Earth, Water, and Sky: A Naturalist's Stories and Sketches

Corrie Herring Hooks Series

by Paul A. Johnsgard

"As I write this, I am sitting in a cabin at Cedar Point Biological Station in southwestern Nebraska.... The glorious elemental mixture of earth, water, and sky around me is the home of nearly three hundred species of birds, and comprises one of my favorite places in the world. Here no radio stations blare out the most recent results of meaningless sports events ... no traffic noises confound the senses. Instead the wind is the unquestioned dominating summer influence. The prairie grasses bend willingly and gracefully before it, and the leaves of the cottonwood trees convert its breezes into soft music." Paul Johnsgard is one of America's most prominent ornithologists and a world authority on waterfowl behavior. In these popularly written, often lyrical essays, he describes some of his most fascinating encounters with birds, from watching the annual mating displays of prairie-chickens on a hilltop in Pawnee County, Nebraska, to attempting to solve some of the mysteries surrounding Australia's nearly flightless musk duck. Reflecting his worldwide interests and travels, the birds Johnsgard describes inhabit many parts of the globe. Grouping the birds by the element they frequent most—earth, water, or sky—he weaves a wealth of accurate natural history into personal stories drawn from a lifetime of avian observation. And, as a bonus, Johnsgard's lovely pen-and-ink drawings illustrate each species he describes.

186 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that will be enjoyed by a bird lover, or amateur ornithologist. It consists of essays organized by an aspect of nature, ie, earth, water and sky, associated with its subject. The essays, some of which are lyrical and magical, discuss ecology and the behavior of birds. In some instances they discuss the threats to birds including the reasons for declines in their populations, and what actions need to be taken to save them. Although most of the essays were written over 20 years ago, the information disseminated by them still remains relevant today.