Reflections on The Tale of Birds (I): A Natural Record of Warmth and Poetics.
By chance, I got two books, The Awakening Forest and The Story of Birds, both of which were famous American naturalist and writer John? Burroughs' book. Part of the content is the same, but the translators are different. Both versions are good, but the latter is more interesting. If these two books are compared to wine, The Awakening Forest is a glass of whisky, and The Story of Birds is vodka, which is strong and refreshing. The former's words are simple and simple, like a gurgling stream, flowing slowly, giving people a quiet and elegant feeling. The latter is more lively and agile, and every word jumps like a fresh life and is richer.
John? Burroughs devoted his life to the study of birds, and his love for birds and nature permeated every corner of the book. This has a lot to do with his experience of being close to nature since childhood. The memory of childhood gave him a pair of eyes that are good at discovering. In the eyes of ordinary people, birds only differ in size, coat color and call, but Burroughs can always see the emotional differences of birds. In his eyes, birds are as full of joys and sorrows as people, or he feels that he is one of them. It is just a human shell, but it has the same soul as these birds. How else would he know so much about birds? Every call, swaggering, skipping, even if he turned his head slightly thoughtfully, can't escape Burroughs' eyes. Even the birds sang 1088 or 390 times around him, and he counted clearly.
Reading this book is a great enjoyment. We followed Burroughs' eyes, as if we had opened a dream island composed of birds of all colors. Countless birds are presented to us with their truest and most agile living conditions. In reality, even those of us who grew up in the countryside can see birds flying in Shan Lan with wide eyes, but we have never carefully observed any of them. Even if I am lucky enough to touch it, I will never tell the difference between this and that. We have no intention of opposing them, but we never want to be equal to them.
British writer Edward? Carpenter once said in a letter to Whitman that Burroughs was "a poet with binoculars". A friendlier Thoreau dressed like a farmer, he spoke like a scholar, a man who had read the book of nature. "Burroughs deserves this praise. He has the feelings of a poet. All birds, even the crows we hate most at ordinary times, can exude different temperament in his eyes. His writing style is more delicate and beautiful, he is good at short parallelism and poetic rhythm, which makes people feel comfortable reading at one breath. His orange-topped kitchen warbler is explosive and professional in style. "Singing through the branches, from one branch to another, faster and faster. Finally, it rose to the top of the tree, reaching a height of 50 feet or more. Then, it suddenly turned into an ecstatic song, with a bright rhythm and melodious excitement, which was no longer like its usual performance, but more like games and rockets; It's short but exciting, firm but sweet. When the flying height and singing reached the peak, it folded its wings and dived vertically like a lark. "This description can be included in our primary school textbooks as a model for reciting, which is quite similar to Bai Juyi's" Pipa ",which means that" the big strings hum like rain, and the small strings whisper like a secret ". Humming, whispering-and then mixing together, like pouring large and small pearls into a plate of jade. The feeling of ".
Another point of this book is its exquisite binding. There are 60 gorgeous illustrations in the book, from the most famous naturalist James? The hand of audubon. Every painting is lifelike, and every bird seems to be always ready to fly out of the painting and get out of the cage. If we only have words, I'm afraid we can't clearly piece together the shape of a bird, but it is with these illustrations that we can know at a glance whether this bird has been seen around us and what its characteristics are. The perfect combination of books and paintings constitutes this warm bird biography, which is double-walled with Walden Lake.
Although there are some translation flaws in the book, on the whole, these flaws can't cover up the mistakes. We can't find the truest nature in the reinforced concrete of the city, so it must be the most convenient to sit down and immerse ourselves quietly in the world of this book and get close to nature.
Thinking of Birds (2): Elves in John Burroughs' Works
For many people, birds are just small animals with beautiful feathers and light bodies. Some birds have crisp and pleasant songs, while others have beautiful feathers. But according to John Burroughs, an American naturalist and pioneer of environmental protection thought, birds not only have their own feelings and emotions, but also have unique ideas. In the book Birds, he vividly described the feelings and thoughts of birds with warm, delicate and vivid words.
