Wildlife: birds and birdwatching: general interest Books
The University of Chicago Press Nightingales in Berlin
Book SynopsisRothenberg takes us to Berlin’s urban landscape to discover and engage with one of nature’s most beautiful and celebrated sounds, the nightingale’s song.
£23.00
The University of Chicago Press Moral Entanglements Conserving Birds in Britain
Book Synopsis
£31.00
Indiana University Press Is Birdsong Music
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIs Birdsong Music? is an absorbing and delightfully written field diary as much as it is a technical analysis of sound and a philosophical discussion of the concept of music . . . Hollis Taylor's book encourages us to recognise the importance and interconnectedness of all species. She challenges the dominant view that humans represent the pinnacle of all life and can act independently of the environment. The cultural connection between species is integral to environmental connection. * RealTime *Is Birdsong Music?, a ground-breaking study of the songs of the pied butcherbird, is intellectually engaging and also very entertaining as a fieldwork memoir. * The Music Trust *"This book, for me, was a revelation: so much careful, vivid observation and description from all over Australia. It shows our bird life to be unique, talented, and above all, surprising. Music to my eyes." * ABC-Radio National *Table of ContentsForeword by Philip Kitcher1. An Outback Epiphany2. Songbird Studies3. The Nature of Transcription and the Transcription of Nature4. Notes and Calls: A Taste for Diversity5. Song Development: A Taste for Complexity6. Musicality and the Art of Song: A Taste for Beauty7. Border Conflicts at Music's Definition8. Facts to Suit Theories9. Too Many Theories and Not Enough Birdsong10. Songbirds as Colleagues and ContemporariesAcknowledgementsList of AbbreviationsGlossaryNotation and Supplement ConventionsBibliographyIndex
£56.10
Indiana University Press Is Birdsong Music Outback Encounters with an
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewIs Birdsong Music? is an absorbing and delightfully written field diary as much as it is a technical analysis of sound and a philosophical discussion of the concept of music . . . Hollis Taylor's book encourages us to recognise the importance and interconnectedness of all species. She challenges the dominant view that humans represent the pinnacle of all life and can act independently of the environment. The cultural connection between species is integral to environmental connection. * RealTime *Is Birdsong Music?, a ground-breaking study of the songs of the pied butcherbird, is intellectually engaging and also very entertaining as a fieldwork memoir. * The Music Trust *"This book, for me, was a revelation: so much careful, vivid observation and description from all over Australia. It shows our bird life to be unique, talented, and above all, surprising. Music to my eyes." * ABC-Radio National *Table of ContentsForeword by Philip Kitcher1. An Outback Epiphany2. Songbird Studies3. The Nature of Transcription and the Transcription of Nature4. Notes and Calls: A Taste for Diversity5. Song Development: A Taste for Complexity6. Musicality and the Art of Song: A Taste for Beauty7. Border Conflicts at Music's Definition8. Facts to Suit Theories9. Too Many Theories and Not Enough Birdsong10. Songbirds as Colleagues and ContemporariesAcknowledgementsList of AbbreviationsGlossaryNotation and Supplement ConventionsBibliographyIndex
£27.90
University of Texas Press Roger Tory Peterson
Book SynopsisThe first authoritative biography of one of the 20th century’s foremost ornithologists, whose 1934 Field Guide to the Birds was one of the two foundational books that launched the environmental movement.Trade ReviewA product of intense research, this deep study of a brilliant, influential man is highly recommended. -- Henry T. Armistead * Library Journal *Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgments Part One: Jamestown, New York (1908-1926) Part Two: New York City and Boston (1926-1934) Part Three: The Field Guide, First Edition (1934) Part Four: New York City (1934-1942) Part Five: Washington, D.C. (1942-1953) Part Six: Old Lyme, Connecticut (1954-1974) Part Seven: Old Lyme (1974-1980) Part Eight: Old Lyme (1980-1996) Notes Works Cited Index
£18.99
University of Texas Press Bird Student An Autobiography
Book SynopsisThe autobiography of a major twentieth century ornithologist.Table of Contents Preface The Beginnings Oregon Illinois Texas West Virginia Sheldrake Springs, New York West Virginia Again Pittsburgh World War I, Bethany, And Pittsburgh Again Labrador Pittsburgh Once More James Bay Florida Harrisburg The East Coast Of Hudson Bay Harrisburg Again The Far North Epilogue: Cornell University
£23.39
MV - University of Washington Press Seeking Refuge
Book SynopsisExamines the development and management of refuges in the wintering range of migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway from Mexico to AlaskaTrade Review"Wilson puts the biological problems within the context of a long history of competing land-use interests, water entitlements, and overlapping mandates of powerful federal agencies. . . . This is a very clearly written book that deals concisely with a hundred years' worth of complex confrontations and conflicts. . ." -- Gary Kaiser * BC Studies *“The ultimate value of this book lies in its empathetic illumination of the complexities of human-environment relationships, thoroughly documenting how they have been manipulated over time yet also seeking clarity and inspiration for the future. I highly recommend it to anyone who cares for the past, present, and future of the American West. -- Craig S. Revels * Journal of Historical Geography *"This thoughtful and engaging book blends agricultural history, environmental history, ecology, and historical geography into a compelling narrative that traces the co-evolution of waterfowl management and irrigated agriculture . . . points to how agricultural historians can and should make room for wild nature." -- Mathew Klingle * Agricultural Histor *"Whether readers' partiality tends toward politics, water management, agriculture, wildlife conservation, or history, all will find something of interest and hopefully learn from the past how to better manage these varied and valuable resources in the future." -- James C. Bartonek * Oregon Historical Quarterly *". . . essential reading for all who are interested in the protection of wildlife that must survive within intensely transformed landscapes." -- Philip Garone * Environmental History *"In Seeking Refuge, Wilson seamlessly fuses geography and cultural, political, and environmental issues related to land use patterns and wetland management. . . . [T]he content is easy to understand, not overly technical, and presented in a logical chronological progression. While this is appropriate for undergraduate and graduate students, it is also useful for anyone with an interest in migratory birds and wetland management as well as those interested in US environmental issues and environmental history." * Choice *"Seeking Refuge approaches the region at several scales simultaneously. As a result, Wilson provides a rich analysis of land and water use; waterfowl migration and conservation; biologists, wildlife agents, and hunters; and the transformation of multiple landscapes. His thoughtful study also enhances our appreciation of the remarkably resilient birds, whose semiannual migrations continue to lift our spirits." * Science *"This concise, understated, well-crafted work allows readers to reach their own conclusions…. Wilson suggests that wildlife habitat cannot truly be restored to its original state. Like it or not, when we try to save nature we inevitably change it. This is true on the planetary scale and the local scale. By looking to the past, Wilson helps us peer into the future, as we try to imagine the consequences of our efforts and proposals to engineer our way out of the latest environmental crisis." * American Scientist *"For anyone who has followed the ongoing disputes on water allocations in the Upper Klamath Basin, Seeking Refuge… is a book to devour." * Klamath Basin Herald and News *"This compelling story of action and reaction that saved numerous species of migratory ducks and geese is detailed and easy to read." * Wildlife Activist *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction 1. The Wetland Archipelago 2. Elusive Sanctuaries 3. Places in the Grid 4. Duck Farms 5. Refuges in Conflict Epilogue Citation Abbreviations Notes Bibliography Index
