Cranes: A Natural History of a Bird in Crisis
Of the world’s 15 species of cranes, 3 are endangered, 6 are vulnerable to extinction, and 1 is near threatened. How did these tall, magnificent birds end up in such a crisis? Canadian ornithologist Hughes provides answers to this and a myriad of other questions about cranes in this new examination. Cranes are similar in their general natural history, and the opening chapter of the book takes a broad look at crane biology. The author places particular emphasis on crane vocalizations and their dancing displays, both behaviors that are not only evocative but extremely important in crane daily life. The bulk of the book is taken up with a study of the whooping crane, the most endangered of all the species and serving as the example for what is being done to conserve the other cranes. After a historical chapter on the discovery and precipitous decline of the whooping crane, two chapters describe the two-pronged approach scientists have taken for their recovery: A section of profiles of all 15 crane species, including a range map with migratory routes, completes the text. Beautifully illustrated. --Nancy Bent