OPERATION SIBERIAN CRANE: The Story Behind the International Effort to Save an Amazing Bird

The heroic efforts of the International Crane Foundation to preserve a severely endangered species through education, a multinational breeding program, and an airlift of eggs from Siberia to central Wisconsin. Some difficulties can seem overwhelming--searching (by helicopter) thousands of miles of the Siberian Arctic tundra for nests and then identifying eggs that have been incubated precisely 23 days (the best candidates for the 14,000 mile journey); or getting a sperm sample from an eight-foot bird with a ten-foot wing span. There's almost too much packed into these pages; still, Friedman captures the flavor of the challenging quest, and the color photos are appealing--especially of chicks hatching in a suitcase, or scientists dressed like cranes in order to train young birds. A valuable portrayal of contemporary scientists overcoming obstacles, learning from failures, and making a difference. Glossary; chronology; bibliography; index.