£29.66
University of California Press Field Guide to Birds of the Northern California
Book SynopsisThe Northern California coast - from Monterey County to the Oregon border - is home to some of the richest avian habitats on the North American continent. This book provides a comprehensive ecological overview of this extensive and diverse region.Trade Review"A handy, user-friendly reference ... Produced with real knowledge, care and affection, this guide serves as a wonderful companion." -- Laura Herrell American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgments INTRODUCTION Boundaries Climate Habitats Taxonomy: Subspecies, Species, and Superspecies Plumage of Birds Dimorphism and Monomorphism Seasons and Migration Ethics of Birding FAMILY AND SPECIES ACCOUNTS Ducks, Geese, and Swans Loons Grebes Albatross Shearwaters and Fulmars Storm-Petrels Cormorants and Pelicans Herons, Egrets, Bitterns, and Ibis Vultures, Ospreys, Kites, Eagles, and Hawks Rails, Gallinules, and Coots Shorebirds Skuas and Jaegers Alcids Gulls and Terns Gallinaceous Birds Pigeons and Doves Owls Swifts Kingfishers Woodpeckers Falcons Perching Birds (Passerines) BIRDING OPPORTUNITIES AND ROADSIDE NATURE CENTERS Seasonal Occurrence Charts Glossary References Index
£18.90
Harvard University Press Egg Nest
Book SynopsisAlongside Rosamond Purcell's stunning photographs, Linnea Hall and René Corado offer an engaging history of egg collecting, the provenance of the specimens in the photographs, and the biology, conservation, and ecology of the birds that produced them.Trade ReviewWhat kind of genius is Rosamond Purcell? Is she an artist? A scholar? A documentarian? A living cabinet of wonders? Her originality defies category, as does her newest triumph, Egg & Nest. Crack its shell. -- Jonathan Safran FoerRosamond Purcell is one of the great photographers. She has captured the history of objects by photographing them in romantic decline-- books scourged by worms, petrified food-stuffs, biological specimens gone wrong, the inexorable entropic winding down of everything. Egg & Nest is yet another example of her ability to make the ordinary extraordinary: Collecting people, collecting things, collecting people collecting things and creating something new and wonderful. In this collection of eggs and nests made of random bric-a-brac, cassette tape, and wire, we're invited to meditate on oology as ontology, ontology as oology, and the paradox of museums as a lifeless record of life. Rosamond Purcell has magnificently returned to her most fascinating obsession, the repurposing of life as the purpose of life. -- Errol Morris[Purcell's] work is concerned with the magic in ordinary objects, but also the aesthetics of conservation and collection, as many of her images of objects from natural-history museums demonstrate. Purcell's latest project, a collection of photographs taken at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, in California, is a more serene and stately work, showcasing the variety of the avian world. -- Andrea Walker * New Yorker blog *[A] fascinating book...While this volume is not an art book per se, it is a lively history of egg collecting, or oology...The photographs, both those taken under laboratory conditions and those taken in the wild, are extraordinary, showing the variety of egg sizes, shapes, patterns, and textures: Mottled blue-gray Emu eggs look like fine-grained granite, while the vigorous dark brown markings of the glossy, tawny-colored eggs of the Northern Jacana of Mexico suggest Easter eggs decorated by Jackson Pollock. Equally compelling are Purcell's photographs of birds' nests, beautifully lit and formed of all sorts of materials: A raven's nest of twigs is lined with cotton batting for comfort. A Guatemalan nest of the Banded Wren looks like a crown of thorns--those thorns offering defense from predators. The miniscule vegetable-down nest of an Anna's Hummingbird collected in Santa Monica, California, in 1903 is ingeniously woven around the glass insulator of a telegraph line. All in all, there is considerable beauty and wonderment in this book. * The Magazine Antiques *Photographer Rosamond Purcell has made a career out of creating intriguing images of decaying objects... Her new book, Egg and Nest, focuses on one of the world's premier collections of bird eggs and nests, located at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, near Los Angeles. Nests are held together with whatever materials the birds could find: spider webs, fishing line, mud, and condensed saliva. Eggs, too, are varied: green, blue, speckled, covered by a swirl of markings. -- Jan Gardner * Boston Globe *Purcell uses her camera to transform the everyday ordinary into something extraordinary. She captures the diverse beauty, quirkiness and allure of eggs and the remarkable resourcefulness of birds, focusing on the intricacy of nests and the aesthetic perfection of bird eggs. The rich colors, lighting and textures make her photographs of eggs, nests and birds look three dimensional, as though the eggs could easily fall out of one of the photographs, as if falling from a nest. -- Kurt Shaw * Pittsburgh Tribune Review *If you are wondering why anyone would spend a life in a pursuit as eccentric as collecting eggs and nests, Ms. Purcell's work will tell you. She selected a range of specimens, eggs brightly colored and plain, and nests made conventionally of twigs or of materials as bizarre as nails. Then she photographed them in natural light. Her luminous results explain without words why people have been collecting eggs and nests for centuries. -- Cornelia Dean * New York Times *[Purcell's] work is concerned with the magic in ordinary objects, but also the aesthetics of conservation and collection, as many of her images of objects from natural-history museums demonstrate. Purcell's latest project, a collection of photographs taken at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, in California, is a more serene and stately work, showcasing the variety of the avian world. -- Andrea Walker * New Yorker blog *[A] fascinating book...While this volume is not an art book per se, it is a lively history of egg collecting, or oology...The photographs, both those taken under laboratory conditions and those taken in the wild, are extraordinary, showing the variety of egg sizes, shapes, patterns, and textures: Mottled blue-gray Emu eggs look like fine-grained granite, while the vigorous dark brown markings of the glossy, tawny-colored eggs of the Northern Jacana of Mexico suggest Easter eggs decorated by Jackson Pollock. Equally compelling are Purcell's photographs of birds' nests, beautifully lit and formed of all sorts of materials: A raven's nest of twigs is lined with cotton batting for comfort. A Guatemalan nest of the Banded Wren looks like a crown of thorns--those thorns offering defense from predators. The miniscule vegetable-down nest of an Anna's Hummingbird collected in Santa Monica, California, in 1903 is ingeniously woven around the glass insulator of a telegraph line. All in all, there is considerable beauty and wonderment in this book. * The Magazine Antiques *Photographer Rosamond Purcell has made a career out of creating intriguing images of decaying objects... Her new book, Egg and Nest, focuses on one of the world's premier collections of bird eggs and nests, located at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, near Los