From Publishers Weekly
New York's Central Park, although located in the heart of Gotham, is one of the prime birding areas in the country, with about 190 species observed by a dedicated band of nature lovers whom Winn knows as the "Regulars," being one herself. A nature columnist for the Wall Street Journal and the author of The Plug-In Drug and other books, Winn tells a captivating story here of hawks, humans and other denizens of the park over a five-year period. In the spring of 1992, a pair of red-tailed hawks built a nest on a high ledge of a building on Fifth Avenue (Woody Allen's penthouse was across the street). Great excitement and anticipation ensued among Winn's adoptive clan. When, in the third year, the first fledglings appeared, the Regulars maintained a dawn-to-dusk watch on the nest. They observed the hawks mating, hunting, eating (pigeons and rats were plentiful) and bringing food to their young. These activities attracted a lot of attention from people passing through the park?children, tourists, workmen, city officials?many of whom prove interesting here as sideshows to the main event of the birds. Winn brings a wonderfully clear eye to all her observations, avian and otherwise. Birders will be enchanted, as will thoughtful students of human nature.

A wonderful true nature story. Although I did not read the book, I have seen these hawks in person in Central Park NYC. I also saw the excellent PBS Nature episode involving these remarkable hawks.

I plan on leaving this book somewhere in SW Florida during my vacation between 2/15/06 and 2/22/06.

RELEASE NOTES:

Welcome to bookcrossing! Whether you decide to read this book or not please leave a journal entry so that we can follow its travels. I left this book on a bench by the dock.

As a bird watcher and the daughter of parents born on opposite sides of Central Park in the early 1900's I truly enjoyed this story and like this bookcrossing idea even more that where's george!!! Will give this to a reading friend who is traveling to the mid west in September. I read this while visiting my 90 year old mother in South Florida in a house with no air conditioning in June..my only relief was the pool in the backyard..jumped in the pool when I was warm then got out and without drying off sat and read more of "Red Tails.." could barely put it down..It gave me a new dream...to sit on "the bench" and do some serious birdwatching in Central Park some day..
Was pleased to see an endorsement by Carl Hiaasen on the back..he is one of my favorite authors and I have actually met him!!!!!