Orison for a Curlew: In Search for a Bird on the Edge of Extinction

A very interesting book on a fascinating subject, but, for me it was spoilt somewhat by numerous annoying spelling mistakes ("emmigrated" and "consrvation" on p83, "Glastnost" on p93). The Romanian region of Dobrogea is spelt this way on p70 but as "Dobreaga" on p58. The Romanian ornithologist Istvan Moldovan is rechristened "Istavan" throughout and the Bulgarian Petar Iankov becomes "Peta Iankov" in the acknowledgements. We also have "whom [sic] I hope might have enjoyed this story" in the acknowledgements.

Excellent

A wonderful book with an excellent theme

Thank you. Well done.

Fascinating and beautifully written.

perfect

My one fear about this book is that it will attract readers who actually do care about the biodiversity and conservation of our planet, but that those who don’t give these issues a second thought will pass it by. Hopefully my fear is misplaced and at least a few of the latter group, which I fear is the vast majority, will take time out to read this short but wonderfully written book.Throughout his travels the author finds loss and gains, dismay and hope and some very interesting conservationists. I was drawn to this book especially because a sighting of Slender-billed Curlew was reported from the Northumberland coast some years ago, an area not far from my home. There was much scepticism voiced about the sighting and there is an element of scepticism surrounding sightings mentioned in the book. This is not uncommon these days in bird watching circles unless you have the bird in your hand or at least a very good photographic image, but thankfully this book does not focus upon ‘twitching’. The book has a wider focus than the Curlew in question and considers conservation in discussion with individuals in what in part is a travel book too, and it certainly gives you a sense of place. My regret was that the book was so short. I became absorbed in it and would have liked to have seen much more written in this style. I finished the book feeling sadness that such a bird has more than likely become extinct in my lifetime, but also with a feeling that all is not lost yet and that younger generations will show more passion towards nature and the planet than my own generation has!My recent introduction to Little Toller books has brought to my attention authors that I knew little to nothing about and in a few cases I shall be following up some of their other works, with Horatio Clare at the top of the list. The collector’s hard back copy of this book is well worth having and very well produced. I was so absorbed in what I was reading I missed all but one of the spelling errors mentioned in one or two other reviews. No doubt I will come across them when I read the book again in the future and I would agree that more care should be take in proof reading and production. A good book easily read in one sitting.

really thoughtful and bueatifully presented - is this bird extinct or not?But worth reading to consider the world we want to live in