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Great Migrations: Official Companion to the National Geographic Channel Global Television Event
At a riverbank in Africa's Serengeti, thousands of migrating wildebeest try desperately to cross as terrifying crocs feast on the galloping herds--which must attempt the river for a chance at survival. In the Falkland Islands, the albatross--king of migrations--journeys thousands of miles to nest despite the deadly cara cara, a predatory raptor. For countless animals species, migration is a dramatic, dangerous, and crucial undertaking...one that is portrayed in vivid color and unflinching candor in this magnificent book, companion to the 7-hour HD epic television event from National Geographic which airs beginning on Sunday, November 7th, 2010 . The book follows the sequence of the film, with each section highlighting a factor that makes these epic journeys essential. "The Need for Speed" documents migration as a race against time, in which freezing temperatures or scorching heat usher in a crisis. Incredible photographs document activity along the Mississippi Flyway, which teems with long-distance red-winged blackbirds, white pelicans, tundra swans, and the birds of prey that patrol the skies. In "The Need to Feed," the annual search for greener pastures means life must go on the march as hungry predators lie in wait. Dramatic stills show as many as 40,000 walrus trying to evade 200 polar bears...and a jungle terrorized by nature's perfect millions of voracious ants that work as one to overwhelm other species. "The Need to Lead" explains that migrations need generals, admirals and pioneers. How well the leaders keep their charges in line and on track will determine a species' fate. And in "The Need to Breed," the drive to renew the species forces every generation to risk it all. We experience the Falkland Islands, where aggressive, multi-ton elephant seals battle for the right to breed, and the lush rain forest canopy, where primates gather to feed and mate while smaller creatures glide from tree to tree.In every instance, both the migrating herds and the predators they sustain are faced with a new global climate shift. Safe havens are vanishing, and migrating animals must stay one step ahead of a changing planet. Their struggle to survive despite mounting odds, set against the incomparable beauty of the natural world, fills this magnificently photographed book with drama, fascination, and beauty.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 12, 2010
8 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 7, 2020
Purchase Great Migrations here for just $12!
Beautiful book with gorgeous photographs. From the small ant to the enormous elephant this book covers many creatures. Lovely book for nature lovers.
Alicia - The Book Grocer
Beautiful book with gorgeous photographs. From the small ant to the enormous elephant this book covers many creatures. Lovely book for nature lovers.
Alicia - The Book Grocer
November 5, 2018
Gorgeous photographs.
July 7, 2019
Very informative. Good text, great photos.
June 18, 2020
Such a beautiful book. Very eye opening with how humans have negatively impacted so many species.
August 16, 2021
The biodiversity on this planet is remarkable and we can all do a little more to protect it
500-599-natural-science
August 26, 2021591.568
December 28, 2024
Beautiful photographs and amazing information!
September 30, 2011
I have not seen the program of which this book supplements but that is not truly necessary to enjoy the book. The book was absolutely beautiful and I could not help smiling at many of the photographs. The photos of the elephants and zebras were especially beautiful, but so too were the crabs (could not help but smile at those) and whale sharks. In other words: they were all wonderful. The analysis for individual migrations included in the book were a bit more generalized than I would have liked but were about what I expected for the audience they were trying to reach. Some of the generalizations, however, could be misleading. One that annoyed me a bit was the innocent statement regarding how much a sperm whale consumes in a year. The book states that it is equal to the amount fisheries around the globe catch. This small bit of knowledge could be used to wreak havoc by individuals who would use such information as a reason to hunt these whales, claiming they are "stealing their fish". Sounds crazy but this is often the complaint and/or reason given by individuals/corporations/nations for hunting cetaceans. It would have been more thoughtful of National Geographic to include information about human overfishing, illegal fishing and other such issues to balance it out.
I liked that NG included some vital information regarding the need to preserve land so the species included in the book are not lost due to human encroachment. However, they could have included more information like this as just showing people beautiful photos and discussing their migrations may not be enough of an impetus to make individuals want to preserve nature.
I liked that NG included some vital information regarding the need to preserve land so the species included in the book are not lost due to human encroachment. However, they could have included more information like this as just showing people beautiful photos and discussing their migrations may not be enough of an impetus to make individuals want to preserve nature.
May 17, 2011
3.5 - I wouldn't have read this on my own but Julia's really into the Great Migrations shows so when I saw this I knew I had to get it for her.
I really have nothing but the actual show to put this up against - even though I have a 'photography' list. But this is every bit as informative as the shows are - for adults and children alike. I was a little worried about the gore because however natural it is, it is still gore. There isn't much here, some, enough where I'd mention it to anyone who asked about reading this with a child. After glancing through it before reading it with Julia I realized it was definitely nothing to be worried about. Julia's seen far, far worse and she seems to have a firmer, childlike grasp on the need for it, the nature of it, than myself or any adults I know. Quite frankly, she comforted me a time or two. (I'm a mess when it comes to half-eaten animals, no matter the why of it.)
This goes into much storyline detail and while it is somewhat repetitive, it makes for nice, special reading time if your kids like mine.
Some of the more general details that accompanied photos was almost exactly as with a previous photo. Different photo, same info. With all the info here something else could have been pulled IMO.
It's not a keeper for us but if a five star book like this came around that would be.
Sidenote - Julia knew info included here that I did not and she also knows what 'glean' means and uses it correctly. Amazing.
