| What makes the peregrine falcon the fastest bird? Why can an eagle see a pigeon as far as three miles away? Which Montana bird flies the fastest? The highest? Which bird has the longest tongue? Find the answers in BIRD FEATS OF MONTANA, a great addition to any birders' library.
Written for children ages 8 to 12 , the book covers the amazing skills and achievements of 40 Montana birds. The format, one bird to a page, with stunning photographs and illustrations to enhance the educational value, makes it easy for anyone to open up and learn something new.
One of my favorite pages is about the bird with the longest tongue, which belongs to the Northern Flicker. From the text you learn that "the flicker's tongue is so long that it curves into the base of the skull, winds up over the forehead, and attaches near the nostrils. Strong muscles shoot the tongue out and pull it back again--like a party blower or a tape measure."
This feat is accompanied by one of James Lindquist's detailed illustrations, showing the tongue curling around the eye, and two full color photographs by Donald Jones.
Oberbillig worked to find local research and little known facts using Kate Davis of Raptors of the Rockies and Richard Hutto, a University of Montana professor in avian science. This attention to detail makes BIRD FEATS fun, entertaining and most of all accurate.
Barbara Theroux is the manager of Fact & Fiction, now part of the Bookstore at the University of Montana.
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