Nature and the natural world: general interest Books

Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 3 Icons Used in This Book 3 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Introducing the Parrot — Your Wild Child 5 Chapter 1: Meeting the Parrots, Just the Basics 7 Introducing the Parrots 7 From pet to companion 8 A little bit of wilderness 9 Home Tweet Home: Welcoming a Parrot into Your Home 10 Making birdy comfortable 10 Parrot paraphernalia 11 Parrot Care 101: Taking Care of Your Bird 11 Health care 11 Nutrition 12 Parrot Behavior: Checking How Your Bird Acts 12 Normal behaviors 12 The parrot monster 12 Parrot Pals: Socializing with Your Bird 13 Making friends with your parrot 13 Breeding parrots: Use caution 13 A Caveat to the Wise 14 Chapter 2: Knowing What to Expect with Your Companion Parrot 15 Defining a Companion Parrot 16 Just Being Themselves 17 Recognizing the Joys of Parrot Guardianship 18 Pondering Important Points about Buying or Adopting a Parrot 19 Recognizing who’s getting the parrot 19 Answering why you want a parrot 20 Factoring in the parrot’s personality 20 Contemplating the parrot’s home 21 Going on vacation 21 Remembering parrots have a longer lifespan 22 Dealing with allergies 22 Estimating the costs of parrot ownership 22 Being cognizant of the responsibilities of parrot guardianship 23 Spending time with your parrot 24 Preparing for mess and more mess 24 Getting used to the noise (Sorry, I can’t hear over my screaming parrot) 24 Understanding What a Companion Parrot Expects 25 Tolerance 25 Empathy 26 Sense of humor 26 Attentiveness 26 Decisiveness and action 26 Constant companionship 26 A loyal friend 27 Living with a Parrot around Nonbird People 27 Chapter 3: Choosing the Right Companion 29 Keeping Certain Considerations in Mind As You Choose a Species 30 Parrots are individuals 30 The chemistry between the two of you 30 Not all species are created equal 30 Noise: deafening or extremely deafening 31 Space: Bigger is better 31 Lifestyles of the neat and messy 32 From easily affordable to taking out a loan 33 Talking ability 33 Child-friendliness 33 One, two, or more 34 Looking Closer at Species Profiles Commonly Kept As Companions 35 African grey parrots 35 Amazon parrots 36 Brotogeris 38 Budgies 38 Caiques 39 Cockatiels 40 Cockatoos 40 Conures 45 Eclectus 48 Hanging parrots 48 Hawk-headed parrots 49 Lories 49 Lovebirds 50 Macaws 51 Other parakeets 54 Parrotlets 57 Pionus 58 Poicephalus parrots 58 Quaker parakeets 59 Vasa parrots 60 Chapter 4: Purchasing or Adopting a Parrot 61 Considering Your Parrot Options 61 Comparing handfed versus parent-raised birds 62 Choosing an age 63 Contemplating degrees of tameness 66 The talker in the bunch 67 Finding the Perfect Parrot for You 68 Pet shops 68 Bird shops 69 Online classifieds 69 Reputable breeders 70 Flea markets 71 Bird shows or expos 72 Adopting a Rescue Parrot 72 Identifying which birds are available for adoption 72 Completing the rescue application 74 Being prepared for the rescue home visit 74 Looking for a Healthy Parrot 75 Bright eyes 76 Clear nose and nares 76 Beak 76 Shiny feathers 76 Feet 77 Vent 77 Attitude and stance 77 Requesting a Guarantee 77 Knowing What to Ask Before You Buy or Adopt 78 Part 2: Bringing Home Your New Parrot 81 Chapter 5: A House to Call Home: Choosing Proper Housing 83 Matching the Housing to the Species 84 Finding the Right Cage for Your Bird 84 Cage shape 84 Sturdiness and material 85 Housing bottom 86 Door types 87 Cage dangers 87 Building Your Own Cage 88 Placing Your Cage to Ensure Your Parrot is Comfortable 89 Cleaning the Cage 90 Simplifying your cage cleaning 90 Choosing the right cleansers 90 Considering an Aviary 91 The flight cage 92 The habitat 92 Chapter 6: Going Shopping: Avian Supplies and Accessories 95 Giving Your Parrot a Place to Stand: Perches 95 Wooden perches 96 Concrete and cement perches 96 Rope perches 97 Plastic perches 98 Keeping the Food and Water Accessible: Coop Cups 98 Entertaining Your Parrot: Toys 99 Ensuring safety at all times 100 Considering different types of toys 102 Creating the Right Ambience: Bird Lighting 106 Setting Up the Cage 106 Considering Play Gyms and Stands 107 Lining Your Cage: Litter and Bedding 108 Covering the Cage: Nighttime Covers 108 Preventing Mess 109 Mess accessories 110 Air filters 110 Chapter 7: Bringing Home Birdy: Making Introductions and Parrot-Proofing Your Home 111 Making the First Night Stress Free (As Much As Possible) 112 Naming Your Bird 112 Thriving on Routine with Your New Parrot 113 Welcoming Your Parrot as a Family Member 114 Being unafraid; being very unafraid 114 Introducing people 115 Introducing pets 116 Introducing other birds 118 Quarantining your parrot 119 Understanding the Relationship between Parrots and Children 119 Realizing the commitment to owning a bird 119 Establishing some basic rules 120 Familiarizing Houseguests to Your Parrot 123 Parrot-Proofing Your Home 124 Part 3: Caring for Your Parrot 127 Chapter 8: Eating Like a Bird: Proper Parrot Nutrition 129 Starting with the Basics: Water 129 Keeping everything clean 130 Adding supplements to your water: Yay or nay? 131 Recognizing a Parrot’s Dietary Requirements 132 The digestive system 132 Eating in the wild 133 Identifying Nutrition-Related Disorders 134 Vitamin A deficiency 134 Calcium deficiency 135 Comparing Seeds versus Pellets: The Big Debate 136 Eyeing What the Cooked Base Diet is 138 Purchasing and Storing 138 Knowing Which Vegetables to Feed Your Parrot 140 Focusing on Fruit to Feed Your Feathered Friend 141 Being Aware of Pesticides 141 Giving Your Bird Snacks 143 Adding Table Foods to Your Bird’s Diet 145 Avoiding Toxic and Irritating Foods 145 Considering Grit and Clay 146 Contemplating Nutritional Supplements 146 Feeding Nectar Eaters 148 Getting a Parrot to Eat 149 Making Some Easy Recipes 150 Parrot muffins and bread 150 Parrot mac and cheese 151 Parrot omelet 151 Parrot juice and smoothies 151 Parrot pancakes 152 Parrot grain 152 Creating a Healthy Diet Routine 153 Chapter 9: Pretty Bird! Grooming Your Companion 157 Examining What Your Bird Fusses All about: Feathers 157 Fluffing up: Your bird’s feather types 158 Looking closer at feather anatomy 159 Recognizing what you can do 160 Clipping Your Parrot’s Wings 160 To clip or not to clip 161 Examining how flight effects parrot behavior 161 Considering options in between 162 Dealing with clipped and unclipped parrots 163 Clipping Your Bird’s Wings Properly: The How-To 164 Holding the parrot properly — Toweling 164 Clipping the flight feathers 165 Considering special circumstances 167 Clipping Your Parrot’s Toenails 168 Grooming the Beak 169 Beak breaks 170 The misaligned beak 170 Bathing Your Parrot 170 Caring for Molting Parrots 173 Dealing With Blood Feathers 175 Chapter 10: Taking Care of Your Parrot: In Sickness and in Health 177 Taking a Closer Look at a Parrot’s Anatomy 178 Eyes 178 Ears 178 Feathers 178 Preen gland 179 Feet 180 Beak 180 Cere 182 Tongue 182 Neck 182 Skin 182 Syrinx 182 Skeletal system 183 Muscles 183 Respiratory system 183 Digestive system 184 Circulatory system 184 Reproductive system 184 Recognizing Indications of Illness 184 Choosing an Avian Veterinarian 186 Finding a qualified avian vet 186 Knowing what to look for at the first visit 187 Divulging important information 188 Identifying Common Health Disorders 189 Nutritional disorders 190 Parasites 190 Bacterial infections 191 Viral infections 192 Fungal infections 192 Foot disorders 193 Feather disorders 193 Reproductive disorders 194 Being Aware of and Preventing Common Dangers to Companion Parrots 194 Predators and animal bites 195 Standing water 196 Nonstick cookware 196 Household products 197 Poisonous houseplants 198 Ceiling fans 199 Toxic foods 199 Electrocution 200 Feet and doors 200 Lead and other heavy metals 200 Mirrors and clean glass 200 Night thrashing 201 Temperature changes 201 Frostbite 201 Overheating 202 Oil on feathers 202 Broken blood feathers and bleeding nails 202 Physical injuries and seizures 202 Flying away 203 Unsafe toys 205 Humans 205 Caring for an Older Parrot 205 Handling an Emergency 206 Medicating Your Parrot 207 Creating a Hospital Cage 207 Creating a Parrot First-Aid Kit 208 Part 4: Parrot Behavior Made Simple 211 Chapter 11: Understanding Your Wild Child’s Instincts 213 Looking At a Daily Life of Parrots in the Wild 214 Appreciating the Plight of Wild-Caught Parrots 217 Differentiating between wild caught and captive bred 218 Getting involved: Conservation organizations 219 Understanding Your Parrot’s