Overview

An enthralling voyage of discovery to meet a rare and mysterious bird of prey that puzzled Darwin, fascinates modern-day falconers, and carries secrets of our planet's deep past in its family history. An enthralling voyage of discovery to meet a rare and mysterious bird of prey that puzzled Darwin, fascinates modern-day falconers, and carries secrets of our planet's deep past in its family history. In 1833, Charles Darwin was astonished by a 'mischievous' animal he met in the Falklands- rare, crow-like falcons known today as striated caracaras. These clever, fearless birds of prey stole hats and valuables from the crew of the Beagle, and they seemed unusually interested in humans. Darwin couldn't understand why they were confined to a set of remote islands; but he set this mystery aside, and never returned to it. Almost two centuries later, Jonathan Meiburg takes up the chase. He travels through South America in search of striated caracaras and their close relatives, from the fog-bound coasts of Tierra del Fuego to the tropical forests of the Guiana Shield, and reveals the wild and surprising story of their origins, their keen and flexible minds, and their possible futures. 'Fascinating' Margaret Atwood, West End Phoenix 'Hugely entertaining and enlightening' Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Genius of Birds

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9781784701550

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Reviews

Captivating ... full of insights into not only our planet's evolutionary past but also its future -- Hephzibah Anderson * Mail on Sunday***** * A lavishly talented nature writer, [he] weaves a seamless narrative from the most diverse observations ... a master of descriptive nuance * Wall Street Journal * A fascinating, enjoyable read * Bird Watching * 'Utterly captivating and beautifully written, this book is a hugely entertaining and enlightening exploration of a bird so wickedly smart, curious, and social, it boggles the mind. Along the way, Meiburg takes us from the Falklands to the UK, from Guyana to the Antarctic and Florida, and from deep time to the present and back again, describing in brilliant language why these birds--and their planet--are the way they are. If you love birds, natural history, science, travel, adventure, or just great writing, you will be rapt' -- Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Genius of Birds A book about almost everything... Meiburg tells the biggest of stories via the odd Falkland Islands' raptor, the Johnny Rook... The clarity, the verve and precision of his writing is perfect -- Tim Dee, author of The Running Sky

A lavishly talented nature writer * Wall Street Journal * A book about almost everything... The clarity, the verve and precision of his writing is perfect * Tim Dee, author of The Running Sky * I'm in love with this book. If you like great writing, strange historical twists, adventure, nature, music and/or birds, this will quickly become one of your all-time favourite books * Laurie Anderson * Captivating ... full of insights into not only our planet's evolutionary past but also its future -- Hephzibah Anderson * Mail on Sunday***** * A fascinating, enjoyable read * Bird Watching *

Author Information

Jonathan Meiburg is a writer, ornithologist, and adventurer who's best known as the singer of the band Shearwater. His pieces on science, nature, and music have appeared in The Believer,Talkhouse, and The Appendix. His unique career between the sciences and the arts makes him an ideal guide for a journey that takes in the deep history and landscapes of an entire continent, from the lush forests of Guyana to the windswept Falkland Islands. He lives in central Texas.

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