Customer Reviews

Migrating Raptors of the World: Their Ecology and Conservation

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In his role as Sarkis Acopian Director of Conservation Science at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Keith Bildstein has arguably studied raptors on a more global scale than any person alive, both in person and in the literature. He has put this experience to good effect in this excellent synthesis of the research on raptor migration ecology around the world. The inclusion of information from the tropics, Asia, Australia, Africa, and South America make this book a big advancement over its predecessors. Bildstein's concise and precise text uses words economically to explain scientific phenomena and details of raptor biology clearly in a way that is accessible to amateur ornithologists and conservationists, while still being of interest and value to professionals. The references alone form a valuable body of work for anyone doing research in the field. And the migration life histories of eight species are unique and interesting, showing how individual species apply the general ecological principles of migration ecology in varying ways. Every hawkwatcher and raptor researcher will definitely want to add this to their libraries; birders and naturalists of all interests will be enriched in their understanding of the natural world by this book; and ecologists and conservationists of all stripes should own this work since it is about some of the sentinel species of earth's environment. I give it my highest recommendation and it would make a great Christmas gift for any of the above.

One of the criticisms of science is that scientists are 'preaching to the choir', that is, there is difficulty in passing scientific findings outside of the scientific community and into the general public where important on-the-ground decisions are made. In this book, Keith demonstrates the ability to take the vast body of scientific literature, as it pertains to raptors, and organize it in a way which allows the reader to feel at ease with the subject matter. A true eloquence is evident considering it was all done without the need to 'dumb down' the science which remains the foundation of the book. Each chapter, heavily cited, will be entertaining and educational to anyone interested in raptors and their conservation.

To me, one of the most boring topics to read about is bird migration. This topic puts me to sleep, it is that boring. This book, however, is interesting. The information is presented in a very easy manner to understand and it makes the topic of migration interesting. This book sites particular species as they migrate and provides theories and other information about the reasons for migration. Very good and informative.

Migrating Raptors is a must have book for everyone interested in raptors or bird migration. The writing is easy to follow and it covers raptors all around the world.
The book is based on the latest science and observations of hawk watchers around the globe and I know no other book that has more information on raptor migration than this one.
I've read the book at least twice and I often use it as a reference when I want to look up something in raptor migration.

I like the narrow focus. There are several great books on bird migration but none has a focus on raptors only.

I also recommend the following books on bird migration. They also have information on raptors although they also cover other birds:
The Migration Ecology of Birds (best book on overall bird migration ever published, with a focus on ecology and evolution)
Bird Migration and Global Change (important book on global environmental changes and bird migration)

If you care about raptors, their live, behaviour and conservation, get this book.