What we see when we look into the eyes of a bird

Key Points:

• Science fiction novelist Ray Nayler explores human-animal communication and empathy through his fiction, emphasizing the importance of recognizing animals' distinct biological and social natures rather than anthropomorphizing them.
• Nayler’s latest novel, Palaces of the Crow, combines historical fiction with animal behavior research, depicting resourceful teenagers aided by intelligent crows during WWII, highlighting themes of mutual aid and interspecies collaboration inspired by anarchist philosopher Peter Kropotkin.
• Nayler stresses that empathy and connection arise from the desire to understand others despite differences, illustrated by examples from animal behavior and his own experiences observing birds and wildlife.
• The novel and Nayler’s reflections underscore how animals adapt to human-altered environments, thriving at society’s edges, while also exposing the tension between human destruction and opportunities for coexistence.
• While zoos represent confinement, Nayler values them as spaces for prolonged observation and contemplation of animals, advocating for care, attention, and recognition of animals as our teachers in learning how to be in the world.