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Rising from sandbars on the Platte River with clarion calls, the sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) feels the urgency of spring migration. Elegant, noble, and spiritual, the sandhill crane is one of the most ancient of all birds. More than a half-million strong, flying in squadrons, these majestic creatures point northward to their Arctic and sub-Arctic breeding ranges.Theirs is an epic story of endurance through the ages.
With 153 stunning color photographs, On Ancient Wings presents sandhill cranes in their wild but increasingly compromised habitats today. Over the course of five years, Michael Forsberg documented the tall gray birds in habitats ranging from the Alaskan tundra to the arid High Plains, from Cuban nature preserves to suburban backyards. With an eye for beauty and an uncommon persistence, the author documents the cranes’ challenges to adapt and survive in a rapidly changing natural world. Forsberg argues that humankind, for its own sake, should secure the cranes’ place in the future. On Ancient Wings intertwines the lives of cranes, people, and their common places to tell an ancient story at a time when sandhill cranes and their wetland and grassland habitats face daunting prospects.
"...and the sky blackened with dark, gray bodies. In the blurry confusion, John lost Mary." So begins Have You Seen Mary?, a fictional account of one sandhill crane's faithful search during spring migration for his lost mate. Set on Nebraska's Platte River, Jeff Kurrus weaves a tender story of love while also teaching us about these majestic birds. Supported with wondrous color photographs taken by Michael Forsberg, this paperback book will appeal to all ages for its ability to entertain as well as educate readers about sandhill cranes.
The Great Plains were once among the greatest grasslands on the planet. But as the United States and Canada grew westward, the Plains were plowed up, fenced in, overgrazed, and otherwise degraded. Today, this fragmented landscape is the most endangered and least protected ecosystem in North America. But all is not lost on the prairie.Through lyrical photographs, essays, historical images, and maps, the beautifully illustrated Great Plains - America's Lingering Wild gets beneath the surface of the Plains, revealing the lingering wild that still survives and whose diverse natural communities, native creatures, migratory traditions, and natural systems together create one vast and extraordinary whole.
Three broad geographic regions in Great Plains are covered in detail, evoked in the unforgettable and often haunting images taken by Michael Forsberg. Between the fall of 2005 and the winter of 2008, Forsberg traveled roughly 100,000 miles across 12 states and three provinces, from southern Canada to northern Mexico, to complete the photographic fieldwork for this project, underwritten by The Nature Conservancy. Complementing Forsberg’s images and firsthand accounts are essays by Great Plains scholar David Wishart and acclaimed writer Dan O’Brien. Each section of the book begins with a thorough overview by Wishart, while O’Brien—a wildlife biologist and rancher as well as a writer—uses his powerful literary voice to put the Great Plains into a human context, connecting their natural history with man’s uses and abuses.
The Great Plains are a dynamic but often forgotten landscape—overlooked, undervalued, misunderstood, and in desperate need of conservation. This book helps lead the way forward, informing and inspiring readers to recognize the wild spirit and splendor of this irreplaceable part of the planet.
Graced with illustrations by the author, Crane Music introduces the two North American crane species. The sandhill, most often seen, is within easy reach of bird-watchers in the center of the continent. Less visible is the whooping crane, struggling back from near extinction. Paul Johnsgard follows these elegant birds through a year’s cycle, describing their seasonal migrations, natural habitats, breeding biology, call patterns—angelic to the bird-lover’s ear—and fascinating dancing.The largest and most spectacular migratory concentration of cranes happens each spring when the Platte River valley becomes the staging ground for an amazing gathering of four hundred thousand to five hundred thousand sandhills en route from the south to the Arctic tundra. Johnsgard describes this incredible event as well as memorable personal encounters with the cranes. His knowledge of them transcends natural history, covering their importance in religion and mythology.
Driving west from Lincoln to Grand Island, Nebraska, Paul A. Johnsgard remarks, is like driving backward in time. “I suspect,” he says, “that the migrating cranes of a pre–ice age period some ten million years ago would fully understand every nuance of the crane conversation going on today along the Platte.”
Johnsgard has spent nearly a half century observing cranes, from a yearly foray to Nebraska’s Platte River valley to see the spring migration, to pilgrimages to the birds’ wintering grounds in Arizona and nesting territory in Alaska. In Sandhill and Whooping Cranes he draws from his own extensive experience as well as the latest science to offer a richly detailed and deeply felt account of the ecology of sandhill and whooping cranes and the wetlands in which they live.
