Caw of the Wild: Observations from the Secret World of Crows [Paperback]

Barb Kirpluk (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 19, 2005

Caw of the Wild is an in-depth exploration into the intriguing and complex behavior of one of North America’s most intelligent, but often reviled, birds—the American crow.

As a passionate observer, author Barb Kirpluk shares her extraordinary and fascinating findings while tracking three urban crow families through their daily existence. By befriending the birds and gaining their trust, Kirpluk shares many observations on subjects such as:

The language of crows

Crow habits and social relationships

The endearing personal relationships that evolved and allowed her to learn from the birds

Kirpluk brings to life the unforgettable characters of these birds by combining anecdotal tales and recent scientific literature. Her quest eventually leads her to the world of wildlife rehabilitation where, for a year, she studies and catalogues a group of captive crows.

Caw of the Wild is an honest and heartfelt portrayal of a misunderstood bird, and may just encourage you to take a new look at the American crow.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Barb Kirpluk lives in the Midwest where she works as an interior landscaper. She has turned her small backyard into a wildlife oasis for all birds, but especially her beloved crows.

Product Details

• Paperback: 174 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (September 19, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595362680
• ISBN-13: 978-0595362684
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #278,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A poignant and fascinating personal study of crow behavior, January 8, 2006

By 

J. Salerno "Nature Lover" (Upstate New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Caw of the Wild: Observations from the Secret World of Crows (Paperback)

With a beautiful and engaging style, the author tells of her personal experiences with four families of crows from her neighborhood. The details she gives are so thorough and heartwarming, you will come to know her crow friends as if you were actually there with her, experiencing what she did. You'll be drawn in and captivated as the human relationship with them evolves and strenghthens. You'll also learn much about crow behavior, and when you're not sure why the crows are behaving a certain way, the intuitive author offers her theories, which are quite plausible.

The second part of the book tells of her experiences while volunteering at a wildlife rehabilitation center, as she studies the behavior of the two indoor and three outdoor crows which reside there. Because they are confined to a cage, individual personalities as well as the relationships between the three outdoor crows can be intimately viewed.

If you are at all interested in befriending crows, or are just curious what they are like, I can't imagine a better book to read. Crows are so intelligent; I especially loved the emotional bond that developed between crow and human. This is one of the best books I have ever read!

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For birdwatchers and nature lovers, November 13, 2005

By 

R. Wemple - See all my reviews

This review is from: Caw of the Wild: Observations from the Secret World of Crows (Paperback)

Vivid prose packed with informative engaging stories of crows the author has studied over the course of several years. This study of crows is both personal and rich in extraordinary anecdotes. The author's patience at befriending the crows pays off in up close insights about their lives that puts in practice what ornithologists have discovered and written about in scholarly type books and journals. This is a very entertaining journey through a very compelling subject. If you love birds, and were ever the least bit interested in crows you won't be disappointed.

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glad I Got It, September 22, 2006

By 

Dawn Killen-Courtney (St. Louis Park,, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Caw of the Wild: Observations from the Secret World of Crows (Paperback)

I had this book pop up quite awhile on Amazon, probably based on prior crow searches I'd done, but it took me awhile to order it. Once I did, two things got me right away. The first was the author's dedication to her grandmother, and the memory of her beloved canaries, for didn't my own granmother gently hold her canaries (each suceeding bird always named Dickie bird) in her hand as she trimmed their nails? Then, the first line of the introduction grabbed my attention: "I loved crows even before I knew I did." Me too! And though my love for them didn't take me as deeply into their lives as Barb went, their presence on the periphery of mine was certainly profound, as they lived around me in my busy suburban life, and quite confidently swaggered their way into my writing, ending up as pivotal characters in my fantasy series. It's just like them, they're there and they let you know it, one way or the other!
Caw of the Wild to me stands as a very unique book among those I have read on corvids, because Barb is not a trained biologist, but thinks like one whose heart is still connected to her brain. I guess that's what I mean about this being a very unique book. I love the feeling I got reading it and knowing there's a kindred spirit out there too, who can see the wonderous individuality in each bird. Really, she gives each reader a gift in sharing this incredible experience, that is more than worth the price of admission. Highly recommended.
Dawn Killen-Courtney,
author of The Trollton Chronicles