Perhaps Mr Burroughs's writing is too delicate, so even a story about his "dealing" with some birds won't be boring at all. Even if these stories are interspersed with some knowledge of nature about birds, they will still be full of fun to read.
This writing style with distinct emotions probably benefits from Mr. Burroughs himself as a "big boy" full of innocence and love and awe for nature and other creatures. In his observation perspective, birds are no longer the object of study, but his good friends. He carefully observes their living habits with sincere feelings for birds. Because of careful observation and the author's rich knowledge of natural history, this popular science work with strong literary color has dual functions: on the one hand, from the perspective of literary works, readers can feel the freshness and beauty of nature and get a warm life experience from this novel full of strong personal feelings; On the other hand, there is a considerable space in the book to introduce some common sense about birds, which is obtained through long-term observation and research, so this book is also scientific.
The most brilliant part of this book is the vivid description of birds' emotions and emotions. In Burroughs' works, birds incarnate as human beings, or Burroughs becomes birds of the same kind. It is in this equal position that the birds in Burroughs' works really come alive. They are elves and friends of mankind, and mankind is no longer the "spirit of all things" on high. Burroughs always conveys an idea in his writing: man and nature, man and other creatures should be a harmonious family, and how much attention human beings pay to nature and other creatures is how much emotion they put into life itself; The emotion that human beings bet on life itself is the respect and awe for life.
The real strength of human beings lies not in the extent to which he conquered nature, but in how much he loved nature and other life. From Burroughs' story, we can easily see his great love in new soul, and it is this love beyond species and gratitude for nature that makes us see the noblest and brightest place of mankind.
The natural world written by John Burroughs is full of poetry and painting, and all the elves mentioned in his stories have distinct personalities. But how can he write such a touching story without integrating his mind with nature?
Reflections on the story of birds (3): How long has it been since I saw the birds fly?
When can man and nature really live in harmony? Probably most people think that man is a part of nature, but how many people can consider ecological balance? When I opened the book Birds, I didn't want it very much, or I didn't want my roots to grow in the book, in the pages and in the museum one day. If dinosaurs die from the threat of nature, human beings will be destroyed by themselves, and the sharp disappearance of species is a very dangerous signal. There are also dry rivers, polluted water sources, increasingly warming climate, alienated growth of animals and plants, and cancer that human beings can't resist. In terms of age, people with cancer are getting younger and younger; In terms of quantity, it seems that there will be a cancer patient in a family.
Once, a Mongolian friend came to my house and talked about our sky. Why is it always cloudy? It will be sunny tomorrow. Yes, as long as I can remember, except when I was very young, the day I lived was always gray and there seemed to be no real sunshine. Now look at Beijing, the visibility is even lower. Is it an exaggeration to say terrible? It was dark, birds disappeared, squirrels didn't come, and many species disappeared.
I really hate this pen when I write here. This is useless for ecological pollution. Developing economy is the general trend, but industrial development has already experienced in Europe. It stands to reason that we should take this as a warning to prevent ecological deterioration. What's the use of these? Not anthropocentrism. Who will shout for the protection of the balance of the ecosystem in the face of huge interests? Even if there is, it is a whisper. On the other hand, if people can decide all this, how much power do they need? Is there a problem with human rights and the system again? How many people think that people below the poverty line can't manage it, and who has the heart to care about the health of nature? Environmentalists are not helpless. In the end, they can't change others, but themselves.
But look at this winter in Shenyang. Up to now, the lowest temperature is only MINUS ten degrees, which is only a few days. In previous years, it will reach MINUS 20 degrees. I'm not a professional in this field, but I think it has something to do with population density, the development of automobiles, the development of natural resources, the urbanization of towns and villages, the increase of chemical plants, the emission of waste gas and the thick smog layer. Except for the disappearance of a large area of trees, the whole city is carried out under the blending of demolition and construction all year round. Trees that have grown for decades have been cut down and turned into rows of residential buildings. Shelterbelt is surrounded by garbage and sewage, and decades of trees are no longer covered with green leaves. Without trees, birds will never come again. There are no trees. Are you all right, my poor squirrel friend? There are no trees, but there is a sandstorm. Walking in the street will soon be covered with dust.
