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Imperial Dreams : Tracking the Imperial Woodpecker Through the Wild Sierra Madre by Tim Gallagher (2013, Hardcover)
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- Buy it nowImperial Dreams: Tracking the Imperial Woodpecker Through the Wild Sierra Madre
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About this product
Product Identifiers
PublisherFree Press
ISBN-101439191522
ISBN-139781439191521
eBay Product ID (ePID)117223445
Product Key Features
Book TitleImperial Dreams : Tracking the Imperial Woodpecker Through the Wild Sierra Madre
Number of Pages304 Pages
LanguageEnglish
Publication Year2013
TopicMexico, General, Regional, Birdwatching Guides, Animals / Birds
IllustratorYes
GenreNature, Travel
AuthorTim Gallagher
FormatHardcover
Dimensions
Item Height1.1 in
Item Weight16.7 Oz
Item Length9 in
Item Width6 in
Additional Product Features
Intended AudienceTrade
LCCN2013-005233
ReviewsTim Gallagher's Imperial Dreams is unique, a blend of natural and tragic human history and Indiana Jones-style adventure. Imagine venturing into the mountainous heart of Mexico's narcotraficante country armed only with pictures of a great bird that may or may not be extinct. This is Tim Gallagher's most exciting book, and may be his best., Gallagher is a wonderful storyteller with the brain of an ornithologist and the nerve of a spelunker. Every time I put this book down, I picked it up again to take in just one more chapter, lured onward by the same tantalizing shards of evidence that kept Gallagher in the game, aghast at the risks he took, immersed in the cold, forbidding landscape; enthralled by the scimitar-clawed grip of the worlds largest woodpecker on hisand my-- imagination., A Top 10 Science & Health Book of 2013 "Gallagher has set a gold standard for nature writing. A triumph.", Imperial Dreams by Tim Gallagher is a natural history of the world's most spectacular woodpecker and a mystery... It starts as a lighthearted adventure and becomes a tragedy and a tale of terror.... one to excite adventure travelers ...an unforgettable tale of loss... Excellent adventure., A unique and personal perspective on what could be one of the most significant ornithological events of the last hundred years., Popular science writing at its best.... A gem. Gallagher has set a gold standard for nature writing. A triumph., Gallagher combines an in-depth, extensively researched historical account of the region with an equally impressive detailed account of his own experiences there., Gallagher is a wonderful storyteller with the brain of an ornithologist and the nerve of a spelunker. Every time I put this book down, I picked it up again to take in just one more chapter, lured onward by the same tantalizing shards of evidence that kept Gallagher in the game, aghast at the risks he took, immersed in the cold, forbidding landscape; enthralled by the scimitar-clawed grip of the world's largest woodpecker on his-and my-- imagination., If you get to know Tim, as I have, you will learn that this most American of all men is actually British and part of a long tradition of explorers who step unselfconsciously where lesser men fear to tread. He also loves birds and is an expert on all aspects of birdlife. One day soon, I hope, the Queen will recognize Tim's contributions to top-flight ornithology and put him on her Honours List...
SynopsisNaturalist Tim Gallagher journeys deep into the savagely beautiful Sierra Madre, home to rich wildlife and other natural treasures--and also to Mexican drug cartels--in a dangerous quest to locate the rarest bird in the world--the possibly extinct Imperial Woodpecker, the largest of all carpinteros . Explorer and naturalist Tim Gallagher is obsessed with rare birds. A decade ago, Gallagher was one of the rediscoverers of the legendary ivory-billed woodpecker, which most scientists believed had been extinct for more than half a century--an event that caused an international stir. Now, in Imperial Dreams, Gallagher once again hits the trail, journeying deep into Mexico's savagely beautiful Sierra Madre Occidental, home to rich wildlife, as well as to Mexican drug cartels, in a perilous quest to locate the most elusive bird in the world--the imperial woodpecker, a giant among its clan. The imperial woodpecker's trumpetlike calls and distinctive hammering on massive pines once echoed through the high forests. Two feet tall, with deep black plumage, a brilliant snow-white shield on its back, and a crimson crest, the imperial woodpecker had largely disappeared fifty years ago, though reports persist of the bird still flying through remote mountain stands. In an attempt to find and protect the imperial woodpecker in its last habitat, Gallagher is guided by a map of sightings of this natural treasure of the Sierra Madre, bestowed on him by a friend on his deathbed. Charged with continuing the quest of a line of distinguished naturalists, including the great Aldo Leopold, Gallagher treks through this mysterious, historically untamed and untamable territory. Here, where an ancient petroglyph of the imperial can still be found, Geronimo led Apaches in their last stand, William Randolph Hearst held a storied million-acre ranch, and Pancho Villa once roamed, today ruthless drug lords terrorize residents and steal and strip the land. Gallagher's passionate quest takes a harrowing turn as he encounters armed drug traffickers, burning houses, and fleeing villagers. His mission becomes a life-and-death drama that will keep armchair adventurers enthralled as he chases truth in the most dangerous of habitats.
LC Classification NumberQL696.P56G353 2013
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Ratings and reviews
Most relevant reviews
- 10 Feb, 2017
Great reading. Author's research put him and friends at risk of life. He loves his topic and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- 28 Jan, 2020
Historic
Great topic great read and very coolVerified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
