An illustrated lecture by author and osprey expert Alan F. Poole
NEW DATE:
SATURDAY, September 7th, 2019
Time: 4-5 p.m.
Location: Museum, 2nd Floor.
Author and osprey expert Alan Poole, returns to discuss his new book: “Ospreys: The Revival of a Global Raptor.”
Reception and book signing to follow.
Alan Poole is the retired Editor of the Birds of North America (BNA) life history series — an 18 volume, 18,000 page compendium covering the life histories of North American birds. Initiated in 1991 as a print series, and completed in 2002, BNA is now an online project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, where Alan was an editor and senior research associate for 12 years. He enjoys having one foot in science and another in publishing, and takes great interest in the new world of online scholarly resources — how they are used and how they are updated and maintained.
“Ospreys: The Revival of a Global Raptor” by Alan F. Poole, published by John Hopkins University Press
Ospreys are one of the few bird species that are found throughout the world. From forests in Hokkaido to rivers in Oregon and islands off Australia, Ospreys steal the show as nature lovers easily watch them build their massive nests and tend to their young. The fact that the Osprey is one of the few large birds that can hover adds to its mystique, and to watch it plunge into the water, emerging with a fish clutched in its talons, is truly a sight one will remember.
As widespread as Ospreys are, not long ago they were under threat of extinction. During the 1950s and ’60s, scientists tied the decline of Osprey populations to the heavy use of DDT and other human pollutants. In the 1980s, Ospreys began a slow recovery due to the efforts of conservationists and through the resilience of the adaptable raptors themselves. Today they are again considered common in most parts of the world, although some populations remain threatened.
In this gorgeously illustrated book, Alan F. Poole, one of America’s premier Osprey experts, has written a lyrical exposé of these majestic creatures, describing their daily habits and exploring their relationship with the environment. Ospreys celebrates the species’ miraculous recovery from contaminants and hunters, chronicles their spectacular long-distance migrations, and unveils their vital role in bringing life to coastal habitats. Few other birds have such a hold on the human imagination. This book shows us why.
