Wild Reads: Ravens in Winter

raven-winter_capri23auto_pixabayjpg.jpg
#ThePersonalEcologistI partner with eco-minded landowners to create thriving wildlife habitats in their backyards, gardens, fields and farms, woods or campuses - at any scale.I have 25 years of experience in my field, and a lifelong commitment to wi…

#ThePersonalEcologist

I co-create biodiverse habitats with eco-minded stewards throughout the Northeast - at any scale.

I have 30 years of experience and a lifelong commitment to wildlife conservation.

Read My Story.

“...the common raven has been credited with being the most intelligent bird in the world.””
— Bernd Heinrich

Here is the second installment of my Wild Reads series - where I recommend a book that has had a profound influence on me as an ecologist, a naturalist, and a lover of The Wild. I am a lifelong bibliophile and deeply enjoy sharing my favorites with you all - as well as hearing about your own, of course!

Today's book is: Ravens in Winter by Bernd Heinrich. Grab a beverage and a comfortable seat, and let me tell you a story about the man who wrote this book. Then I'll share a few reasons why this is one of my top Wild Reads.

It was The Ice Storm of 1998, and I was stuck at my Mom's house in Raymond, Maine. Governor Angus King had called a State of Emergency and many Mainers had no electricity, water, or heat for days on end. Some weeks before, I had contacted Bernd Heinrich (well known biologist, writer, and raven expert), asking if I could work for him studying ravens. I had known a classmate at Sterling College that had sat for hours in a refrigerator box at a dump watching ravens as part of one of Heinrich’s studies, and like most 25 year-olds in the late 90s, I naturally thought - "that sounds fantastic, sign me up!" It wasn't just the glamour of the dump that had piqued my interest, I was also generally obsessed with ravens after reading Ravens in Winter.

Bernd had responded to my inquiry by saying that although he had no work for me, he and a group of his students would be at his camp near Weld over Christmas break, and I should stop by. I was beyond excited - and I was determined to get there no matter what. So my brother and I took the chainsaw out and we cut a way through to the main road. I hugged Don and headed West (much to the dismay and protests of my poor mother). I trusted my beloved Subaru hatchback to get me to Weld, despite her "baloney-skin tires (!)" (as my mother described them).

Well...doggone it - I was 25 and I was going to meet Bernd Heinrich!

I white-knuckled my way for 75 icy miles across the eerie, empty roads of Maine, stopping only to grab a 12-pack of Sam Adams beer from a ghostly quiet corner store. I parked my car where Bernd had directed me to, and hiked up a snow and ice-encrusted path to his cabin. I'll never forget when I first laid eyes on the man. He was snowshoeing toward me, and carried himself with quiet grace and humility. He took one look at me - standing there with a 12-pack and a big stupid grin - and invited me into the cabin with a chuckle and a shrug. The absurdity of my visit (under the meteorological circumstances) didn't seem to faze him one bit. Most people would have scolded and shamed their young fan. But there we were, hours later swapping raven stories. Later that evening, he signed my book: "To Deborah, A fellow raven Mainiac who appreciates the wild things and loves studying them. With all best wishes, Bernd. 9 Jan '98. Perkins Plantation."

Ravens+In+Winter+Heinrich+signature.jpg

You see, what makes Bernd such a great writer and a scientist is that he brings such a humble respect to the process of studying wild animals. He readily admits that there is so much he doesn't know. For example, when I met Bernd he wanted to know my stories about ravens. He wanted to know what I had observed. I told him about my observations of ravens during my long hours in the woods studying bears. Most scientists dismiss anecdotes, but Bernd understands how valuable they can be when you piece them all together. This is the art of natural history - and Bernd is an artist!

This book really left an impression on me, in that it taught me of the importance of patience, persistence, and humility.

Here's a favorite excerpt that may just leave you wanting to read more of this fine book:

"We wonder how anyone could possibly be interested in the many mundane and often artificial things that seem to absorb so many people, when nature is so exciting and so available.

We observe that the excitement is hard won; it requires tremendous energy and persistence. You sometimes need to put in a lot of investment before you can appreciate the unique and interesting...

Nature is entertainment - the greatest show on earth"

And, here's a fun fact from Bernd:

The Raven "has a greater variety of calls than perhaps any other animal in the world except human beings."

Another noteworthy fact is that Ravens In Winter is just one of more than 20 books by Bernd Heinrich covering a wide range of natural history topics.

Even though it was 23 years ago (to the day) that I met Bernd, his essence has stayed with me all these years. Some people you just never forget, and whenever I open my dog-eared copy of this book, and see his inscription there on the front page, I’m grateful that I was young and foolish enough to take that icy journey to his cabin in the woods - for the love of ravens.

Read on, Wild Ones!

-#ThePersonalEcologist

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE FREE HABITAT TIPS, TOOLS, AND TRICKS AND ADVANCE NOTICE OF DEB’S SIGNATURE EVENTS.

Deborah Perkins