Bird of Life, Bird of Death

Very good used hardcover in good jacket. Dust jacket shows shelf wear, with small tear on back cover. Previous owner's blind stamp on title page.

In July 1983 Jonathan Maslow went to Guatamala to observe the quetzal, thought by many birders to be the most beautiful bird in this hemisphere, if not the world. Not a great deal was known about the quetzal, and Maslow wanted to learn more. In particular he wanted to investigate disturbing reports that the bird's existence was seriously endangered because of the loss of its habitat. Beautifully written, this book is an original blend of political, social and natural history. A masterly portrait of a people as well as a land, it illuminates unforgettably the sorry plight of a beautiful birds disappearing in a region of conflict.