Let's take a look at the book Birds. This book is not a traditional popular science book, because it is considered to be very literary, so it is meaningless. Moreover, the typesetting is particularly careful, which can be said to be ingenious. I can see all kinds of birds from the catalogue, and there are exquisite words around this bird. You can see the writer's meticulous observation and careful attention to animals and plants, conveying a deep love. What is full of new ideas is that every bird has a poem with a long aftertaste, and the whole person seems to be in the forest. In addition, there is a bird atlas drawn by naturalist James audubon, which is gorgeous and beautiful. This is a good book for all ages, especially recommended.
Seeing this, I gained a sense of intimacy. People come from nature. We love a plant, which is our yearning for nature and an instinct. I remember Kawara Tsutomu, who was really sad when he saw the small plants in the huge garbage dump. If we want to live a healthy life, we should not only care about ourselves, but also understand the fact that human beings are a part of nature and have an inseparable relationship with it, so we must care about nature and take responsibility for the balance of the ecosystem.
Reflection on Birds (IV): Free Singers, Beautiful Elves
John? Burroughs is a famous American naturalist and naturalist. He is known as "American country sage" and "nature guide" and is the most popular writer of his time. His love for nature and writing largely comes from his childhood time on his father's farm in the Catskill Mountains. He was fascinated by the Woods where birds sang and the fields with wild strawberries and colorful wildflowers. He often sits on the rocks and observes the beautiful nature.
1873, Burroughs bought a nine-acre orchard farm on the west bank of the Hudson River and designed and built a stone house called "Riverside House" by himself. /kloc-in 0/875, he built a simple hut on the mountain two miles away from the "riverside hut", which was called "Rock House". From here, you can walk into the forest a mile and a half away. Since then, Burroughs has lived a dual life as a farmer and a writer, and spent the last 48 years of his life in these two country cottages close to nature, experiencing and writing about nature.
Burroughs wrote 25 works in his life, mostly describing nature and birds, so he was called "John of the Bird Kingdom". In the book Birds, Burroughs shows us a vivid bird kingdom and depicts a vivid bird image. Birds' habits, war and love between them, courtship, nesting, feeding and singing ... Birds are as emotional and resourceful as humans, and the author also expresses infinite sympathy for the fragility of bird life.
Like humans, birds have different habits. No one can write a bird full of flesh and blood and feelings like Burroughs. In Brown Forest Thrushcross, the noble and elegant Brown Forest Thrushcross has a handsome appearance, as elegant, talented and graceful as a poet. "Is he an ancient prince reincarnated and will retain the elegance of the royal family to this day?" At the same time, some other birds are mentioned for comparison. "In contrast, the thrush is noisy and frivolous, and its angry cries and frivolous movements flying on the branches give people a feeling of being uneducated. Mockingbird or Hong Niao is so stealthy when flying, like a fugitive suspect, always hiding in the dense alder forest. As for the mockingbird, it gives people the impression that it likes to show off and meddle. Brown-browed harrier looks at your every move with a cold attitude, like an agent. And all these bad behaviors are not found in brown forest thrush. " Like W, former editor-in-chief of Atlantic Monthly? d？ Howells said: "This is a book about birds written by a person who knows and loves birds-this is not a dry bird preface, but a vivid picture of birds in front of us."
Birds focus on their nests and homes and live a happy and carefree life. The female bird is like a hardworking housewife, nesting, incubating eggs and nursing babies without her. The male bird with bright feathers, like the majestic head of the family, stands on the branches not far away and sings loudly, accompanying the female bird and guarding his home. Even if we live in a big city, walk on the boulevard, stroll in the Woods and look up at the treetops, we will find nests among the branches in twos and threes. It is not easy for birds to build nests, just as humans build houses. We should learn to accept and appreciate the beauty brought by this spirit of freedom, make friends with birds, protect them and not destroy their homes. I think this is also the original intention of Burroughs to write this book.
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Reflection on the Story of Birds (5): Everything is in full bloom.