Instincts 220 Being the prey 220 Finding a high spot 220 Flocking 221 Sleeping 221 Vocalizing 222 Making a mess 223 Blending into the background — Camouflage 223 Making eye contact 223 Picking a mate — gender preference in parrots 224 Chapter 12: Recognizing Normal Companion Parrot Behaviors 227 Examining Your Parrot’s Most Natural Behavior — Flying 228 Heading to the Heavens — Climbing 228 Hanging Out on the Ground — Foraging 229 Gnawing to His Heart’s Content — Chewing 229 Staying Completely Still — Freezing 230 Chatting Up a Storm — Vocalization 231 Contact calling 231 Screaming 232 Hissing 232 Growling 232 Begging 232 Differentiating between Beak Clicking and Clucking 233 Getting Clean and Looking Pretty — Preening 233 Clearing His Ears — Yawning 234 Hearing Your Parrot — Beak Grinding 234 Bobbing Up and Down to Say, “I Love You” — Regurgitation 234 Cleaning His Face — Beak Wiping 235 Considering Different Tail Behaviors 236 Exhibiting Breeding Behavior 236 Being Annoyed with Their Cage Mate — Bickering 238 Identifying Eating Habits 238 Rub a Dub Dub — Bathing 239 Taking a Nap — Sleeping 239 Getting Rid of Dirt and Itches — Scratching 239 Achoo! Bless You — Sneezing 240 Warning You to Back Off — Nipping 240 Reading Body Language 240 Flapping wings 240 Crest position 241 Fluffing and ruffling 241 The please dance 242 Head down 242 The attack stance 243 Stretching 243 Bowing and bobbing 244 Head shaking 244 Leaning forward, wings shaking 244 Quivering wings 244 Beak language 244 Potty language 244 Chicken scratching 244 Eye pinning (dilate/contract pupils) 245 Wing drooping 245 Wing flipping 245 Blushing 245 Back down, feet up 245 Recognizing When Your Parrot is Training You 247 Training method 1: Noise 248 Training method 2: Display 249 Training method 3: Biting 250 Training method 4: Plucking 251 Chapter 13: Handling More Than One Bird: Multiple Parrot Households 253 Keeping More Than One Parrot: The Pros and Cons 254 The pros 255 The cons 255 Interpreting Different Parrot Interactions 256 Parrot pals 257 Parrot enemies 258 Romeo and Romeo 259 One-sided love 259 Keeping the peace 259 Falling in love 260 Introducing a New Parrot 260 Wondering Why Everyone Just Can’t Get Along 261 Changing Your Relationship 262 Chapter 14: Addressing Behavior: When Good Birds Go Bad 263 Figuring Out the Problem 263 Understanding Dominance 264 Height dominance 265 Aggression 267 Socializing One-Person Parrots 267 Preventing possessiveness 268 Reversing one person-ness 269 Dealing With a Screaming Parrot 271 Trying these strategies for a screaming bird 271 Staying away from these remedies for a screamer 272 Handling Bad Words and Sounds 273 Taking a Chunk out of You: Biting 274 Considering why birds bite 274 Responding after your bird bites you 276 Paying attention to your bird’s biting body language 276 Addressing Fears and Phobias 277 Considering the causes 278 Trying these tactics with a fearful bird 279 Identifying and Handling Hormonal Issues 280 Pulling Out Her Plumes — Feather Plucking 281 Figuring out why parrots pluck 281 Helping your feathered friend stop plucking 283 Figuring Out What’s Bugging Your Bird 284 Maturity 284 Other birds 284 Environmental changes 285 Cage placement 285 Temperature 286 Noise 286 Sleep 286 Helping or Hurting: Why Your Actions Are Important 287 Hiring a Behavior Consultant 288 Considering the Last Resort: Rescue and Adoption 289 Part 5: Taming, Training, and Beyond 291 Chapter 15: Bird Brains: Understanding Parrot Intelligence 293 Taking a Closer Look at Mr Smarty Pants er, Feathers 294 Studying What Parrots Really Understand 295 Introducing Alex the Amazing Grey 296 Helping Your Bird Understand You 298 Teaching Your Parrot to Converse 299 Comprehending Why Parrots Talk 300 Chapter 16: Taming and Training Your Parrot 303 Beginning Training When Your Parrot is Young 304 Understanding the Importance of Socializing Your Parrot 304 Seeing how socialization affects a parrot’s quality of life 305 Socializing your parrot: The how-to 306 Bonding with Your Parrot 308 Building trust 308 Creating the bond: The how-to 309 Praising Your Bird: Positive Reinforcement Goes a Long Way 311 Considering Different Training Strategies 313 Finding your bird’s motivation 313 Considering clicker training 314 Teaching the Step-Up Command 316 Training a tame or semi-tame parrot: The how-to 316 Using stick training for this command 317 Whittling down to teach this command 318 Taming a Bronco Parrot 318 Disciplining a Parrot 320 Considering Some Simple Fun Behaviors You Can Teach 321 Potty Training Your Parrot: is It Even Possible? 323 Teaching Your Parrot to Talk 324 Recognizing what you need to get your bird to talk 324 Focusing on breeds that are known for talking 326 Getting your bird to stop talking 327 Dealing with a bird that doesn’t talk 328 Chapter 17: Taking Your Training to the Next Level: Advanced Techniques 329 Determining Whether Your Bird Learn Advanced Skills 331 Getting Started on the Right Foot 332 Discovering your parrot’s favorite treats 332 Giving praise 333 Recognizing other items you need to begin 333 Implementing Preference Training 334 Incorporating a Target into Your Training 335 Adding Colors to Your Training Regimen 336 Differentiating between Yes and No 338 Developing Your Bird’s Vocabulary 340 Playing Games with Your Parrot 340 Focusing on “more” or “less” 341 Playing war 341 Training How to Count 342 Handling Wrong Answers 344 Chapter 18: Breeding Parrots 345 Taking Heed: A Warning Before You Begin 346 Having Realistic Expectations When Breeding 347 Realizing how much time and expense is required 347 Considering the associated risks with breeding 348 Finding homes for the babies 350 Getting Started: Breeding with Paired Parrots 350 Recognizing What Breeding Equipment You Need 351 Meeting Nutritional Requirements When Breeding 352 Understanding the Breeding Process: A Timeline 353 Incubating Eggs When the Parent Parrots Aren’t Interested 357 Hatching — Time to welcome the new peeper 357 Making your own brooder 358 Using Leg Bands — A Bird’s ID Tag 359 Handfeeding Baby Parrots 360 Recognizing the equipment you need 360 Choosing a formula 360 Handfeeding your birds: The how-to 361 Being aware of handfeeding potential problems 362 Weaning Baby Parrots 366 Parrot Genetics 101 — Just the Basics 368 Chapter 19: In the Ring: Showing Your Parrot 371 Being Wary — Words of Warning for Showing 372 Looking into Parrot Clubs and Societies 373 Walking You Through How a Bird Show Works 374 Knowing the Show Standard 375 Looking at Different Show Equipment 378 Conditioning Your Bird for a Show 378 Preparing Your Bird: Show Training 379 Helping Out at the Show 380 Part 6: The Part of Tens 381 Chapter 20: Ten Things All Parrots Should Know 383 Understand the Step-Up Command 383 Comprehend Stick Training 384 Know Her Carrier 384 Identify Windows and Mirrors 384 Say Her Name and Phone Number 385 Recognize Her Cage As a Safety Zone 385 Know How to Take Medicine 386 Be Able to Trust You 386 Eat Well 386 Understand the Word “No!” 387 Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Entertain Your Parrot 389 Feeding Him — Food 390 Entertaining Your Bird — You’re the Star 391 Stimulating Your Parrot’s Mind — Parrot Toys 391 Turning on the TV and Some Music 393 Spending Time Outside — The Great Outdoors 393 Letting Him Spread His Wings — Flying 394 Shaking Your Groove Thang — Dancing 394 Belting at the Top of Your Lungs — Singing 394 Introducing a Friend — Parrot Pets 395 Training Him Different Tricks 395 Chapter 22: Ten (or So) Tips When Traveling with Your Parrot 397 Being Prepared — Packing Your Parrot’s Suitcase 398 Thinking Safety and Comfort — Bringing the Right Carrier 399 Hitting the Friendly Skies — Traveling by Air 401 Taking a Road Trip — Traveling by Car 402 Keeping Your Bird Hydrated — Bringing Bottled Water 403 Sleeping for the Night — Staying in a Hospitable Hotel 403 Feeding Your Bird — Helpful Travel Tips 404 Dealing with an Emergency — Finding an Avian Veterinarian on the Road 404 Relying on Help — Using a Parrot Sitter 405 Chapter 23: Ten Surprises for Parrot Guardians and How to Respond to Them 407 Handling the Inevitable Mess 407 Being Ready for the Noise 408 Feeling Guilty 409 Requiring Constant Supervision 410 Preparing to Open Your Wallet — The Expense 410 Bonding with You to an Extreme 411 Seeing How Funny Parrots Are around Mirrors 411 Recognizing How Smart Parrots Are 411 Figuring Out Who Inherits Your Parrot When You Die — Estate Planning 412 Being Prepared for the Unexpected — When Your Parrot Dies 413 Index 415

