Overview

As populations fall and once-great migration multitudes wither away, the future of birds may seem grim. But surprisingly, from gnatcatchers and waterfowl to select groups of forest songbirds, some bird populations are soaring. Habitats and species that once neared extinction are now multiplying around the world because bird conservation is making things better. The Return of the Oystercatcher explores the recovery efforts that are not only preventing declines in bird population, but helping birds to thrive. From the spectacular recovery of North American raptors, whose numbers have tripled in the last fifty years, to the mind-bending resurgence of the Canada goose in Maine—which increased its population by 146,000 percent during the same period—Scott Weidensaul shares amazing stories of hope and progress in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Weidensaul also depicts the initiatives at the heart of this recovery, from the hyperlocal to the hemispherically immense: wetlands restoration, raptor protection, and bans on harmful pesticides, as well as the US Farm Bill and the preservation of sovereign lands by Indigenous communities. The result is a roadmap of breathtaking environmental resilience in some of the most unlikely places, including a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific, the vast boreal forest that stretches across Canada, a hereditary estate in England, and a watery wilderness at the edge of a Ukrainian war zone. Because birds are so diverse, so ubiquitous, and cover virtually every square mile of the Earth’s surface, the fight to save the birds is also one to save the world. The Return of the Oystercatcher is an inspiring story of what’s working in bird conservation—and what can work for the rest of the planet.

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9781324036784

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Superb… The author's infectious writing, illustrated with maps and color photos, makes for addictive reading."" -- Nancy Bent, Booklist, starred review ""Compelling… [The Return of the Oystercatcher] gives readers the tools to understand the complex world of conservation."" -- Kirkus Reviews ""Refreshing… A must-add to science collections, of interest to birders and conservationist alike, as well as being a balm for climate anxiety."" -- Library Journal, starred review ""At a time of doom and gloom, this fascinating book is a reminder of what is being done to save the world's birds—and by doing so, save us—from America's finest nature writer."" -- Stephen Moss, naturalist and bestselling author, Ten Birds that Changed the World ""I was amazed by this book. Weidensaul is a gutsy ornithologist and a gifted writer, and his deeply researched stories are fascinating. Some of these chapters blew my mind. He shows how we've already saved the world, from many birds' perspectives—a particularly hopeful and timely message for all of us."" -- Noah Strycker, author of The Thing With Feathers

""Compelling… [The Return of the Oystercatcher] gives readers the tools to understand the complex world of conservation."" -- Kirkus Reviews ""Refreshing… A must-add to science collections, of interest to birders and conservationist alike, as well as being a balm for climate anxiety."" -- Library Journal, starred review ""At a time of doom and gloom, this fascinating book is a reminder of what is being done to save the world's birds—and by doing so, save us—from America's finest nature writer."" -- Stephen Moss, naturalist and bestselling author, Ten Birds that Changed the World ""I was amazed by this book. Weidensaul is a gutsy ornithologist and a gifted writer, and his deeply researched stories are fascinating. Some of these chapters blew my mind. He shows how we've already saved the world, from many birds' perspectives—a particularly hopeful and timely message for all of us."" -- Noah Strycker, author of The Thing With Feathers

Author Information

Scott Weidensaul is the author of nearly thirty books, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist Living on the Wind and the New York Times bestseller A World on the Wing. A writer and researcher specializing in birds and bird migration, he is a native of Pennsylvania now living in New Hampshire.

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