In addition to the wonderful shooting content, the wonderful explanation of Zhao Zhongxiang's magnetic voice also contributed to the audience's love for Animal World broadcast by CCTV. The fierce and cruel hunting process and the relaxed and warm play time are all accompanied by colorful narration, which leads the audience to connect with the animal's heart visually and audibly, giving people an immersive feeling.
Read American John? Burroughs' bird story brings people the same experience as watching Animal World. Burroughs's writing style is natural and peaceful, while writing about his birdsong makes people feel the crisp and sweet sound in the silent forest, and its form is like witnessing jumping up and down and playing with each other. In Burroughs' words, we seem to be outside, in the forest, watching these creatures silently with them. Among Burroughs's many works, he is good at introducing the magic and subtlety of nature to readers with words.
Birds is Burroughs' masterpiece, and he shows readers the charm of nature by observing birds. His writing is very interesting and warm. His article is not obvious, but conveys the voice from nature with a gentle attitude. Among them, there are not only goldfinches with affectionate and elegant posture, but also white-tailed harriers with sharp and deep eyes. Even crows that are regarded as ominous because of their dark appearance are treated objectively. Burroughs called them polite and personable. The impression of these different birds is due to Burroughs' careful observation of them.
Observers should keep an objective attitude, but Burroughs is more keen to record his feelings about the breath of life revealed by these creatures, which is the state in which life is maintained in nature. When Burroughs and Ted wanted to find a dead tree with a hole to nest for the eastern bluebird, the tree they chose happened to have the eastern bluebird nesting in it and found something in the nest. "In the past, we didn't hear any birdsong at all, and we couldn't see feathers. When we pulled down the trunk and carefully looked at the hole in the tree, we found two immature eastern blue Jay chicks, which was really embarrassing! " If Burroughs was not familiar with the habits of these birds, such a coincidence would not have happened. The appearance of this interesting story just verified and affirmed the author's correct understanding of bird habits.
Burroughs' observation is extremely sensitive, meticulous and accurate. When the mother bird came back and found that the nest was not in its original position, the expression of anxiety and panic was the author's accurate capture and foresight of the bird's mentality. "I said to Ted,' She went to find her partner. She is in deep trouble now and is eager for sympathy and help. "The facts once again proved the correctness of Burroughs, and then the female bird came back with the male bird, flying back and forth in the original position, anxiously looking for the young bird in the nest.
Birds is not only an animal observation diary, but also contains the author's respect for nature. Burroughs wrote in the book, "If I knew there were so many eggs in the bird's nest, I would never dare to disturb her, so she might break some eggs because of panic." Burroughs' works give us a new and humanized understanding of nature. His works make us realize that human beings are not lonely creatures, and there are many creatures that accompany us in nature. At the same time, through his own observation of these creatures, he opened a door to yearn for nature, and the enduring work is undoubtedly an affirmation of people.
In a letter to a friend, the poet Whitman praised "Burroughs has mastered a real art-a successful art that goes with the flow without deliberate pursuit." Before becoming a writer, he was a farmer first. This is the real meaning of his success. "Burroughs is not only a farmer, but also a great nature writer and naturalist. People praised him as a "sage of American countryside", but it is more appropriate to praise him as a "guide of nature".
Reflections on the Story of Birds (6): A Biography of a Warm Bird
The Story of Birds is a warm biography of birds, which is suitable for students to promote as a natural science reading. This book has two original points: one is its text. In the narrative of introducing these beautiful creatures, start with the life of the characters. It seems that the narrator is so close to these birds, full of stories and aftertaste, as if opening a beautiful picture of life. This way of writing is very spiritual, warm and attractive. If we talk too much about pale knowledge, maybe we won't enjoy it so much when reading. Yes, I thought of the word "enjoy", because when I read this book, I really enjoyed it. There are many imaginations about natural creatures in it. The second point is its paintings, more than 60 hand-drawn illustrations of audubon, written by James audubon, the most famous naturalist in history. The lines are concise and bright, the colors are bright and smart, and the composition is more perfect and lasting, which is attractive to the master.