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Book SynopsisTweet, tweet, parakeet! Your one-stop resource when you''re ready to bring home a budgie There are lots of perks to owning a parakeet (also known as a budgie). This book introduces you to your beautiful budgie buddy and prepares you to give that bird a home that other avian companions will envy. Perfect for first-time bird owners and seasoned bird parents, Parakeets For Dummies offers expert advice on adopting a parakeet and introducing it to other fur or feathered babies you might have. You''ll also discover the best way to groom and train your parakeet and learn how to teach it to talk. And when your feathered friend appears to be under the weather, you can turn to this book to identify the symptoms of illness and know what to look for when choosing a vet for your pet. Discover whether a parakeet is a good fit for your family, including any existing birds and other pets Construct a comfortable enclosure and prep your home so your bird canTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part 1: Introducing the Parakeet 5 Chapter 1: Parakeets: More Than Just Pretty, Whistling Birds 7 Chapter 2: Is a Parakeet Your Perfect Companion? 13 Chapter 3: Finding and Selecting a Parakeet 27 Chapter 4: Home Tweet Home: Preparing for Your Parakeet 37 Part 2: Caring for Your Parakeet 59 Chapter 5: Polly Want a Cracker? Feeding Your Parakeet Properly 61 Chapter 6: Pretty Bird! Grooming Your Parakeet 75 Chapter 7: Come Here Often? Getting to Know Your Parakeet 85 Part 3: Training and Breeding Your Parakeet 97 Chapter 8: Good Bird! Taming and Training Your Parakeet 99 Chapter 9: Keeping Your Parakeet Healthy and Handling Emergencies 115 Chapter 10: Bouncing Baby Budgies: Breeding Your Parakeets 131 Part 4: The Part of Tens 145 Chapter 11: Ten Facts about Parakeets 147 Chapter 12: Ten Fun and Informative Parakeet and Budgie Websites 149 Index 151

