The Race to Save the World's Rarest Bird: The Discovery and Death of the Po'ouli (Hardcover)

by Alvin Powell (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Thirty years ago researchers discovered a previously unknown species of bird in the rain-soaked and remote mountains of Hawaii. As they studied the creature--which sported a black mask and was called the po'ouli--they soon learned that its population was shrinking quickly, and they worked frantically to find out what was killing the species and how they might prevent its extinction. This fast-paced account of their work, done in one of the world's most inhospitable environments, describes a stirring fight for survival. It also illustrates the challeng of protecting endangerd species in a rapidly changing world.

About the Author
Alvin Powell is a science writer for the Harvard University News Office. This is his first book.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books (March 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081173448X
• ISBN-13: 978-0811734486
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #648,446 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, important story of extinction in our times, March 26, 2008

By	Laura-lynne Powell (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A compelling account of the discovery of a tiny bird in the Hawaiian rain forest and the desperate efforts to save it from extinction. Author Al Powell has allowed us to see in a concrete way man's impact on the environment and the effectiveness of the policies and technologies we use to protect species endangered because of it. His story allows us to work alongside biologists as they celebrate the discovery of the bird in the 1970s and experience their growing horror over its fast-dwindling numbers. By the 1990s only three birds remained in wild. He shows how biologists' attempts to save the bird culminates in captive breeding that fails in 2004 as they witness the last known member of a species die in a cage. Must reading for nature lovers, bird lovers, science buffs and anyone concerned about the world we live in.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true-life, real-people story about a struggle to save a species., August 31, 2008

By	Kim Forrest (Los Banos, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

A true-life, real-people story about a struggle to save a species. This book is very captivating, well-researched, well-written, and extraordinarily referenced. It really captures the passion that conservationists have, how closely entwined their work is with their personal beliefs and values, and how personally devastated they are by conservation losses. It captures the sometimes agonizing triage that conservationists in Hawaii have to deal with on a daily basis -- as well as the incredible Hawaiian landscapes that fuel their passion.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting read, July 22, 2008

By	C. Barnard (Simsbury, CT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It isn't often that I pick up a non-fiction book but after hearing about this book from a friend, I got myself a copy. At first I figured I would read a few pages a day between reading my other 'summer' reads but I found that I couldn't put it down. Mr. Powell paints a vivid picture of not only the fate of this poor bird but how man can very easily alter the environment of an entire island. I learned more than I expected about extinction and how our government attempts to manage it.

I recommend this book to any bird lover or anyone who wants to get a better grasp of what it really means to save the environment. I even recommended it to my husband and he, too, read it cover to cover.