Too depressing for me. But I enjoyed the photos, and appreciated the fact that there is a plethora of back matter. It was also interesting to learn that Joseph Mason, who painted 50 of the backgrounds in Audub0n's masterpiece, was only 13 when he joined him.

Oct. 2023

Great book. Introduces the bird and goes through history introducing the illustrators, hunters and entrepreneurs that crossed its path and fixed its fate. ( )

The Ivory-billed woodpecker is a magnificent, strong bird. At least, it was…before it became extinct. But does anyone know for sure if it’s actually gone for good?

How did the Ivory-billed woodpecker, also called the Lord God bird (as in, “Lord God, what a bird!”) come to be one of the rarest and most searched-for species of bird in the United States, and why? Collectors, scientists, and bird-watchers from all over were willing to spend harrowing days in swamps or mountains to catch a single glimpse – or even just hear the call – of the elusive bird. Researcher James Tanner and other dedicated team members did what they could to count the birds and protect their habitats, but big businesses making lots of money steadily encroached on their forests.

Read about some of the crazy reasons the birds were killed, the passionate people who did all they could to try and save them, and the rumors of recent sightings. Is the Lord God bird just a ghost now, or are there still a few of them out there?

If you like to read true animal stories or are interested in saving endangered species and ecosystems, you’ve got to give this book a try. ( )

Phillip Hoose has done it again. An amazing historical narrative of the plight of the ivory-billed woodpecker in the United States. The narrative takes the reader through a chronological and historical look at the events and way of life that eventually led to the extinction of wild species in the U.S. especially the Ivory-billed woodpeckers disappearance from the southeastern U.S. The author also describes the research of James Tanner and other scientists at Cornell University to find and document the ivory-billed woodpecker. The author describes the beginnings of wildlife conservation in the United States that were established because of the work of scientists trying to save the ivory-billed woodpecker and its specific habitat. The author not only tells the story of the ivory-billed woodpecker but also the story of the people who contributed to its extinction and those who tried to save it. The most compelling story was that of the last person to ever see an ivory-billed woodpecker in its wild habitat, a twelve year old boy. I cried at various points of this book. I have been up close to pileated woodpeckers in the wild and they are amazing creatures. I just cannot believe all the things that were done to the habitat of the ivory-billed and I can just imagine what an amazing bird it was. The author really draws the reader in at every turn and keeps you wanting to read more. The ivory-billed woodpecker is an amazing creature that could not adapt quickly enough to the changes in its habitat made by humans. It is believed by some to still exist although no one has been able to document one. This is a great book for studying wildlife conservation and inspirational to future generations. Inspiring as the ivory-billed once graced the swamps of Louisiana and students here can relate more easily to the topic. Even if you are not a conservationist or do not feel compelled to help with any type of conservation efforts, you will feel compelled to take a look at how you impact wildlife on this earth after reading this book. ( )

This book could just as easily be titled "Extreme Bird Watching," or perhaps even "Endangered Birds and the Wild-eyed People who Love Them." By tracking the history of American efforts to save the doomed Ivory-billed Wood Pecker, this book explains the history and importance of ornithological conservation in the United States. This story is framed in the larger context of examining the ongoing sixth mass extinction, and concludes by exploring modern success stories, which counterbalances the disappointment of the failure to save the Ivory-billed Wood Pecker.

This is not your grandmother's birding. At least, my grandmother's idea of birding was to keep a pair of binoculars on the window sill with an Audubon field guide at hand. But the birders in this book camp in swamps, narrowly avoid death by terrifying animals, and even have to navigate encounters with NAZIs. This is as exciting as birding will ever sound.

While I think the book could have benefitted from being a little bit faster paced, I would recommend it for use in Louisiana classrooms. This is because its tale is as relevant to Louisiana today as 100 years ago - depletion of our state's natural resources by corporations without concern for ecological consequence. ( )