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Dog Days, Raven Nights
Twenty years ago, fresh out of graduate school and recently married, John and Colleen Marzluff left Arizona for a small cabin in the mountains of western Maine. Their mission: to conduct the first-ever extensive study of the winter ecology of the Common Raven under the tutelage of biologist Bernd Heinrich. Drawing on field notes and personal diaries, they vividly and eloquently chronicle their three-year endeavour to research a mysterious and often misunderstood bird – assembling a gigantic aviary, climbing sentry trees, building bird blinds in the forest, capturing and sustaining 300 ravens as study subjects, and enduring harsh Maine winters in pursuit of their goal. They also share the unique challenges and joys of raising, training, and racing the sled dogs that assisted them in their work. Accompanied by Evon Zerbetz's lovely linocut illustrations, "Dog Days, Raven Nights" is a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at the adventures of field science and an insightful exploration of the nature of relationships, both animal and human.
About the author
John Marzluff is a highly regarded scientist known for his work on the ecology and behavioural biology of jays, crows, ravens, and their relatives. He is Professor of Wildlife Science, College of the Environment, University of Washington, and the author of four books, including "In the Company of Crows and Ravens" (with Tony Angell).
Colleen Marzluff trained in wildlife biology, worked as a research technician, and is an expert in the raising and training of sled dogs and herding dogs. Evon Zerbetz is an artist in Ketchikan, Alaska, living on the flyway of the Bugge's Beach raven pair. She is the illustrator of six books for children and young adults, and she has developed a museum exhibit titled Raucous! Everything Raven.
Colleen Marzluff trained in wildlife biology, worked as a research technician, and is an expert in the raising and training of sled dogs and herding dogs. Evon Zerbetz is an artist in Ketchikan, Alaska, living on the flyway of the Bugge's Beach raven pair. She is the illustrator of six books for children and young adults, and she has developed a museum exhibit titled Raucous! Everything Raven.
Reviews
"In this book the Marzluffs look back on the extraordinary life they lived... They describe the passion of research, the birds they came to know so intimately and the dogs and local people who helped them" – Stephen Mills, BBC Wildlife Magazine
"Full of the grittiness of experimental persistence – and the splendour of ravens and dogs – this is a warm tale of wonderful science" – Patricia Churchland, Nature
"This is also a book of great fascination and even of beauty... 'Dog Days, Raven Nights' is a work of science but it is also a book about research as adventure and as a strange, deeply enriching kind of human fulfilment" – Mark Cocker, Times Literary Supplement
"Full of the grittiness of experimental persistence – and the splendour of ravens and dogs – this is a warm tale of wonderful science" – Patricia Churchland, Nature
"This is also a book of great fascination and even of beauty... 'Dog Days, Raven Nights' is a work of science but it is also a book about research as adventure and as a strange, deeply enriching kind of human fulfilment" – Mark Cocker, Times Literary Supplement