‘The Eagle Watchers – Observing and Conserving Raptors Around the World’ Takes Readers into the Field alongside Researchers

National Aviary Director of Conservation, Dr. Todd Katzner Co-editor, Author

(PITTSBURGH – May 19, 2010) – In the new book The Eagle Watchers, releasing this month by Cornell University Press, co-editor and National Aviary Director of Conservation & Field Research Dr. Todd Katzner, and 28 other field biologists and scientists provide an insider’s view into their experiences studying and watching eagles in remote locations around the globe.

Their personal narratives, some harrowing, some humorous, give rare insight into the lives and behaviors of these magnificent birds of prey, and the challenges of studying eagles in their native habitats.

Each chapter is a field trip. The authors in this book have been stalked by grizzly bears and followed by the Secret Police, they have fired mortar rockets over a school gymnasium, tracked eagles from outer space, been guest of honor at a circumcision ceremony, shared an aquatic car with the Khmer Rouge and been press-ganged into a frenzied tribal death march through the jungle.

Their study subjects cover 24 species on six continents, from well-known birds such as the bald eagle and golden eagle, to the obscure New Guinea harpy eagle, to the critically endangered Philippine eagle. The book features stunning color photographs, information on raptor conservation, and a global list of eagle species and their conservation status.

Proceeds from the book will benefit Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania, and the National Birds of Prey Trust in the United Kingdom.

“My co-editor, Ruth Tingay, and I hope that through this book readers will gain a greater appreciation for wildlife and eagles, and a more personal understanding of what it is like to study these animals and live in their habitats,” says Dr. Katzner. “Eagles worldwide are among the most threatened of all birds of prey. As top predators, they encounter challenges faced by no other wildlife. At the same time, protecting eagles most often means protecting entire ecosystems, which is good for nature and essential for human survival.

“If we protect eagles, we ensure that ecosystems function and we protect the future of the human race. This book tells the story, in their own words, of the biologists who have made protecting eagles their life’s mission.”

The Eagle Watchers is available for purchase at the National Aviary gift shop, through Cornell University Press http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/ , as well as through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Price is $29.95. For more information on the National Aviary Department of Conservation & Field Research, click www.aviary.org .

Photos from top:
The Eagle Watchers
Imperial Eagle
Dr. Todd Katzner at eagle nest, Kazakhstan
Eastern golden eagle

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