Eavesdropping on Animals by George Bumann

The sounds of wildlife such as chirping, cawing, honking, buzzing, and tapping, are often viewed as annoying background noises that disrupt sleep and call for earplugs, white noise machines, or noise cancelling headphones. While animal sounds may appear to be senseless racket, they are actually complex forms of communication. In Eavesdropping on Animals Yellowstone wildlife guide George Bumann explores the ways animals communicate complex messages with each other and provides practical advice about how we can become more in tune with our surroundings and start interpreting these messages. 

The book is divided into three sections; the first helps the reader gain a better sense of their surroundings, the second delves into the messages that animals are communicating with their sounds and behavior, and the third section includes examples of individuals who have built connections with their local environment by photographing coyotes and protecting shorelines. Throughout the book, Bumann provides the reader with exercises that can be used to gain a better understanding of the local wildlife in their area. The advice in the book is accessible to everyone and does not require an expensive vacation to a National Park to put into practice. The appendix provides tips from each chapter that can be applied to a backyard or local park to help the reader practice observing their environment in new ways. 

The vocabulary used in the book is easy to understand and does not contain biology jargon or excessive use of latin scientific names. Bumann also uses anecdotes detailing his experiences and stories from colleagues and friends to illustrate the information he shares. While he does discuss the behavior of some animals that are rare to the average reader like bears and wolves, he also includes stories about common animals such as chickadees, ravens, and squirrels that the audience can relate to their local environments. This book is a great choice for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the world around them. After reading this book, you will want to tune in instead of tune out the sounds around you. 

If you want to learn more about the wildlife around you check out Why Animals Talk by Arik Kershenbaum, Our Wild Calling by Richard Louv, and Meet the Neighbors by Brandon Keim.