Sy Montgomery

Sy Montgomery, a veteran of the Scientists in the Field series, tackles the unique and wonderful condors in this latest work.

Montgomery joins a group of scientists, volunteers, and students, led by Dr. Estelle Sandhaus, in their quest to continue reintroducing condors to the wild. From their earliest extermination for pointless sport, or execution by people who mistakenly thought they threatened domesticated animals, condors dwindled into being critically endangered and extinct in the wild. show more Even among conservationists, there was a surprising amount of controversy over how the condor should be saved - and if it should be saved at all.

Despite many roadblocks, they were saved and reintroduced to the wild and now several small groups live in the wild, as well as captive birds in zoos. However, like all the Scientists in the Field books, the "story" of the condors is not yet over. Condors continue to be killed by poachers, to die from lead poisoning from hunters use of dangerous lead bullets, and to suffer from habitat loss and even normal threats like predators or extreme weather.

As Montgomery follows the journey of these strangely beautiful creatures, she gives them a personality and a voice, showing the fascination of a unique animal that is more than a scary or gross reputation. She also introduces information about the dangers of lead in the environment, and how science used to save the condors crosses boundaries to help other humans and animals as well. She introduces readers to amazing scientists, including the awesome Dr. Estelle Sandhaus, who talks about accepting herself and succeeding as a scientist in an intellectually and physically challenging environment, despite her unconventional body type. We meet representatives of the Chumash, who once honored and respected the condor and are using the great bird to regain their cultural heritage. There's a wonderful look at the future, as a local school learns about condors and picks up trash to keep their nesting sites safe.

A follow-up mentions how the condors we met in the book are doing now, having weathered the fires of 2018. One can only hope that they are surviving the current disasters (it looks like some a research station was destroyed and some condors are missing, but a few have been found and saved). There is also a timeline, links for ways students can support condors, bibliography, and a wide variety of sources for learning more about these amazing birds.

Verdict: Montgomery is the only author, I think, who could really bring these strange and amazing birds to life for readers, to get them to see past their stereotypical "ugliness" and "gross" habits and show them as the unique, social, and wonderful birds. She brings the people involved with them to life in the same way and this is a book that I am eager to recommend to teachers and students alike.

ISBN: 9780544816534; Published July 2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Purchased for the library show less

A wonderfully short book with beautiful photos of birds of prey and an uncomfortable discussion about falconry which is a sport not for the faint of heart. It's also beautifully written and expresses how as the falconer you are always second to the hawk, perhaps they will accept you to work with them, but you are never training them, never master of them, but always subservient. To work with a hawk is to encounter agape, true unconditional love of giving to another and not necessarily show more receiving anything in return. show less

Full disclosure, I don’t read a lot of nonfiction. There aren’t very many subjects that can hold my attention for 300 pages or so, and I find most nonfiction writers can’t help but lapse into pages of excruciating detail about the minutiae of their beloved topic. The Soul of an Octopus by noted naturalist and author Sy Montgomery has moments of this, but she keeps the book moving with her personal narrative of the more than two years she spent working with octopuses. (Yes--the correct show more plural is octopuses as she explains in the first paragraph of the book.)
Montgomery, a naturalist who has spent her life studying many different species, immerses herself in the world of the octopus with the help of the New England Aquarium. Not only do the many creatures that she encounters become beloved characters, but also her “Wonderful Wednesday” crew that she meets up with most weeks at the aquarium. In The Soul of an Octopus Montgomery explores not only the unique and fascinating lives of octopuses, but philosophy, consciousness, and what gives an animal their personality--and possibly their soul. PK show less

This was a lovely book—both fascinating and deeply kind, with a lot to interest a broad swath of readers. The science is accessible without being dumb, and at the same time Montgomery brings the octopuses (NOT octopi!) and their personalities (yes, they have 'em) really vividly to life. Plus I love reading about any interest that attracts the oddballs among us, and octopuses definitely seem to fall into that category—I guess I can count myself among those oddballs now. Thus ends any show more pulpo consumption for me ever again, and no big loss. show less