Flight of the Golden Plover: The Amazing Migration Between Hawaii and Alaska

by Debbie S. Miller, Daniel Van Zyle (Illustrator)

Flight of the Golden Plover is the first children's book that takes an in-depth look at the Pacific golden plover--a shorebird that makes one of the greatest annual transoceanic migrations on earth. More than a century ago, golden plovers were one of the world's most abundant shorebirds: massive flocks were said to almost darken the sun. But they were hunted until their numbers were greatly reduced. In the early 1900s, laws were passed to protect them, and today worldwide populations have stabilized. This book celebrates their beauty and their extraordinary life cycle.

This small but strong flier migrates between Alaska and Hawaii and other points in the South Pacific, traveling nonstop 6,000 or more miles. Through engaging story and beautiful full-color wildlife illustrations, you'll discover the fascinating behaviors and adaptations of the Pacific golden plover, which is at home on both the grassy slopes of the Hawaiian Islands and the remote windswept tundra of Alaska. You'll also share the adventure of life in these two very different habitats, and meet the golden plover's neighbors: the Hawaiian goose, nēnē, and Alaska's musk ox, grizzly bear, sandhill crane, and arctic fox.

Genres: Nonfiction, Birds, Science

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1996

About the author

Debbie S Miller has lived in Alaska for 40 years, and has developed a passion for writing nature books about the extraordinary wilderness and wildlife that surround our home near Fairbanks. When she looks out my office window, she may see a moose walking by, chickadees or gray jays at the bird feeder, or a fox on the prowl.

During the early years, Debbie taught school in Arctic Village, a small village in the Brooks Range. She learned about the fascinating culture of the Athabaskan Indians, the natural history of the region, and the wonders of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR. For many years Debbie's family explored this incredible place, studied the great caribou herds, and observed wolves, grizzly and polar bears, migratory birds, and other Alaska animals. Their many outdoor adventures and encounters with wildlife inspired her to write nature books for children and adults.

Debbie works closely with Jon Van Zyle, an outstanding Alaska wildlife artist who has illustrated ten of her children's picture books. Jon has lived in Alaska for 40 years and he has a deep love for the wilderness and wildlife of our state. He turns simple words into captivating paintings that authentically reflect the beauty of Alaska's environment.

Reviews

[Kortney Rupprecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Science: Picture Story Book Migration, Alaska, Hawaii, Tundra

Miller, Debbie S. Flight of the Golden Plover: The Amazing Migration Between Hawaii and Alaska. Illus. by Zyle, Daniel Van. AK: University of Alaska Press, 2011. Unp. Primary

Set in both the tundra of Alaska and on the shores of Hawaii, the reader follows a Golden Plover on its 3,000 mile journey from Hawaii to the insect-laden Alaska for nesting season, and then back again. The reader learns about the hardships that these fearless birds face during their adventure, interesting facts about the flora and fauna of its surrounding areas, and about their life cycle. The third person point-of-view, dramatic text, and soft detailed paintings added to the intense realism of this little bird’s mighty expedition.

AK: Golden Plover, Arctic Fox, Grizzly Bear, Musk Ok, Tundra

Activity: Pair this book with a lesson on migration, adaptation, and hibernation- explaining the difference between the 3.

[Christine Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the plovers! They are funky, and I like them:)

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for all ages. Read this to my kids when we were stationed in Hawaii. We had the golden plovers in our yard. Amazing birds!

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful tale about the Golden Plover, otherwise known as the Kolea here in Hawaii. It's a rather long story, with lots of details, and younger children will likely lose interest quickly (our youngest did.) Our oldest learned about this bird in school and enjoyed the story, but we still needed to break it up into two reading sessions. Nice illustrations as well; overall a great book.

[Correen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet story that describes the life of the Golden Plover. It has beautiful pictures and would interest a young bird lover.