Angeles. Nests are held together with whatever materials the birds could find: spider webs, fishing line, mud, and condensed saliva. Eggs, too, are varied: green, blue, speckled, covered by a swirl of markings. -- Jan Gardner * Boston Globe *Purcell uses her camera to transform the everyday ordinary into something extraordinary. She captures the diverse beauty, quirkiness and allure of eggs and the remarkable resourcefulness of birds, focusing on the intricacy of nests and the aesthetic perfection of bird eggs. The rich colors, lighting and textures make her photographs of eggs, nests and birds look three dimensional, as though the eggs could easily fall out of one of the photographs, as if falling from a nest. -- Kurt Shaw * Pittsburgh Tribune Review *If you are wondering why anyone would spend a life in a pursuit as eccentric as collecting eggs and nests, Ms. Purcell's work will tell you. She selected a range of specimens, eggs brightly colored and plain, and nests made conventionally of twigs or of materials as bizarre as nails. Then she photographed them in natural light. Her luminous results explain without words why people have been collecting eggs and nests for centuries. -- Cornelia Dean * New York Times *Beautiful...Egg & Nest reminds the reader of the civilized, tactile, sensual and emotive pleasures of holding a book in hand as opposed to reading from a glowing light box. Printed in Italy, it combines fabulous image reproduction--each page a magic revelation--with informative and insightful text, Purcell being as adept with words as with a lens. -- Mary Thomas * Pittsburgh-Post Gazette *Spend some time with Rosamond Purcell's enthralling photographs in Egg & Nest, and you might be tempted to become an oologist. Oology is not the science of oohs and ahs but the practice, frowned on in the civilized world, of collecting rare eggs and nests. Most of the photographs were taken at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo, Calif., which combines the collections of many Victorian bird enthusiasts. There's a woodpecker's nest in the shape of a wooden shoe, a grackle's nest woven of lace and audiotape, and a nest from Wasilla, Alaska, lined with feathers and fur. Unbearably poignant is a photograph of Martha, the last passenger pigeon, who died in the Cincinnati Zoo on Sept. 1, 1914. You'll even find a definitive answer to the age-old conundrum about the chicken or the egg. Hint: Ex ovo omnia. -- Christopher Benfey * Slate *Purcell doesn't just delve into the history of egg obsession. She captures the variety and beauty of eggs and nests in beautiful photographs. Unless you're an ornithologist, you probably don't have a wide frame of reference for the sheer diversity of eggs. From the ultra glossy, Easter eggs of the Tinamou to the brown, blue and purple mottled eggs of the Chuck-Will's-Widow to the pyriform eggs of the Common Murres, pear-shaped to help prevent the eggs from rolling down the cliffs on which their nest perch, the assortment from page to page is stunning. * Curious Expeditions *Anyone who loves birds, nature, or simply exquisite colors and shapes will find this compendium a revelation. Rosamond Purcell's sumptuous photographs are accompanied by a fascinating history of man's obsession with ornithology. * Martha Stewart Living *Transcendent in their beauty, mysterious, softly luminous, fragile yet potent, birds' eggs are highlighted in numerous photos in this thoughtfully assembled volume...This reviewer is grateful for this book and for the generations of work that have gone into building collections like this one. -- S. Hammer * Choice *This magnificently illustrated volume provides readers with a fascinating glimpse into the hidden world of wild bird eggs and nests...The book is alternately enlightening and uplifting, and sobering and alarming, as one reviews the preserved remains of what was and what quite literally might have been. One thing is clear upon turning the final page of Egg & Nest: Only eternal vigilance will protect what little of nature's splendor remains in this world. -- John A. Murray * Bloomsbury *The book consists of 10 groups of photographs, rendered in natural light in simple, striking settings...In [one] image, red-winged blackbird eggs rest on squares of cotton wool, their many shades of sky blue recalling the diversity possible within one species. Egg and Nest subtly suggests that such variety deserves our care: for the artifacts and, crucially, for their present-day relatives. -- Anna Lena Phillips * American Scientist *
£32.36
Princeton University Press Birds of Eastern North America
Book SynopsisA photographic guide to the birds of eastern North America. It presents key identification features of each bird. It covers entire eastern half of mainland North America and the arctic and subarctic territorial islands of the US and Canada.Trade ReviewOne of Joel Lerner's (The Washington Post) The Year's Best Gardening Books "The ultimate handbook to accompany you in the field or while bird watching at home... [A]n excellent visual reference for the identification of birds."--Joel Lerner, Washington Post "Brian Small and co-author Paul Sterry have taken the photo-based field guide to a new level. Their new books are beautifully designed and well written. Photos are tack-sharp, and tightly cropped, giving close-up views of each bird."--Matt Mendenhall, Birder's World "Whether you are a birding fanatic or someone who enjoys looking in their backyard to see what shows up, there is a new bird guide that will fill your need... With great photos of more than 500 species, this is a wonderful photographic guide making identification of birds that much easier. Both the Eastern and Western versions are great gift ideas."--Ken Moran, New York Post "The large, excellent photos, combined with the overall design, make this probably the most attractive general field guide I've seen... This is the first field guide that I would recommend to bird photography aficionados solely on the merit of the pictures, irrespective of its value as a field guide. Finally, the exceptional, large photographs make these an attractive primary field guide option for new and burgeoning birders."--Grant McCreary, Birder's Library "These guides will be most useful for intermediate level birders."--Ian Paulsen, Birdbooker Report "Excellent state-of-the art digital photos and comprehensive, up-to-date data on North American birds... Comparable guides include Ted Floyd's Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America and Edward Brinkley's National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Field Guide to Birds of North America. All three titles are excellent. However, the Sterry-Small guide's larger photos aid identification and highlight variable plumage. Corner insets identify groups of birds for easier browsing. Birders will love the portability, excellent photography, habitat, and conservation information."--Sally Bickley, Library Journal "This pair of photographic guides provides superb quality photographic images which are well up to the best of modern standards. If your American photo-guides are a few years old, now is the time to update them. The text is surprisingly detailed and concisely covers all plumages, as well as 'Status and Habitat,' 'Voice,' and 'Observation tips,' and the distribution maps are detailed and clear. These are now the best photographic guides for North America and exceptional value-for-money too."--Steve Gantlett, Birding World "Flat-out gorgeous. We see the birds standing, swimming and in flight. There's the usual field buide-style information--maps of their range, what they sound like, etc.--but this book seems to make things uniquely clear."--Sandy Bauers, Philadelphia Inquirer "Birds of Eastern North America: A Photographic Guide and Birds of Western North America: A Photographic Guide should be a welcome addition to the libraries of serious birders as well as those who enjoy birdwatching only from their own backyard feeders... I recommend both books."