The Peregrine's Journey: A Story of Migration

by Madeleine Dunphy, Kristin Kest (Illustrator)

Overview

Based on the migration of a real peregrine falcon that was tracked by satellite telemetry, this book follows the world's fastest bird on her annual migration from Alaska to Argentina.

THE PEREGRINE’S JOURNEY vividly describes one of the most remarkable feats in the animal kingdom. Beginning in Alaska and ending two months later in Argentina, the peregrine falcon’s annual migration is an 8,000-mile flight across the Americas. This beautifully illustrated book allows young readers to follow one bird on its journey. Along the way, the peregrine hunts pigeons in Seattle, Washington, flies through the night over the Gulf of Mexico, narrowly escapes becoming prey to a great horned owl in Bolivia, and more. Based on the actual migration of a real peregrine that was tracked by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the book is filled with amazing facts about the bird’s diet, habits, and navigational abilities, as well as stunning views of the many habitats the peregrine visits along the way.

Other Books in the Series: THE TURTLE DOVE’S JOURNEY: A STORY OF MIGRATION. Free downloadable activities can be found on the publisher’s website.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780977753925
Publisher:	Web of Life Children's Books
Publication date:	01/28/2008
Series:	A Story of Migration , #1
Edition description:	First Trade Paper Edition
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	840L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Madeleine Dunphy is an educational consultant who teaches children about endangered environments. She has studied and visited many of the world’s ecosystems, and was inspired to write books about our world’s great diversity of life. She lives in Oakland, California with her husband, Chris, and their daughter, Gwendolyn. For more information about Madeleine, her books, and her school presentations visit www.mdunphy.com.

Kristin Kest grew up in a large family of artists and scientists. Not surprisingly, she developed a love for nature through drawing and painting. To her mother’s amusement, she often returned from her daily bike rides with everything from pinecones and shells to bugs and dead birds. Kristin has illustrated more than twenty children’s books having to do with natural science. She lives in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania with her life partner, Sandy, and their cats, Romeo, Oscar and Jack. For more information about Kristin and her books, visit www.kestillustration.com.

Editorial Reviews

"THE PEREGRINE'S JOURNEY: A STORY OF MIGRATION is based on the migration of a real female peregrine falcon that was tracked via satellite telemetry by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service from its summer residence in Alaska to its wintering grounds in Argentina, over 8,000 miles away. The author begins the book by describing the events in September that signal to the peregrine that it is time to migrate. When the bird begins her migration, she tells how she uses instinct and her excellent eyesight to identify mountains and rivers that guide her on her way south. The migration requires a lot of energy and exposes the peregrine to numerous dangers. The author tells how the peregrine eats pigeons, doves and other prey and how she bathes herself after eating a messy meal. Since migration is tiring, the peregirine stops on the Texas coast to rest and to build up a reserve of energy for her long flight over the Gulf of Mexico. During her first night over the water, she perches on a ship's mast to rest. A few days later, she flies over Guatemala and then Panama. Along the way, she joins other peregrines on their way south and a flock of Swainson's and broad-winged hawks flying the same route. From Panama, she flies over the ocean to Colombia and then on to Brazil. As she nears the end of her journey, she begins to fly fewer miles each day. One night in Bolivia, she is lucky and does not wind up being dinner for a great horned owl. Finally, the falcon arrives in Argentina; where she will stay until next March, when she migrates back to Alaska. This well-illustrated, well-written book provides a wealth of information about peregrine falcons, bird migration, and predator-prey relationships. It would be an excellent addition to a school library or to a child's personal library. I recommend THE PEREGRINE'S JOURNEY highly.
—James W. Kessler, Spring, TX
Editor's Choice, SCIENCE BOOKS & FILMS

"Madeleine Dunphy treats both her reader and the peregrine with dignity and respect. The pictures are starkly realistic, but Kest also catches a subtle, appealing cockiness in the peregrine's poise."
—CHILDWATCH

"Madeleine Dunphy's PEREGRINE'S JOURNEY presents a young peregrine falcon's year migration beginning in Northern Alaska and ending in Argentina. It reads like fiction but is filled with facts."
—THE CHILDREN'S BOOKWATCH

From the Publisher