Great Plains Birds - (Discover the Great Plains) by Larkin Powell (Paperback)

About the Book

Great Plains Birds tells the story of the birds of the plains, discussing where those birds can be found and the impact humans have had on them.

Book Synopsis

2020 Nebraska Book Award

The Great Plains is a well-known and well-studied hybrid zone for many animals, most notably birds.

In Great Plains Birds Larkin Powell explores the history, geography, and geology of the plains and the birds that inhabit it. From the sandhill crane to ducks and small shorebirds, he explains migration patterns and shows how human settlements have affected the movements of birds. Powell uses historical maps and images to show how wetlands have disappeared, how grasslands have been uprooted, how rivers have been modified by dams, and how the distribution of forests has changed, all the while illustrating why grassland birds are the most threatened group of birds in North America. Powell also discusses conservation attempts and how sporting organizations have raised money to create wetland and grassland habitats for both game and nongame species.

Great Plains Birds tells the story of the birds of the plains, discussing where those birds can be found and the impact humans have had on them.

Review Quotes

"I started reading the UNL professor's charming and edifying exposition on the birds that surround us on the plains at the tail end of last year and couldn't put it down. So many fascinating bird facts tucked inside. . . . So many well-told tales. . . . The professor's book is part of an eight-book Discover the Great Plains series published by the University of Nebraska Press. May they all be as entertaining."--Cindy Lange-Kubick, Lincoln Journal Star

"As a lifelong Nebraskan, biologist, and birder for over twenty years, I enjoyed how this book connected the history of the Great Plains at a millennium timescale with current bird migration patterns across the nation, stories handed down over the last several generations, and delightful bird behaviors into a fascinating narrative. After reading this book, I have a renewed sense of pride in and understanding of the Great Plains and the birds that call this place home."--Kristal Stoner, Nebraska History

"From modern-day prairie birds (and where to see them), to geography, history, and conservation, this book is an excellent introduction for anyone wanting to learn more about the vast heart of America, the Great Plains. Wonders abound, if only we look."--Joel Sartore, Photo Ark founder and National Geographic photographer and fellow
-- (2/23/2019 12:00:00 AM)

"My high expectations were met when I read Powell's book Great Plains Birds, but they were exceeded when I found myself laughing and living vicariously through his personal narrative. This book is honest and important and presents a clear-eyed view of bird conservation today in our heartland."--Michael Forsberg, photographer and author of Great Plains: America's Lingering Wild
-- (2/23/2019 12:00:00 AM)

"Powell's personal love for the Great Plains and its birds is contagious. This book plays a critically important role in raising awareness, building appreciation, and calling for conservation action for North America's most threatened birds."--Martha Kauffman, managing director of the World Wildlife Fund, Northern Great Plains Programs
-- (2/23/2019 12:00:00 AM)

"This book entices and prepares readers to make their own personal connection to the heart of North America through its most inspiring occupants, Great Plains birds."--Sarah Sortum, rancher and ecotourism provider

-- (2/23/2019 12:00:00 AM)

"This informative book will be both a practical resource and enjoyable reading for nature lovers."--Publishers Weekly

"With this book, you are accompanied by your personal storytelling guide while discovering this underappreciated region of North America. Wisdom on geology, natural history emphasizing birds, wildlife management, and history is offered in an engaging narrative."--Gary C. White, professor emeritus of fish, wildlife, and conservation biology at Colorado State University
-- (2/23/2019 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Larkin Powell is a professor of conservation biology in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.