“Blends adventure, romance, humor and pathos. … Offers vivid descriptions of her sky-diving subjects and the seductive beauty of the wilderness.”—Chicago Sun-Times

“Well crafted and compelling, a dramatization of the classic conflict between the legitimate interests of conservationists and developers. This is a fine book on several levels, as science, sociology, or a story. Highly recommended.”—Library Journal

Forty years ago, the peregrine falcon was on the U.S. endangered species list and many doubted that it would survive. Marcy Houle was a young wildlife biologist observing one of the last remaining pairs—located at a site in southwest Colorado slated for development as a major tourist site. First published in 1991 and winner of several national awards, this book chronicles her work at Chimney Rock along with the recovery of the species. A new preface examines the last thirty years of the peregrine population and its remarkable comeback and culminates with President Barack Obama’s designation of Chimney Rock as a national monument.

Marcy Cottrell Houle