--Brad Sylvester, Manchester Bird Watching Examiner "The photos in these books are large, crisp and clear... They are durable field guides that easily slip into a backpack or even a large pocket in an overcoat, but their pictures are good enough to be a coffee table book... Of all the various field guides I have ever seen, these ... are by far the best."--James Swan, ESPNOutdoors.com "Outstanding... The photos are of such superb detail you expect them to fly off the pages."--Bill Cochran, Roanoke Times "Stunning. This was the first word that came to mind upon cracking open these new guides... The photography alone is worth owning both Eastern and Western editions. Even so, the accompanying text is fantastic too."--Eddie Callaway, Birdfreak.com "The guides are, in a word, gorgeous--the photos are crisp (the latest digital technology captures rich detail) and the page layout is superb."--Fannie Peczenik, Pittsburgh Bird Watching Examiner "Paul Sterry and Brian Small have created books with large, superior photos placed on pages designed to be lively and interesting. The text accompanying each species is three or four times as long as what you find in most ID books. It's pertinent and sharply written."--Jim Williams, Minneapolis Star Tribune "I was immediately captivated by the stunning photographs... This one's a keeper."--George Smith, Down East.com "[Birds of Eastern North America] uses 1,118 exceptional color photographs to set it apart from the many other field guides in book stores. And somehow the designer managed to increase the image size so that every species is clearly and vibrantly depicted. Many of the smaller species appear at almost life size. This guide should appeal to beginning and experienced birders alike."--Scott Shalaway, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "The Sterry-Small guides will no doubt set new benchmarks for photo quality and precise reproduction. Inset photos cover seasonal and gender variations in plumage, picture birds in flight or show groups of birds for easier identification. Sterry's well-organized descriptions offer bird-spotting tips and information on habitat, feeding styles and conservation status. Range maps compile the latest data from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology."--Valerie Sudol, New Jersey Newsroom "A lot of clever thought went into the design of this new birding guide, and you'll find it easy to use plus especially helpful and simply jam-packed with lots of useful information."--James Drake, Southern Maryland Newspapers "A fine pair of guides for North America... Small's photos are big, bright, and tack-sharp... Sterry's generous accounts supplement the accompanying photographs well... worthwhile acquisitions for field guide consumers and completists alike."--Mike Bergin, 10,000 Birds "Informative and accessible text, up-to-date maps, and stunning color photographs. Images have been carefully selected to convey both the sheer beauty and the key identification features of each bird, and many of the photos are larger than those found in most other guides."--OSNA Birds "I never used to be very keen on photographic field guides for birds until I perused these two volumes... An excellent volume set for the North American birder, complete with lavish photos larger than those seen in other field guides, useful, up-to-date range maps and an easy-to-use format."--David Bird, Montreal Gazette "The Sterry/Small guides are an innovative, useful addition to the arsenal of tools available to help us improve our birding skills. These outstanding guides deserve a place in your pocket, bookshelf, nightstand and bathroom."--Wayne Mones, Audubon Magazine web site "The Sterry and Small field guide is good in that the photographs, which are outstanding, are quite large for a book small enough to fit into a big pocket. Colored bars with family names across the top of each page make it quick and easy to locate the warblers, wrens, etc. Range maps include all of North America, not just the eastern region. Status, habitat and observation tips are given for each species."--Marcia Davis, Knoxville News Sentinel "Deserve a perch in your birding library. Birds of Western North America and its companion guide Birds of Eastern North America are photographic field guides, with clear, well-defined full-color photos for ease of identification."--David Buchanan, Grand Junctions Sentinel "Sterry and Small have produced what I believe is the finest photographic field guide of eastern birds... The photographs in this guide are crisp, informative and, in many cases, stunning."--Herb Wilson, Portland Press Herald "Compact and modestly priced, Birds of Eastern North America is a beautiful field guide (in fact, one of the best I've seen) and the top-notch photos are accompanied by oodles of informative facts and figures about the species illustrated."--Ron Tott, The Travel Editor "Fabulous photographic field guides... Birds of Eastern North America: A Photographic Guide, and its companion piece Birds of Western North America, are a tremendous addition to any library of bird identification literature... Even those accustomed to an artist's illustration rather than photography to highlight identification features will find themselves reaching for these volumes time after time to confirm a field sighting of a bird in its natural habitat."--Birding Business "Many of the more recent field guides to birds are illustrated with high-quality photographs. The present offerings, produced by well-respected authors/photographers Sterry and Small, are additional fine examples... They are ... beautiful, exceptionally well-produced volumes that will be found in most libraries with comprehensive ornithological holdings and on the shelves of many birders."--Choice "I highly recommend these books as field guides for intermediate birders ... and as home study guides for beginners and armchair naturalists. Of course every avid birders will want these guides as well."--Dan Kunkle, Wildlife Activist "These indispensable guides will quickly become the preferred photographic guides for new and experienced birders alike. The clear layout will help novices easily identify the birds they see, while the superb photographs will help seasoned birders confirm identifications."--Adventure Sports Outdoors "With these volumes, we've at last found photographic guides that are as easy to identify birds from as I.D. books that feature paintings... [These] photographic guides aren't pocket size, but they're small enough that we'll carry them in the car and, with binoculars, in a pack on a serious birding outing. We expect to spend some enjoyable winter evenings browsing through them, enjoying the superb photos, and readable text, looking up old friends and preparing to meet new ones."--Bob and Linda Steiner, The Derrick "The most impressive feature of this field guide is the photography. Each species account contains one to several photographs: most are large and sharp and clearly illustrate useful details for identification... It would make a nice addition to any collection of bird guides, if nothing else for the beautiful photographs."--Amber N. Wiewel, Iowa Bird Life "These guides are certainly worthy as a secondary field guide and photographic reference. No question, they are certainly the best photographic guides currently available."--Alan Knue, South Dakota Bird Notes "Sterry and Small have created the best photograph based field guides I have seen for North American birds."--Michael J. Andersen, Quarterly Review of Biology "[T]hese [two] books do have truly wonderful photographs and written descriptions that are useful in identifying and differentiating species. The guides could be especially useful to the casual birder. If you consider the cost of the paperback edition, they are an attractive, affordable addition to one's library."--Clayton M. White, Western North American Naturalist "With the proliferation of options, choosing a good field guide is increasingly a question of personal preference. Most of my casual birder friends prefer photographic guides; most keen birders seem to prefer traditional guides with paintings. I would recommend this book for novice birders and for those wanting to supplement a more traditional guide."--Mark Gawn, Canadian Field-Naturalist "The large, well-composed and well-edited photographs, combined with good text and range maps, may very well place these as the top photographic guides for North America."--Nathan Hentze, Discovery "Exceptionally well done. Double-page layouts of text and maps on the left and digitally enhanced photos of the matching birds on the right make these guides easy to use in the field."--John Riutta, Bird Watcher's Digest "Birds of Western North America and the Birds of Eastern North America are quite simply the most lavishly illustrated photographic guides to date of North American avifauna. Because of that fact, perhaps amateur and advanced birders will not object to procuring both books together when exploring such birding hot spots as the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and elsewhere."--Gene Wilhelm, Pennsylvania Birds
