Dr. Roberta Bondar, the world’s first neurologist in space and Canada’s first female astronaut, is releasing Space for Birds: Patterns and Parallels of Beauty and Flight in September. The Sault Ste.
Marie native's book explores the lives and habitats of two bird species — the endangered Whooping Crane and the near-threatened Lesser Flamingo. It is with her space, aerial, and surface photography that readers witness the fragility of the birds and the ecosystems they depend on. The Whooping Crane is captured migrating from its boreal nesting grounds in Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park to the seaside abundance of its winter habitat in Texas while the Flamingo is seen in flocks on and above East African Rift Valley lakes.
"Photos from the International Space Station convey the continental scale of these birds’ travels, and Bondar’s aerial and surface photos, accompanied by insights both scientific and personal, offer intimate glimpses of their daily lives and unique behaviours," said a news release. "While these birds lead different lives on opposite sides of the globe, they share, with each other and with us, an imperative to survive and a reliance on Earth’s fragile ecosystems." Also from the news release: About the Author: Dr.
Roberta L. Bondar is globally recognized for her pioneering contributions to space medicine, fine art photography, and environmental education. Her accolades include the NASA Space Medal, the Order of Canada, and induction into the Canad.