Flight of the Godwit

BOOKLIST“Ornithologist Beehler indulges his lifelong interest in shorebirds in this briskly intelligent natural history of the Hudsonian Godwit and fellow shorebirds he deems ‘the Magnificent Seven.’ Backed by artist Alan Messer’s sublime illustrations…Beehler’s narrative is a detailed portrait of the birds who captivate him and a deep immersion into their immensely busy lives. All the while, he chronicles the activities of the birds he is committed to studying, revealing the countless things that make them special. A most worthy addition to any bird-watching and nature collection.”COOL GREEN SCIENCE, the conservation science blog of The Nature Conservancy“This book is an entertaining travelogue, as Beehler travels the backroads of rural America and wildernesses of Alaska and Canada as he follows different stages of the migration for godwits and other birds. He possesses a birder’s enthusiasm for finding new species with a scientist’s interest in understanding these birds and their needs. Interspersed with the travel is natural history information on these birds’ remarkable journeys.”AMERICAN BIRDING ASSOCIATION“Beehler found the perfect balance between scientific analysis and general observations, which resulted in an informative and enjoyable book with multiple layers.”FATHER-SON BIRDING“The more we encounter and learn about these birds, the more we love them—and that same kind of passion radiates from Beehler’s words as he sets out on his own journeys to observe and learn more about these birds…I highly recommend this intriguing book that is not only a valuable educational document, but a labor of love with which many of us can relate.”10,000 BIRDS“Beehler’s literary talents encompass both popular science and travel evocation, sometimes combining both. His descriptions of prairies, boreal spruce forests, open tundra, and boggy bogs are defined by the birds he sees and hears and framed by his knowledge of environmental ecosystems. His language is simple, often graceful, and always calm, even when he’s caught in a life-threatening supercell in Great Salt Plains State Park, Oklahoma…There is a lot here. But Beehler’s main goal seems to be to share the joy of the birding road, and in that he has masterfully succeeded.”“A must-read for bird lovers. Bruce Beehler leads readers with expertise and awe as he travels through North America in search of amazing shorebirds. Along the journey we learn about their remarkable migrations and the biology that makes such feats possible. Most importantly, this book is an imperative reminder that with dramatic declines in shorebirds, conservation efforts help ensure they’ll always be around for us to enjoy.” —Michael J. Parr, president of the American Bird Conservancy“If you’ve ever wanted to join the great shorebird migration across the hemisphere, this book will take you along on this magnificent and magical journey. Beehler’s captivating blend of travelogue and bird guide takes you as close to flying with the birds as there is.” —Anders and Beverly Gyllenhaal, authors of A Wing and a Prayer: The Race to Save Our Vanishing Birds“Beehler’s love for and dedication to shorebirds, a group too often ignored, shines in this part travelogue and part summary of the latest migration science. How does a bird fly nonstop from Alaska to New Zealand, over water, with no rest, as many as forty times in its miraculous feathered life? Beehler tells us how and calls on us to help protect the planet’s super-migrators.” —Trish O’Kane, author of Birding to Change the World“Beehler translates the enigmatic journeys of shorebirds with striking clarity and enthusiasm. The intricate illustrations transported me right back to the field.”—Priyanka Kumar, author of Conversations with Birds

Bruce M. Beehler is an ornithologist, naturalist, conservationist, lecturer, and author of nature books including North on the Wing- Travels with the Songbird Migration of Spring, Birds of North America- A Photographic Atlas, and New Guinea- Nature and Culture of Earth’s Grandest Island. He is a research associate in the division of birds at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

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