What do you think?
Hawai‘i’s Kōlea: The Amazing Transpacific Life of the Pacific Golden-Plover
Oscar "Wally" Johnson, the undisputed world expert on Pacific Golden-Plovers, and Susan Scott, a popular-science writer, have combined their knowledge and enthusiasm to create a book for everyone who admires the exceptional birds called Kolea in Hawaiian. With easy-to-understand yet scientifically accurate text and outstanding color photographs, Hawaii's Kolea: The Amazing Transpacific Life of the Pacific Golden-Plover is a handy, reliable source of information for both general readers and ornithology specialists.
Although the Pacific Golden-Plover is a member of the shorebird group, Kolea spend most of their time inland, favoring open space with short vegetation. This makes Hawaii's cemeteries, golf courses, and backyard lawns prime real estate for these migratory birds. Each year Kolea fly thousands of miles nonstop from Alaska and return to the same spot in the Islands, whether a condominium courtyard, a busy beach park, or a strip of grass in downtown Honolulu. As a result, many Hawaii residents get to know individual birds, calling them "my Kolea." In turn, urban plovers often grow tame around people, an endearing trait uncommon in other birds. Their human admirers see city Kolea as charming, alert, and personable--qualities that, together with their grace and beauty, have made them arguably Hawaii's favorite bird.
Observing the birds gives rise to countless questions: "When do the birds leave Hawaii? When do they return? Do they have chicks in the Islands? How long does it take them to fly to Alaska?" To answer these and other questions, the authors have gathered together just about every detail researchers know about Pacific Golden-Plovers. If you marvel at the remarkable birds that prance through your park, strut in your street, and rest on your rooftop, this book will make you love Kolea even more.
Although the Pacific Golden-Plover is a member of the shorebird group, Kolea spend most of their time inland, favoring open space with short vegetation. This makes Hawaii's cemeteries, golf courses, and backyard lawns prime real estate for these migratory birds. Each year Kolea fly thousands of miles nonstop from Alaska and return to the same spot in the Islands, whether a condominium courtyard, a busy beach park, or a strip of grass in downtown Honolulu. As a result, many Hawaii residents get to know individual birds, calling them "my Kolea." In turn, urban plovers often grow tame around people, an endearing trait uncommon in other birds. Their human admirers see city Kolea as charming, alert, and personable--qualities that, together with their grace and beauty, have made them arguably Hawaii's favorite bird.
Observing the birds gives rise to countless questions: "When do the birds leave Hawaii? When do they return? Do they have chicks in the Islands? How long does it take them to fly to Alaska?" To answer these and other questions, the authors have gathered together just about every detail researchers know about Pacific Golden-Plovers. If you marvel at the remarkable birds that prance through your park, strut in your street, and rest on your rooftop, this book will make you love Kolea even more.
- GenresBirds
80 pages, Paperback
Published November 30, 2016
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 5, 2018
This popular science book is both readable and gorgeous. The simplicity of the format matched with excellent photo illustrations made it a great primer for an unfamiliar species. Ultimately, Susan and Wally have turned me too into a "plover lover".
Read
February 10, 2017This slim volume answers most questions about Pacific golden-plovers, aka Kolea. Even though I have been observing Kolea for years, their lives in Alaska were a great mystery to me until I read this book. Who knew that they always lay 4 eggs at a time, or that they eat curlew berries in addition to insects? The photographs are very good and illustrate most of the points made in the text. The list of references will lead you to further reading if you want more background.
February 25, 2018
An engaging and informative little book. An opening chapter in question-answer format sets the tone for its readable, friendly style. Full of photographs.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews