Instant Escape
to Nature
Listen to life in the woods the way celebrated naturalist John Burroughs did 154 years ago. Return of the Birds: A John Burroughs Wake-Robin Revival audiobook weaves more than 120 field recordings from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library through the gentleman rambler’s 1871 collection of nature essays to deliver an immersive, delightful experience.
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About John Burroughs
John Burroughs (1837–1921) was an American naturalist and nature essayist known for his influential writings on the natural world, starting with his first collection, Wake-Robin, published in 1871. He was a key figure in the conservation movement and is credited with developing the nature essay as a distinct literary form, drawing inspiration from his experiences in nature and from friendships with notable figures such as Walt Whitman, Teddy Roosevelt, and John Muir.
About the book
Return of the Birds: A John Burroughs Wake-Robin Revival is the audiobook version of John Burroughs’s 1895 edition of Wake-Robin. The collection of eight essays blends scientific accuracy with poetic expression. In Wake-Robin, Burroughs focuses on his observations of birds and nature from his regular local hikes and hunting and fishing trips from the Adirondacks to Washington, DC. The essays feature an engaging style, keen commentary, and Burroughs’s deep appreciation for the natural world, making it a significant and enduring contribution to American natural history.