(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Tom Uhlman. No matter where one lives in the continental U.S. -- rural areas, suburbs, major cities -- coyotes share that space. In Chicago alone, thousands of coyotes live and thrive, according to the Urban Coyote Research Project, whose work is presented in this informative book. Carson's engaging text highlights the project's goals, which include determining where coyotes live, what they eat, and how they can best coexist with humans. Project members tag and track coyotes and gather data ranging from DNA samples to the condition of their nails (which indicates travel on concrete surfaces) -- tasks that require patience, skill, and some luck. Uhlman's compelling photographs show researchers at work as well as glimpses of coyotes in their natural habitats. Maps and charts group data into easy-to-decipher graphics. Conclusions, such as the role coyotes play in regulating the rodent and geese populations, are all based on the collected data. The book provides information on non-lethal animal-hazing practices and ways to coexist with these unusual neighbors. Appended with a glossary, a list of sources, and areas for further inquiry.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2024

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Nate Dappen & Neil Losin. In this entry in the acclaimed series, Patent (Saving the Tasmanian Devil, rev. 11/19) introduces readers to anoles, a genus of lizards distinguished by having both dewlaps (neck folds) and toepads, and to the scientists investigating them. The anoles inhabiting four Caribbean islands are ecomorphs, species that evolved separately but developed the same physical features and are a classic example of convergent evolution. The animals also have a short life cycle, which allows scientists to document population level changes in real time. Patent interviews the scientists in a variety of research settings and explains, in easily understandable and scientifically robust detail, their research questions and methods and the contributions they make to our understandings of evolution and natural selection. She visits laboratories where lizards run on a track to test their agility on various surfaces. In field sites, recent hurricanes have provided opportunities for natural and controlled experiments, including a citizen science project in Florida where children send in photos of the lizards in their schoolyards. High-quality photographs of anoles and their habitats, taken by lizard scientists turned documentary filmmakers, are well aligned with the text and provide details that readers can scrutinize. Sidebars give further biographical details about some of the scientists. A glossary and lists of additional resources are appended, including the citations for key scientific papers produced by the people featured in the book.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2023

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Mark Wilson. The magnificent snowy owl has only one U.S. nesting location: Ukpeagvik, on Alaska's North Shore. Readers travel vicariously to the town of Utqiagvik (previously Barrow) where they meet senior owl researcher Denver Holt, who has been studying these nesting grounds every summer since the early 1990s. In a designated hundred-square-mile area of the tundra, he makes numerous scheduled trips to count the nests; band chicks; collect data on lemmings, the staple of this creature's diet (ascertained by dissecting thirty-five thousand owl pellets); analyze nest rims for other sources of food; and study the feather markings of both males and females. Readers not only glimpse the difficulties of working in such challenging conditions, including driving or walking through the spongy tundra or meticulously protecting the nests while studying them and warding off aggressive birds of prey, but they also see how Holt uses the data to form conclusions or prompt further study. Wilson, a prolific wildlife photographer, explains his procedures for photographing these birds in their natural habitat and shares his final products in clear, informative, and often dramatic images. Appended with a glossary, a bibliography, and an index (unseen).

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(3) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Tianne Strombeck. Veteran science writer Montgomery provides insight into the work of saving the California condor. This book focuses on Dr. Estelle Sandhaus, director of conservation science at the Santa Barbara Zoo, and her team of wildlife biologists, who have successfully reintroduced the species into the wild. With characteristic enthusiasm for her subject, Montgomery discusses how the zoo cares for condors in captivity, meticulously tracks birds in the wild, and learns from successes and mistakes. Both the passionate text and well-captioned color photos encourage respect for these impressive birds. "What You Can Do" suggestions are appended, as are a timeline, bibliography, related websites, and index.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Humans are encroaching on black bears' natural habitat in and around Asheville, North Carolina. In this encouraging account, Cherrix accompanies a team of biologists conducting the North Carolina Urban/Suburban Black Bear Study. Photographs capture the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain environment and the care scientists take in collecting data to manage the bear population. A chapter on wild animals in other communities emphasizes the problem's global nature. Websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Nic Bishop. Montgomery and Bishop accompany zoologist Kay Holekamp and her team studying the behaviors of large clans of spotted hyenas in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Montgomery tells much of the story moment by moment, providing a deeply detailed account of life in the field. Bishop's outstanding photographs do much to elevate the reputation of hyenas, often portrayed as "conniving, cowardly" scavengers. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(3) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Andy Comins. Whale biologist Ken Balcomb has spent decades documenting orca populations in the Pacific Northwest. Author Valice describes her outings with Balcomb and other researchers as they observe whale behavior, perform biopsies in the field and check for chemicals in the lab, and investigate the whales' Chinook salmon diets. Photographs add interest, detail the scientists' work, and highlight the orcas' individual characteristics. Ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Burns travels with entomologist Erling Ólafsson on one of his yearly expeditions to Surtsey, a pristine volcanic island that formed off Iceland's coast in 1964. Burns meticulously documents life in a remote field station as researchers record Surtsey's unfolding ecological dynamics, observing growth and diversification of life. Vivid photographs convey the rocky landscapes of Surtsey and its inhabitants. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2018