Incorporating current information on changing migration patterns, population trends, and breeding ranges, Johnsgard explains the life cycle of the crane, as well as the significance of these species to our natural world. He also writes frankly of the uncertain future of these majestic birds, as cranes and their habitats face the effects of climate change and increasing human population pressures. Illustrated with the author’s own ink drawings and containing a detailed guide to crane-viewing sites in the United States and Canada, this book is at once an invaluable reference and an eloquent testimony to how much these birds truly mean.
Take a look inside the lives of sandhill cranes with this informative little book put together by Rowe's former Education Director, Keanna Leonard, and volunteer Caryl McHarney. Private Lives of Sandhill Cranes focuses on crane behavior, but includes lots of interesting facts about sandhill cranes and cranes in general.
Ever wondered what it would be like to be a sandhill crane chick? Well, now is your chance. Come join Salvador the Sandhill Crane for his first busy week. Rich photography tells the story of a family of sandhill cranes as they nurture a newly hatched chick, Salvador. This is a story about Salvador's parents' patience, protection and guidance during his first busy week. Enjoy photography that allows close-up observation of the fascinating life of sandhill cranes.
Book Category: Children's Ages 3-10 Book Size: 9.5 x 9 inches No. of Pages: 32
The Sibley Guide to Birds, second edition, brings the genius of David Allen Sibley to the world once again in a thoroughly updated and expanded volume that every birder must own.
Since its first publication in October 2000, the Kaufman Guide has been widely hailed as the best field guide to recommend to new birders. Everything about its compact size, straightforward layout, clear illustrations, detailed maps, and engaging text has been consciously designed to make the first steps in bird identification as easy as possible, so that beginners can get straight to the enjoyment of birds.
Accompanied by the stunning photography of Thomas D. Mangelsen, A Chorus of Cranes details the natural history, biology, and conservation issues surrounding the abundant sandhill crane and endangered whooping crane in North America. Author Paul A. Johnsgard, one of the leading authorities on cranes and crane biology, describes the fascinating social behaviors, beautiful natural habitats, and grueling seasonal migrations that have stirred the hearts of people as far back as medieval times and garnered the crane a place in folklore and mythology across continents.
Johnsgard has substantially updated and significantly expanded his 1991 work Crane Music, incorporating new information on the biology and status of these two North American cranes and providing abbreviated summaries on the other thirteen crane species of the world. The stories of these birds and their contrasting fates provide an instructive and moving history of bird conservation in North America. A Chorus of Cranes is a gorgeous and invaluable resource for crane enthusiasts, birders, natural historians, and conservationists alike.
This book is a softcover, 9" x 12", with 208 pages, 38 color photographs and 41 line art illustrations.
Featuring 100 species of birds from coast to coast this colorful guide helps kids identify and understand birds. The National Geographic Kids Bird Guide of North America will be both accessible and tons of fun. Fifty of the country's most popular birds will be laid out in stunning two-page spreads that will include information such as their range,the sounds they make, and the food they like to eat. Each profile will also include a cool or weird fun fact, and a feature called "A Closer Look," which digs deeper into one aspect of the bird's life (eating habits, bird songs, etc.). Each profile will also display a fact box with the bird's scientific name, weight, length, and wingspan.
Kids will also find tons of fun facts, bright and bold colors, full-color photographs, and layering of information that makes everything jump off the page. Birds will be organized by habitat, and habitat spreads will show where different birds live within each environment. The guide also explains all the basics that kids need to know about spotting birds. Features will include activities, such as how to build a birdhouse and how to build a bird feeder, sidebars highlighting fascinating info, lists, range maps, and much more. Conservation information, a find out more section, glossary, and index will add ample back matter to round out this book.
Birds, Nests and Eggs is a fun,informative take-along guide that will help children identify 15 birds. Kids will also learn how and where birds build their homes and all about their young. Plus the guide features activities that are fun and easy to do. There's also a seven-page scrapbook for drawings and notes. This guide invites young naturalists to spot wildlife. Safety tips are provided and interesting activities are sugested. Color illustrations enhance the presentation.
