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Review of "Wings in the Desert" by Amadeo M. Rea

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Wings in the Desert
by Amadeo M. Rea

University of Arizona Press
Hardcover
$70.00 Suggested Retail Price

Biologist Amadeo M. Rea produced this fascinating study of the O’odham tribes of Arizona and Northwest Mexico and their scientific knowledge of the many species of birds that populate the American Southwest. The book describes how these people studied the birds with an astute recognition of the important principles of their behaviors regarding migration and breeding. Rea shows how the cultures of these people were intertwined with the birds they found, both for food and ornamentation.

You might expect a coffee table-sized book like this to be filled with color photographs, but the pages are mostly filled with Rea's text and pen-and-ink illustrations. The book brings you to a new level of respect for the intelligence of these people and their incredible knowledge of these beautiful birds.


Rainbo Electronic Reviews published this review in our July, 2008 issue.



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