Within the past two decades, the discipline of wildlife conservation has seen a surge in ecological-modeling approaches that has profoundly affected the way we perceive animals and ecological processes. One negative outcome of our own technological advances has been the shift in focus from observations of animals in the fild to collecting data to fi ecological models. Although modeling does have its place in biology, animal behavior is a thing of inexplicable beauty and timelessness, and has intrinsic value well beyond our own interest as conservationists. In Those of the Gray Wind: The Sandhill Crane, Paul A. Johnsgard successfully describes the chronology of migration and other behaviors of the Sandhill Crane by creating a sense of wonder for the species via the sights and sounds witnessed by fitional human characters. The book is an excellent summary of the folklore of the Sandhill Crane, how its unique behaviors fascinate humanity, and the ecology of the species throughout its life cycle. Those of the Gray Wind was originally published in 1981 (St. Martin’s Press), and this new edition includes a new preface and afterword by the author. The preface is an excellent start because it highlights the author’s motivation behind the book, which is another story about one man’s fascination with cranes (consider it the book’s fial, contemporary chapter). The afterword includes scientifi data about crane populations in North America, including population trends, conservation needs, and long-term concerns, and emphasizes the author’s expertise on the species.