Gatherings of Angels: Migrating Birds and Their Ecology (Comstock Book) - Softcover

"Well-organized... Among recent books on bird migration... this is one of the most accessible to readers with a basic background in science, birding, and ornithology." "Treatment of the subject is excellent. Recommended for public and academic libraries." "Perhaps once every five years I read a book that presents scientific facts in such a riveting way that one wonders why other writers fall so far short. Able offers such a winning formula. His book provides insight into the complexities of bird migration, one of the most 'extraordinary of natural spectacles.'... I recommend this book to everyone with an interest in birds." -- C. Stuart Houston, The Canadian Field Naturalist, May 2002 "Kenneth Able has assembled the world's most knowledgeable migration researchers to share their personal and professional experiences regarding some of the most fascinating aspects of bird migration. Ranging from hawks to shorebirds and warblers, and from arctic to tropics, the rich vignettes provide in-depth and enjoyable reading for birders and scientists alike." -- Paul Kerlinger, author of How Birds Migrate "During the past decade, studies have made significant progress thanks to both fieldwork and experimental research conducted by the nine Gathering of Angels contributors.... Throughout the book they share their experiences regarding the most fascinating aspects of bird migration in the most lucid chapters I have read in recent memory.... This book is first rate: broad in appeal, readable, well-illustrated, it... is approachable to general readers with biological or environmental background and will be valued by natural historians, researchers, and students of animal behavior, ecology, ornithology, and conservation. One comes away from this book with not only a much better understanding of avian migration research, but also a sense of hope." -- Trevor E. Pitcher, University of Toronto, American Scientist. May-June 2000. "Any birder, naturalist, or natural history enthusiast will treasure this informative and interesting book that will serve as both reference book and inspirational reading." -- Dan R. Kunkle, Wildlife Activist "A superb treatment, written by a stellar cast, regarding one of the planet's most celebrated natural spectacles-the migration of birds. If you are passionate about birds, you need this book. If you are not passionate about them, Gatherings of Angels will make you so." -- Pete Dunne, Director, New Jersey Audubon's Cape May Bird Observatory "Essays, all highly readable, by scientists clearly humbled by the subjects of their studies. A must for all migration enthusiasts." -- Bird Conservation International * News and Notes *

The migration of birds has forever amazed and confounded onlookers. How do birds find their way to their destinations? How do they withstand the dangers and rigors of long-distance flight? The survival of migrant birds is increasingly threatened by environmental degradation and manmade hazards; their protection is more critical than ever. Gatherings of Angels offers first-hand accounts by leading experts who convey the beauty and excitement of migration while communicating important messages about avian conservation. The book features twenty-four pages of stunning color photographs with additional black-and-white photographs throughout.Two chapters of background information on migration precede chapters that focus on different species or groups of birds and the localities essential to their survival-from the spring flights of songbirds across the Gulf of Mexico to the massing of sandhill cranes on the Platte River. The authors discuss the timing of migrant travel; the routes followed; and the concentration of birds in stop-over sites, locations that must be preserved if they are to have secure resting spots with fresh water and ample food to fuel their journey.