Listening to a Continent Sing

Donald Kroodsma is professor emeritus of ornithology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a world-renowned authority on birdsong. He is the author of The Singing Life of Birds, The Backyard Birdsong Guides, and Birdsong by the Seasons. He lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts.

• How to Listen Using the QR Codes vii Acknowledgments xi Prologue xiii 1. Beginnings 1 2. Peace, and War 12 3. Lemonade 20 4. Blue Ridge Dawn 30 5. A Virginia High 44 6. Appalachia 56 7. Boone Country 68 8. A Ride in Heaven 74 9. Laid Up 82 10. On the Road Again 86 11. Dawn Sweeps the Shawnee 96 12. The Ozarks 106 13. A Prairie Gem 115 14. Kansas Oceans 125 15. Shortgrass Prairie 136 16. Western Birds 146 17. Riding the Rockies 153 18. Sage and Song 163 19. Hello, Wyoming 173 20. The Oregon Trail 179 21. Grand Tetons 190 22. Into the Fire 199 23. Caterpillars Marching 207 24. Chief Joseph Pass 217 25. Lewis and Clark 225 26. Pacific Islands Incoming 233 27. Ascending into Oregon 242 28. Geological Chaos 251 29. Over the Cascades 261 30. A Homecoming 270 31. Land's End 280 Epilogue-Where Are They Now? 287 Notes 289 References 295 Index 299

One of Forbes.com's 12 Best Books About Birds and Birding in 2016 "One of the fascinating aspects of both the book and the recordings is that, while chasing after birdsong, Mr. Kroodsma captures so much other detail as well. Don't miss the pack of mongrels and hounds bellowing the bikers through Dwarf, Ky., or the creaking bicycle saddle accompanying the rich afternoon chorus of a moist deciduous forest on a steep uphill climb in the same state's damp and diverse mountains. Listening to a Continent Sing along with its website, is both an inspiration and a bundle of gifts waiting to be unwrapped."--Julie Zickefoose, Wall Street Journal "Blurring the lines between travelogue and casual scientific observation, Listening to a Continent Sing recounts their journey and transports the reader into the mind of a scientist renewing his awe of nature through an endearing portrayal of avian vocal communication and behavior. In its refreshing mix of history, linguistics, biology, and ethology, Listening to a Continent Sing brings back the joy and enthusiasm for scientific pursuits that can sometimes wane with time."--Helen J. Barr, Science "Kroodsma evokes the profound pleasure of rising before dawn to listen to the morning songs of the birds and ending the day with their evening choruses... An informative exploration of the subtleties of bird songs."--Kirkus "Birdsong maven Donald Kroodsma's travel journal is a welcome addition to the cycling-road-trip genre that began over a century ago... It's the author's knowledge of birdsong ... that makes this book so delightful."--Natural History "The story is charming, funny, poignant, and heartwarming... If you are going to treat yourself to one special gift this summer, make it this one!"--Cathy Taibbi, Examiner.com "Listening to a Continent Sing will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in the outdoors, by cyclists, and above all by birders. I have only just begun reading the book, but I already suspect that it will turn out to be one of the outstanding popular birds books of the year."--The Curious Naturalist blog "While the book may be categorized as a birding adventure, it is also the story of a father and son deepening their bond as they cycled by day and camped by night together for 10 weeks."--Jennifer J. Meyer, Orange County Register "Our sophistication in listening to birdsong and our enjoyment have been greatly facilitated by the writings of Don Kroodsma...[Listening to a Continent Sing] provides a delightful, vicarious ride across our country."--Herb Wilson, Portland Press Herald "Listening to a Continent Sing is a travelogue of Kroodsma's 5,000 mile trip, a celebration of nature, and a multimedia experience--the book is littered with quick-response codes that link to samples of birdsong found throughout the trip, such as the pileated woodpecker and the sandhill crane."--Chicago Tribune "Coupling these [QR] codes with the website to supply reader support makes this book truly one of a kind. Innovative educators will enjoy the challenge of deciding exactly how to use Listening to a Continent Sing in their teaching."--NSTA Recommends "Kroodsma has an insatiable curiosity about bird vocalizations and also a deep passion for his subject... This book provides a delightful, vicarious ride across our country. We stop frequently to appreciate the music of the birds."--Portland Press Herald "An accomplished travelogue written with great style which makes for an enjoyable and highly entertaining read. It is a book to be enjoyed by birders or non-birders alike."--Another Bird Blog "Kroodsma ... is to birdsong what a sommelier is to fine wine. With ears as finely tuned as a musician able to recognize a symphony by the first few notes, he identifies a variety of bird species and their many song variations... Listening to a Continent Sing is a feast for the senses and will no doubt inspire many to listen more deeply and more intently on the next walk or bike ride."--Urban Audubon "One of the quirkiest and most oddly charming travel books you're likely to come across... The whole package is engagingly chipper, a memoir of delight."--Washington Post "Do you wish to pursue your dreams? In this remarkable book, the author, birdsong expert Donald Kroodsma, did just that when he set out on a bicycle journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans, recording the songs of birds along the way... Drawings of birds and the countryside fill this handsomely produced book, and the author's birdsong recordings can be accessed from QR codes in the margins. This gorgeous book combines history, geology, travel, bicycling, family relationships and birdsong into one irresistible adventure. I especially enjoyed how the author draws the reader into the places that he experienced through the use of sound."--Forbes.com, a "12 Best books about Birds and Birding in 2016" selection "It is always a pleasure to listen to masters talk about their passions. And so it is here, as Don Kroodsma, the world's leading expert on birdsong, takes us on a bicycle journey from Virginia to Oregon, listening to birds and explaining the magic and mystery in what he hears along the way... No one but Don Kroodsma could have written this book, as no one hears birdsong the way he does."--Eldon Greij, Bird Watching Magazine