About.com Rating

The Bottom Line:

Despite centuries of study, bird migration still confounds even experienced ornithologists, and bit by bit, we are realizing that this annual spectacle is far more complex and miraculous than just flying from breeding locations to a wintering range and back. The Migration of Birds is a comprehensive but ultimately accessible overview of migration from the earliest legends and mythology of migrating birds to detailed analysis of bird flight and migration using the latest in advanced technology.

With a touch of humor and plenty of intriguing but not overwhelming trivia, this book is a must-read for any birder who longs to migrate with their favorite species.

Pros:

• Amazingly informative but written with an approachable and easily understood tone, though the intense scholarly detail may not interest casual readers.
• Beautiful photography not only complements the text but enhances it with informative captions.
• Quotes at the beginning of chapters continually reinforce humanity's fascination with migration and birds.

Cons:

• Lacks a bibliography of research materials, but does include a further reading list for additional study.
• Conservation warnings can read as extremely liberal, even preachy, but are adequately backed up with research and evidence.

Description:

• Title: The Migration of Birds: Seasons on the Wing
• Author: Janice M. Hughes
• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Publication Date: September 2009
• Format: Hardcover (electronic edition also available)
• Page Count: 208
• ISBN: 978-1-55407-432-7
• Price: $40.00 (USD)

Review – The Migration of Birds

"Birds triumph in their migratory feats. They are indeed the experts of long-distance travel."

Just how do birds achieve the expertise to travel hundreds or thousands of miles twice a year, often with shifting landmarks, little or no guidance and an obstacle course of deadly hazards to overcome? Ornithologist Janice M. Hughes delves into the mysteries of migration through The Migration of Birds: Seasons on the Wing, from the very first beliefs and legends concerning the seasonal disappearance of certain birds to the most modern, advanced research techniques that continue to discover new intricacies about how birds migrate.

Migration is far more than seasonal flight, as Hughes discusses in intricate chapters that go far beyond the basics of migration. From the paleontological evolution of flight to the amazing adaptations of bird anatomy and physiology to the multiple ways birds navigate and why these lengthy journeys are necessary, no aspect of migration is neglected. While that information could be overwhelming and may indeed be beyond the interest of casual readers or novices, Hughes uses a conversational but authoritative tone that keeps readers engaged. Witty bits of humor keep the factually dense text entertaining while providing even more insights, and stunning photography adds a visual element as well as informational captions.

The book is richly researched and Hughes references studies and research from ornithologists, naturalists and institutions worldwide, covering a wide range of species. Specific case studies are presented with individual bird profiles after each chapter, exploring details that, while related to migration, go far beyond just the journey, such as:

• Sexual dimorphism in the red-necked phalarope and how each gender migrates according to its needs with relation to the reproductive cycle.
• Physical adaptations the European dipper has for its habitat and the type of altitudinal migration it undertakes to stay within an acceptable range.
• Molt timing of the yellow warbler in relation to its nesting cycle and how the unique timing affects its migration process and success.
• Food preferences of the bohemian waxwing as they relate to boreal resources and plant health that can lead to irruptive migration patterns.

The book concludes with a chapter on the hazards migrating birds face and how artificial hazards are gravely threatening migratory birds at a rate that may not be able to be overcome, yet the consequences must now be considered. Yet because there is still much we do not know about migration, there is still hope.

A glossary of essential terms (pages 195-198) can help readers fully understand the text, though technical terms are also simply explained in the context where they appear. Both a general index and a species index are available for easy reference, and readers interested in learning even more about migration will appreciate the further reading list of more than 30 additional resources to investigate.

With The Migration of Birds, readers can better come to appreciate the mysteries of migration and how well adapted birds are to the journey, and in the pages of this spectacular book, we can get just a glimpse of how wonderful migration really is and can appreciate it all the more, even if we don't fully understand it. As Hughes says…

"There are many reasons why birds migrate, and many explanations for their astonishing abilities and feats of endurance. … For now, perhaps it is enough to say that birds travel because they must, they go because they wish to, and they journey because they can."



Photo – Sandhill Crane Migration © Serge Melki

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