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 1 Foolish Assumptions 2 Beyond the Book 2 Icons Used in the Book 2 Where to Go from Here 3 Part 1: Getting Started with Goats 5 Chapter 1: Discovering the Joys of Raising Goats 7 Finding Goat Basics 8 Identifying the Benefits of Owning Goats 9 Becoming more self-sufficient 9 Using goats for companions or helpers 13 Raising goats as a 4-H project 14 Determining Whether Goats Are for You 15 Devoting time and effort 15 Deciding which goats are right for your situation 16 Finding out about local ordinances 17 Knowing your neighbors 18 Chapter 2: Glimpsing Vital Goat Statistics 19 Doe, a Goat, a Female Goat 19 Taking a Look at Goat Anatomy 20 Parts of the body 20 The digestive system 22 Hooves 23 Teeth 24 Beards 25 Wattles 25 Horns 26 Eyes 26 Signs of a Healthy Goat 27 Noticing posture 27 Identifying the meaning of goat cries 27 Determining normal temperature 28 Using ruminations as a health indicator 30 Taking a goat’s pulse 30 Counting respirations 31 Recognizing life expectancy 31 Using a Goat Scorecard to Evaluate a Goat 31 Chapter 3: Knowing Your Capra Aegagrus Hircus (Goat, That Is) 33 Looking into Dairy Goats 34 Standard dairy goat breeds 34 Miniature breeds 38 Discovering Meat Goats 42 Boer goats 43 Myotonic goats 44 Kiko goats 45 Spanish goats 45 Texmaster goats 46 Moneymaker meat goats 46 Savanna goats 47 Investigating Fiber Goats 47 Angora 47 Cashmere 48 Miniature fiber goats 49 Chapter 4: Getting Your Property Ready for a Goat 51 Figuring Out How Many Goats You Can Support 51 Making Sure Fencing is Adequate 52 Running through types of fencing 53 Planning for gates 54 Protecting Your Plants 55 Considering which trees to protect 55 Making trees goat-proof 55 Protecting Your Herd 57 Putting hazards out of reach 57 Avoiding tethering 58 Providing a safe place to bunk down 59 Considering local predators 59 Using guardian animals for security 61 Removing poisonous plants 63 Building a Milk Stand 65 Cutting the lumber into parts and marking the pieces 67 Attaching the legs to the base 68 Attaching the side pieces to the base 68 Finishing the platform 68 Preparing the stanchion 68 Assembling the stanchion 69 Creating neck pieces 69 Adding the neck pieces to the stanchion 70 Adding the feeder attachment 70 Attaching the stanchion to the base 71 Making final adjustments 71 Part 2: Bringing Your Goats Home 73 Chapter 5: Home Sweet Homestead: Sheltering Your Goats 75 Outlining Shelter Types 75 Using an existing building 77 Putting up a shelter 77 Providing a Safe, Cozy Place for Goats to Bunk 78 Building a sleeping shelf in an existing barn 79 Using and maintaining bedding 82 Creating an Outdoor Shelter 84 Protecting your goats from the elements 84 Selecting flooring 85 Keeping Your Goats and Their Living Space Clean 86 Controlling flies and other bugs 86 Feed storage and ratproofing 88 Chapter 6: Dinner Time: What and How to Feed Your Goats 91 Goats Don’t Eat Tin Cans: What and How to Feed 92 Understanding the two types of feed 92 Feeding hay and alfalfa 93 Using Chaffhaye instead of hay and alfalfa 93 Feeding grain 94 Following a feeding schedule 95 Choosing organic — or not 96 Minerals are a must 96 Supplemental feeds 97 Using Body-Condition Scoring to Fine-Tune Feeding 99 Feeding for Special Cases 100 Pregnancy 101 Milking does 101 Kids 101 Getting the Basic Supplies 102 Bowls 102 Buckets 102 Water supply 103 Mineral feeder 104 Hay feeder 105 Storing feed 106 Building a Simple Hay Feeder 106 Building a Mineral Block Holder 108 Providing Supplemental Feeding Options 110 Growing a goat garden 110 Feeding with garden plant waste 112 Storing garden produce 112 Creating a Hedgerow 113 Choosing a location 113 Determining what to plant 113 Keeping it surviving and thriving 114 Supplementing with Fodder 114 Chapter 7: Getting Your Goats: Choosing, Buying, and Bringing Goats Home 117 Choosing the Right Goats for Your Needs 118 Goats need company 118 Function matters 118 Size matters 119 Horns can hurt 119 Registered or unregistered 119 Looks count: The basics of conformation 120 Finding Sources for Goats 121 Visiting local feed stores 122 Reading the agriculture paper or thrifties 122 Checking out Craigslist 122 Surfing breeders’ websites 122 Joining registries and goat clubs 123 Going where goat people congregate 123 Making Sure You Get a Healthy Goat 124 Asking questions 124 Examining the goats 125 Observing the home herd 126 Protecting Yourself with a Contract 126 Bringing Your Goats Home 128 Transporting your goats 128 Quarantining new goats 129 Watching for signs of stress 129 Chapter 8: Working with Your Goats 131 Identifying Normal Goat Behavior 131 Establishing a “pecking” order 132 Biting, butting, and mounting 133 Conducting Basic Training with Your Goats 135 Collars are not just decorations 135 Handling goats regularly 136 Walking goats on a lead 137 Teaching basic manners 138 Moving Up to Advanced Goat Training 139 Teaching tricks with a clicker 139 Using an obstacle course 140 Housebreaking 140 Preparing goats for packing 141 Training goats to pull a cart 143 Supervising Your Herd 145 Meeting their social needs 145 Evaluating the time you have to be home 146 Finding and training a reliable helper 146 Maintaining Physical Fitness 147 Walking with your goats 148 Furnishing your yard or pasture with toys 148 Entertaining with Your Goats 149 Chapter 9: Handling Routine Care and Important One-Time Tasks 151 Grooming Your Goats 151 Brushing 152 Bathing 152 Clipping 152 Specialized clipping 154 Caring for Hooves 154 Preparing to trim 155 Trimming the hooves 155 Dealing with Horns 159 Horned or not? 159 The case for no horns on goats 159 When to disbud 160 How to disbud 160 Preventing and dealing with scurs 164 Castrating Your Bucks 165 The problem of poor Elmer, or why to castrate 165 Knowing when to castrate 166 Choosing a castration method 167 Identifying Your Goats: Microchipping and Tattooing 169 Choosing a method 169 Tattooing your goat 170 Microchipping your goat 171 Part 3: Managing Goat Health and Breeding 173 Chapter 10: Outlining Basic Health-Care Requirements 175 Recognizing Signs of Illness 176 Working with a Veterinarian 177 Finding a vet 177 Knowing when to call 178 Preparing for a vet visit 178 Working with a non-goat veterinarian 180 Building a First-Aid Kit 180 The Straight Poop: Fecal Analysis 182 Giving Injections 184 Considering Vaccinations 186 Deciding whether to vaccinate 186 Looking into common vaccinations 186 Giving a vaccination 187 Keeping Health Records 188 Documenting important information 188 Keeping track of recurrent problems 189 Providing information for the vet 189 Tracking trends 190 Testing to Avoid Problems 190 Knowing what to test for 190 How to draw blood for a test 191 Knowing the Law Regarding Drugs in Food Animals 193 Chapter 11: Addressing Common Health Problems and Ailments 195 Managing the Creepy-Crawlies 195 Controlling external parasites 196 Minimizing internal parasites 198 Helping keep parasite problems at bay 202 Acquainting Yourself with Goat Viruses and Infections 202 Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) 202 Abscesses 204 Hardware disease 205 Tetanus 205 Johne’s disease 206 Listeriosis 206 Pinkeye 207 Soremouth 207 Pneumonia 208 Wounds 209 Ringworm 210 Foot rot 210 Rabies 210 Examining Feed-Related Problems 211 Scours 211 Bloat 212 Enterotoxemia 213 Nutrient imbalances 214 Poisoning 218 Chapter 12: Breeding and Looking After Pregnant Goats 219 Preparing for Breeding 219 Running through Goat Mating Habits: Courting is Crucial! 220 Identifying the season for goat love 220 Manners, or what to expect from your goat 221 Doing the deed 223 Housing a buck after breeding 223 Finding Breeding Solutions When You Have Only Does 224 The invaluable buck rag 224 Leasing a buck 225 One-night stands, or driveway breeding 225 Artificial insemination 225 Looking into the Finer Points of Goat Pregnancy 226 Length of gestation 226 False pregnancy 226 Dealing with common pregnancy problems 227 Getting Ready for Kidding 230 Preparing the doe 230 Setting up a kidding pen 230 Being prepared with a kidding kit 231 Knowing when she’ll kid (and what to do!) 232 Chapter 13: Now Comes the Fun Part: Kids! 235 Grasping the Basics of Kidding 235 Knowing what to expect from labor and birth 236 Handling multiples 239 Taking Care of Mother and Kids after Kidding 240 Caring for the new mother 240 Caring for newborn kids 241 The importance of colostrum 242 Dealing with kid problems 242 Tube-feeding a weak kid 246 Vaccinating 248 Feeding the Kids 249 Deciding between hand-feeding or natural feeding 249 Choosing milk 250 Feeding individually or as a group 250 Feeding schedule 251 Introducing solid foods 252 Weaning kids 252 Chapter 14: Caring for Aged Goats 255 Identifying Health Problems 255 Musculoskeletal issues 256 Digestive issues 256 Immune system issues 257 Circulatory issues 257 Mammary issues 257 Behavioral changes 258 Making Allowances for Disability 258 Providing proper housing 258 Finding a workable diet 259 Easing chronic pain 261 Determining When to Let Go 262 Part 4: Making Your Goats Work for You 263 Chapter 15: Discovering Goat Milk: How to Get, Use, and Sell It 265 Developing a Milking Routine 266 Knowing when to milk 266 Keeping the milk fresh 267 Caring for the udder 268 Preventing mastitis 269 Keeping records 269 Ending milking (Drying off) 270 Getting a Grip on Hand-Milking 270 Getting the supplies 271 Running through the hand-milking process 272 Using a hand-milking machine 273 Using a Motorized Milking Machine 274 Handling Milk to Keep It Clean and Fresh 276 Straining the milk 276 Cooling the milk 277 Storing the milk 277 Staying Legal while Selling Milk 278 Chapter 16: Goat Meat: From Breeding to Selling and Beyond 279 Getting the Basics of Raising Goats for Meat 280 Cross-breeding standard dairy goats to produce meat goats 280 Using your dairy goats for meat 281 Selling Your Products 281 Identifying potential buyers 281 Selling goats 284 Advertising 286 Legal considerations 287 Determining what to charge 287 Using marketing terminology properly 288 Slaughtering Goats 289 Doing it yourself 289 Using a licensed slaughter plant 289 Hiring a mobile butcher 290 Humanely slaughtering goats 290 Using All of the Goat 291 Hide tanning 291 Animal feed 293 Using the organs for herd health check 293 Chapter 17: Showing Your Goats 295 Finding Shows 296 Preparing to Show Your Goat 296 Getting your goat show-ready 297 Assembling your supplies 300 Earning more than just ribbons 301 Marketing at shows 301 Showing Your Goat in Person 302 Dressing appropriately 302 Keeping your goat between yourself and the judge 302 Focusing on the judge at all times 303 Making sure not to talk with your neighbor 303 Remaining calm even if your goat is misbehaving 303 Doing what the judge asks 304 Keeping your goat properly set up 304 Being a good loser (or winner) 305 Showing Your Goat Virtually 305 Setting the scene 306 Preparing your goat 306 Photographing properly 306 Chapter 18: More Benefits of Goats: Fiber, Breeding, Weed Control, and More 309 Harvesting and Selling Fiber 310 Reviewing fiber types 310 Shearing: How and when 311 Processing the fiber 314 Spinning 316 Selling your fiber 317 Creating Mini Breeds 318 Backpacking with Goats 320 Offering Buck Service 321 Boarding Other People’s Goats 322 Selling Compost 322 Hiring Out for Weed Control 323 Providing “Goat Therapy” 324 Part 5: The Part of Tens 325 Chapter 19: Ten Common Mistakes First-Time Goat Owners Make 327 Getting Too Many Goats Too Fast 327 Failing to Educate Yourself before Getting Goats 328 Underestimating the Costs 328 Paying Too Much or Too Little for Your Goats 329 Getting Only One Goat 330 Buying Unhealthy Goats 330 Neglecting Routine Management and Care 331 Overlooking Your Goats’ Dietary Needs 331 Giving the Goats Too Little Attention 332 Getting a Buck before You’re Ready 332 Chapter 20: Ten Misconceptions about Goats 333 Goats Will Eat Anything 333 Goats Stink 334 Goats Aren’t Very Smart 334 Goats Make Good Lawn Mowers 335 Goat Milk Tastes Bad 335 Goat Meat Tastes Bad 335 Goats Get Most of Their Water from Plants 336 Goats Are Only for People Who Can’t Afford Cows 336 Only Male Goats Have Beards 337 A Dog Makes a Good Friend for a Goat 337 Appendix: Goat-Milk Recipes 339 Index 357

