"A Wing and a Prayer: The Race to Save Our Vanishing Birds" by Anders and Beverly Gyllenhaal is a captivating and eye-opening account of the efforts to combat the alarming decline of the North American bird population. The authors, who are veteran journalists and avid birders, traveled across the continent and beyond to document the stories of scientists, conservationists, and bird enthusiasts who are working on bold, experimental, and sometimes controversial projects to save our feathered friends from the brink of extinction.

The book covers a wide range of topics, from the shocking revelation that nearly three billion birds have vanished over the past fifty years, to the innovative technologies and techniques that are being used to restore and protect the avian diversity and abundance. The authors take the readers on a journey to witness the challenges and successes of various rescue missions, such as releasing lab-bred mosquitoes to save Hawaii's native forest birds, hatching Florida grasshopper sparrows in captivity, using artificial intelligence to monitor the California spotted owl, and even reviving the long-extinct passenger pigeon with genomics.

The book is not only informative and engaging, but also inspiring and hopeful. The authors show that despite the daunting threats and obstacles, there are still many dedicated and passionate people who are fighting for the survival of the birds and the health of the planet. The book also offers practical advice and resources for the readers who want to join the cause and make a difference. A Wing and a Prayer is a must-read for anyone who cares about birds, nature, and the future of our world.

Birds have been documented by humans for hundreds of years. Birding is a popular activity, so we know that numbers of birds have plummeted in the past few decades. Many species are in trouble or declining, all over the world. What is being done to protect and preserve these species?

The authors traveled and documented many projects that are trying to help save the birds. This is the story of that and what they learned along the way. They tell the reader about efforts to use DNA to bring back extinct species. How some places are using mosquitoes to try to save birds! There is so much more. The stories can be depressing, since it is the activities of humans that placed these species in peril. But, there is also hope, because we can try to use science and creativity to help bring the birds back.

As a reader, I found sadness in the plight of the birds. I have seen declines in my own region, where we have lost some once-common birds. But, I love the ingenuity that was demonstrated in the projects in this book and it give me hope that maybe there's a chance to still save the birds.

Great book. This is a fascinating look at what is being done to save birds. I was engrossed in this book and learned so much.

This book started off slow for me, but picked up as I continued the read. I was not able to finish this book as it was archived while I was in the middle of it. It does present the future we face if we do not address what is happening to our world. It shows that climate change and things we would not even think affect the lives of birds, in turn affect us. I give it three stars as I was not able to finish it. I thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced peek.

This is a timely and important read for all of us - I knew the bird population was in trouble but did not know the magnitude of the problem The authors are a journalist couple who toured multiple states in North America as well as Central America (Ecuador most notably because of the large number of bird species) In the past 50 years, nearly one-third of the bird population in North America (which equals an astonishing 3 billion birds) has disappeared due to loss of habitat, invasive predators, urban sprawl and climate change. The authors take an Airstream on the road as they travel to visit different habitats and organizations that are focused on conservation and making experiments to address the root causes of the endangerment of bird species. Organizations are finally recognizing the need to collaborate on solutions and this includes corporations, government, not-for-profit organizations as well as individual birders and communities. Many of the solutions give me some hope -- such as "renting" farmers' land during the migration in the central valley of California or working with ranchers and the military to help protect the habitats of endangered species. The rise of technology has enabled individuals to help track and count birds (citizen research) such as E-Bird and BirdCast Each chapter begins with a beautiful photo of a bird including ones that are most endangered right now including ones that in the past that were considered "common." (and this is when I finally recognized how big the problem is). The book ends with practical solutions individuals can adopt - and it gave me a lot of ideas of how I can help. The book left me feeling hopeful -- it is easier to face the problem when we know the magnitude of it and can take steps to create change. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC and I left this honest review voluntarily.

I live in a suburb on a Great Lake and my sister lives on a farm in south central Wisconsin, so we both were of the opinion that the most major cause of the drastic reduction in songbirds that we observed was due to deadly chemical pollution by farmers and those who want weed-free lawns. We're not birders, so we have no documentation, but we are each observant septuagenarians who love birdsong. But what these dedicated and committed people from various NGOs as well as government Fish and Wildlife service are doing to identify causes and in some cases bring nearly extinct species back to life is beyond impressive. Habitat often cannot be restored, but it's destruction can be halted, and sometimes the species might be relocated to a comparable habitat in some small way that helps to improve their numbers. This book details their efforts in a very personal way and should serve as a call to action for each and every one of us. Very impressive!
I requested and received an EARC from Simon & Schuster Publishers via NetGalley. Thank you!
#BringBirdsBack

I really enjoyed this book. I'm passionate about conservation (and the environment, in general), but have never had a particular interest in birds. (I don't dislike them, but if I tried to identify a bird, I'd probably be wrong nine times out of ten.) That said, this was a compelling read.

I definitely prefer some of the conservation efforts to others, but they were all interesting to read about, and the stories of the people involved and the challenges they faced were much more fascinating than I would have expected.

(Side note: I really need for someone - Ann Patchett? - to write a novel about the secret mission to find the ivory-billed woodpecker, ideally with multiple POV characters including at least one expert researcher, a member of their immediate family, and an amateur volunteer.)

I'll note that I find it a bit sad that humans have created a situation in which high-tech solutions and satellites and banding and further human intervention are possibly the only way to "save" nature, but I'm glad there are thoughtful people trying to make a difference. (I also think it's worth noting that flying planes to track birds - or traveling to check off a rare bird on a life list - contributes to climate change, which is part of how birds got to where they are right now. While these concerns aren't raised in this book, hopefully they're being discussed.)

Overall, I thought this was a great overview of what's happening in the world of bird conservation. It's a well-written, compelling read for anyone interested in birds, nature, or environmental issues. Immediately after reading this book, I signed up for action alerts from a number of the organizations highlighted in the book, sent a handful of emails to Congress, and am looking into ways to support native plants locally. I’ve also been taking more notice of birds! Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing an e-galley and the opportunity to review.