Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom From The Urban Wilderness (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
I picked this up rather carelessly in a small-town bookstore while visiting, and was disappointed (my fault) to find that it's not really mostly about crows. It's really mostly about how the author's observations of crows have led her to become more aware of the natural world in her suburban Seattle neighborhood and to contemplate humans' place in that world. I was somewhat annoyed with her insistence that crows are for most city and suburban Americans the most commonly experienced native wildlife. She does mention West Nile virus, but seems largely unaware of the fact that in many places in the eastern third of the country crows have become relatively rare as a result of the devastation of local populations by the virus. Here in the Milwaukee area, while I remember times in the 90s and before when they were abundant, I am unlikely to see any on an average 2 or 3-mile walk in the north suburbs, and never more than a couple. Evidently I am in the minority when it comes to crows and one's feelings about them--my indifference and generally going about my day unawares of their doings is not common ("Everyone has their own unique 'crow story'" Haupt claims). The American crow, as run of the mill as you can get with crows, has a lot of interesting characteristics like having both Mama Crow and Papa Crow (plus nanny crow) to go about duties of nest-building; to have somber reflection among crow groups when fellow crows die, and a whole lot more. Haupt calls herself a naturalist so she blends data and facts with the subjective, the spiritual, and the humorous (she watched a crow sunbathing who looked drunk, sprawled on one side with its mouth open). Filled with beautiful sketchings done by the author, this book should be on your reading list if you're interested in the nuances that make up the wild world we share with crows.
What do You think about Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom From The Urban Wilderness (2009)?
this is the book i've been looking for about nature in the city. yes!!
—diana
Some very interesting bits. Nicely written and easy to read.
—ono
Nicely written. But it just didn't resonate for me...
—caseelmer
