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The Seabird's Cry: The Lives and Loves of Puffins, Gannets and Other Ocean Voyagers by Adam Nicolson
duuj's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Very interesting book. Sometimes gruesome, sometimes hopeful, but often also quite sad. Sea birds are awesome. Very nice voice to listen to.
mclerce's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Very interesting book about seabirds. I really liked that the more scientific parts were alternated with birds in art (The Ancient Mariner by Coleridge, Melville). Humans have a relationship with these birds, which makes protecting them so important. There are only a few glimmers of hope, however.
kld2128's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Injury/Injury detail
ebkara's review
5.0
I started reading this book when we were on holiday in Northumberland and after a boat trip out to the Farne Islands where Puffins nest in the Spring. I saw that one of my Goodreads friends was reading this and that inspired me to read it too. I always read fiction so this was a real departure but I am so pleased I persisted. I will never look at sea birds in the same way again from the amazing Albatross flying at ninety miles an hour and flying tens of thousands of miles a year to the incredible tubenose birds who find fish thousands of miles away by detecting one part per billion of chemicals given off by plankton being eaten by krill. Birds that are mostly long lived and who mostly mate for life but in some species incredible stories of sibling murder, cannibalism and even hoodlum teenager birds who mug and rape neighbouring young birds. This book describes sea bird behaviour through reporting ornithological research, personal observation, mythology, poetry and cultural traditions associated with living near and on sea birds but all in a very readable and engaging way. Incredible book, lovely photographs. Of course there is the story of the devastation being done to sea bird numbers by warming oceans, long line fishing, plastic and other human activity and the real risk of extinction to large varieties of species. The author finished on a positive story about the return of birds to the Shaints after the culling of the rat population that had been systematically destroying bird eggs. Really memorable book and worth reading.
feelingpeachygreen's review
5.0
So unbelievably beautiful.
Lyrical, literary, scientific, hopeful, ever aware of the catastrophe facing sea birds.
I learnt so much but more than that, Nicolson made me FEEL so much.
At times, yes, it was flowery and fluffy and I was lost in his (really quite posh) prose - I mean, he literally owns a bunch of islands - but it was really, really beautiful and such a good read.
Lyrical, literary, scientific, hopeful, ever aware of the catastrophe facing sea birds.
I learnt so much but more than that, Nicolson made me FEEL so much.
At times, yes, it was flowery and fluffy and I was lost in his (really quite posh) prose - I mean, he literally owns a bunch of islands - but it was really, really beautiful and such a good read.
zavatskajam's review
emotional
informative
5.0
Beautifully written and informative, this book sheds the light on lives of 10 different sea birds, drawing attention to the changes brought about by climate change. Emotional and educational, a must read for all bird enthusiasts.