£15.29
Princeton University Press Birds of Western Ecuador
Book SynopsisTrade Review"An excellent new photographic field guide... The most comprehensive and authoritative field guide to the birds of the region."--Birding Ecuador blog "What is incredible is that even the rarest and most difficult birds are depicted with high-resolution photos... This book is much more than a compilation of high quality photographs--it is a true field guide. This is not surprising since the two authors are both leading experts on Ecuador's birds, and Nick Athanas is a leading bird guide for Tropical Birding."--Frank Lambert, Birder's LibraryTable of ContentsINTRODUCTION 7 Region Covered 9 Range Maps 9 Format of the Species Accounts 11 Taxonomy 11 Conservation 12 Habitats 13 Elevational Zones 19 Bird Topography 20 SPECIES ACCOUNTS 23 Tinamous 24 Guans, Chachalacas, Curassows, and Screamer 26 New-World Quails, Whistling-Ducks 30 Ducks 30 Grebes 36 Storks 36 Albatrosses 38 Petrels and Shearwaters 38 Storm-petrels 38 Tropicbirds 40 Flamingos 40 Ibises and Spoonbills 40 Herons, Bitterns, and Egrets 42 Frigatebirds 48 Pelicans 48 Boobies 50 Anhinga 54 Cormorants 54 Vultures 56 Osprey 58 Kites, Hawks, and Eagles 58 Falcons and Caracaras 82 Rails, Gallinules, and Coots 90 Limpkin 96 Stilts 96 Oystercatchers 96 Sunbittern 96 Thick-knees 96 Jacanas 98 Lapwings and Plovers 98 Seedsnipes 102 Snipes, Sandpipers, and Related Shorebirds 102 Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers 114 Pigeons and Doves 124 Parakeets, Parrots, and Macaws 132 Cuckoos and Anis 140 Owls 144 Nighthawks and Nightjars 152 Potoos 156 Oilbird 156 Swifts 158 Hummingbirds 162 Quetzals and Trogons 196 Kingfishers 202 Motmots 204 Jacamars 204 Puffbirds 204 New World Barbets 208 Toucan Barbet 208 Aracaris and Toucans 210 Woodpeckers 214 Ovenbirds (Furnariids) and Woodcreepers 222 Antbirds 242 Antthrushes 254 Antpittas 256 Tapaculos 260 Crescentchest 260 Tyrant Flycatchers 264 Tityras and Becards 302 Sapayoa 306 Cotingas and Fruiteaters 308 Pihas 314 Mourners 314 Manakins 316 Schiffornis 318 Peppershrikes and Vireos 320 Greenlets, Gnatcatchers, and Gnatwrens 322 Mockingbirds 324 Jays 324 Dippers 324 Martins and Swallows 326 Wrens 332 Solitaires and Thrushes 338 Euphonias and Chlorophonias 344 Siskins 348 Goldfinches and Pipits 350 New World Warblers 350 Oropendolas, Orioles, and Blackbirds 360 Bush-tanagers (Chlorospinguses) 366 Piranga Tanagers 368 Tanagers 370 Bananaquit 386 Dacnises 390 Honeycreepers 392 Hemispinguses 394 Tit-like Dacnis 394 Conebills 396 Flowerpiercers 396 Sparrows 400 Chestnut Munia 400 Brush-finches 402 Tanager Finch 406 Plushcap 406 Sierra-finches 408 Slaty Finch 408 Sicalis Finches 410 Crimson-breasted Finch 410 Grassquits 412 Warbling-finches 412 Seed-finches and Seedeaters 414 Grosbeaks 420 Saltators 422 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 424 APPENDIX I: SPECIES NOT INCLUDED 425 APPENDIX II: PHOTOGRAPHER CREDITS 428 GLOSSARY 431 SPECIES INDEX (ENGLISH AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES) 434
£37.80
Princeton University Press Birds of Kenyas Rift Valley
Book SynopsisIncludes four major national parks - Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria, Mount Longonot, and Hell's Gate - as well as smaller outstanding wildlife areas. This book looks at the more than 300 bird species most likely to be encountered on safari in this world-famous region, from Lake Magadi in the south to Lake Baringo in the north.Trade Review"I wish I had the opportunity to have this book in my bag on my trip to this bird paradise some years ago. It would certainly have made identification much easier. The layout of the photographic guide is so helpful."--Derek Moore, Derek Bird Brain "Ideal for the traveler on safari visiting the Rift Valley's national parks, such as Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria, Mount Longonot, and Hell's Gate. The value of a book like the Birds of Kenya's Rift Valley is that it lends itself to easy interpretation and use by those who are interested in birdwatching, those who are interested in conservation, and those who care about biodiversity in general."--Gabriel Thoumi, Mongabay.com "Kennedy's new book would serve most safari goers well in Kenya's Rift Valley, and its great photos make it a worthy addition to any birder's bookshelf."--Robert F. Foster, Canadian Field-Naturalist "Superb layout ... Both books have a thoroughly modern feel about them, thanks to the wizards of the WILDGuides production team ... Those for whom these books are really intended will find their visits to these bird-rich regions hugely enhanced."--Martin Kelsey, IBIS, Journal of the British Ornithologists' Union "The friendly text is supported by a superb layout: hundreds of excellent photographs with great use of background tones means that colour leaps out of each page, yet the blocks of text are masterfully visible and easy to read."--Martin Kelsey, IBISTable of ContentsAbout this book 9 The geography of Kenya's Rift Valley 13 Lakes and marsh 14 Up in the air 16 Birds of prey 17 Grassland and open areas 18 Woodland, scrub & garden 20 Nightbirds 22 Maps of the Rift Valley 23 BIRDS OF LAKE AND MARSH Pelicans - Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans 26 Darter and cormorants - African Darter and Reed and Great Cormorants 28 Egrets - Yellow-billed, Little and Great White Egrets 30 Small herons - Cattle Egret and Squacco and Striated Herons 32 Grey herons - Black-crowned Night-heron and Grey and Black-headed Herons 34 Dark herons and Hamerkop - Goliath and Purple Herons and Hamerkop 36 Dark storks - Abdim's, Black and African Open-billed Storks 38 White storks - Saddle-billed, White and Yellow-billed Storks 40 Spoonbill and Marabou - African Spoonbill and Marabou Stork 42 Flamingos - Greater and Lesser Flamingos 44 Ibises - Sacred, Glossy and Hadada Ibises 46 Crane and whistling ducks - Grey Crowned Crane and Fulvous and White-faced Whistling Ducks 48 Geese - Spur-winged and Egyptian Goose and Knob-billed Duck 50 Ducks: 1 - Cape, Hottentot and Red-billed Teal 52 Ducks: 2 - Southern Pochard, Northern Shoveler and Yellow-billed Duck 54 Grebe, coot and moorhen - Little Grebe, Red-knobbed Coot and Common Moorhen 56 Gallinule, crake and jacana - Purple Swamphen, Black Crake and African Jacana 58 Ruff, painted-snipe and snipe - Ruff, Greater Painted-snipe and Common Snipe 60 Avocet, stilt and godwit - Pied Avocet, Black-winged Stilt and Black-tailed Godwit 62 Thick-knees - Spotted, Water and Senegal Thick-knees 64 Small plovers - Chestnut-banded, Three-banded, Kittlitz's and Common Ringed Plovers 66 Sandpipers - Wood, Common and Green Sandpipers 68 Waders - Little Stint, Common Greenshank and Marsh Sandpiper 70 Plovers - Blacksmith, Crowned and Spur-winged Plovers 72 Plover and gull - African Wattled Plover and Grey-headed Gull 74 Terns - White-winged Black, Gull-billed