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 About This Book 2 Foolish Assumptions 2 Icons Used in This Book 3 Beyond the Book 3 Where to Go from Here 4 Part 1: From Poodle to Doodle 5 Chapter 1: Meet the Doodle 7 Doodle Sizes 7 Toy-size Doodles 9 Miniature-size Doodles 10 Standard-size Doodles 11 Doodle Personalities 12 Super-sensitive 12 Very intuitive 14 Hyperactive 15 Doodle Health 15 Life span 15 Potential health issues 16 Doodle Training 17 Puppies: Up to 4 months old 17 Adolescents: 4 to 8 months old 17 Adults: Over 8 months old 18 Chapter 2: The Amazing Poodle 19 Meet the Poodle 20 Big, Small, Poodles Have It All 23 Poodle Personalities 23 Common Health Concerns 24 Chapter 3: Considering Your Doodle Options 25 Considering Your Lifestyle 26 Doodle Commonalities 28 Grooming requirements 28 Early socialization requirements 28 Behavioral quirks 28 Trainability 28 Dietary requirements 29 Exercise requirements 29 Separation anxiety 29 Meet the Doodles 29 Aussiedoodle 30 Bernedoodle 32 Cavadoodle (Cavapoo) 34 Chidoodle (Chipoo) 36 Cockapoo 38 Goldendoodle 40 Havadoodle 42 Jackadoodle (Jackapoo) 44 Labradoodle 46 Maltipoo 48 Pekapoo 50 Pomapoo 52 Pugadoodle (Pugapoo) 54 Pyredoodle 56 Sheepadoodle 58 Shihdoodle (Shihpoo) 60 Sproodle 62 Whoodle (Wheatenpoo) 64 Yorkipoo (Yorkidoodle) 66 Part 2: Your Very Own Doodle 69 Chapter 4: Pick a Doodle 71 Finding Your Doodle 71 Searching the web 71 Doodle owners 72 Groomers 72 Identifying a Reputable Breeder 73 Looking at the different kinds of breeders 73 Asking the right questions 76 Visiting a breeder 77 Getting health clearances 78 Reading the puppy purchase contract 81 Temperament Testing a Doodle 82 Be gentle: Testing for touch sensitivity 82 What’s that? Testing for movement and object sensitivity 84 Who’s the boss? Testing for confidence or passivity 86 I’ll get that! Testing for possessiveness and retrieval ability 89 Follow the leader: Testing for social skills 91 Chapter 5: Doodle on the Way 93 Before Doodle Day: What to Know Before Bringing Your Dog Home 93 Financial considerations 94 Time considerations 95 Space considerations 97 Puppy-Proofing Your Home 97 Removing chewing hazards 98 Protecting your furniture 99 Safety first 101 Setting Up Sleeping and Eating Areas 102 The crate: Your dog’s first place to sleep 103 Thinking outside the box: Letting your dog sleep outside a crate 103 Buying bedding 104 Giving your dog a place to eat 104 Stocking Up on Supplies 105 Collars, harnesses, and leashes 105 Dishes and bowls 105 Toys 106 Chapter 6: It’s Doodle Day: Picking Up Your New Puppy 109 Travel Considerations 110 Flying with your puppy 110 Traveling by car 112 Poop, Pee, Eat, Sleep, Repeat: Setting Up a Feeding and Potty Schedule 113 Giving Your Puppy the Guided Tour 114 Showing your pup around 114 Greeting the family 115 Meeting other pets 116 Taking your Doodle out to do their business 119 Helping Your Doodle through the First-Night Blues 120 Planning Activities to Keep Your Doodle Entertained 121 It Takes a Village: Making Sure the Whole Family is Onboard 122 Feeding times 122 Potty breaks 123 Training and exercise routines 123 Chapter 7: Doodle Care 125 Giving Your Doodle the Nutrition They Need 125 The basics of nutrition 126 Types of dog food 127 Going to the Veterinarian 131 Choosing a veterinarian 131 Spaying or neutering 134 Going for regular checkups and vaccinations 135 Controlling parasites 138 Recognizing and Addressing Health Issues 139 Itches, bumps and spots: Skin disorders 139 Food allergies 140 Finicky or piggy: Eating disorders 140 Born with it or accidental: Skeletal issues 141 Common food sensitivities 142 Itches, bumps and spots: Skin disorders 143 Offering First-Aid to Your Doodle 144 Assembling your canine first-aid kit 145 Knowing what to do in an emergency 146 Nature’s Way: Exploring Natural Foods and Supplements 153 Vitamins 153 Herbs 154 Oils 154 Chapter 8: The Dapper Doodle 157 The Better to Hear You With: Cleaning Your Doodle’s Ears 157 Mani-Pedi Time: Trimming Your Doodle’s Nails 159 Say Cheese!: Keeping Your Doodle’s Teeth Healthy 161 Lookin’ Good: Coat Maintenance 163 Professional Doodle Grooming 165 Doodle cuts 166 Which cut is right for your dog 170 Preparing for grooming 170 Part 3: Doodle Training 173 Chapter 9: Doodle Rules and Regulations 175 Setting the Rules 175 Being Consistent, Praising Frequently, and Exercising Patience 176 Being Observant and Harnessing Good Behavior 177 Facilitating good behavior 178 Capturing behavior 179 Shaping behavior 180 Housetraining Your Puppy 181 Crate training 181 Finding the right outdoor relief area 183 Observing and directing your pup’s behavior 184 Training your Doodle to potty on cue 184 For whom the bell tolls: Training your Doodle to tell you when they have to go 186 Chapter 10: Basic Doodle Lessons 187 Buying and Using the Right Training Equipment 187 Targeting and Marking 192 Teaching Your Doodle the Basic Cues 195 Sit 195 Come 196 Heel 198 Down 202 Stay 204 Finish 208 Stand 214 Chapter 11: Advanced Doodle Lessons 217 Increasing the Duration and Distance of Stays and Recalls 217 Increasing the distance during stays 218 Getting your dog to come from a stay 221 Walking at Heel without a Leash 224 Phase 1: Dragging the leash 224 Phase 2: Using a pull-tab leash 225 Distraction-Proofing Your Doodle 226 Toys 228 Children 229 Dogs 231 Other animals 233 Enhancing Focus by Capturing Offered Behavior 234 Capturing heeling off lead 234 Voluntary stays 235 Putting on the Finishing Touches: AKC Rally 236 Puppy Playground: Doodle Agility Fun 238 Chapter 12: Doodle Don’ts 241 Four on the Floor: Stopping Jumping Up 242 Understanding why dogs jump 243 Keeping your Doodle’s feet on the ground 243 Curing the insistent jumper 244 I’m Not Your Supper: Stopping Mouthing 247 Understanding why dogs nip and mouth 247 Preventing the problem 247 Curing the problem 248 Chew on This, Not That 248 Understanding why dogs chew 249 Solving the problem 250 Oh, the Noise! Getting Your Doodle to Stop Barking 253 Keeping your Doodle occupied while you’re gone 254 Helping your Doodle to be confident on their own 255 Stopping barking on cue 256 All Mine: Teaching Your Doodle to Share 256 Surf’s Up! Stopping Counter-Surfing 257 Part 4: Doodles with a Purpose 259 Chapter 13: Doodles as Assistance Dogs 261 The Better to Hear You With: Hearing Dogs 262 Assistance Doodles 263 Emotional Support Dogs 264 Chapter 14: Doodle Sports 267 Participating in Formal Competitions 267 Looking at the different kinds of competitions 268 Preparing for your event 275 Hunting with Your Doodle 277 Having Down-Home Fun with Your Doodle 278 Part 5: Senior Doodles 281 Chapter 15: Recognizing the Changing Needs of Aging Doodles 283 Physical Changes 285 Worsening allergies 285 Bad breath 285 Lumps and bumps 286 Weight gain 286 Incontinence 286 Aches and pains: Changes in your Doodle’s joints 286 Blindness and deafness 287 Mental Changes 288 Chapter 16: Enhancing the Life of Your Aging Doodle 291 Move It or Lose It: Keeping Your Senior Doodle Active 291 Walking not running 292 Keeping the games light 292 Feeding Your Senior Doodle 293 Understanding how your dog’s needs have changed 293 Feeding more often to aid digestion 294 Old Dog, New Tricks: Training Your Senior Doodle 295 Exercises for the body 295 Exercises for the mind 296 Chapter 17: Double Doodle: Adding a Second Dog to Your Family 299 Looking at Common Reasons to Get a Second Dog 300 To give your current dog a companion 301 To prevent separation anxiety 301 To Doodle or Not to Doodle: That is the Question 302 Knowing What to Look for in a Sibling 303 Helping the New Duo Get Along 304 Setting up a positive initial meeting 304 Acclimating to a new life 305 Preventing resource guarding 307 Working with the dogs in tandem 308 Part 6: The Part of Tens 319 Chapter 18: Ten Reasons to Get Your Doodle from a Reputable Breeder 321 They Know What They’re Producing 322 They Provide Health Certifications 322 They Let You Meet the Parents 322 They Care Who Buys Their Puppies 323 They Offer Health Guarantees 323 They’ll Take Your Dog Back if You Can’t Keep Them 323 They Can Help You Pick the Right Puppy 324 They Provide Proof of Vaccinations 324 They Can Give You All Kinds of Guidance after You’ve Taken Your Pup Home 324 They Care about the Puppies They Produce 324 Chapter 19: Ten Reasons to Share Your Life with a Doodle 325 Doodles Are Adorable 325 Doodles Are Extremely Intelligent 325 Doodles Are Easy to Train 326 Doodles May Not Shed as Much as Some Other Breeds 326 Doodles Love People 326 Doodles Love Other Dogs 327 Doodles Are Very Sensitive 327 Doodles Are Entertaining 327 Doodles Come in All Sizes 327 Doodles Fit in Any Climate 328 Index 329

