This is Bird Note.

Novelist Kira Jane Bucston has written several books about a pet crow, navigating a post-apocalyptic world.

But while the premise is outlandish, her writing is full of real world bird and animal behaviors.

I was so endlessly fascinated doing the research.

I would read and read and read and get so excited and then I would think about creatively how to voice animal characters without being trite or glib,

doing it from a place of respect and reverential research.

And then I would write and pepper the book with animal trivia that I found fascinating.

Did you know that sparrows put the stubs of cigarettes in the lining of their nest and it tears mites?

And that crows perform anting, which is the sort of ritual where they cover themselves in ants.

And we're not even 100% sure why they do this.

Whether it's, you know, to get rid of other parasite, like kind of ironic if it's an insecticide.

But it's so wonderful to know these things.

And so I just wanted to find ways to share it because I maintain that anything I took liberties with in terms of the more fantasy or fantastical elements of the novel.

They're not half as exciting as what's really happening in nature.

You can learn more about Kira's books, Hello Kingdom and Feral Creatures on our website, birdnote.org.

I'm Mark Ramhill.