Rave Reviews
for
Rare Bird

"Heartfelt and thoughtful, inspired and well-written...It will transport you into a world you didn’t realize existed."
-- Carl Safina, author of Song for the Blue Ocean and Eye of the Albatross

"The story of the discovery of the nest is alone worth the price of the book."
-- Booklist

"Fine nature writing, good science, and compelling historical anecdotes spanning the time of Captain Cook to contemporary naturalists, loggers, and fishermen combine in an engaging narrative. Strongly recommended."
-- Library Journal

"Ruth's details of the hunt for bits of information about the bird from dissecting specimens to counting birdcalls in the predawn light provide rare insight into the trials and joys of scientific discovery."
-- Publishers Weekly

Books for the Curious Naturalist

Maria Mudd Ruth is the author of more than a dozen books on topics including butterflies, beetles, snakes, owls, hawks, oceans, North American ecosystems, fire fighting, and a very strange seabird that lays its eggs in trees. Most books were written for children and young adults, a few are pop-ups, mostly illustrated with color photographs, a few are for general audiences. Maria’s range of subjects reflects her “attention surplus disorder” and her interest in restoring awe in the natural world.
A downy Marbled Murrelet chick

Rare Bird: Pursuing the Mystery
of the Marbled Murrelet

Join "accidental naturalist" Maria Mudd Ruth on a journey of discovery as she illuminates the secret life of the Marbled Murrelet, an endangered seabird that depends on the contested old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest for its survival. Ruth traces reports of the bird back to Captain Cook’s ill-fated voyage of discovery on the Pacific Ocean in 1778, and explores the mindset of 19th and 20th-century naturalists who, despite their best efforts, failed to piece together clues about the whereabouts of the bird’s nest for 185 years. Part naturalist detective story, part environmental inquiry, this vibrant narrative follows the improbable trail from the hallowed halls of the Smithsonian Institute to the foggy coastal environs of Redwood National Park. Along the way, the author makes a compelling case for the search for meaning in our changeable world.