Anexplorationofcommunicatingwithbirdsandthelessonstheycanteachus-Discussesspecificbirdtalktechniquesandoffersinsightsintomanyspecies-Looksatthelong-standingtraditionof“avitherapy“throughouthistoryandinliteratureandthearts-Explainshowsong-talkwithbirdsrestorespeace,calmsanxiety,andenhanceshealthFordecadesAlanPowershasstudiedbirdvocalizations,developingtheremarkableabilitytoimitatebirds’songsandgetthemtorespondandevenchangetunes.Throughhisyearsofstudy,hehasdiscoveredthatbirdscanteachusimportantlessonsabouttheworldandaboutourselves.AsPowersexplains,bycommuningcross-specieswereachouttothetimelessinterconnectedwebofalllifepastandpresent--whatRenaissancephilosopherGiordanoBrunocalledinLatintheUni-versus,the“WholeturnedintoOne.“Sharinghisjourneytolearnbirdtalkandhisprofoundobservationsaboutthepoetic,spiritual,andhealinginfluencesofbirdsong,Powersexplorestheancientlanguageofbirdsandthedepthofmeaningbirdsconvey.Heexplainshowbirdspeechsoundslikesongtous,butbirdtalkisurgentandnuanced,whetheraboutpredatorsortheweather.Hedetailshowhebeganlearningbirdtalk,listeningtoonebirdeachsummer,learningtheirmanyvocalizationsandvariations.Discussingspecifictechniques,hesharesinsightsintothebirdtalkofmanyspecies,includingthecomplexandintelligentspeechofCrows,theemotionaldepthsofLoons,themimicryofBlueJays,andthebeautifulsongoftheWoodThrush.Exploringtheintertwinedmetaphysicsofbirdandhumanlanguages,Powerslooksatthelong-standingtraditionof“avitherapy“throughouthistory,literature,andthearts.HesharesinsightsintobirdsfromShakespeareandEmilyDickinson,revealshowbirdsappearinlovesongsthroughouttheworld,andexamineshowfamouswriterssuchasKeats,Catullus,St.FrancisofAssisi,andtheFrenchhistorianJulesMicheletfoundthattalkingtobirdsimprovedtheirstateofmind.Healsoexploreshowsong-talkwithbirdsrestorespeace,calmsanxiety,andenhanceshealth.
