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| Customer Review: |
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1: Good ole' boys & and airplane
how a book rates is sometimes a matter of expectation. I had thought I would learn a lot about peregrine falcons and other similar species. I expected to read about birds, places and migration. The reviews indicated it was an enjoyable read. But I was tired of hearing about what mavericks the two charaters were. I don't think you could draw much information about falcons. If you want a book about the adventures of two good ole' boys as they ride an airplane following a radio beep then the book will satisfiy but if you want a book on peregrines, bird life etc. this is not the book.
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2: I felt part of the experience
The straightforward account held me spellbound. I felt the author/reader had an honest heart and had no choice but to pursue his quest. The telling of his experiences was informative and interesting. I was captivated and wished the book hadn't ended.
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3: On the Wing - High Drama over the Americas
What drew me to this book was its Title. I am a keen falconer and have kept various birds of prey for many years. This book combines the authors undoubted love and fascination for the natural world with a powerful personal drama - two mens quest to answer an ornithological question in the most direct way imaginable. Beautifully written at times Alan Tennant touches upon the very essence of what fascinates mankind about the Falcons it is a great read!
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4: would have been nice to have some dates
The author seems to be striving for a timeless quality in his prose, but it is really annoying that there aren't any dates in the book. Did he take these trips in the 1970s? 1980s? 1990s? He says "we knew that in the future birds will be tracked by satellites", but when was that?
If you're an airplane pilot, you'll be horrified by the chances that these guys took in a really beat-up Cessna 172. They seem to have done some long-distance flying without being instrument-equipped or rated and naturally got themselves into some dangerous scrapes with the weather. The author seems to have no idea how unnecessary this kind of risk-taking is.
The book would have made a really great 25-page New Yorker magazine article.
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5: Be prepared to be amazed
I loved this book! I have been following the Operation Migration program re-building the Whooping Crane population for years. This book adds a whole new dimension to the use of man made wings and bird migration. Alan Tennant writes in a way that the reader feels they also can see and hear the thousands of birds as he and George Vose fly through and with them.
I learned lots about peregrine falcons, but I kept my bird book handy and learned a lot about other birds too - including those amazing hummingbirds.
The sections describing the intense fear of the falcons in the bird population attested to their hunting prowess and keen vision and speed.
I am in awe of the birds and of the author's dedication and sense of adventure in trying to learn where they go and what they do on the way. As he says, satellites can tell where they go but not how or transmit the incredibleness of it all.
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