Acknowledgments

Writing a book of this kind relies on the generosity of others. From scientists and museum curators to fishing guides and fashion designers, people throughout the world of feathers have come to my aid time and again—assisting with research, answering questions, sharing data and specimens, and sitting down for long feather-filled conversations. Here, in no particular order, are some of the people and organizations that have helped me along the way:

Bob Pyle, Hilda Boshoff, CP Nels Museum, Rob Nixon, Sarah Abrevaya Stein, Jodi Favazzo, Marios Ignadiou, Greg Willson, Scott Hartman, Xing Xu, Wyoming Dinosaur Center, Alan Feduccia, Richard Prum, Carla Dove, Pete Menefee, Rainbow Feather Company, Marian Kaminitz, Leah Chalfen, Simon Thomsett, Laila Bahaa-el-din, Anziske Kayster, Graaff-Reinet Museum, the family of Russel W. Thornton, Peter Liotta, National Audubon Society, Kathy Ballard, Kim Bostwick, Patrick Kirby, John Sullivan, Tony Scruton, Bernd Heinrich, Edward Bormashenko, Yan-chun (Daniel) Xu, Peter Harrison, Julian Vincent, Ken and Suzanne Franklin, Suzanne Stryk, Shirley Reuscher, Ken Dial, Ellen Thaler, Angela Linn, University of Alaska Museum of the North, Smithsonian Feather Identification Lab (National Museum of Natural History), National Museum of the American Indian, Pacific Coast Feather Company, Jeffrey Long, Travis Stier, Glenn Tattersall, Brenda Boerger, David Houston, Maureen Goldsmith, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Elana Kitching, Linda Lorzechowski, Glenn Roe, ARTFL Encyclopédie Project, Tom Whiting, Whiting Farms, David Roberts, Cliff Frith, Jane Grayer, Ian Strange, Donald Jackson, Chris Strachan, Robert Petty, Impington Village College Model Aeroplane Club, Peter Stettenheim, William T. Cooper, Robert Petty, Theiunus Piersma, Max Platzer, Gwen Bisseker, Nickolay Hristov, Airling Gunderson, and Petra Quillfeldt.

Special thanks are due to Paul and Ann Hanson and Erin Braybrook for some very timely child care. I’m also deeply indebted to the entire staff of the San Juan Island Library, and particularly Heidi Lewis for her patience with my endless interlibrary loan requests.

Frank Gill kindly lent his expert eye to early drafts of the manuscript and provided valuable and encouraging feedback.

I’m grateful to my agent, Laura Blake Peterson, for shepherding a field biologist through the world of publishing and for connecting me with T. J. Kelleher at Basic Books. T. J.’s editorial savvy and enthusiasm for this project have been a boon. Whitney Casser, Cassie Nelson, Sandra Beris, Annette Wenda, and the rest of the team at Basic have also been a pleasure to work with.

Finally, none of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of my wife, Eliza Habegger. Along with our baby boy, Noah, and the rest of my family and friends, she patiently puts up with my quirks, queries, travels, and lengthy retreats to the Raccoon Shack.