Ava : A Year of Adventure in the Life of an American Avocet

Ava is an American Avocet, a breed of shorebird who leaves her home at the Laguna Madre and travels 1,000 miles to stay for a season at the largest wetland complex in the interior of the United States. Cheyenne Bottoms, in the middle of Kansas, is home to millions of birds who stop during their annual migrations in the spring and fall, as well as a diverse population of wildlife who make a home there year-round. As Ava meets her mate and starts a family, readers are introduced to one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet.

Some Facts about Wetlands:

* In only 23 years, between 1955 and 1978, 40% of the wetlands in Kansas disappeared.

* Wetlands around the world are vanishing at a rate three times that of forests.

* Wetlands are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, as varied and productive as rain forests and coral reefs. 

* Wetlands do amazing things for their surrounding communities, such as reduce soil erosion by capturing sediment and soaking up extra flood water.