Mind of the Raven

The calls of ravens even enter Bernd Heinrich's dreams. As he studies the four ravens he adopted, the Maine scientist comes to consider them individuals who make conscious choices. Narrator Norman Dietz infuses his reading with Heinrich's curiosity and pride toward his birds as he delves into how ravens communicate and interact with each other and with other creatures, including wolves and humans. A gentle sense of humor comes through in the anecdotes, as when he tells of friends who keep a raven in the house or ravens who experience a mirror. These moments keep one listening through the author's research activities such as measuring raven skulls and watching them at "meat piles." Heinrich's writing entertains as he builds the case that the big brains of ravens are well used. J.A.S. � AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine