Loon Lessons: Uncommon Encounters with the Great Northern Diver

"James D. Paruk has written a wonderful, personal account of loon biology. He recounts thirty years of adventures with loons, summarizing what we know about them in the context of loons’ basic biology and behavior. Highly readable and informal, this book is for anyone who wants to learn more about loons."—Charles Walcott, former director, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology "The magnificent loon is a stirring symbol of wilderness, captivating even for people who have never seen one. This account by one of the world’s top experts, authoritative and accurate but written in a lively, engaging style, opens up the mysteries of the loon’s world and makes it more fascinating than ever."—Kenn Kaufman, editor of the Kaufman Field Guide series "In Loon Lessons, James Paruk offers a double treat: introducing readers to the amazing biology, migrations, and mysteries of these iconic waterbirds, while also sharing the challenges and rewards of studying a wary, powerful bird in remote wilderness settings. Anyone who has thrilled to the yodel of a loon on a moonlit lake will love this book."—Scott Weidensaul, author of A World on the Wing "If you love loons—as I do—this book will amaze and delight you. It’s a marvelous, deep dive into these ancient, iconic birds: how they came to be as they are, from the conundrum of their unusual coloring to their strange and cunning habits and their haunting wails, yodels, and tremolos that summon wild places. It’s also a moving and compelling story of a scientist’s passion for the bird he loves and the extraordinary lengths to which he’ll go to fully understand it."—Jennifer Ackerman, author of the New York Times bestseller The Genius of Birds   "A complete and entertaining account of the bird's history and biology."—Star Tribune "Increased environmental awareness—sparked in part by the loon lessons of this book—may keep the North Woods echoing with their bewitching call for ages to come."—Natural History Magazine " A must have for all loon fans!"—The Birdbooker Report "Anyone remotely interested in loons or birds in general will love this book."—Dan Tallman’s Bird Blog "This book, almost textbook-like with its details, contains a plethora of information about loons, from their paleontological origins and histories to their current behavior and idiosyncrasies."—Post Bulletin "Highly readable and well-organized."—Minnesota Alumni "Loon Lessons is a charmingly written, engaging survey of the anatomy, evolution, ecology, breeding behavior, vocalizations, migration, wintering behavior, and conservation of the common loon."—CHOICE "In this highly readable and well-organized volume he (Paruk) kindly shares his vast expetise."—Minnesota Alumni "Written in an entertaining style with plenty of anecdotes illustrating the research data and scientific information, the book covers deatails about breeding, migration, physiology, calls and their usage, winter life, and loon conservation."—Ely Winter Times "Loon Lessons provides a wealth of information that’s neatly broken up into short sections, making it an easy read."—Northern Wilds