The book proclaims Yellowstone National Park as the first national park in the world, but I tend to think this is a bit of hyperbole or over-zealous chauvinism. The first national park, the Bogd Khan Uul Biosphere Reserve in Mongolia, was created in 1778, predating Yellowstone by almost a hundred years.
But I digress. First or second place does not take away from the magnificence of this wonderful place, its scenic splendour and enigmatic wildlife. Most of the literature on Yellowstone has focussed on the mammalian life of the park, or its rank as a tourist destination, with little coverage of its avian diversity. Finally a book has come along to redress this egregious omission!
Fittingly the book is edited by three people with a long association with Yellowstone, and their love for the place shines though on every page. The cover, featuring Trumpeter Swans in flight, drew me in from the very first moment.
The book is rich in its coverage of birds, from residents to casual migrants. It includes a checklist of all species known to have occurred within Yellowstone's boundaries, their seasonal abundance and breeding status, an essential tool for a dedicated birder.
The chapters are structured around individual topics, so that each one effectively takes the form of a stand-alone essay. I find this technique very pleasing. If I were to visit the park for the first time to take part in a breeding bird survey, for example, or a Christmas Bird Count, the chapter Citizen-Science-Led Bird Monitoring in Yellowstone would be essential reading. Curious about Golden Eagles in Yellowstone? The Haunting Raptor: Yellowstone's Golden Eagles would be the segment you would want to turn to. I found this chapter exceptionally well done, by the way.
Each chapter is supported by a plethora of photographs, exquisite artwork, and charts, statistics, maps, tables and graphs to illustrate the text.
Thirty leading experts contribute to the wealth of information in the book. Even if you never visit Yellowstone, this is a book you will treasure and enjoy for years to come.
It will be critical to protect the park into the future and maintain its integrity in the face of increasing human pressure, accompanied at times by rank human stupidity. What is dearly loved must not be loved to death. Yellowstone is the patrimony of the entire world.
Ulysses S. Grant was the President who signed the document creating Yellowstone National Park. He'd be pleased to hoist a celebratory glass with you today! A toast to the past and a promise to preserve the park into the future would be a fitting ceremony indeed.
Yellowstone's Birds: Diversity and Abundance in the World's First National Park - Princeton University Press
Douglas W. Smith, Lauren E. Walker, and Katherine E. Duffy
Hardcover - US$35.00 - ISBN 9780691217833
304 pages - 8.5 x 11 inches (21.25 x 27.5 cm)
168 colour illustrations - 5 tables - 4 maps
Publication date: 10 October, 2023
I think this is a good book.
ReplyDeleteThe cover with the flying Trumpeter Swans looks beautiful.
Greetings Irma
You should come to Ontario, Irma, and a I can show you the real bird, magnificence in feathers to be sure.
DeleteSin lugar a dudas es un magnífico parque. Si el escritor del libro, era natural del lugar en donde está el parque, es natural que se deje llevar por el entusiasmo, al pertenecer a su país.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo
now that I have read this post, I can say I have never once thought about the birds in Yellowstone or seen any thing about them, other than here today. those swams look amazing on the cover.
ReplyDeleteI am quite sure that you are not alone. I was delighted to note that I have seen every species but two that occur in Yellowstone and I have never been there. Been close, though!
DeleteThank you for this review of this book David, And with every protection of a nature reserve I hope it will be a great benefit for nature and its creatures living in it.
ReplyDeleteWarm regards,
Roos
Hopefully one day I get to visit the yellowstone park! The park sounds like a keeper for the birders.
ReplyDeleteIf ever I go, I will pick a day when the weather is foul, so that few other people (hopefully) are visiting. I have seen videos of cars lined up for miles and that seems to destroy the experience of wilderness that is the reason for going there.
Delete...whoever designed the cover, knew how to sell a book!
ReplyDeleteThat's an incredibly beautiful cover on that book, David. That picture would have been nice to have hanging on the wall in the living room. Hugs and kisses, Marit
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit Yellowstone and spend some tme there, exploring as much as possible. Thanks for your review. Love the beautiful cover. Have a great day, hugs, Valerie xxxxx
ReplyDeleteGood fact checking David! Thanks for the review
ReplyDeleteYes, in all the various nature shows I've seen I've not seen much of anything about birds in Yellowstone. About time! :)
ReplyDeleteOverdue, to be sure.
DeleteThanks for the review, David. I agree with the others that the book cover is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful cover the book has, many thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Querido David como siempre gran reseña y el libro parece estupendo. Quizás tendrían que limitar el número de personas para visitarlo y bajo un control. Aquí lo hacen con un lugar que tiene una protección máxima y solo pueden acudir 20 personas por día. Se llama el bosque de Muniellos. Un fuerte abrazo para ti y para Miriam.
ReplyDeleteI needed to read this book before we went to Yellowstone last year. I was surprised seeing pelicans there, as I didn't expect them. Nice new blog header too by the way. Is that a photo from when you were on Vancouver Island? hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteIndeed it is, Erika. The picture was taken at the Ogden Point breakwater.
DeleteDear Friends, good evening! this epic post about Yellowstone birds gives me life...! those swans captivate me. Also that park is the country of Yogi Bear and his friend Boo jajaja! They all live in one of the first works of art of our Mother Earth.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, Miriam & David, both of you are divine in that new frontis,
kisses and hugs! 🦢🐻🍄🌙🌖🧚♀️
Interesting book for sure.....Yellowstone is known to be the the first "national" park in the USA, and for that reason people get confused and think it is also the first national park in the world; however, professionals that have worked in the Parks/Reserves system, we know that Bogd Khan Uul Protected Area is the oldest natural protected area stablished in the world. Originally, it is an area of religious value (buddhist) since the 1300.