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Tom Uhlman. In 2015, the New Horizons spacecraft successfully flew past the dwarf planet Pluto. The data sent back has opened a new window onto the science of the outer solar system. Crafted from firsthand accounts, Carson's description explains the decades-long process of a multi-million-dollar NASA mission. Photographs throughout the book capture the emotional moment when the first data arrived. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2017

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Cherrix introduces and personalizes the work of scientists on Wallops Island, Virginia, trying to understand and forecast a storm's intensity to offer maximum time for residents to evacuate. The text provides clear and informative background; biographical information on a variety of scientists, ranging from meteorologists to aeronautical engineers, creates a number of entry points for potential readers. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Keith Ellenbogen. Montgomery travels up the Río Negro in Brazil with a group promoting sustainable fish harvesting practices, and shares her endless zeal as she meticulously details her adventures. Inviting photographs bring the experience to life. Interspersed text boxes include profiles of other Amazon animals and an extended look at how Ellenbogen produces his photographs on and under the dark, murky river. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2017

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Karin Anderson. Impact profiles a collection of astronomers, geologists, and meteorite hunters to examine the history of asteroid strikes on Earth and gauge the risks of future encounters. It also includes a fascinating look at technologies proposed or being developed to protect Earth from a major impact. The volume prominently features research methods and tools, along with excellent photographs, diagrams, maps, and artistic renderings. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2018

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Keith Ellenbogen. Biologist Greg Skomal studies great whites off the coast of Cape Cod, tracking their burgeoning population as the marine ecology changes. In a nearly real-time account, Montgomery documents six days of scientific adventure aboard research vessels, plus one day of data analysis. This approach fully immerses readers in the field research experience, as do the excellent photographs. Appended with maps and shark facts. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2016

(1) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Illustrated by Guido De Filippo. Photographs by Andy Comins. Turner joins scientist Gavin Hunt to learn about his research on New Caledonian crows' problem-solving and tool-making, and she carefully steps readers through experiments that test the crows' ability to think through tasks. A friendly tone effortlessly moves from amusing accounts of crow antics to sophisticated explanations of crow and human evolution. Arresting photographs highlight the birds' personalities and intelligence. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Tom Uhlman. Carson takes readers into Biosphere 2, the research facility designed to be a self-sustaining model of Earth's environments. There's brief coverage of the "biospherians" who were sealed inside from 1991 to 1993, but the focus is primarily on current research under the direction of scientists at the University of Arizona. Plentiful photos capture the feel of a busy research center. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2015

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Keith Ellenbogen. Montgomery tags along with four scientists studying the decision-making of the Pacific day octopus in the French Polynesian island region of Moorea. To do so, they first have to find the octopuses. Montgomery explains the scientists' data collection methods, along the way describing all aspects of life in the field. Abundant, stunningly clear underwater photographs highlight a range of marine species. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2015

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by William Muñoz. Readers learn basic osprey information from Montana Osprey Project scientist Erick Greene's presentation to a high school group. Patent thoroughly describes the raptors' behaviors as well as field and laboratory research conducted by the scientists. The pages are filled with current and historical photographs; biographical sketches of scientists and students; and details about the region's ecological history. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2015

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz. The Asian longhorned beetle (ALB), an invasive species, threatens "the entire northeastern hardwood forest." In Worcester, Massachusetts, scientists and residents hypothesize that destroying all of Worcester's infected trees--i.e., the ALB habitat--will eradicate the beetle. Clear photographs, charts, diagrams, and a straightforward text outline the problem, from the beetle's invasion to the trees' destruction and replanting. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2015

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Tom Uhlman. Carson takes readers to three national parks--Yellowstone, Saguaro, and Great Smoky Mountains--to introduce a collection of scientists and researchers. The focus is on not just the science but also methods of investigation, from scientific tools to necessary hiking gear. Facts about the parks and supporting scientific information, along with instructive photographs, are interspersed throughout the book. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2014

(2) 4-6 Scientists in the Field series. Photographs by Nic Bishop. Montgomery introduces readers to Laurie Marker and her team at the Cheetah Conservation Fund's site in Namibia. Scientific information about the cheetahs and profiles of the people who study them are interspersed with in-the-moment, journal-style accounts of activities at the site. Striking photographs capture the dedication of the scientists and the awesome power of the cheetahs. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2014