About the author: 



Robert Porter Allen is Research Director of the 

 National Audubon Society and the leading author- 

 ity on species threatened with extinction. He has 

 devoted over twenty-five years of his life to the 

 study and preservation of the whooping crane, 

 the flamingo, and the roseate spoonbill. 



Mr. Allen's interest in birds began at an early age. 

 By the time he was nine he was interested in lit- 

 tle else and repeatedly cut school to spend a day 

 to watch the shore birds and waterfowl migrate. 

 It was inevitable that his interest in birds should 

 eventually lead him to the National Audubon 

 Society. 



The Aliens live in Tavernier, Florida. 



