Review by Choice Review
Libraries and individuals who own Johnsgard's Crane Music (CH, May'92, 29-5122) must get this update. Those that do not have either work must get both. Johnsgard (emer., Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln) is the preeminent biological writer of bird natural history books today, having had more than 20 of his 50-plus books reviewed in Choice since the late 1980s (e.g., North American Owls, CH, Mar'03, 40-4017; Great Wildlife of the Great Plains, CH, Jul'03, 40-6399). In this slender volume (83 pages of prose and 72 pages of supplementary material), the author has returned to the birds that captured his heart, providing eloquent descriptions of the revered and elegant species of cranes. He gives updated population and distribution information along with a plea to preserve the natural areas where these species exist. The extensive supplementary material is useful for both casual birders and researchers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Academic and general audiences, all levels. C. G. Heister Yale University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Scientist, naturalist, and author of over 50 books on birds and waterfowl, Johnsgard (biological sciences, emeritus, Univ. of Nebraska) still retains an "unrelenting need," as he describes it, to communicate the almost indescribable mystery and majesty of the wild crane. To that end, this modest volume updates his earlier books on cranes (Crane Music and Those of the Gray Wind) with the most current research on their biology, geographic distribution, population estimates, and migration patterns as well as the various programs undertaken to reintroduce the endangered whooping crane. One of the most implausible yet successful of these programs teaches juvenile cranes reared in captivity to migrate from Wisconsin to Florida. They are trained to fly behind an ultralight aircraft piloted by a man in a crane costume! VERDICT No one is better qualified than Johnsgard to discuss cranes both as objects of scientific study and as ancient, magical creatures. His lyrical description of the sandhills' spectacular spring staging in the Platte river valley will captivate all readers, particularly those unfamiliar with cranes. Highly recommended.-Cynthia Knight, Hunterdon Cty. Lib., Flemington, NJ (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
