A fascinating and nuanced exploration of why, how, and which birds migrate.

Bird migration captivates the human imagination, yet for most of us, key aspects of the phenomenon remain a mystery. How do birds sense the ideal moment to take wing, and once the epic journey has begun, how do they find their distant destinations? Fresh insights about avian movements are still constantly emerging, powered by new tools like molecular genetics and transmitter miniaturization.

In this book, renowned ornithologist and author John H. Rappole reveals intriguing results of recent scientific studies on migration, explaining their importance for birders, nature lovers, and researchers alike. Debunking misconceptions about the lives of birds that have persisted for thousands of years, Rappole explores unexpected causes and previously misunderstood aspects of the annual migration cycle. From the role of migrating birds in zoonotic disease transmission to climate change's impact on migration patterns, Rappole tackles crucial questions and ensures that readers come away with a new understanding of why and how birds migrate.

A fascinating and nuanced exploration of why, how, and which birds migrate.

About the Author

John H. Rappole is research scientist emeritus at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. He is the author of numerous books, including Birds of the Mid-Atlantic Region and Where to Find Them and The Avian Migrant: The Biology of Bird Migration.

Reviews
One of the most charismatic phenomena of birds is long-distance migration, and John Rappole's latest book on this topic is one of its kind. With his insightful book Rappole, an emeritus researcher at the Smithsonian Institute, turns the centuries-year-long paradigms of bird migration theory upside down, twists them and builds a compelling case to convince the reader that his dispersal theory bears the truth about the origin of bird migration.
-Community Ecology



Book Information
ISBN 9781421442389
Author John H. Rappole
Format Hardback
Page Count 344
Imprint Johns Hopkins University Press
Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press
Weight(grams) 658g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 27mm