ReplyDeleteThere has been an old discussion about which one should be the first park in the USA. Yosemite (because of the giant sequoias) was granted park status in 1864 prior to Yellowstone. Even though Yosemite is located in federal lands, its park status was granted by the local State Congress....Abrazotes, Marcela
Thanks for this background information, Marcela.
DeleteAhh, that explains why I thought it was Yosemite.
DeleteThe cover is beautiful and very different to other covers of swans.
ReplyDeleteSounds a pleasing book to read and so on.
Hi David - glad you identified Ogden Point. I've never been to Yellowstone and would love to have been - yet those queues really put me off, so perhaps I"m happy I haven't - I've been other places - though fascinating to read from Marcela about Bogd Khan Uul Biosphere Reserve in Mongolia - I've seen a few film society films of that area - which always intrigue me. I'm sure you've been near there in your trips to that part of the world. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteAnd so many idiot tourists getting out of their cars to feed bears, or take selfies with bison. Aargh!
Deletethis would be such a handy guide to the traveler!
ReplyDeleteI can confirm that Yellowstone's birds are one of the many wonderful and amazing things about the park.
ReplyDeleteLooks like an interesting book David.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cover with this photo.
Greetings Tinie
It must take fanatical single-mindedness to concentrate on small, feathered beings whilst in the presence of such magnificent scenery as that in Yellowstone National Park.
ReplyDeleteFirst I want to comment on your wonderful new header ... a delightful picture of you and Miriam. Also, I have to ask where you are standing as I love the background :)
ReplyDeleteNow for the book ... Yellowstone Park has been on my bucket list for years and somehow, I can't seem to get there, mostly because it requires driving and at my age it is a little far for me to go on my own or even with one of my elderly friends. But on my list it will remain and I will continue to look for ways to make it happen. In the meantime, I will invest in your lovely book so that I might benefit from the experience of others who have made the trip (more than once if I read your comments right). So, I didn't get a comment from you this week so I had to come to your post by going to an older post and clicking on your heading. Are you traveling somewhere that you don't have time for comments? I hope so because I wouldn't want to think all isn't well with you :) Hope to hear from you soon ...
Andrea @ From the Sol
Hi Andrea: We are standing at the Ogden Point Breakwater in Victoria, BC. The entire structure is decorated with indigenous art. I hope you will check back to read this, because I definitely left a comment for you, so perhaps I got banished to Spam. Better that you should check there. In the meantime I will return to your blog and try again.
DeleteSpam? I didn't even know Blogger had a Spam folder ... how would I get to it :)
DeleteSorry to expose my ignorance ... a techy I am not 😒
Andrea, Find your comments list and look for the drop-down arrow for Spam. You may be surprised at how many comments get thrown in there by mistake.
DeleteWhat a surprise to find swans on the cover of a Yellowstone book!
ReplyDeleteI like your new header..Handsome couple...
ReplyDeleteI was in Yellowstone park about thirty years ago when we were visiting my Aunt who lived in Jackson Hole..What beautiful country..At that time I wasn't in to photography or birds..The guy who cuts my hair just came back from there and shared many pictures..It's even more beautiful than I remember..I have to say that I don't remember many birds..They certainly took a back seat to the beauty of the country, Elk , mountains, etc. I think Yellowstone may be the oldest National park in the US.??
I'm not ignoring your book (lovely cover) it's just that when one mentions Yellowstone, birds just don't come to mind..PS Old Faithful was a big disappointment..
Well, I'm sure that from now on birds will be top of mind for everyone!
DeleteNice review David! Hope all is well with you! ☺
ReplyDeleteWe are about a days drive east of Yellowstone and visit there on our way through that area. I think people would be surprised at some of the species they would find there.
ReplyDeleteHello David,
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book on Yellowstone birds. I was just getting into birdwatching during my visits to Yellowstone. It is a great park to see all kinds of wildlife. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
A great idea to feature birds at Yellowstone Park and always good to hear about the nature reserves left in our world as humanity presses in.
ReplyDeleteAll our parks are treasured and those I have visited are dear to my heart. The Tablelands in Gros Morne here just about brought me to my knees in its eerie beauty, like wise the great redwoods of California. We are so very, very fortunate to savour these.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
Yes, protected parklands are very special indeed.
DeleteI like your header with Miriam. A beautiful cover of the book with the swans. Have a nice day.
ReplyDeleteHello David :=)
ReplyDeleteI am sure that I have never heard about birds in Yellowstone Park, and I never even associated birds with Yellowstone Park, but I will do now. This book will be a revelation to many people (including myself) who have never visited Yellowstone Park. The beautiful cover of the Trumpeter Swans in flight is captivating. Thank you for the review David. I only wish that my book shelves were not overflowing with too many books.
My best wishes
Have a wonderful weekend
Hugs and xxxxxx
Sounds like a book I would enjoy and a place I would love to visit! Thanks for the good book review!
ReplyDeleteLo primero tu nuevo encabezado, estáis los dos guapísimos. El libro como siempre me encanta, me gustaría conocer Yellowstone, pero creo que no podrá ser. Abrazos fuertes para los dos.
ReplyDeleteThank you, David. :)
ReplyDeleteThis book is a fascinating addition to Yellowstone's legacy. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete30 experts took part in writing this book, wow. I didn't know there was such a variety of birds in Yellowstone, David. I think the book is interesting. I love your new header, you both look good.
ReplyDeleteI’d like to see Yellowstone. I understand that summer is the crowded time, so I would wait until all the kids are back in school.
ReplyDeleteYellowstone is such a wonderful place that I love so very much. But every time I have been there I have been shaking my head in disbelief about the stupidity of some people, the complete ignorance. I guess they're all competing for the Darwin Award.
ReplyDeleteAnd if we get lucky many of them will win it!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book.
ReplyDelete