Footprints in the Woods: The Secret Life of Forest and Riverbank by John Lister-Kaye, 2023
Footprints in the Woods is John Lister-Kaye's account of a year spent observing the comings and goings of otters, beavers, badgers, weasels and pine martens. This family - #Mustelidae - all live in the wild at Aigas, the conservation and field study centre John calls home.
Why Animals Talk: The New Science of Animal Communication by Arik Kershenbaum, 2024
Why Animals Talk is a scientific journey through the untamed world of animal communication. From the majestic howls of wolves and the enchanting chatter of parrots to the melodic clicks of dolphins and the spirited grunts of chimpanzees, these diverse and seemingly bizarre expressions are far from mere noise. In fact, they hold secrets that we are just beginning to decipher.
I mustn't let May go by without a nod to my 2009 article on the discovery, during the 19th century, of same-sex copulation among Maybugs (also known as Maybeetles, cockchafers, doodlebugs). Do look out for them at it in your garden! 🌈🌳
If you get intimidated by the dirty pigeons in your local park or town center, you may only have yourself — or at least, your ancestors — to blame. Snopes looks at the urban legend that humans originally domesticated pigeons to be companions and no pigeons cannot survive without humans, and finds it mostly true.
No cute bunnies or lambs in my files, I'm afraid. I do, however, have a lot of queer chickens. This is a painting of a hen-cock (c. 1900), a prize fighter, by English artist Herbert Atkinson. 🥚🐥🐔
In 1947, Carmen Bernos de Gasztold (1919 – 1995) wrote a collection of poems entitled “Prieres Dans L’Arche.” This collection was subsequently translated into English as “Prayers from the Ark” by Rumer Godden. The 27 poems (prayers) represent the imagined hopes, fears, and aspirations of the animals aboard Noah’s ark.
Just a reminder that, following the Royal Society event in Jan, my article 'Mendel's Closet: Genetics, Eugenics and the Exceptions of Sex in Edwardian Britain' has been made freely available until the end of Feb/LGBTQ+ History Month.
My theory is that the edges of trees are actually invisible to us, so they are touching (on both ends, obvs), but not in a way we can see. What they are not doing is fighting each other for the light. They are optimizing and cooperating. https://toot.lgbt/@book/111749320285900616
Justice for Animals: Our Collective Responsibility
A revolutionary new theory and call to action on animal rights, ethics, and law from the renowned philosopher Martha C. Nussbaum.
From dolphins to crows, elephants to octopuses, Nussbaum examines the entire animal kingdom, showcasing the lives of animals with wonder, awe, and compassion to understand how we can create a world in which human beings are truly friends of animals, not exploiters or users.
Through the moving stories she chronicles and analyzes so beautifully, King brings us closer to the animals with whom we share a planet, and helps us see our own experiences, attachments, and emotions as part of a larger web of life, death, love, and loss.
A fascinating exploration of how ecosystems are sculpted and sustained by animals eating, pooping, and dying—and how these fundamental functions could help save us from climate catastrophe.
Just read that animals use icons and signs to communicate but not symbols. I guess the first question would be whether ‘use’ also implies ‘understanding’, but, aren’t the words we use for commands symbols? I am not saying animals use ‘language’ but I wouldn’t say they don’t use any symbols…heeelp!! @linguistics@anthropology#linguistics#language#animals