Binocs? Check. Trusty identification guide? Check. Audiobook inspiration from fellow bird lovers? Right over here. If you’re big into birds (and who isn’t? Are we not feathered? Do we not nest?), lend your finely-attuned ears to these listens by bird-lovers, for bird-lovers—and escape into the wonder of the natural world.
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Genius of Birds, The Bird Way is a radical investigation into the bird way of being, and the recent scientific research that is dramatically shifting our understanding of birds—how they live and how they think.
“Ackerman proves to be an especially effective narrator who brings grace, assurance, and unmistakable enthusiasm to her subject.”—AudioFile
Also from Jennifer Ackerman, don’t miss Birds by the Shore, the audio edition of her revised and reissued essay collection exploring the habits of shorebirds and seabirds and the wealth of creatures that survive amid storm and surf.
“Ackerman’s grace and love for the natural world filter through into her performance, and she instills a sense of place in the listener.”—AudioFile
An enthralling account of a modern voyage of discovery as we meet the clever, social birds of prey called caracaras, which puzzled Darwin, fascinate modern-day falconers, and carry secrets of our planet’s deep past in their family history. A Most Remarkable Creature is a hybrid of science writing, travelogue, and biography, as generous and accessible as it is sophisticated, and absolutely riveting.
From the award-winning author of Sightlines, Surfacing is a remarkable audiobook: part travelogue, part cultural and personal history, poet and author Kathleen Jamie touches points on a timeline spanning millennia, and considers what surfaces and what reconnects us to our past.
“In this marvelous collection of essays, Kathleen Jamie meditates on time, nature, and family with lyrical prose full of wicked wit. Narrator Cathleen McCarron’s performance is a perfect match.”—AudioFile, Earphones Award Winner
In the US, some 50 million people lay claim to being “birders.” But only a select few compete in one of the world’s quirkiest contests—the race to spot the most species in North America in a single year. And 1998 wasn’t just a big year. It was the biggest. The Big Year is Pulitzer Prize-winner Mark Obmascik’s account of what was to become the greatest birding year of all time.
A rollicking true-crime adventure into an underground world of fanatical fly-tiers and plume peddlers, The Feather Thief is a gripping audiobook about a bizarre and shocking crime, and one man’s relentless pursuit of justice.
“Narrator Andrews does an excellent job of carefully articulating the numerous scientific terms used, making them understandable. His voice is smooth and easy to listen to, and he uses a steady tempo throughout that expresses a contagious excitement, resulting in a true crime tale that sounds more like a classic mystery novel—and making it all the more intriguing.”—Booklist
At what temperature do bees stay home? How can birdsong or flower scents help you tell the time? Full of the very latest discoveries combined with ancient now-forgotten lore, The Weather Detective helps listeners read nature’s secret signs and discover a rich new layer of meaning in the world. Read by award-winning narrator Nicholas Guy Smith.
For young birders and naturalists:
Fatima’s Great Outdoors, written and read by debut author Ambreen Tariq, is a rollicking family adventure, a love letter to the outdoors, and a reminder that public land belongs to all of us.
In Strange Birds, meet friends Ofelia Castillo (a budding journalist), Aster Douglas (a bookish foodie), and Cat Garcia (a rule-abiding birdwatcher) as they embark on a quest for justice, independence, and one unforgettable summer.
“Rebecca Soler’s narration is engaging and expressive in this audiobook about four girls who form an unlikely team.”—AudioFile
Happy listening, wanderers & warblers!