry. You make my heart sing To drink the sound She likes it The song machine Your tune or mine? Rhythm and detail The canary's new brain Listen with the mockingbird The opposite of time Becoming a bird. CD Listening Guide: Track 1. Trio Menura Track 2. Spheral, Spheral Track 3. Beezus, Beeten, Breep Track 4. Temperate Woodland Track 5. Bou Bou Swell Track 6. Sheer Frustration, Really Track 7. The Lyrebird Suite Track 8. Pillow of Air Track 9. White-Crested Laugh Track 10. The Language of Water Track 11. Rhythm Migration Track 12. No Water and No Rock. You Make My Heart Sing -- To Drink The Sound -- She Likes It -- The Song Machine -- Your Tune Or Mine? -- Rhythm And Detail -- The Canary's New Brain -- Listen With The Mockingbird -- The Opposite Of Time -- Becoming A Bird. David Rothenberg. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 237-248) And Index. American society has become anti-male. Men are sensing the backlash and are consciously and unconsciously going on strike. This book looks at the topic from the viewpoint of men: Why should they participate in a system that seems to be increasingly stacked against them? Demonstrates That Society Has Become Anti-male, And Reveals Why Men Are Either Consciously Or Unconsciously Going On Strike Due To The Laws, Attitudes, And Hostility Against Them For Being Male In The Twenty-first Century. The marriage strike : why men don't marry My body, my choice your body, no choice The college strike : where the boys aren't Why does dad stay in the basement? Why it matters Fighting back, going galt or both? A musician and philosopher explores the science and art of bird song in a quest to determine if birds sing for other than sexual or territorial purposes IT IS MARCH 2000 and I am in Pittsburgh to jam with the birds of the National Aviary, the finest public collection of caged birds in the United States.