Cranes: A Natural History of a Bird in Crisis

By Janice M. Hughes

Book Overview

The history, habits, life and lore of a resourceful and iconic bird. Long in neck, leg and wing, cranes are imposing wading birds that are among the largest and tallest of the world's bird families.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 155407343X
• ISBN13: 9781554073436
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Firefly Books, Limited
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 3.11 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.6" x 11.3"

Customer Reviews

Good book

Very informative book with up to date information. However, less information then I was expecting.

An engaging story about a majestic bird

Janice Hughes explores the natural history of the 15 species of cranes in the opening chapter. We learn about all aspects of these birds including habitat, distribution, behavior, breeding, and seasonal movements. Her writing is clear, informative, and easy to read. The chapter concludes with the issues of conservation, examining the most significant challenges that cranes are experiencing today throughout the planet. It is in the second and subsequent chapters that the book really takes off. The author examines the Whooping Crane in detail. This once abundant North American bird was reduced to just a dozen or so survivors in the 1940s. Hughes meticulously researches the hunt for the surviving birds, and the trials and errors that were part of the extraordinary efforts to save them. She captures the personalities, the heros, and the villains in an imaginative and engaging way not usually found in popular science books. The efforts of Operation Migration are highlighted as well. This group patiently teaches young whoopers how to migrate to Florida every autumn using tiny ultralight aircraft to lead the flocks south. Hughes puts a human face on the Whooping Crane story. The book stars both this beautiful bird and the humans who have helped to rescue it from the brink of extinction. Today, there are more than 500 Whooping Cranes alive in North America. It is a hopeful book and a good read.