Pamela Hickman,
Birds of Prey Rescue (Changing the Future for Endangered Wildlife Series)
Firefly Books, 2006

Rating: G

Birds of Prey Rescue is just one of over thirty books Pamela Hickman has written about nature and reflects a wealth of research and personal knowledge. The focus of this resource is to explore the protection and reintegration of birds of prey (raptors) and the protection and conservation of these birds’ natural habitats. Hickman relates what precipitated the decline of different bird populations (Philippine eagle, burrowing owl, California condor, peregrine falcon, Spanish imperial eagle, Oriental white-backed vulture), what is currently being done to reverse these declines, and what needs to occur in the future to remove these birds of prey from the list of endangered species. Along the way, Hickman introduces people who have chosen careers in fields related to her research.

This is a good resource on many levels. The information is current and presented under clear and organized headings. Research is concise and the photographs are attractive and informative. There is also an excellent section at the end of the book that includes contact information for multiple Canadian and international conservation facilities and organizations. There is some repetition of information and some of the technical vocabulary is not defined the first time a term is used, but these criticisms are minor. On the whole, this is a valuable resource for students and educators.

Thematic Links: Wildlife Conservation; Habitat Protection; Endangered Species

Angela Thompson
Vol. 12, number 2
December 2006

*Rating System:
E - Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!
G - Good, even great at times, generally useful!
A - Average, all right, has its applications.
P - Problematic, puzzling, poorly presented.