Condor Comeback by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Tianne Strombeck

  Sy Montgomery, a veteran of the Scientists in the Field series, tackles the unique and wonderful condors in this latest work.

Montgomery joins a group of scientists, volunteers, and students, led by Dr. Estelle Sandhaus, in their quest to continue reintroducing condors to the wild. From their earliest extermination for pointless sport, or execution by people who mistakenly thought they threatened domesticated animals, condors dwindled into being critically endangered and extinct in the wild. Even among conservationists, there was a surprising amount of controversy over how the condor should be saved - and if it should be saved at all.

Despite many roadblocks, they were saved and reintroduced to the wild and now several small groups live in the wild, as well as captive birds in zoos. However, like all the Scientists in the Field books, the "story" of the condors is not yet over. Condors continue to be killed by poachers, to die from lead poisoning from hunters use of dangerous lead bullets, and to suffer from habitat loss and even normal threats like predators or extreme weather.

As Montgomery follows the journey of these strangely beautiful creatures, she gives them a personality and a voice, showing the fascination of a unique animal that is more than a scary or gross reputation. She also introduces information about the dangers of lead in the environment, and how science used to save the condors crosses boundaries to help other humans and animals as well. She introduces readers to amazing scientists, including the awesome Dr. Estelle Sandhaus, who talks about accepting herself and succeeding as a scientist in an intellectually and physically challenging environment, despite her unconventional body type. We meet representatives of the Chumash, who once honored and respected the condor and are using the great bird to regain their cultural heritage. There's a wonderful look at the future, as a local school learns about condors and picks up trash to keep their nesting sites safe.

A follow-up mentions how the condors we met in the book are doing now, having weathered the fires of 2018. One can only hope that they are surviving the current disasters (it looks like some a research station was destroyed and some condors are missing, but a few have been found and saved). There is also a timeline, links for ways students can support condors, bibliography, and a wide variety of sources for learning more about these amazing birds.

Verdict: Montgomery is the only author, I think, who could really bring these strange and amazing birds to life for readers, to get them to see past their stereotypical "ugliness" and "gross" habits and show them as the unique, social, and wonderful birds. She brings the people involved with them to life in the same way and this is a book that I am eager to recommend to teachers and students alike.

ISBN: 9780544816534; Published July 2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Purchased for the library