Summary: Published to wide acclaim, this beautiful meditation on the fate of grassland birds has been praised for its profound wisdom and lyrical grace. Herriot, in a narrative that is at once intimate and informative, argues for the essential nature of these tiny creatures. He invites us into the unique world of dedicated scientists, passionate naturalists and such historical figures as 19th-century botanist John Macoun, the last naturalist to see the Great Plains in its pre-settlement grandeur.
Grass, Sky, Song is a blending of personal experience, history, philosophy and scientific research. Filled with evocative “sidebar” descriptions of threatened birds, from the sharp-tailed grouse to the chestnutcollared longspur, this graceful book demonstrates why Trevor Herriot is regarded as one of Canada’s finest non-fiction writers.
Eastern Meadowlark
(Allaboutbirds.org)
Reason for reading this book:
Several local organizations came together to create awareness of our local ground nesting birds, to be found in the Pine Run Reservoir. Local ground nesting birds include: Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Savannah Sparrow, Marsh Wren, American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, Red-winged Blackbird, Tree Swallow and Eastern Bluebird. This book was recommended by several folks involved in the project and I thought it would be fun to celebrate this collaboration by reading this book.
Check out the recently installed informational sign near the bike path:
Reviews:
Marsh Wren
(Allaboutbirds.org)
Savannah Sparrow
(Allaboutbirds.org)
Trevor Herriot's Blog, Grass Notes: http://trevorherriot.blogspot.com/; Check out Feb. 2009 for blog entries referring to this book.
Important Conservation Groups for the Prairie:
>American Prairie Reserve, National Geographic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvDKLElOjB4#action=share
>Northern Great Plains Joint Venture: http://ngpjv.org/
Important Conservation Groups for the Prairie:
>American Prairie Reserve, National Geographic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvDKLElOjB4#action=share
>Northern Great Plains Joint Venture: http://ngpjv.org/
Grassland Birds of the Great Plains:
1. https://www.worldwildlife.org/magazine/issues/summer-2017/articles/grassland-birds-of-the-northern-great-plains
2. https://www.americanprairie.org/at-risk/grassland-birds
3. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/12/ranchers-environmentalists-cooperate-to-save-birds-prairies/
4. https://www.audubon.org/conservation/project/grassland-birds
Sprague's Pipit flight song: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Spragues_Pipit/sounds
Discussion Questions:
1. What knowledge and experience do have with grassland
birds? Who are they, their appearance, songs, habitat, etc.
2. Which species did you enjoy reading about?
3. What impacts have humans had on the grasslands?
4. Discuss the causes for decline of grassland birds in the
Great Plains of Canada and US.
5. What does the author suggest for ranchers, farmers and
consumers to do to restore the grasslands?
6. What kind of links can one make between his wife’s
illness and the plight of birds?
7. Piping Plover are a personal favorite and I was surprised
to learn that this bird has 3 different populations, including living in the Great
Plains. Please look over their status
now and discuss:
https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/pipingplover/index.html.
https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/pipingplover/index.html.
8. Written already 10 years ago, Herriot shares a bleak
picture of many of the bird species. Where are they now? Are there any success
stories? Please visit and discuss:
https://www.esasuccess.org/2016/great_plains.shtml
https://www.esasuccess.org/2016/great_plains.shtml
Piping Plover
(Allaboutbirds.org)
Lark Bunting
(Allaboutbirds.org)