and Whiskered Terns 76 Kingfishers - Malachite, Giant and Pied Kingfishers 78 Wagtails - Yellow, Mountain and African Pied Wagtails 80 UP IN THE AIR Dark-rumped swifts - Mottled, African Palm, Alpine, Common and Nyanza Swifts 82 White-rumped swifts - Little, Horus and White-rumped Swifts 84 Resident swallows - Mosque , Red-rumped, Lesser Striped and Wire-tailed Swallows 86 Swallows and martins - Barn Swallow and Plain, Banded and Rock Martins 88 BIRD OF PREY Vultures - Ruppell's, White-backed, Hooded and Lappet-faced Vultures 90 Vultures in flight - all species for comparison plus Verreaux's Eagle 92 Large pied eagles and buzzard - Martial and African Fish Eagles and Augur Buzzard 94 Large dark eagles - Verreaux's, Steppe and Tawny Eagles 96 Medium-sized brown raptors - Black Kite, Common Buzzard and Long-crested Eagle 98 Raptors in flight - all large species for comparison 100 Harriers - Pallid, Montagu's and Western Marsh Harriers 102 Goshawk, Bateleur and Harrier Hawk - Dark Chanting Goshawk, Bateleur and African Harrier Hawk 104 Small pale raptors - Gabar Goshawk, - African Black-shouldered Kite and Pygmy Falcon 106 Falcons - Eurasian Hobby, Lanner Falcon and Common Kestrel 108 BIRDS OF GRASSLAND AND OPEN AREAS Ostrich and Southern Ground Hornbill - Ostrich and Southern Ground Hornbill 110 Bustard and gamebirds - Black-bellied Bustard, Yellow-necked Spurfowl and Helmeted Guineafowl 112 Coursers and plover - Heuglin's and Temminck's Coursers and Black-headed Plover 114 Larks - Rufous-naped, Red-capped and Pink-breasted Larks 116 Lark, pipit and longclaw - Fischer's Sparrow Lark, Grassland Pipit and Yellow-throated Longclaw 118 Resident chats - Northern Anteater Chat and Capped and Abyssinian Wheatears 120 Migrant chats - Northern and Pied Wheatears and Whinchat 122 Crows - Cape Rook, Pied Crow and Fan-tailed Raven 124 Widowbirds - Long-tailed and Red-collared Widowbirds 126 Widowbird and bishops - Jackson's Widowbird and Northern Red and Yellow Bishops 128 Cisticolas and Quailfinch - Winding, Stout and Desert Cisticolas and African Quailfinch 130 BIRDS OF WOODS, SCRUB AND GARDEN Francolins - Scaly, Crested and Hildebrandt's Francolins 132 Pigeons and doves - Laughing Dove and Speckled and African Olive Pigeons 134 'Collared' doves - African Mourning, Red-eyed and Ring-necked Doves 136 Namaqua and wood doves - Namaqua and Blue-spotted and Emerald-spotted Wood Doves 138 Green pigeon and parrots - African Green Pigeon, Meyer's Parrot and hybrid lovebird 140 Large cuckoos and relatives - Red-chested Cuckoo, White-browed Coucal and White-bellied Go-away-bird 142 BIRDS OF WOODLAND, SCRUB AND GARDEN (continued) Green cuckoos and wood-hoopoe - Klaas's and Diederik Cuckoos and Green Wood-hoopoe 144 Hoopoe and mousebirds - Hoopoe and Blue-naped and Speckled Mousebirds 146 Kingfishers - Striped, Woodland and Grey-headed Kingfishers 148 Bee-eaters: 1 - White-throated, Blue-cheeked and Eurasian Bee-eaters 150 Bee-eaters: 2 - White-fronted, Cinnamon-chested and Little Bee-eaters 152 Rollers - Rufous-crowned, Lilac-breasted and Eurasian Rollers 154 Hornbills: 1 - Von der Decken's, Jackson's and Red-billed Hornbills 156 Hornbills: 2 - Hemprich's, Eastern Yellow-billed and African Grey Hornbills 158 Barbets: 1 - Red-and-yellow, D'Arnaud's and Red-fronted Barbets 160 Barbets: 2 - White-headed and Spot-flanked Barbets and Red-fronted Tinkerbird 162 Honeyguides and woodpecker - Lesser and Greater Honeyguides and African Grey Woodpecker 164 Woodpeckers - Nubian, Cardinal and Bearded Woodpeckers 166 Babblers - Black-lored, Arrow-marked and Brown Babblers and Rufous Chatterer 168 Bulbul, thrush and scrub robin - Common Bulbul, Spotted Palm Thrush and White-browed Scrub Robin 170 Colourful chats - Common and Little Rock Thrushes and Mocking Cliff Chat 172 Thrush and robin chats - Olive Thrush and White-browed and Cape Robin Chats 174 Tchagras and Brubru - Brown-crowned and Three-streaked Tchagras and Brubru 176 White-headed 'shrikes' - Grey-crested and White Helmetshrikes and Northern White-crowned Shrike 178 Shrikes - Red-backed Shrike and Grey-backed and Common Fiscals 180 Oriole and bushshrikes - Black-headed Oriole and Grey-headed and Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike 182 Cuckooshrike, boubou and puffback - Black Cuckooshrike, Tropical Boubou and Black-backed Puffback 184 Black birds of woodland edge - Common Drongo, Slate-coloured Boubou and Northern Black Flycatcher 186 Attractive flycatchers of woods and gardens - White-eyed Slaty and African Paradise Flycatchers 188 Nondescript flycatchers - Spotted, Pale and African Grey Flycatchers 190 Warblers and prinia - Rattling Cisticola, Grey Wren Warbler and Tawny-flanked Prinia 192 Green warblers - Grey-backed Camaroptera, Yellow-breasted Apalis and Grey-capped Warbler 194 Crombec and warblers - Northern Crombec and Red-fronted and Buff-bellied Warblers 196 Batis, tit and white-eye - Chin-spot Batis, White-bellied Tit and African Yellow White-eye 198 Starlings and oxpecker - Ruppell's and Wattled Starlings and Red-billed Oxpecker 200 Starlings - Greater Blue-eared, Red-winged and Bristle-crowned Starlings 202 Brightly coloured starlings - Superb, Hildebrandt's and Violet-backed Starlings 204 Sunbirds: 1 - Variable, Eastern Violet-backed, and Collared Sunbirds 206 Sunbirds: 2 - Marico, Scarlet-chested and Amethyst Sunbirds 208 Long-tailed sunbirds - Bronze, Tacazze and Beautiful Sunbirds 210 Sparrows - House, Kenya Rufous and Grey-headed Sparrows 212 Petronia and small brown weavers - Yellow-spotted Petronia and Speckle-fronted and Grey-capped Social Weavers 214 Buffalo and sparrow weavers - White-billed and White-headed Buffalo Weavers and White-browed Sparrow Weaver 216 Yellow weavers: 1 - Village , Speke's and Lesser Masked Weavers 218 Yellow weavers: 2 - Northern Masked, Little and Golden-backed Weavers 220 Yellow weavers: 3 - Holub's Golden, Spectacled and Black-necked Weavers 222 Grosbeak and yellow weavers: 4 - Grosbeak, Vitelline Masked and Baglafecht Weavers 224 Waxbills - Common, Crimson-rumped and Black-cheeked Waxbills 226 Whydah and cordon-bleus - Pin-tailed Whydah and Red-cheeked and Blue-capped Cordon-bleus 228 Waxbills and whydah - Green-winged Pytilia, Bronze Mannikin and Eastern Paradise Whydah 230 Waxbills and indigobird - Purple Grenadier, Red-billed Firefinch and Village Indigobird 232 Canaries - African Citril and Brimstone and White-bellied Canaries 234 Buntings and seedeater - Cinnamon-breasted and Golden-breasted Buntings and Streaky Seedeater 236 NIGHT BIRDS Nightjar and owls - Slender-tailed Nightjar and Barn and African Wood Owls 238 Small owls - African Scops and Northern White-faced Scops Owls and Pearl-spotted Owlet 240 Eagle owls - Spotted, Verreaux's and Greyish Eagle Owls 242 Further reading and useful resources 244 Acknowledgements 245 Photographic credits 246 Scientific names of the bird species included in this book 247 Index 252 Short Index inside back cover
£25.20
Princeton University Press 40 Years of Evolution