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPart I Planet Earth Chapter 1 Humans and the EnvironmentChapter 2 Environmental JusticeChapter 3 Architecture of the Earth and Atmosphere Chapter 4 Climate Change Chapter 5 Natural Pollution Chapter 6 Environmental Perspective on Rocks and MineralsChapter 7 Natural Hazards and Pollution Part II Pollution of the Earth Chapter 8 Pollution of GroundwaterChapter 9 Pollution of Rivers and Surface Waters Chapter 10 Pollution of SoilChapter 11 Ecosystem PollutionChapter 12 Ocean PollutionChapter 13 Air Pollution and Weather Part III Development and Resource Usage Chapter 14 Mining and Earth ResourcesChapter 15 Military and PollutionChapter 16 Agricultural Pollution Chapter 17 Nuclear Energy and Dangers Part IV Remediation of the Environment Chapter 18 Waste Disposal Chapter 19 Environmental Industry and Clean upChapter 20 Is It Too Late?

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for an Andrew Carnegie Medal for ExcellenceA Washington Post Notable Book of the YearAmerica's national parks are breathing spaces in a world in which such spaces are steadily disappearing, which is why more than 300 million people visit the parks each year. Now Terry Tempest Williams, the New York Times bestselling author of the environmental classic Refuge and the beloved memoir When Women Were Birds, returns with The Hour of Land, a literary celebration of our national parks and an exploration of what they mean to us and what we mean to them.From the Grand Tetons in Wyoming to Acadia in Maine to Big Bend in Texas, Williams creates a series of lyrical portraits that illuminate the unique grandeur of each place while delving into what it means to shape a landscape with its own evolutionary history into something of our own making. Part memoir, part natural history, and part social critique, The Hour of Land

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Book SynopsisFrom international bestselling author Liz Climo comes You''re Mom, a hilarious and relatable collection of original comics about motherhood Moms: they are there for us through the good, the bad, the scary, the sticky, and everything in between. They also read us a lot of picture books along the way, and now there's a picture book just for them. Liz Climo brings her trademark wit and adorable drawings to You''re Mom: a funny, honest, and sweet homage to motherhood. Detailing the ups and downs of mothering, along with the many paths to becoming a mom and the different types of motherhood, Climo pairs humorous observations with clever illustrations of baby animals and their mothers. With more than 100 beautiful drawings, You''re Mom is a book for the new mom, the seasoned mom, anyone in a mom-like role, or anyone who has ever loved a mom. It's a thank you to those taking on the challenging role of parenting - and it''s also short and sweet, which means you can read it and then hopefully get some sleep!

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Book SynopsisEmbrace the self-assuredness that keeps cats purring!Take it from the cats! No one knows inner peace like a smug tabby who's knocked something breakable off a table they're not supposed to be sitting on. There's no crisis of confidence or lack of self-worth here. These house panthers know what they want and how to get it from doting and unsuspecting humans alike. And with more than 50 feline-inspired affirmations that are equal parts empowerment, Zen, and cattitude, you can follow in their confident pawprints. Brighten your mood and find your balance with mantras like:- I am a divine being.- Not every mess is mine to clean up.- I greet the morning with unbridled enthusiasm.Paired with playful illustrations that purrfectly capture the mischievous wit and self-possessed wisdom of cats, I Deserve All the Treats will leave you feeling calm, cool, and ready to take on (or over) the world!

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Book SynopsisTimely and unsettling essays from an important and beloved writer and conservationist In Erosion, Terry Tempest Williams''s fierce, spirited, and magnificent essays are a howl in the desert. She sizes up the continuing assaults on America''s public lands and the erosion of our commitment to the open space of democracy. She asks: How do we find the strength to not look away from all that is breaking our hearts?We know the elements of erosion: wind, water, and time. They have shaped the spectacular physical landscape of our nation. Here, Williams bravely and brilliantly explores the many forms of erosion we face: of democracy, science, compassion, and trust. She examines the dire cultural and environmental implications of the gutting of Bear Ears National Monumentsacred lands to Native Peoples of the American Southwest; of the undermining of the Endangered Species Act; of the relentless press by the fossil fuel industry that has led to a panorama in which

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Book SynopsisAn essential document of our time. Charles D'Ambrosio, author of LoiteringIn search of answers and action, the award-winning poet and essayist Lisa Wells brings us Believers, introducing trailblazers and outliers from across the globe who have found radically new ways to live and reconnect to the Earth in the face of climate change We find ourselves at the end of the world. How, then, shall we live?Like most of us, Lisa Wells has spent years overwhelmed by increasingly urgent news of climate change on an apocalyptic scale. She did not need to be convinced of the stakes, but she could not find practical answers. She embarked on a pilgrimage, seeking wisdom and paths to action from outliers and visionaries, pragmatists and iconoclasts. Believers tracks through the lives of these people who are dedicated to repairing the earth and seemingly undaunted by the task ahead.Wells meets an itinerant gardener and

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Book SynopsisIn short, gloriously inventive essays, the Whiting Awardwinning author Amy Leach's The Everybody Ensemble invites us to see and celebrate our oddball, interconnected worldHumans, please turn your guns into kazoos.Are you feeling dismay, despair, disillusion? Need a break from the ho-hum, the hopeless, and the hurtful? Feel certain that there's a version of our world that doesn't break down into tiny categories of alliance but brings everybody together into one clattering, sometimes discordant but always welcoming chorus of glorious pandemonium?Amy Leach, the celebrated author of the transcendent Things That Are, invites you into The Everybody Ensemble, an effervescent tonic of a book. These short, wildly inventive essays are filled with praise songs, poetry, ingenious critique, soul-lifting philosophy, music theory, and whimsical but scientific trips into nature. Here, you will meet platypuses, Tycho Brahe and

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Book SynopsisPrize-winning essays on our changing place in the natural world by the best-selling author of Moby-Duck.

