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The Kite and the Snail: An Endangered Bird, Its Unlikely Prey, and a Story of Hope in a Changing World
246 pages, Paperback
Published March 17, 2026
About the author
Hilary Flower
5 books7 followersHilary Flower lives in Florida with her youngest (16 yrs). She teaches Environmental Studies at Eckerd College. She holds a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia, an M.A. in Geological Sciences from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Ph.D. from the University of South Florida, Tampa. Her writing has appeared in many magazines, including Mothering Magazine, Salon.com, and Brain, Child. Hilary Flower is the author of the books, ADVENTURES IN TANDEM NURSING and ADVENTURES IN GENTLE DISCIPLINE.
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Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What an astounding book! I knew some of this wild story, but far from all of it. Hilary Flower, a scientist from Eckerd College, has tracked down exactly the right people, settings and experiences to tell the tale.
In recent years, the Everglades snail kite, an endangered bird, saw its usual prey, the Everglades snail, largely disappear. One reason for the Everglades snails' disappearance: the influx of an invasive snail that could outbreed and outcompete the native species.
The kites, in an amazing bit of evolutionary adaptation, developed the anatomy and ability to catch and feed on the invasive snails, which are larger than the native ones.
Flower, although a first-time author, does a masterful job of telling this story and then exploring all of its ramifications and permutations. Although she's dealing with some high-falutin' scientific concepts, Flower ensures that her lay readers know what's going on and where. It helps, too, that she's broken the narrative up into fairly short chapters.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention -- and commend her for -- the profuse illustrations in the book, which are a combo of photos, maps and charts to orient readers to what's going on.
The story reaches a stunning conclusion when Flower gets to go along with a couple of scientists who capture and band the kites for research, and she gets to hold one in her hand. She sees, at last, what Emily Dickinson meant when she wrote that "hope is the thing with feathers."
All in all a wonderful book and I look forward to Flower's next literary product.
In recent years, the Everglades snail kite, an endangered bird, saw its usual prey, the Everglades snail, largely disappear. One reason for the Everglades snails' disappearance: the influx of an invasive snail that could outbreed and outcompete the native species.
The kites, in an amazing bit of evolutionary adaptation, developed the anatomy and ability to catch and feed on the invasive snails, which are larger than the native ones.
Flower, although a first-time author, does a masterful job of telling this story and then exploring all of its ramifications and permutations. Although she's dealing with some high-falutin' scientific concepts, Flower ensures that her lay readers know what's going on and where. It helps, too, that she's broken the narrative up into fairly short chapters.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention -- and commend her for -- the profuse illustrations in the book, which are a combo of photos, maps and charts to orient readers to what's going on.
The story reaches a stunning conclusion when Flower gets to go along with a couple of scientists who capture and band the kites for research, and she gets to hold one in her hand. She sees, at last, what Emily Dickinson meant when she wrote that "hope is the thing with feathers."
All in all a wonderful book and I look forward to Flower's next literary product.
Displaying 1 of 1 review