A Year of Birdsong (eBook)

'Whether you are new to wanting to understand birdsong, or are already a fully fledged birdwatcher, this book casts a spell. A truly lovely reading experience' - Love Reading This is a book full of fascinating stories about birdsong for every week of the year, with QR codes to bring each song to life. Leading bird expert and writer, Dominic Couzens, takes you on a journey to enjoy an authentic year of birdsong around the world, one for every week of the year. From the ancient song of the Rifleman that was likely the first sound made by a songbird to the Eurasian Skylark who evokes the zenith of summer, from the constant companion of the American Robin whose song resonates from the top of skyscrapers and complements the howling of a wolfpack in Alaska to the drumming rhythm of the Great Spotted Woodpecker. This book covers a myriad of topics including bird nature and behaviour, stories and literary masterpieces inspired by birdsongs, the musicality of the notes, and what different songs communicate. Each of these fascinating stories are accompanied by illustrations by award-winning artist Madeleine Floyd and a QR code to let you listen to the birdsong while you read. A natural wonder that has captivated and fascinated generations, birdsong is the soundtrack to life. This book offers the perfect tonic whether you are an avid birdwatcher or just want to understand the songs that are often the first thing we hear in the morning and the last thing we hear at night.

Dominic Couzens is a British birder, author and journalist specialising in avian and natural history subjects. He contributes regularly to Bird Watching and BBC Wildlife magazines; and is also a professional field trip guide. His books The Secret Lives of Garden Birds, The Secret Lives of British Birds, and The Secret Lives of Garden Wildlife all received praise, with the former selected by The Guardian as one of the best wildlife books of 2004, an accolade also received by the Secret Lives of British Birds, and the latter picked as one of the best new nature books of Spring 2008 by The Times. He is also the author of A Bird a Day. He lives in Dorset.