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Book SynopsisA collage of water stories from the Odyssey, reconstructed as a mesmeric and hallucinatory book-length poem by acclaimed poet Alice Oswald.Trade Review"A radical rereading and re-voicing of The Odyssey, an oceanic nameless lyric with undercurrents from The Oresteia and Philoctetes…Nobody is a sorrowing, timeless, up-to-the-minute, majestic, goose-fleshed meditation on what it is to be mortal." -- Rosanna Warren, author of So Forth"Electrifying…[Nobody] is mythical and realistic, ancient and modern…Oswald is at the top of her form here." -- Kate Kellaway - Observer"A paean to water, to the fluidity of language and the porousness between beings and stories…[T]he effects of reading Nobody linger in and around the mind long after the experience has passed." -- Maria Crawford - Financial Times"The rush of unexpected language is thrilling…It is a wonderfully skillful tarantella of syllables and images…Nobody is Oswald’s most formally freehand work, a fragmentary gathering of murmurings searching for the excitement of new meaning." -- Jeremy Noel-Todd - Sunday Times"[Oswald is] a revolutionary, an eco-poet whose ideas are alive with sensory experience. These seeming paradoxes create exceptional resonance, and the sense of an urgency that transcends poetry itself…Nobody is a kind of verse novel which refuses even the conventions of storytelling." -- Fiona Sampson - Guardian

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Book SynopsisA close look at one season in one key site that reveals the amazing science and magic of spring bird migration, and the perils of human encroachment.Trade Review“Kenn Kaufman knows his birds and their miraculous journeys—and he feels them deeply, too. An enlightening, thought-provoking, and poignant read.” —Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Genius of Birds “In A Season on the Wind, Kenn Kaufman soars above his Ohio home place and artfully shares the world of birds and the miraculous feats of migration that persist amidst constant conservation struggles and hard-won successes. It’s a wondrous compendium of stories about birds and humans that compels us to be more in nature and work ever harder to protect it. The message within to love and conserve is as clear as a Swainson’s thrush’s flight call in a spring night sky. What A Season on the Wind does is so much more than inform, it inspires.” —J. Drew Lanham, author of The Home Place “Some people love birds, but others have a passionate commitment to birding. Kenn Kaufman has that kind of dedication, which includes a fascination for bird watching, but also he’s a genuine part of the birding community dedicated to protecting these beautiful creatures.” —Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist “Seamlessly weaving together natural history with personal narrative, Kaufman reveals how an appreciation of birds not only helps build community and conserve land, but also can make life a great deal richer for each of us. The more he uncovers the fascinating lives and migratory feats of birds, the more wonder and magic he lays bare; by the end, his sense of awe has become our own. A Season on the Wind will transform the way we see birds and the season of spring!” —Melissa Groo, wildlife photographer and conservationist —

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Book SynopsisFind out whether your dog or puppy has anxiety, and learn what you can do to help Dog anxiety is common among all breeds, but different dogs can show different symptoms. Dog Anxiety For Dummies is for the millions of dog parents (and dog-parents-to-be) who want to help improve their pets' quality of life and relieve their suffering. With this helpful resource, you can recognize common signs of anxiety in dogs, discover what triggers their anxiety, learn to use training and play to ease anxiety, and find professional help when you need it. You'll also get tips for dealing with specific situations like separation anxiety, fear aggression, noise-sensitive pups, and addressing trauma in rescue dogs. Calm dogs of all ages with the expert tips inside! Recognize your dog's anxiety symptoms and triggersUnderstand treatment options for dogs displaying anxious behaviorsImplement daily routines and training solutions to help alleviate anxietyHelp your dog feel comfortable about strangers, cope wi

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Book SynopsisA beautifully illustrated guide to the wildlife, landscape and nature reserves of Anglesey. Will appeal to all those interested in the wildlife and natural history of the island.

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024''Deeply poetic.'' CAROLINE LUCAS MP''A masterpiece of storytelling.'' NICK MAYHEW-SMITH''Mary Colwell is a candle of open-minded curiosity.'' PATRICK LAURIE''An unforgettable story.'' MICHAEL MCCARTHY-Mary Colwell makes a solo pilgrimage along the Camino Francés winding through forests, mountains, farmland, industrial sprawls and places of worship. Pilgrims have always walked in times of upheaval, pitching themselves against weather, hunger, thirst and sometimes pain as they tread the paths their ancestors once followed. In the winter of 2020, author, nature campaigner and veteran solo walker Mary Colwell walked a 500-mile pilgrimage along the Camino Francés in northern Spain. In a typical year, many thousands of people walk this route, but Mary had it virtually to herself at a unique historical moment a time of profound political cTrade ReviewA compelling storyteller, Colwell’s 500-mile pilgrimage is rich with memories, myths and associations from the past. In this deeply poetic journey into an inner and an outer landscape, the natural world is often her only companion, powerfully evoked and brilliantly observed. * Caroline Lucas MP *In The Gathering Place, Mary Colwell is a candle of open-minded curiosity, which reminds us that while clear answers are hard to come by, we should never stop asking questions. * Patrick Laurie, author of Native *An unforgettable story of heroes and villains, kindness and horror, holiness and wickedness, miracles, bizarre legends, lost souls, and eventually, solace in a troubled world. Not to be missed. * Michael McCarthy, author of The Moth Snowstorm *Mary Colwell brings an inspiring sense of openness, courage, humility and loving curiosity to her daily encounters with the natural and human worlds. * Jeremy Mynott, author of The Consolation of Nature *A rich tapestry full of myth, wisdom and humility, accompanied always by evocative musings on the natural world … enveloped in hope and sprinkled with humour. -- Tiffany Francis-Baker * Resurgence *A masterpiece of storytelling on a journey that will move hearts and minds alike. * Nick Mayhew-Smith, author of Britain’s Pilgrim Places *Beautifully written. * Kate Green, Country Life *The Gathering Place is much more than a travel book down a well-trodden path. It is a brutally honest examination of why we are as we are, and just how important the cultural landmarks of our lives have become in a world of anxiety and change. Brave, tough and surprisingly funny, this is a witness statement from one of the UK's great campaigners. * Roger Morgan-Grenville, author of Liquid Gold *Amazing. * Tim Birkhead, author of Birds and Us *The Gathering Place is a beautiful thing: like a warm crystal; full of light, reflecting and refracting and celebrating everything both inside and outside the book. * Charles Foster, author of Being a Human *An enjoyable account of a popular pilgrimage in unusual circumstances. -- Philip Welsh * Church Times *Table of ContentsPrologue Chapter 1 - Wooden Staffs and Mountains Chapter 2 - Moors and Myths Chapter 3 - Witches and Forests Chapter 4 - To The Stars Chapter 5 - The Kindness of Strangers Chapter 6 - Wine and Wonder Chapter 7 - War and Peace Chapter 8 - The Unravelling Road Chapter 9 - Stones and Snow Chapter 10 - Ultreïa Epilogue Acknowledgements References and Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisContemporary African American writing negotiates the twinned crises of anthropogenic climate change and anti-Black violence by thinking in new ways about scaleTrade Review"Henry Ivry's Transscalar Critique offers a penetrating response to the Anthropocene's problem of scale. Necessary and urgent,Transscalar Critique centres Black Studies as a vital precursor to contemporary examinations of scale. In doing so it provides an essential corrective to the study of the Anthropocene in literature.?" -David Farrier, University of Edinburgh

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Book SynopsisA FUN, SIMPLE GAME of matching pairs. In the format of a classic memory game, Under the Sea will have you pairing up ocean animals from dolphins to sea urchins.50 BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED CARDS featuring diverse wildlife from the world's oceansEASY GAME PLAY suitable for anyone over six years old, so you can start matching right awayLEARN ABOUT THE ANIMALS in the accompanying full-colour booklet with text from acclaimed nature writer Mike UnwinTHE PERFECT GIFT for budding marine biologists, animal lovers, or anyone looking for a beautiful family game Can you find a pair of puffins? A couple of clownfish? A duo of dolphins? Remember where the animals are hiding and match them up to win this fun family game for ocean adventurers. Learn about the fish, mammals and crustaceans from the game in the accompanying booklet as you play. Play as a memory game with the cards face do

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Book SynopsisOne of the nation's most popular presenters examines twenty marvels of the natural world from his extraordinary and pioneering experiences. How did Sir David track down a giant Earthworm? Why does he respect Rats? What was the first bribe in nature? Why do well known foods often have two names? And where can you see evidence of the earliest life on Earth? His enthusiasm is as infectious as ever, and conveys a unique fascination on topics as diverse as the Kiwi, Hummingbirds, Monsters, Butterflies, Chimps, Cuckoos, Fireflies and Elsa, the famous lioness. So listen to these stories to find out why Rats should be respected and which insects emerge from the ground only once every 17 years. Includes detailed programme notes inside the booklet.3 CDs. 3 hrs 15 mins.