I really have nothing but the actual show to put this up against - even though I have a 'photography' list. But this is every bit as informative as the shows are - for adults and children alike. I was a little worried about the gore because however natural it is, it is still gore. There isn't much here, some, enough where I'd mention it to anyone who asked about reading this with a child. After glancing through it before reading it with Julia I realized it was definitely nothing to be worried about. Julia's seen far, far worse and she seems to have a firmer, childlike grasp on the need for it, the nature of it, than myself or any adults I know. Quite frankly, she comforted me a time or two. (I'm a mess when it comes to half-eaten animals, no matter the why of it.)
This goes into much storyline detail and while it is somewhat repetitive, it makes for nice, special reading time if your kids like mine.
Some of the more general details that accompanied photos was almost exactly as with a previous photo. Different photo, same info. With all the info here something else could have been pulled IMO.
It's not a keeper for us but if a five star book like this came around that would be.
Sidenote - Julia knew info included here that I did not and she also knows what 'glean' means and uses it correctly. Amazing.
December 4, 2011
I think this book is only three words. BREATHTAKING, BEAUTIFUL AND ASTONISHING. I love it. It has beauty, wonder, magical places and shows the beauty of nature, all in one book. It rolls in, making me sigh every time I see a astonishing photo of animals, running, flying, moving, and going everywhere, migrating to different places in the world and making me sigh with amazement and wonder in my mind.
Ever since I finished this book (Today, 4th December 2011.) it has filled me with knowledge, and made me sigh in anticipation, as I wanted to see more photos and information, and now, I know about the Christmas crabs, Golden Jellyfishes and more. I wish I could find a other book like this, as I love nature and the environment. Our natural world is the main source of beauty and wonder, not paintings, drawings and anything else, but nature is the main source of beauty and magic.
I wish that other people will read this book, as it has made a influence and bend in my life, and has made me touched to nature. I hope to become a environmentalist or ecologist to fulfill my dream of saving nature.
~Sabine. (Nature lover.) :D
Ever since I finished this book (Today, 4th December 2011.) it has filled me with knowledge, and made me sigh in anticipation, as I wanted to see more photos and information, and now, I know about the Christmas crabs, Golden Jellyfishes and more. I wish I could find a other book like this, as I love nature and the environment. Our natural world is the main source of beauty and wonder, not paintings, drawings and anything else, but nature is the main source of beauty and magic.
I wish that other people will read this book, as it has made a influence and bend in my life, and has made me touched to nature. I hope to become a environmentalist or ecologist to fulfill my dream of saving nature.
~Sabine. (Nature lover.) :D
February 2, 2013
From army ants and elephant seals to pronghorn antelope and whale sharks, this book follows the epic migrations of over 30 animals from around the world. The beautiful photography will transport you to unique locales on every continent, with stunning photos and crisp, high-resolution detail. I checked this book out of the library simply for the pictures, but found myself learning tons of interesting facts as I soaked in all of K.M. Kostyal's interesting words. Overall, this book inspired me to care more about our planet and the diverse amount of animals that populate it. I also have a renewed respect for the many animals that must swim, fly, or run for thousands of miles simply to survive, find food, and raise their young. This is definitely a beautiful book to either glance through or read cover-to-cover!
January 13, 2016
Great Migrations: Official Companion to the National Geographic Channel Global Television Event, by K.M. Kostal (National Geographic 2010) (591.568) is heavy on the photos and light on the text. Surprisingly, the photography is not up to typical NGS publications. My rating: 3/10; finished 2/23/11.
January 16, 2013
A great tie-in to the awesome show on Nat Geo. Still prefer the TV shows though, they give you a clearer picture of what's going on with animal migrations.
Anyway, great content, beautiful photos, and it really makes you realize how beautiful our Earth is, and why we should protect the migration routes for the survival of these majestic creatures.
Anyway, great content, beautiful photos, and it really makes you realize how beautiful our Earth is, and why we should protect the migration routes for the survival of these majestic creatures.
January 2, 2011
My favorite chapter was about a group of crabs that migrate every year to the coast to breed. Most years all of the millions of offspring perish! But, on that one year they survive, it is enough to keep the species healthy. Just amazing!
May 31, 2011
My favorite fish (well, one of them at least) is the wonderful whale shark. This book had absolutely gorgeous, two page spreads of this fishy as well as lovely pictures of monarchs and the Christmas Island crabs. Neat, neat pictures... text stilted.
February 19, 2013
Beautifully-crafted book. I love flipping through the pages looking at the photos. The accompanying text is informative but light, as one can expect from a coffee table book. Funny to call it a coffee table book, though, because it now has a permanent place on my bedside drawer...
March 18, 2013
I loved this book. Great Migrations follows the documentary very closely, sometimes while reading the text I can hear the narrator in my head. The photographs are stunning and the information follows the same pattern as the series. A great science addition to a collection.
October 15, 2010
Stunning photographs of animals migrating and fascinating text.
March 3, 2011
The pictures are amazing.
June 18, 2011
Beautiful!
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August 4, 2011National Geographic does a wonderful job providing data an inspiration for us to care about the planet and the many creatures we share it with.
September 26, 2012
Awesome book with pictures, worth every cent!
June 2, 2013
Amazing insight into animal migration, if you're into that sort of thing. I need to watch the documentary now.
April 22, 2016
Fantastic pictures. The accompanying text is brief but interesting and informative.
February 11, 2015
Beautiful photos, very informative.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews