A Chorus of Cranes: The Cranes of North America and the WorldA Chorus of Cranes: The Cranes of North America and the World by Paul A. Johnsgard. 2015. University Press of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA. x + 208 pp., 38 color photographs, 41 figures. $29.95 (paperback). ISBN 978-1-60732-436-2. $23.95 (Ebook). ISBN 978-1-60732-436-9.

A Chorus of Cranes: The Cranes of North America and the World by Paul A. Johnsgard. 2015. University Press of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA. x þ 208 pp., 38 color photographs, 41 figures. $29.95 (paperback). ISBN 978-160732-436-2. $23.95 (Ebook). ISBN 978-1-60732-436-9. Cranes (Gruidae) are widely distributed throughout the world, have lived on Earth for several million years, and currently reside on five continents. Archaeological evidence and historical references suggest that humans have interacted with and been captivated by cranes for many thousands of years (e.g., Leslie 1988, Muellner 1990). A glimpse of our reverence for these birds can be found in A Chorus of Cranes by Paul A. Johnsgard, with photographs by Thomas D. Mangelsen. Many species of cranes are currently identified as threatened or endangered, and their future will likely rest in the hands of humans; this book presents their plight and some of the measures that have been taken to conserve them. Dr. Johnsgard, an emeritus professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is a prolific writer, having written more than 60 books in ornithology and other topics. This book serves as the latest update of previous efforts concerning crane biology, conservation, and management. A review without making comparisons to his past works is difficult, yet this assessment will primarily focus on the content of the current book, with little reference to past endeavors. As the subtitle suggests, this book is first and foremost about North American cranes, with relatively abbreviated sections about other crane species found throughout the world. The book is organized into four sections. The first may best be described as an abridged chronicle of all things crane; it includes extensive information on cranes and human culture, migration ecology, flight, vocalizations, behavior, breeding ecology, feather molt, population growth, vital rates, causes of mortality, senescence, and conservation status. Some topics, such as senescence, are addressed by just one paragraph, whereas others include lengthy discussions that span multiple pages. Indeed, this section is a crash course in crane ecology and conservation. The second and lengthiest section of the book details the biology of two North American crane species, the Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) and Whooping Crane (Grus americana). Here Johnsgard presents, for each species, elements that are similar to those found in classic species accounts; the information is wide-ranging, including descriptions of each species’ annual cycle, organized by biologically meaningful seasons—summer, fall migration, winter, and spring migration. The chapter on Whooping Cranes includes an extensive account of past and current reintroduction efforts, which provides interesting history lessons and presents the current status of reintroduced populations. The third section of the book is a compilation of descriptions of the other 13 crane species of the world. These species descriptions are quite brief, generally one or two pages each, and thus should not be considered full species accounts. This section provides