Author Haupt discusses "Crow Planet" and being an urban naturalist at Audubon Society

October 14, 9:58 PMPortland Writing ExaminerKaren Braucher Tobin

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"Crow Planet" urges us to observe nature in our cities.

Bird researcher and naturalist Lynda Lynn Haupt discussed her third book, "Crow Planet: Essential Wisdom from the Urban Wilderness," to a large, enthralled group at the Audubon Society of Portland this week. Her knowledge and thoughts about crows, nature, and humans were a revelation.

Her scientific and mythological knowledge of crows is vast, but her elegant prose covers much more than bird behavior. As the L.A. Times described the book, "Crow Planet" is "a heady hybrid of science, history, how-to, and memoir." Paul Hawken wrote, "If you picture Henry David Thoreau as a young mother and scientist in suburban Seattle, you can begin to imagine the literate elegance of 'Crow Planet.' "

She began her talk by blowing into a "crow call" instrument (sounds a bit like a kazoo), and stated, "To the best of my ability, I have greeted you in crow language." Crows apparently have hundreds of vocalizations but only about 21 are "understood" by researchers. Once when she blew the "crow call," thirty crows immediately started circling over her car. Haupt is quick to note she is not a "crow person." So how did she end up writing a book about crows?

Suffering from a "deep melancholia" when she finally realized her family was destined to live in the city of Seattle, she credits a crow in her backyard for getting her back to writing and researching birds and nature again. She decided to be an urban naturalist and discover how to get in touch with nature in daily urban life. She began to walk around Seatlle with binoculars and to record her thoughts and wildlife observations. Already a raptor rehabilitator and seabird researcher, she embarked on urban ornithological expeditions.

As Haupt states in the book, "There are more crows now than there have ever been in the history of the earth." In fact, crow populations are growing at the same rate as human populations, and they are an indicator of ecological imbalance. Why are they so successful while other bird species are dwindling? They are intelligent, flexible in their response to their environment, and have an omnivorous diet (including our junk food).

All writers can learn from Haupt, who speaks eloquently about developing an awareness of our environment, including an urban one. Her attitude toward life is to be eternally present. She quotes (and even corrects) Thoreau. She's also fond of nature poet Mary Oliver. Since she decided that nature is not something "out there," beyond the city, she has made every day a field trip in the city. She urges us to consider carrying binoculars (opera glasses also work) as well as a notebook and pen to record our findings. She noted that if you go out as a naturalist, expecting the wild, you will be offered more because you are ready to see.

Finally, Haupt discussed the abundant number of crow stories and took some from the audience. These included crows distracting dogs to eat their food and crows traveling down rivers on barges. She added a story about crows practicing extreme flying techniques after watching an air show!

"Crow Planet" is a book for all interested in life on our planet and how humans interact with their environment, not just bird watchers. Haupt puts it best when she writes in her book, "Crows remind us that we make our home not in a vacuum, but in a zoopolis, a place where human and wild geographies meet and mingle." We only need to open our eyes as we walk around. "If you live in a city," stated The Oregonian, "and want to expand your awareness of the natural world, 'Crow Planet' would be a compelling and inspirational book."

For more information on "Crow Planet" and author Lyanda Lynn Haupt, visit her author website at: www.lyandalynnhaupt.com.

For more information about monthly programs such as this one at Audubon Society of Portland, Oregon, visit:

www.audubonportland.org.

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www.examiner.com/x-16045-Portland-Writing-Examiner.