Book SynopsisOffers an evolutionary history of Darwin's finches since their origin almost 3 million years ago. By continuously tracking finch populations over a period of four decades, this title uncovers the causes and consequences of significant events leading to evolutionary changes in species.Trade ReviewHonorable Mention for the 2015 PROSE Award in Biological Sciences, Association of American Publishers One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2014 "For the Grants, Daphne Major has been a magic well. With their four decades of work on the island, they've made it a magnificent microcosm, a model of life on Earth."--Jonathan Weiner, New York Times "For the Grants, evolution isn't a theoretical abstraction. It's gritty and real and immediate and stunningly fast... Most of all, the book is an affirmation of the importance of long-term fieldwork as a way of capturing the true dynamism of evolution."--Joel Achenbach, Princeton Alumni Weekly "The study described here is truly exceptional. Peter and Rosemary Grant ... have devoted their careers to the study of the group of birds known as Darwin's finches on the Galapagos archipelago, one of the most isolated and inhospitable places on Earth. But the payoff is that their research furnishes some of the most compelling evidence for natural selection and the origin of species... The Grants' achievement is monumental."--Tim Birkhead, Times Higher Education "[O]ne of the most intriguing books I have ever read... Read it for yourself. You'll be glad you did!"--Allan Archer, BTO News "This volume not only provides detailed evidence of the evolution of a specific group of animals, but also offers an overall perspective on how and in what ways bird species have changed in this rather isolated locality."--Choice "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder and 'best' is often a subjective term. In the case of the Grant's work on Galapagos finches, I think it is possible to argue objectively that it really is the best by some measures because of its design, sustained execution, and continual incorporation of new methods and ideas. This book contributes to the status of their research program because it makes this body of work readily accessible to a much larger audience."--David Reznick, Ecology "40 Years of Evolution offers readers numerous opportunities for inspiration at how the study of ecology, evolution, and natural history of finches on a small island reflects the forces at work in the Galapagos and throughout life."--Frederick R. Davis, Quarterly Review of Biology "This book uses hard won data ... to draw insightful conclusions about the messy, dynamic, and creative processes of evolutionary change and lineage divergence. It would make an excellent ... textbook for a college-level course in evolution because it has it all: natural selection, sexual selection, heritability, competition, character displacement, speciation, and extinction... This book is a tribute to the authors themselves."--Michael S. Webster, EvolutionTable of Contents*Frontmatter, pg. i*Contents, pg. ix*Illustrations, pg. xvii*Tables, pg. xxiii*Boxes, pg. xxv*Preface, pg. xxvii*1. Speciation, Adaptive Radiation, And Evolution, pg. 3*2. Daphne Finches: A Question of Size, pg. 17*3. Heritable Variation, pg. 41*4. Natural Selection And Evolution, pg. 55*5. Breeding Ecology And Fitness, pg. 77*6. A Potential Competitor Arrives on Daphne, pg. 103*7. Competition and Character Displacement, pg. 122*8. Hybridization, pg. 138*9. Variation and Introgression, pg. 166*10. Long-Term Trends in Hybridization, pg. 183*11. Long-Term Trends in Natural Selection, pg. 205*12. Speciation, pg. 229*13. Speciation by Introgressive Hybridization, pg. 245*14. The Future of Finches on Daphne, pg. 271*15. Themes and Issues, pg. 287*16. Generalization, pg. 300*17. Epilogue, pg. 310*Coda, pg. 319*Appendixes, pg. 321*Abbreviations, pg. 341*Glossary, pg. 343*References, pg. 353*Subject Index, pg. 389
£45.00
Princeton University Press Birds of Kruger National Park
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Beautifully designed and easy to browse, Birds of Kruger National Park fills an important gap and will be useful not just in the park, but in many other areas with similar habitats, to everyone wanting to explore Africa's avian wildlife. . . . With over 250 described species, Birds of Kruger National Park will prove useful for newcomers and experienced birders alike. You get beautiful photos, physical characteristics, and a description of varying size for all of them. . . . . I'd recommend it to everyone visiting Kruger Park as well as other, similar, habitats across the continent." * ZME Science *"[Barnes and Behrens] have here created a bird guide that is an excellent companion to Animals of Kruger National Park; together the visitor to Kruger National Park has all the information she (or he) needs to enjoy one of the great reserves in the world. . . . This is a handy guide to have in the field."---Donna Lynn Schulman, 10,000 Birds
£25.20
Princeton University Press Far from Land
Book SynopsisThe lives and activities of seabirds as you've never seen them beforeSeabirds evoke the spirit of the earth's wildest places. They spend large portions of their lives at sea, often far from land, and nest on beautiful and remote islands that humans rarely visit. Thanks to the development of increasingly sophisticated and miniaturized devices thTrade Review"One of the British Trust for Ornithology's Best Bird Books of 2018""A brilliant global overview of seabird behaviour."---Kenny Taylor, BBC Wildlife"His tour of the ecological highlights is gripping in scope and in granular detail gleaned from observations of puffins, penguins, fulmars and more."---Barbara Kiser, Nature"This is a celebration of nature writing, scientific research and the wonder of birds, large and small, that glide, flap and flutter across the world’s oceans."---Tim Birkhead, Times Literary Supplement"Brooke’s storytelling skills are first rate, and artist Bruce Pearson’s illustrations only further the mesmerizing quality of this project." * Foreword Reviews *"[Brooke] shares his encyclopedic knowledge with dry wit and fine attention to detail in this absorbing book. . . . His enthusiasm is so infectious that Far from Land is bound to hatch some much-needed new devotees."---Adrian Barnett, New Scientist"If you thought you knew all about seabirds, then think again. This book is absolutely packed with new information."---John Miles, Bird Watching Magazine"Written with passion and knowledge in equal doses. It is beautifully written, immediately captures interest, is erudite, avoids jargon, and is entertaining with a fair peppering of humour. . . . I cannot think of one good reason why any seabirder – field birders and researchers alike – would want to skip this book. Buy it."---Bob Flood, Birdwatch Magazine"[A] marvellous new study."---John Burnside, New Statesman"A thoroughly enjoyable and illuminating survey of the world of seabirds – made all the more enjoyable by Bruce Pearson’s lovely pen-and-wash illustrations."---Nigel Andrew, Literary Review"The most up-to-date picture of how seabirds behave when we aren’t watching. . . . Beautifully written."---Joe Culley, Irish Times"In a very approachable and often dazzling book, Michael Brooke blends the seemingly incompatible worlds of romance and science. The book almost reads like a collection of fairy tales, stories from lands far away of almost-mythical creatures."---Mihai Andrei, ZME Science"As an all-encompassing look at the lives of all sort of seabirds, this book would be hard to beat . . . a must-have book for anyone with an interest in the most mysterious of all birds."---Matt Merritt, Bird Watching Magazine"Michael Brooke has drawn on his knowledge of current science to give a timely summary of research so far and a brilliant global overview of seabird behaviour."---Kenny Taylor, BBC Wildlife Magazine"To read it is like encountering a new and unknown blue planet for the first time. . . . How much better to live now when the world of seabirds, even far from land, is chronicled in such magnificent detail by scientists such as Brooke."---Matt Ridley, The Times"A magical tour of every ocean and some of the remotest locations on the planet through the lives of seabirds. . . . The potential for future discoveries as technologies advance is truly exciting and I cannot wait for the sequel to this book in 20 years’ time."---Ruth Walker, British Trust for Ornithology"Michael Brooke’s book, Far From Land, provides an entertaining and highly digestible account of what we have learnt from the past three decades of seabird tracking research, and what we have learnt is nothing short of staggering. . . . It is well written, tripping along at a nice pace, and should keep anyone with an interest in marine biology or ornithology entertained."---Stephen Votier, Current Biology Magazine"An impressive global overview of impressive modern research into what proves to be even more impressive seabirds. . . . Altogether a well-written, finely illustrated, instructively mapped book."---Richard Sherley, Seabird"This is a relatively slim volume, but one that is absolutely packed with information and all conveyed in an engaging and often witty style."---Andrew Bielinski, Scottish Birds"The book is written with wit (e.g., quoting from a scientific presentation given in rap) and real insight, helped bythe fact that the author himself is a field ornithologist and understands how much time and effort goes into workthat may end up summarized in a sentence in the book. This is a book that all ornithologists should read, but itwill also inspire marine biologists, seafarers, and all who travel the seas into deepened respect for the seabirdswith which they share the oceans."---Michael Scott, Conservation Biology
