Beneath a Black and White Sky: A Year Among Condors at Pinnacles National Park

Very good used paperback.

Beneath a Black and White Sky is an inside look at the effort to restore one of the most iconic endangered species, the California condor, to Pinnacles National Park and California's central coast. As one of the largest, rarest, and most spectacular birds in North America, the California condor has been the subject of numerous books, but none like this. Beneath a Black and White Sky tells the story of condor reintroduction through the eyes of a field crew member in painstaking detail: the frustrations, wonder, heartache, and inspiration.

In 2017, author Joseph Belli kept a journal throughout the year as he described field days on the project, from the highs of observing nests to the lows of coming to grips with condor deaths. Readers will get to know a number of condors as individuals, and get a fascinating glimpse into the day to day complexities that accompany working with this charismatic species. Supplementing the journal entries are explorations on a number of topics such as condor history, biology, public perception, and the scourge of lead poisoning.

Featuring over 40 photographs and the artwork of scientific illustrator Megan Gnekow, Beneath a Black and White Sky provides a unique window into the conservation of this mesmerizing, magnificent species.