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| On The Wing: To The Edge of the Earth With the Peregrine Falcon | 
| Author: Alan Tennant
Publisher: Wheeler Publishing
Category: Book
Buy New: $30.95
New (3) from $30.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 1520429
Format: Large Print
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 640
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.8 x 1.3
ISBN: 1587248980
Dewey Decimal Number: 598.96
EAN: 9781587248986
ASIN: 1587248980
Publication Date: February 2, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
On a mission to map the migration of the peregrine falcon, Alan Tennant and his friend George Vose logged thousands of miles in a rattletrap Cessna. On the Wing is as much quest narrative as nature book, and the tale of the two men's voyage is unforgettable. At their first meeting, when Tennant suggested that they track a radio-tagged falcon by air, WWII vet Vose assessed naturalist Tennant with a keen eye. "Aviation takes intestinal fortitude, Mister. You were pretty green up there today. Calm air, too." Nevertheless, Tennant convinced the gruff pilot that the project was worthy, and they set off, soaring north over the dunes of Gulf Coast barrier islands. The falcon was just a beeping signal to them most of the time, but they became obsessed with its movements. In the small cockpit, they shared extremes of disappointment and elation as they dealt with bad weather, lost signals, run-ins with the Army, and equipment problems. They ended up posing as highway patrol officers, crossing international borders, and risking their lives in order to keep on the track of their wayward subject. Threaded into the funny and moving adventure story, Tennant scatters casual snippets of science--peregrine falcon biology, pesticide toxicology, and the little-understood fact of animal migration itself. The facts never get in the way of the fun, though--this is real Wild Kingdom action. --Therese Littleton
Product Description
A New York Times BestsellerFilm rights optioned by Robert Redford Alan Tennant recounts his all-out, unprecedented effort to radio-track the transcontinental migration of the peregrine falcon. Tennant's partner in falcon-chasing is George Vose, a septuagenarian World War II pilot. As the two men nearly lose their lives and run afoul of the law in the race to keep the birds in view and the Cessna in the air, Tennant renders with gorgeous precision the landscape and wildlife they pass on the way.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
 Good ole' boys & and airplane October 11, 2008
how a book rates is sometimes a matter of expectation. I had thought I would learn a lot about peregrine falcons and other similar species. I expected to read about birds, places and migration. The reviews indicated it was an enjoyable read. But I was tired of hearing about what mavericks the two charaters were. I don't think you could draw much information about falcons. If you want a book about the adventures of two good ole' boys as they ride an airplane following a radio beep then the book will satisfiy but if you want a book on peregrines, bird life etc. this is not the book.
I felt part of the experience December 9, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The straightforward account held me spellbound. I felt the author/reader had an honest heart and had no choice but to pursue his quest. The telling of his experiences was informative and interesting. I was captivated and wished the book hadn't ended.
 On the Wing - High Drama over the Americas March 30, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
What drew me to this book was its Title. I am a keen falconer and have kept various birds of prey for many years. This book combines the authors undoubted love and fascination for the natural world with a powerful personal drama - two mens quest to answer an ornithological question in the most direct way imaginable. Beautifully written at times Alan Tennant touches upon the very essence of what fascinates mankind about the Falcons it is a great read!
 would have been nice to have some dates February 6, 2006
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
The author seems to be striving for a timeless quality in his prose, but it is really annoying that there aren't any dates in the book. Did he take these trips in the 1970s? 1980s? 1990s? He says "we knew that in the future birds will be tracked by satellites", but when was that?
If you're an airplane pilot, you'll be horrified by the chances that these guys took in a really beat-up Cessna 172. They seem to have done some long-distance flying without being instrument-equipped or rated and naturally got themselves into some dangerous scrapes with the weather. The author seems to have no idea how unnecessary this kind of risk-taking is.
The book would have made a really great 25-page New Yorker magazine article.
Be prepared to be amazed October 16, 2005
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I loved this book! I have been following the Operation Migration program re-building the Whooping Crane population for years. This book adds a whole new dimension to the use of man made wings and bird migration. Alan Tennant writes in a way that the reader feels they also can see and hear the thousands of birds as he and George Vose fly through and with them.
I learned lots about peregrine falcons, but I kept my bird book handy and learned a lot about other birds too - including those amazing hummingbirds.
The sections describing the intense fear of the falcons in the bird population attested to their hunting prowess and keen vision and speed.
I am in awe of the birds and of the author's dedication and sense of adventure in trying to learn where they go and what they do on the way. As he says, satellites can tell where they go but not how or transmit the incredibleness of it all.
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Wildlife, nature and the Environment
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