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Book SynopsisPublished in the UK for the first time, The Last American Man is by the author of huge international bestseller Eat, Pray, LoveTrade Review'It is almost impossible not to fall under the spell of Eustace Conway ... his accomplishments, his joy and vigor, seem almost miraculous' * New York Times Review of Books *'Gilbert takes a bright-eyed bead on Eustace, hitting him square with a witty modernist appraisal of folkloric American masculinity' * The Times *'Conversational, enthusiastic, funny and sharp, the energy of The Last American Man never ebbs' * New Statesman *'A riveting, deftly written, biography' * Irish Times *

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Book SynopsisA ravishing celebration of landscape, its iridescent beauty and its potential to comfort, awe and mesmerise. Landskipping explores the different ways in which we have, throughout the ages, responded to the land, beginning in the eighteenth century when artists first started to paint English scenery, and the Lakes, as well as Snowdon, began to attract a new kind of visitor, the landscape tourist. Meanwhile, at the same time, an entirely different band of people, the agricultural improvers, also travelled the land, looking at it in terms of its usefulness as well as its beauty. What emerges as universal then and now is a place's capacity to frame and define our experience. Moving from the rolling hills of Dorset to the peaks of the Scottish Highlands, this is an exquisite and compelling book, written by Anna Pavord with zest, passion and deep understanding.Trade ReviewRangey, deeply felt and sometimes luminous ... Like the raking light that exposes ancient lynchets at sunset, such knowledge brings out new detail in the one particular view over a gate which Pavord has loved in all seasons, and which she now evokes for us as it changes through a full year. From the vantage point of this ending, I look back and find that the mixed landscape of the whole book is cast in a very beautiful light -- Alexandra Harris * Guardian *Intensely enjoyable … Anna Pavord is a beautiful writer who feels her subject deeply and with a lifetime’s enjoyment and understanding -- Lucy Lethbridge * Observer *A lyrical defence of our landscape, its language, and its freedom from meddling by various agencies ... a real pleasure * Mail on Sunday *The whole book reads like a conversation at some fantasy dinner party where all the guests are impeccably informed, fervently opinionated, gently witty and incurably passionate about the countryside. It darts from topic to topic, century to century, painter to ploughman, mountain to meadow, like some mercurially active salmon making its way up the Dart or the Dee. Yet miraculously – or, more likely, thanks to Pavord’s beautifully descriptive but never indulgent prose – it all hangs together. You can read the whole book in less time than it takes to go up and down Ben Nevis, and feel that you have bagged not just the king of Munros but the rural delights of an entire kingdom … Landskipping, however, is not some environmental rant. Pavord still sees plenty to celebrate about the British landscape, and plenty to send a delicious shiver up the spine as well * The Times *Her eye can catch the colouring of a distant hill, the move of sun across a contour and the run of sheep into a dark cwm. She can talk to rooks in the treetops and smell flowers in a hedgerow. She was born to the countryside purple. Landskipping is a hymn to the British landscape … intensely felt and totally engaged. … She is a beautiful writer -- Simon Jenkins * Country Life *Anyone who loves the variety and idiosyncrasies of the British countryside will relish this poignant celebration * Independent *Pavord is a great excavator of roots … Pavord threads together a patchwork of history, nature writing, polemic and memoir. Always she remains attuned to the sensual character of the environment … I was suitably entranced by its many splendid views and perspectives * Sunday Telegraph *Pavord writes thoughtfully, with deep and wide-ranging knowledge, of the land and what grows on it, of art, literature and the history of taste. And she writes from the heart – the heart of a countrywoman as well as the country-lover … The fruit of genuine observation, described with straining for effect, it’s a wonderful piece of writing – one of many in this superb, heartfelt and illuminating book * Literary Review *[A] winning study of English landscape -- Lucy Scholes * BBC Countryfile *An insight into landscape’s cultural impact to highlight the ability of wide open spaces to inspire and provide * Sunday Times *An inspiring overview * Sunday Express *A glorious and comprehensive celebration of all that is best in the British landscape … there is much beauty in what remains of the British landscape. How lucky we are to have a scholar of Anna Pavord’s stature to chronicle it * Literary Review *Intriguing … Scholarly, yet written with brio, her book should be read by all those who love our unique countryside * Catholic Morning Herald *A personal meditation on the nature of our British countryside that expands progressively to encompass a far broader view -- Rachel Campbell-Johnston * The Times *A grand tour around the British Isles … Anna Pavord proves, someone who has lived in the same place for 40 years can also bring fresh eyes * Myslexia *A thoughtful and deeply personal account … Pavord’s writing is pure delight – elegant, observant and funny * Gardens Illustrated *An American reader ends up wanting to invite Pavord, obviously a very thoughtful companion, on a trip to the Alaskan wilderness or the Californian desert * New York Times *Pavord is a Barbour waistcoat, warming you up nicely in advance of the prospect while leaving you free to wave your arms in wonder -- Books of the Year * Daily Telegraph *Her love of Britain’s landscape shines though in her beautifully written Landskipping, which wanders up mountain and down dale as it explores the different ways we have responded to the countryside over the centuries … An addictive ramble of a book -- Andrew Holgate * Sunday Times, 'Books of the Year' *Anna Pavord is the grande dame of that school of British nature writing that is about beautiful things, beautifully written…Pavord’s roots are in the earth, but her cultural knowledge is sky-high -- John Lewis-Stempel * The Times *

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Book SynopsisPacked with more than 1500 incredible images and full of fascinating facts, this beautiful children''s book takes you on an exciting expedition through the wonders of the plant kingdom.Do you know the difference between a tortoise and turtle? Or how freshwater fish find their food? Or exactly the tree of life is connected? If you find yourself seeking the answers to these quirky questions and so many more, then Our World In Pictures: Animal Book may be the book for you! Explore the incredible animal kingdom from micro-organisms to mighty mammals, whilst you discover all about the smallest, biggest, most fierce or fluffiest species on our planet, with this engaging animal encyclopedia for children aged 9-12. Celebrate your child''s curiosity as they explore:-Striking and detailed diagrams, drawings and illustrations on every page -A highly visual approach to learning to increase understanding of the natural world-Ideal

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Table of ContentsCONTENTS1 Shark Fever2 Cross-Species Dressing3 Shark Sex in the Miami Seaquarium4 Diving with Sharks in Southern California5 Swimming with Hammerhead Sharks6 Solving the Mystery of Hammerhead Schools7 Shark Rush Hour at Gorda Seamount8 Hammerhead Sharks as Ocean Navigators9 In Quest of the White Shark10 White Shark Predation at the Farallon Islands11 Talking with Their Tails12 Baby White Shark Gets Away on National Television13 Electronic Monitoring of White Sharks at Año Nuevo Island14 Shark-Eating Humans or Man-Eating Sharks?Source MaterialsIndex

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Book SynopsisMixes the funny with the feline . . . Showalter makes us laugh while revealing that he's a big softie who cares a lot about the future of felines. CatsterMichael Showalter's Guys Can Be Cat Ladies Too is the hilarious all-access guide to help a man comprehend, appreciate, and bond with the felines in his life. They say dogs are a man's best friend. True! But what if that man's girlfriend/boyfriend, wife/husband, or mother-in-law has a cat? Is that the end for him? Is he resigned to an eternity of estrangement from this furry creature with which he shares his life partner, his favorite chair, and his sock drawer? Showalter offers hope for men everywhere in their quest to understand and love cats.In this intimate portrait of one man's love for cats, you will learn the answers to burning questions such as: Why are they all aloof and weird and stuff?; They hate me, right?; and Is it true that they have nine lives? Armed with these and countless

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