The book describes results of 20 years of study of the ecology and management of Sacramento's bridge-nesting Purple Martin population. This is the last population of this California Species of Special Concern that remains in the state's Central Valley. Contents include population status, habitat requirements, and evaluation of management actions taken on behalf of the species. Various factors that could be responsible for the dramatic 88% population decline are evaluated in detail. A population model uses information on population size and survival estimates from banding studies to identify the cause of decline as inadequate reproduction, which is tied to the dramatic increase in use of neonicotinoid insecticides in surrounding urban and agricultural lands. The document identifies needed conservation measures and detailed land use planning guidelines for planning, design, environmental analysis, and construction to prevent disturbance of nesting martins and degradation of their habitat by urban development projects. The book also includes a number of accessible and entertaining sidebar explorations on how this long-term research project was conducted, how Western Purple Martins differ from their more abundance eastern counterparts, why martins are nest in colonies, and other topics of general reader interest.

He was an NFL superstar and Drag Racing icon. He had Hollywood starlets on his arm and a legion of fans in the palms of his hands. Dan Pastorini lived on the edge and palye don the brink. No oneleast of all Pastoriniknew what the next turn would bring. His life was indulgent, brilliant, cursed and humbling. He was known a s the toughest man in football, a cover-boy heart-throb and a soft-hearted friend. He changed the way NFL quarterbacks played the game, donning the first Flak Jacket to protect three shattered ribs. He threw perhaps the most fateful pass in playoff history, a controversial championship moment that led to use of NFL replay. He was involved in a tragic speed boating accident. He beat Big Daddy Don Garlits and all of drag racings best. He was the hero in the most triumphant return an NFL team ever received. He never backed down from anything or anyone, falling into notorious scraped and life-altering lows. He married a Playboy model and posed for Playgirl. He dated Farrah Fawcett and was the most iconic figure in a Wild West era when Texas oil boomed and gluttony prevailed. Dan Pastorini never has told the whole story. Until now. This is the story of a gifted, hard-driving kid from California who never stopped going fast or chasing dreams. No matter how much flak he took.

Real-life advice and guidelines to take the guesswork and the fear out of fasting. Fasting is emerging as one of the most exciting medical advancements in recent memory. Its list of benefits extends far beyond weight loss and includes improved cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, protection against cancer and better cognitive function. While many of us may be able to handle the physical effects of fasting, the mental and social challenges are often daunting. There are so many opportunities to eat during the day, and sometimes it's rude not to participate in meals. what do you do with the time you used to spend eating? How do you navigate social situations while fasting? How can a food addict mentally prepare for a fast? Life in the Fasting Lane fills all of these gaps, and more, by bringing together three leading voices in the fasting community to provide a book written for both the body and the mind, helping people cope with all aspects - physical, social, emotional, medical - of fasting. It blends cutting-edge medical and scientific information about fasting with the perspective of a patient who has battled obesity the majority of her adult life.

He comes, he sees, he plays with the gadgets...

The Olympic champion relates her success in sports as a student, the rigorous training required for a committed athlete, the thrill of competing in the Olympics, and the challenges of juggling her competitive career with motherhood.

In the late 1960s, a new sport emerged in Canada that would change the lives of many people: wheelchair sports. In Life in the Fast Lane, Chris Stoddart recounts the rise of wheelchair racing, with him as one of its pioneers. Born with spina bifida—a condition that affects the development of the spine—Stoddart witnessed the extraordinary transformation of the wheelchair from a heavy and unwieldy functional contraption to a light and sleek design meant for the racetrack. From his beginnings as a wheelchair basketball player to his evolution into a three-time Paralympian and fifty-mile marathon racer, Stoddart shares his life journey as it parallels Canada’s rise in wheelchair sports. With a matter-of-fact but approachable tone, Stoddart shines a light on the many veterans of wheelchair sports who may have been forgotten over the years. Most notably, however, is this athlete’s dedication to people who live with disabilities. During his successful career as an amateur athlete, Stoddart worked for the War Amps of Canada for almost thirty years. Learn about the history of wheelchair racing in Canada, where we stand today, and what we need to do to make sure people with disabilities share the spotlight with able-bodied athletes.