Burroughs, the author of The Tale of Birds, is a famous American naturalist and writer, as well as Thoreau, the author of Walden Lake. His article is one of the most widely read writers among American primary and secondary school students. His books are generally pleasing to the eye, and the words and pictures are perfectly matched, giving people a good enjoyment. In his world, animals are really regarded as neighbors and friends. They care about each other and like to appreciate each other. Don't disturb their lives, live in harmony, and feel warm and comfortable reading this book.
The Story of Birds records the story of Buluo's meeting with various birds. In his delicate observation, you can even feel the souls of birds, their love and all their awe and care for nature through his eyes. What the author wants to show is not a condescending anthropocentrism, nor the objectivity of indifference to the research object, but a deep empathy. Seeing these birds as the same kind, we can reach each other's depth in eye contact.
It is so special, so beautiful and so simple that anyone can get it without spending a penny.
It's a pity that I don't know many birds introduced in The Story of Birds. You can't find kindness just by looking at pictures. Just following the author's words, I realized his emotional communication with natural creatures and found the feeling of a bird. It feels good to return to nature. I have decided to spend more time looking for life in the wilderness in the future. I want to fight against all kinds of material desires and transactions in reality and let my soul naturally get out of control.
Reflections on the story of a bird (7): People who can understand birds.
John Burroughs was born on a farm at the foot of Galk Mountain in new york. Childhood farm life made him full of attachment to nature all his life. It is this persistence that makes him a famous American naturalist and naturalist, and also the most famous environmentalist in the early days. Burroughs has many works, and Birds is just a drop in the bucket in his 23-volume collection. His natural style, mistaken for Emerson by the editor, shows a vivid interest in animals such as humans.
Describe John with the song "He is the only person in the world who can understand bird language, and he has a wish in his heart to become a bird after death"? Burroughs is perfect. After reading his vivid description of feeding oriental bluebirds in Birds, you will think so. He wrote that the mother bird sent the pecked cicada to the bird's mouth and said, "Oh, try again." . The little guy who couldn't swallow the big meal shouted, "I'm suffocating, I'm suffocating!" " Then the father bird said to the mother bird "directly" and "quite simply": "Give me that bug. "Burroughs's images of loving mother bird, naive bird and decisive father bird are close at hand, as if he were a member of this family.
In most people's eyes, there are only differences in size, coat color and call between birds, but Burroughs can see their different temperament among birds belonging to the same thrush class. He said that the thrush's voice and the flirtation of wings give people the feeling of "lack of education"; Mockingbirds or red thrushes fly like ghosts, like a fugitive suspect; Robins give people the impression that they are "showing off and meddling"; On the other hand, you look at you coldly, like an "agent"; The charm of "noble, elegant, comfortable and calm" of brown forest thrush made Burroughs fall, and some even wondered, "Is he the reincarnation of an ancient prince, keeping the elegance of the royal family to this day?" After Burroughs' description, the color pictures in the book become more vivid.
Burroughs sometimes looks for a bird's nest carefully among the weeds in the jungle like an urchin full of curiosity about nature; Sometimes, like a righteous chivalrous man, he saved a bird's home from the evil Black Shekou at a critical moment. More often, like a novelist who knows bird language, he uses friendly and lively language to explain the life course of birds, such as breaking out of their shells, flapping their wings for the first time, foraging, courtship, nesting and death, as well as their various emotions of happiness, curiosity, anger and fear. It is really funny to watch him knock on the trunk every day to make sure that "his bird" is not in the nest until he thinks that the bird thinks he is bored.
Burroughs is lucky because he can see the brightest feathers in the world, hear the most beautiful songs and touch those soft little creatures with his own hands in the embrace of nature. In contrast, we live in high-rise buildings and traffic, but we often walk in a hurry, forgetting that there is a vast and distant sky overhead, and we can't see many birds flying freely in the sky. So ordinary people can't see the difference between each bird and can't understand what they are singing. Sadly, there will be fewer and fewer opportunities for us to get close to birds, because humans are constantly cutting down forests and encroaching on the homes where birds live. Under the high-voltage power lines on which we live, countless dead birds lie every day. Modern electronic waves often make migratory birds unable to find their own direction. Beautiful and fragile little life,
So fragile in front of powerful human beings, shouldn't it cause us to reflect?
