Book Review: Birds of the Untamed West. The History of Birdlife in Nebraska, 1750 to 1875 by James E. Ducey

Authors

W. Ross Silcock, Nebraska Ornithologists' UnionFollow

Date of this Version

2000

Document Type

Article

Comments

Ducey in Nebraska Bird Review (September 2000) 68(3). Copyright 2000, Nebraska Ornithologists' Union. Used by permission.

Abstract

Those with an interest in the birds of the Great Plains will be familiar with Jim Ducey's Nebraska Birds: Breeding Status and Distribution, published in 1988. I was amazed then by Jim's diligence in searching a wide range of sources and compiling an exhaustive list of Nebraska breeding records organized by county. Jim's new book, Birds of the Untamed West, reflects the same dogged pursuit of obscure sources unavailable to most of us and compilation of the results. If you expect such a compilation to be dry and boring, you will be pleasantly surprised, especially if you are a Nebraska history buff. This book is a "good read" as well as being an extremely useful source for bird records in the period 1750 through 1875.