Includes bibliographical references (pages 165-171).
Contents:
A place called Pahaku -- The life and hard times of the Platte River -- Nebraska's magical spring migration -- The birds of Nebraska's boondocks -- What is a tallgrass prairie? -- Close encounters with nature at Spring Creek Audubon Prairie -- The snow geese of the central flyway -- A congruence of cranes / with Karine Gil-Weir -- The whooping cranes are still surviving tough odds / with Karine Gil-Weir -- The strange courtship of prairie grouse -- The secretive shorebirds and their amazing migrations -- Birds of the tallgrass prairie -- Nebraska's city-dwelling peregrines -- The ancient romance of the yucca and the yucca moth -- A dazzle of hummingbirds -- A symphony of swans -- A plethora of pelicans -- A gathering of eagles -- A parliament of owls -- The feathers of winter -- A summing up -- Appendix: Latin names of plants and animals mentioned in the text.
Summary:
"A respected author and scholar, Paul A. Johnsgard has spent a lifetime observing the natural delights of Nebraska's woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands. Seasons of the Tallgrass Prairie collects his musings on Nebraska's natural history and the issues of conservation facing our future. Johnsgard crafts essays featuring snow geese, owls, hummingbirds, and other creatures against the backdrop of Great Plains landscapes. He describes prairie chickens courting during predawn hours and the calls of sandhill cranes; he evokes the magic of lying upon the prairie, hearing only the sounds of insects and the wind through the grasses. From reflections following a visit to a Pawnee sacred site to meditations on the perils facing the state's finite natural resources, Seasons of the Tallgrass Prairie celebrates the gifts of a half century spent roaming Nebraska's back roads, trails, and sometimes-forgotten places."-- Provided by publisher. "A collection of essays on prairie wildlife and ecology"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.