Reveille in Birdland

'Quite a tale! Reveille in Birdland is playful, informative, and profound. The theme, that too many people are doing nasty things to birds for the sake of science, is not merely relevant-it’s urgent. '-Jay Adams, environmentalist and past president of Whidbey Audubon (WA) and Augusta Birding Club (ME) ' This story is incredible: It’s completely original and it all works magically. I also love how Reveille in Birdland reframes the global debate about how humans 'help' birds and nature. This book will definitely change thought patterns.'- Kia Heavey, author of Domino, Underlake, and Night Machines'Clever and original.  I read right through without putting it down. The story is wonderfully fantastic, and yet the descriptions of birds and scientific issues are true-to-life.'-Sanford Sorkin, author of Birding in Montclair, and past president of Montclair Bird ClubBillions of birds have vanished. The skies are emptying out. It’s a bird apocalypse!This message from an unknown sender reaches Buick Renn over the tweeter, ordering him to find out what’s happening to the missing birds.Buick doesn’t think twice about answering the call. He’s that kind of...bird. In fact, he’s a Bewick’s wren-tiny, even by bird standards, but with a heart that’s up to any challenge. He sets off from his home in the Puget Sound on a quest that will take him all the way to Florida.Along the way he encounters enemies and obstacles, ranging from jealous raptors to lethal wind and solar farms. With each small victory, his confidence grows and with it, his intelligence. He masters the art of hitching rides on cars and trucks. And even hopping freight trains.Reports of an intelligent Bewick’s wren travelling faster than avianly possible begin to hit the birdwatchers’ message boards. These attract the attention of an ambitious young researcher who wants to find out what exactly is going on inside the brain of this magical mystery wren. The epic duel between Buick and Erin Ye is eventually resolved in Birdland, where the birds put the scientific community on trial.What’s at stake? Nothing less than the answer to the original question: Who’s responsible for the missing birds? 6