Paperback: 48 pages
Age Range: 5-10
I love you every day of all four seasons... for all you feel and do and share ..." A celebration of love and loving, from parent to child! I Love You...Unconditionally is the perfect book to share with a child, expressing the unconditional love offered by parent, grandparent, or caregiver, no matter what the child does or feels on any given day. Told through beautiful, original paintings of Sandhill Cranes as they care tenderly for their young from nest to migration, I Love You... Unconditionally creates a special moment of 'snuggle time' with your baby or child. The other neighbors of the Sandhill Crane habitat are present as well, to say 'Hi" to your child to help them learn about how we share our home and habitat with so many others in nature.The book includes brief educational text to help an older child understand the richness of the natural world we all share. Perfect for teachers, classrooms, early readers as well as pre-readers, and for all caregivers alike to open a child's eyes to the love felt for them, just as they are, and to the beauty around them!
How would you feel if you didn't have a name? This idea spurred Mary Henning and Bob Heiden to collaborate and create I Wish … I Had a Name, a 26-page illustrated children’s picture book. This is a story about a river that didn’t have a name. All of the animals that had names would come along and talk to the river. The story developed as the animals picked a name for the river. By the end of the book, all readers will cherish their own special names!
From serving as a tour guide for visitors who come to see the sandhill crane migration to monitoring the population count on a bluebird trail, from exploring the human settlements surrounding the Platte River to wading the river with biologists, Pfost immerses herself in the rhythm and life of the area. Along with Pfost’s personal experiences of the river, she explores the river’s history, the land- and water-use choices that were made decades ago and their repercussions that must now be mitigated if cranes—and other species—are to survive and flourish, and the legislative and scientific efforts to preserve the diverse species and their essential habitat.
This Nature Discovery Journal is perfect for young and old explorers. Tuck your journal inside the included 8” tote with 18” strap before you head out to explore. Then record your observations in the 6” x 5” brown paper journal There’s even room to store the leaves and flowers you collect in one of the journal’s six pockets. Before you know it, you will have a memorable record of all of your observations!
Recommended for ages 5 and up.
A comprehensive book on Rowe Sanctuary, which sits strategically along the central Platte River near Gibbon, Neb., located at the nexus of the migration routes for up to 600,000 sandhill cranes each spring.
Features of the Rowe Sanctuary book include
Make bird watching in Nebraska even more enjoyable! With Stan Tekiela’s famous field guide, bird identification is simple and informative. There’s no need to look through dozens of photos of birds that don’t live in your area. This book features 117 species of Nebraska birds, organized by color for ease of use. Do you see a yellow bird and don’t know what it is? Go to the yellow section to find out. Fact-filled information, a compare feature, range maps, and detailed photographs help to ensure that you positively identify the birds that you see.
These laminated pamphlet guides are easy to use and small enough to fit in your back pocket. There are 3 guides available: Sandhill Crane Display Dictionary, Nebraska Birds, and Nebraska Trees and Wildflowers.
For avian enthusiasts, from armchair observers to dedicated life-listers, this brilliant book from acclaimed National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore celebrates the beauty of all birds, great and small. This elegantly packaged celebration of birds from around the world unites incredible animal portraits from Joel Sartore's distinguished National Geographic Photo Ark project with inspiring text by up-and-coming birder Noah Strycker. It includes hundreds of species, from tiny finches to charismatic eagles; brilliant toucans, intricate birds of paradise, and perennial favorites such as parrots, hummingbirds, and owls also make colorful appearances. Everyone who cares about birds--from the family with a bird feeder outside the kitchen window to the serious birder with a life list of thousands--will flock to this distinctive and uplifting book.
A pair of piping plovers struggle to raise their young on a beach where humans and their influence threaten both parents and chicks. Biologists help out by erecting a protective exclosure and all survive. Readers learn the importance of habitat for wild animals.
Appreciate the Adornment of Birds with this paperback book by Stan Tekeila, a National Outdoor Book Award Honorable Mention recipient
Feathers--possible the most amazing body covering in the entire animal kingdom. No other covering does all that feathers do. From the delicate down that keep birds warm to the sturdy flight feathers that allow them to soar, these marvelous structures are something to admire. This book is filled with stunning, incomparable photos, and it promises to delight as it walks you through the world of feathers.
Cranes can soar with your support!