Wings Over the Prairie

David Allinson is the president of the Rocky Point Bird Observatory in Victoria, B.C.

Wings over the Prairie encompasses both the art and the essays of Hans
Hochbaum, one of the first waterfowl managers of the Canadian prairies.
The essays, written mainly in the 1930s and 1940s, capture the “duck
breeding factory” of the prairie marshes, revealing the rich life and
dramas that they hold. Given the decline of waterfowl across North
America over the last 50 years (especially due to habitat loss), these
essays hold even more value.

The book includes a range of information from the breeding cycle of the
average duckling to its numerous interrelationships with other birds
such as crows or peregrine falcons. There is a certain poetry in its
easy-to-read style, and the text is relatively free of technical jargon,
even though it does include scientific observations on the breeding and
migration patterns of prairie waterfowl.

The photos capture both the mystery and the beauty of a prairie marsh.
Even commonplace birds like mallards are shown in a new light, reminding
us of their beautiful colors and natural grace. Also included are some
striking flight photos.

Hochbaum recognized the value of wildlife and wilderness, and our
innate need to seek wilderness. This entertaining and informative book
is as much a tribute to his early scientific work on waterfowl
management as it is to the richness of a dwindling national treasure.