The Condor's Shadow: The Loss and Recovery of Wildlife in America

by David S. Wilcove

Explores the cycle of loss and recovery of many North American ecosystems over the past two centuries, and discusses the factors that contribute to a species' vulnerability to extinction

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Environment, Animals, Science, Wildlife, History

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Ben Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very week researched and written. This was part a history of endangered species in the US and part a history of how conservation agencies have failed to protect them, which I really enjoyed. I don’t feel like there were really any strong recommendations for how to do better, which makes me feel like the last chapter (the namesake for the book) was a bit wasted.

[Ashley K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for every American. It touches on so many conservation issues in every part of the U.S., along with guidelines for what we can do better in the future to protect our most vulnerable species. It's scientific, but that doesn't mean it's dry. Parts of it will enrage you (did you know the Forest Service LOSES money each year on timber sales? We're cutting down our national forests and it's not even to make a profit-- it's a financial loss. I just can't wrap my brain around it) or sadden you (like the description of a single male Hawaiian bird, the last of his species, who spent 4 years calling for a mate that never came. Ugh, that hit me right in the feels).

I skimmed over some other readers' reviews and can't help but feel angry at people who dismissed this as a book just for nature lovers or birdwatchers. What these people are not grasping is that the issues discussed in the book are not merely wildlife problems. They're human problems too. The collapse of ecosystems is not something our species will be able to handle for much longer. We need more people-- not just "birdwatchers"-- to pay attention before it's too late.

[Jon Choi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Wilcove gives a great overview of the status of conservation in the Americas through the lens of a conservation biologist and ecologist. His book, though now somewhat dated, incorporates textbook ecology with emotive descriptions of American wildlife.

[Adam Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Humans are the worst

[NM · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. I got 50% of the way through and decided I just couldn't make myself like this book no matter how hard I tried. I wanted to, because I like the topic and you can tell it's well researched... However, the text is incredibly dense, overwritten, and prone to tangents. We start off on a paragraph about one topic take a 4-5 page detour into a subtopic, finally return to the main topic, and then immediately go onto another unrelated tangent. The point? We never find it. Also, for a book on both "loss and recovery", at least 50% of the book is just focused on conservation loss, after loss, after loss.

[Rrshively · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright, this has been on my list for almost a year, why haven't I finished it? This is an excellent book that everyone should read, especially those who make decisions for our country. The problem is that the ones who most need to read it would not beleive it or take it to heart, espcially if it interfered with their ability to make money or their way of living. This covers the demised or endangerment of species of birds as well as sea turtles, red wolves, black-footed ferrets, bison, ocelot, grizzley bear, salmon, and many other animals. Even though I have long been an environmentally aware individual, this book gave me some new insights into how and why species are disappearing. Now, as to why I didn't finish the book much earlier. Even though the book tells of some good news about wildlife recovery and some efforts going into saving our animals and plants, it is just too depressing to me to know how terrible the situation is and how little I can do about it, especially things that are already too late to fix. That doesn't mean I won't continue to do my part and that all hope is gone and I should just give up. However, the more I read, the sicker it made me. I skipped about 70 pages toward the end of the book and just skimmed the last chapter today, so that I could be finished with it. It's so sad what we Americans are doing to our country!

[Meagan O · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative must read. It probably should be a required read for everyone. I hope that soon someday that the world's wildlife won't be in extreme peril. Like some of the programs the book talks about. We need to get our act together and start doing better to protect our world and every animal and organism in it. This book states the proof that humans have messed up everything that they have touched with their greediness and selfishness and the meager a lot of times failing attempts to correct the tragedies they've caused.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book on the nature of species endangerment and extinction; if you're pretty involved/interested in it already, you probably won't learn a lot of new information, but it would be a good introductory book for anyone else.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. Awesome read for any outdoor enthusiast or nature lover!

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting, but a little dry and repetitious - like a newspaper article that goes on too long. Probably most interesting for bird-watchers. Not a whole lot of reference to other wildlife.