Synopses & Reviews
Symbol of power, strength, and freedom, the American bald eagle appears on coins, dollar bills, postage stamps, identification cards, and the presidential seal. It is seen everywhere except in the sky, although that is changing; nearly extinct in 1970, the bald eagle has made a modest comeback. In Eagles Plume, Bruce E. Beans recounts the compelling, centuries-old story of the bald eagles place in American culture and landscape an its struggle for survival. Reviled by western stockmen as a killer of lambs and calves, the bald eagle has been deified by environmentalists as a reminder of Americas natural heritage. When the great national bird was robbed of its habitat and poisoned with pesticides, federal and environmental groups and local communities rallied to save it. Their heroic efforts are chronicled in the book, which also takes the measure and pulse of the bird that so impressed ancient storytellers.
Review
"An effective blend of science, history and reportage, with rich chapters on the myriad places where images of eagles have shown up . . . [and] captivating anecdotes of eagle biology and behavior."—Newark Star-Ledger Newark Star-Ledger
Review
"Beans here spins a captivating story of the eagles significance in American culture and its current status in the American wilderness. . . . An inspiring volume for the environmental bookshelf."—Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly
Review
"Anyone who has ever seen a bald eagle in the wild has wished to see one again, closer. Eagles Plume has the gift of drawing the eagle very close, and I am grateful to Bruce Beans for writing it."—Jonathan Weiner, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Beak of the Finch Jonathan Weiner
Review
"An effective blend of science, history and reportage, with rich chapters o Newark Star-Ledger
About the Author
An award-winning writer, Bruce E. Beans has covered a variety of environmental topics in the Philadelphia Inquirer, New York Times, and Audubon. He lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.