Of course, we can also keep birds in cages to appreciate their beauty, and we can hear euphemistic birdsong from headphones. Some people really shut themselves in such a huge cage, but pretend to be close to nature. But we know very well that our soul is isolated from nature after all. In this sense, the story of birds is like a meaningful song of birds, which represents the call of nature to our souls. ?
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Reflections on the story of birds (8): The story of birds: kites are flying in the sky and birds are humming.
Birds are always inseparable from our living environment. They play in small groups on branches, or in pairs in the Woods. On the one hand, they bring us joy and pleasure, on the other hand, they also make us admire and expect to fly freely in the air, so the Wright brothers' plane and gliding were born. However, with the rapid progress of urbanization, rural landscape is gradually replaced by urban landscape, and bungalows have become skyscrapers. Nowadays, in a city wrapped in reinforced concrete, it seems more and more difficult to find the trace of birds. A fresh and moving poem like "Two orioles singing green willows and a row of egrets flying into the sky" may only be found in memory.
The story of a bird, by the famous American naturalist John? John Burroughs, a masterpiece about the daily life of birds. Burroughs was born on a farm at the foot of gaskell Mountain in Delaval County, New York, USA. While receiving school education, Burroughs often goes to the mountains to "explore" and is particularly curious about the flowers and trees in nature, always lingering. As an adult, Burroughs began to create natural literature after work, which was praised by critics many times. He was influenced by the writer Ralph? Emerson has a far-reaching influence. His works and Thoreau's Walden are called "the double walls of American natural literature".
According to the Bible, after God created Adam, he immediately gave him the status of Lord of all things. Since the Bible, the tradition of "anthropocentrism" in western literature has increased. Under this tradition, animals and plants obviously have no aesthetic value, only the value of tools used in slaughter. However, beyond the "grand tradition", there is a slight "small tradition": naturalists and botanists who observe animals and plants based on scientific rationality, in addition to being accurate and objective, leave behind a humanistic aftertaste. From Aristotle, an ancient Greek philosopher, to Lamarck, a French biologist, to Buffon, a naturalist, to John F.? Burroughs.
In Birds, John? Burroughs is not a higher animal observer, but an outsider equal to birds, an ordinary person who observes because of curiosity and loves because of observation. When he observed, he held his breath so as not to disturb; When he loves it, he applauds and longs to get close to it. He took part in the birds' every move, their joys and sorrows. From common tits, crows, goshawks and chimney swifts to rare goldfinches, brown-headed cows, wrens and white-tailed harriers, he can distinguish them one by one, like a few treasures. The Analects of Confucius said, "Knowing is not as good as being kind, and being kind is not as good as being happy." Burroughs is happy to know.
Through careful observation, Burroughs was able to listen to the moving song of the East Blue Owl in the early morning, and also got a glimpse of the beautiful scene of "teasing and playing with each other" among male tourist owls, and occasionally got in close contact with the chimney Swift, but it also caused a lot of trouble. For him, birds are not dispensable and indifferent entities, but have their own internal values and souls. Looking for food and courtship. Play and frolic. It's all amazing. Although different from human beings in appearance, they all show the vitality of life. There is only one life, so do birds and so do humans. In the face of life, what reason do we have to claim to be the master of all things? Is there any reason to show off the supremacy?
In the author's view, it is better to regard The Tale of Birds as an apocalypse than as a work of natural history. Biologists may only pay attention to the objective laws of birds' life activities, such as foraging behavior, courtship mode, playful way and so on. But for ordinary readers like you and me, birds, like ourselves, are creatures driven by instinct and have feelings at the same time. When observing the birth, illness, death and bitterness of birds, we invisibly changed the perspective of thinking about the value and significance of ourselves and life. If you laugh at birds, please laugh at life; If you are sad for birds, please don't lose hope in life. On the contrary, you should cherish your life as a human being, although in reality, it seems that "nothing is more boring than being a human being".
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