Jack E. Davis (2) (1956–)

Survey of history of "America's sea." Very thorough description of its environmental depredation, primarily from outflow of industrial wastes and the collateral damage from petrochemical industry. Interesting that more damage to the gulf occurs from watershed runoff, with all its agribusiness-related chemicals, canals, jetties (which increase river flow, pushing silt ever further into the ocean, robbing estuaries of earth, food and fresh water), and overdevelopment.

Stunning accomplishment. Plenty of footnotes and references.… (mehr)

Excerpted from a longer article:

Timely Take-aways for Life-long Learning: Bird Species
From eagles and hawks to pelicans and owls, several new works of nonfiction for adults examine the lives of specific bird species. Along the way, they discuss the importance of conservation and strategies being use to save these beloved species.

The Bald Eagle
Jack E. Davis, 2023, Liveright, an imprint of W. W. Norton
Themes: Nature, Animals, Birds, Eagles
This cultural and natural history of the bald eagle takes readers on a journey through time and across America. Of particularly note is how this comprehensive bird biography weaves the story of the eagle into our national narrative from science to politics across generations.
Take-aways: Packed with amazing anecdotes and inspirational stories, this fast-paced and often moving account of America’s beloved symbol provides endless examples teachers can use throughout the curriculum.
...
Whether helping educators keep up-to-date in their subject-areas, promoting student reading in the content-areas, or simply encouraging nonfiction leisure reading, teacher librarians need to be aware of the best new titles across the curriculum and how to activate life-long learning. - Annette Lamb… (mehr)

Jack Davis’ The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America’s Bird delivers more information about the bird than anyone could ask for. Not just the science and biology, but also how the eagle came to represent the United States, and the struggles of the bird since European settlers swept across the continent. Davis writes well, but the book is pretty dry, runs long in some places, and is missing the personal narrative that graces many of the best nonfiction books. Nevertheless, anyone interested in the bald eagle will certainly learn a lot from this book.… (mehr)