Description
Book SynopsisDevelop a New Appreciation for These Unique Birds
When you imagine these graceful, elegant birds, perhaps you picture them in shallow water, standing on one leg, waiting for fish. But there's much more to these cultural touchstones. Award-winning photographer Stan Tekiela takes you into the fascinating world of cranes, herons and egrets. His striking photography captures the birds in action and depicts behaviors that will leave you awestruck. Headings and small blocks of text make for easy yet informative browsing.
Discover North America's tallest birds through Stan's personal observations and years of research. Everything about them is interesting, from how they walk to how they fly to how tall they are. These historic birds are ingrained in folklore around the world. Stan has photographed every important aspect of their lives, from first flight and hunting to migration and mating. The result is a one-of-a-kind book that celebrates these wonderful creatures.
Table of ContentsThe Splendor of Cranes
Graceful Herons and Egrets
Remarkable through the Ages
History of Bird Feather Fashions
Family Distinctions
Mysteries of the Common Names
Roots of the Scientific Names
Sandhill Crane Subspecies
Changing Populations
Whooper Comeback
Keys to Saving the Species
Differentiating the Sexes
Size Tall, If You Please
Long-Lived Birds
Fanciful Feathers
Rare White Morphs
Youthful Plumages
Feather Grooming
Powder Down
Wet and Dry Washing
Sunning Time
Wing Tip to Wing Tip
Takeoff and Staying Aloft
Riding the Thermals
Hollow Bones for Flight
Muscle Power
Long, Pointed Bills
Weak Sense of Smell
Eyes for Hunting
Slender, Scaly Legs
Extremely Strong Toes
Designed to Fish
Menu Specials
What’s That Sound?
The Deafening Calls of Thousands
Building the Nest
The Neighborhood
Pair Bonds at Nesting Sites
Plume Shows
Spectacular Courtship Dancing
Mating Beginnings
Eggs in the Nest
A Month of Incubation
The Chicks Are Hatching!
Warmth in the Brood
Out and About in a Day
Rowdy Begging Matches
Sibling Aggression in the Nest
Surviving the Perils
Growing into Fledglings
The First Flight
Hunting Skills
Gathering into Flocks
The Urge to Migrate
Winter’s Rest
The Race Home
Back at the Platte
Our Elegant, Tall Birds
Featured Cranes, Herons and Egrets
About the Author
