Yellowstone's birds Diversity and abundance in the world's first national park

Review by Choice Review

Yellowstone, arguably the world's first national park, is famed for its thermal features and mammals, especially bison, but it is also home to great bird diversity. Yellowstone's Birds, edited by former and current park biologists, pays tribute to the diverse avifauna. Neither an identification guide nor a bird-finding book, Yellowstone's Birds is a series of essays introducing various groups of birds and documenting the rises and falls of several in detail. The 25 chapters unfold in five parts: introduction, birding, raptors (histories of DDT-induced declines and recoveries of peregrines and bald eagles), waterbirds (including a detailed history of the decline and fall of the iconic trumpeter swan), and passerines (including ravens and nutcrackers, two of the most conspicuous and interesting park natives). The birdlife is diverse, and the book's approaches are diverse as well, evoking sadness in the chapter on swans and optimism in the chapter on peregrines. Well written, carefully edited, and copiously illustrated, this book is an excellent ecology and an engaging account of natural history and shows the important role of citizen science in documenting the status of birdlife. This book will find an audience among Yellowstone lovers, nature lovers, conservationists, population ecologists, and bird lovers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels. --Joanna Burger, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick

Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.

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Review by Library Journal Review

Yellowstone's "geothermal wonders and charismatic megafauna" take a backseat to the birds in this pioneering, overdue study. It is not a field guide but a report of what is known (and unknown) about the park's avian life. With multiple contributors, the text's style is varied and the topics many--ideal for those inclined to explore the book in snippets, to wander, and to wonder. Illustrations, photographs, and links to accompanying videos are superb and ably support the authors' goal of making their science accessible. The book also describes what fieldwork in remote areas involves and how citizen scientists support the effort. Preliminary chapters discuss Yellowstone's geology and offer tips on birding etiquette, checklists, descriptions of trails, and likely observations. The birds--peregrine falcons, golden eagles, trumpeter swans, harlequin ducks, ravens, Clark's nutcrackers, and more remarkable creatures--are considered in terms of life history, conservation status, research projects, and more. Among the book's many delights are its anecdotal pieces. For example, wildlife biologist-cum-birder Kira Cassidy recounts "The Year I Lost My Birding Mind." VERDICT Revelatory. The birds, the park, but also the science behind it make this book an outstanding resource.--Robert Eagan

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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