Monday, October 22, 2018

Fall Reading 2018 Fire Birds: Valuing Natural Wildfires and Burned Forests

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When most people see news coverage of a wildfire they automatically assume that there is nothing but destruction and that all fires should be controlled and extinguished. For those living in interface areas where humans have homes and businesses along the edge of the wild areas, that is understandable. No one wants to lose their house or livelihood. But author Sneed Collard shows that wildfires can be good for some of the animals (and plants) within those areas that burn. There are plants that only grow if their seeds are exposed to high temperatures, or that need the access to sunlight that a burn-off creates. And there are creatures such as the birds featured in this book that flourish in those areas of regrowth after the fire has come through.

The photos are clear and captivating. The facts are sure to take many readers by surprise, especially if they have only heard that fire is bad. Back matter includes an "Additional Fire Bird Checklist" with birds not highlighted in the main text, a glossary, an index, and a list of places for "Digging Deeper" into the topic. 

This was also a Junior Library Guild selection.

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