Book 1, Animal Speak : Chapter 6, Part Two - More Birds Summary and Analysis

The author supplies what he calls a 'Keynote' to each animal and he indicates a specific time of the year for each species listed. He lists the season as the 'cycle of power' in the dictionary. For the grackle bird, the author writes that the keynote is "overcoming excess and emotional life congestion"; he says the cycle of power for this animal is the early springtime. The commentary he provides on the grackle includes, "It is part of the meadowlark [family of birds]....Keep in mind that black is the color of the inner and the feminine...Grackles are very sociable birds...Grackles love to live in pine trees," (pp. 146-147). Later, when writing on the grouse, Andrews reports, "The ruffed grouse reflects that working...