James D. Paruk will join the Bookstore at Fitger's at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 9, for a reading and discussion of his book Loon Lessons: Uncommon Encounters with the Great Northern Diver. This event is free and open to the public.

Written by one of the world’s foremost experts on the subject, Loon Lessons is a compendium of knowledge about the common loon and an engaging record of scientific sleuthing, documenting more than twenty-five years of research. It describes the common loon’s biology in an entertaining style that affords a deeper understanding of the bird’s natural history and annual life cycle.

"A complete and entertaining account of the bird's history and biology." —Star Tribune

"Loon Lessons is a charmingly written, engaging survey of the anatomy, evolution, ecology, breeding behavior, vocalizations, migration, wintering behavior, and conservation of the common loon." —CHOICE

"James D. Paruk has written a wonderful, personal account of loon biology. He recounts thirty years of adventures with loons, summarizing what we know about them in the context of loons’ basic biology and behavior. Highly readable and informal, this book is for anyone who wants to learn more about loons." —Charles Walcott, former director, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology

"The magnificent loon is a stirring symbol of wilderness, captivating even for people who have never seen one. This account by one of the world’s top experts, authoritative and accurate but written in a lively, engaging style, opens up the mysteries of the loon’s world and makes it more fascinating than ever." —Kenn Kaufman, editor of the Kaufman Field Guide series