Highly Recommend

The Homing Instinct is, in my admittedly limited experience, classic Bernd Heinrich. He interweaves his own studies and experiences, those of others, and an academic explanation of ecology to create this fascinating book. That said, much like in Winter World, it can sometimes be a little meandering for me. Ecology is complex, especially when it’s still cutting edge despite thousands of years of human study, and I often prefer a more rigorously rigid telling, with the facts lined up in a digestible order. That said, I understand the desire for a more loquacious method of explanation actually being more digestible for others.

Perhaps what I found most fascinating was to learn how much of a homing instinct is not an instinct, but is in fact learned knowledge. Like birds who want to fly north may have to learn a map of the stars. As someone who never learned where the big dipper is (so many groups of stars look like it to me), I’m even more impressed that they manage. In fact, a single bird may use a host of data points, including landmarks, the earth’s magnetic field, the sun, the stars, and the smells in the air. These small-brained animals can accomplish impressive feats of migration based on learned skills that we cannot always whitewash away with terms like “instinct.”

Another thing I liked about the book was the fact that while a bird is featured on the cover, and is what I typically read about when I do read about homing instincts, it was not the limit of this book. It really demonstrates how far the field can take us, how much more there is still to learn. Like my posts on structural coloration, every species is a window into a new realm with most yet to be studied thoroughly. Bernd only has so many pages in his book, but if you mentally take things a step further, you find yourself with more questions than when you started. In a good way.

The Homing Instinct is a worthwhile and enjoyable read. It may not be my favorite book, or even my favorite Bernd Heinrich, but I do recommend it.