£22.50
Princeton University Press How to Be an Urban Birder
Book SynopsisTrade Review"A good read and well priced. . . . I’m sure many of you will enjoy it."---John Miles, Birdwatching Magazine"After sparking a U.K. birding movement over the past decade, Lindo is now bringing his message to the international stage with his new guide How to Be an Urban Birder, published in August. At 200-plus pages, the book is a satisfying and accessible read for beginner birders everywhere, and is packed full of photos, illustrations, tips, tricks, and anecdotes."---Bryony Angell, Audubon"I heartily recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to learn more about the wildlife immediately around them, even if you live in a suburb or a small village, this book will enrich you contact with nature and teach you how to find and see creatures you never even thought might be close by."---Nick Brown, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust"Anyone looking for an urban nature manual will enjoy David Lindo’s How to Be an Urban Birder."---Patrick Barkham, The Guardian"An enjoyable and engaging introduction to the birding opportunities of even the most unlikely looking urban venue. . . . The content is refreshingly up to date too, with lots of handy hints about internet resources, smartphone apps, sound recording, phone-scoping etc. . . . The urban focus is the book’s USP, aiming to widen the birdwatching demographic beyond its traditional white, male, middle class, suburban and rural constituencies. If we are to retrieve any sort of connection with the natural world then the engagement of the city-dwelling majority will be vital. This book might be just the necessary catalyst."---Andy Stoddart, Rare Bird Alert"This thorough, richly illustrated guide to urban birding reveals just how easy, accessible and fun the activity can be."---Tom Hodgkinson, Idler"The central message is that there is a world of interest and joy on our doorsteps, even in the middle of London or Glasgow, if you just start looking." * Scottish Birds *"There is much useful information in this book for anyone starting out in the birding world. . . . It is reasonably priced, attractively produced, clearly written and will make an idea stocking-fuller for a general wildlife enthusiast of anyone making their first foray into the world of birds."---Clive Herbert, London Naturalist"[This] book is a treasure trove of information."---Jen Brown, The Happy Birder"Following Lindo’s advice, one can learn to open one’s eyes and see that nature is right at the doorstep in the form of urban birds." * Conservation Biology *
£15.29
Princeton University Press Listening to a Continent Sing
Book SynopsisIncludes QR codes for recordings of birdsongs available on companion website.Trade Review"One of Forbes.com’s 12 Best Books About Birds and Birding in 2016""One of the fascinating aspects of both the book and the recordings is that, while chasing after birdsong, Mr. Kroodsma captures so much other detail as well....Listening to a Continent Sing, along with its website, is both an inspiration and a bundle of gifts waiting to be unwrapped."---Julie Zickefoose, Wall Street Journal"In its refreshing mix of history, linguistics, biology, and ethology,Listening to a Continent Singbrings back the joy and enthusiasm for scientific pursuits that can sometimes wane with time."---Helena J. Barr, Science"Kroodsma evokes the profound pleasure of rising before dawn to listen to the morning songs of the birds and ending the day with their evening choruses…. An informative exploration of the subtleties of bird songs." * Kirkus *"Birdsong maven Donald Kroodsma's travel journal is a welcome addition to the cycling-road-trip genre that began over a century ago. . . . It's the author's knowledge of birdsong . . . that makes this book so delightful." * Natural History *"The story is charming, funny, poignant, and heartwarming. . . . If you are going to treat yourself to one special gift this summer, make it this one!"---Cathy Taibbi, Examiner.com"Listening to a Continent Sing will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in the outdoors, by cyclists, and above all by birders. I have only just begun reading the book, but I already suspect that it will turn out to be one of the outstanding popular birds books of the year." * The Curious Naturalist *"While the book may be categorized as a birding adventure, it is also the story of a father and son deepening their bond as they cycled by day and camped by night together for 10 weeks."---Jennifer J. Meyer, Orange County Register"Our sophistication in listening to birdsong and our enjoyment have been greatly facilitated by the writings of Don Kroodsma. . . .[Listening to a Continent Sing] provides a delightful, vicarious ride across our country."---Herb Wilson, Portland Press Herald"Listening to a Continent Sing is a travelogue of Kroodsma's 5,000 mile trip, a celebration of nature, and a multimedia experience--the book is littered with quick-response codes that link to samples of birdsong found throughout the trip, such as the pileated woodpecker and the sandhill crane." * Chicago Tribune *"Coupling these [QR] codes with the website to supply reader support makes this book truly one of a kind. Innovative educators will enjoy the challenge of deciding exactly how to use Listening to a Continent Sing in their teaching." * NSTA Recommends *"Kroodsma has an insatiable curiosity about bird vocalizations and also a deep passion for his subject. . . . This book provides a delightful, vicarious ride across our country. We stop frequently to appreciate the music of the birds." * Portland Press Herald *"An accomplished travelogue written with great style which makes for an enjoyable and highly entertaining read. It is a book to be enjoyed by birders or non-birders alike." * Another Bird Blog *"Kroodsma . . . is to birdsong what a sommelier is to fine wine. With ears as finely tuned as a musician able to recognize a symphony by the first few notes, he identifies a variety of bird species and their many song variations. . . . Listening to a Continent Sing is a feast for the senses and will no doubt inspire many to listen more deeply and more intently on the next walk or bike ride." * Urban Audubon *"One of the quirkiest and most oddly charming travel books you're likely to come across…. The whole package is engagingly chipper, a memoir of delight." * Washington Post *"Do you wish to pursue your dreams? In this remarkable book, the author, birdsong expert Donald Kroodsma, did just that when he set out on a bicycle journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans, recording the songs of birds along the way. . . . Drawings of birds and the countryside fill this handsomely produced book, and the author's birdsong recordings can be accessed from QR codes in the margins. This gorgeous book combines history, geology, travel, bicycling, family relationships and birdsong into one irresistible adventure. I especially enjoyed how the author draws the reader into the places that he experienced through the use of sound."---Forbes.com, a "12 Best books about Birds and Birding in 2016" selection"No one but Don Kroodsma could have written this book, as no one hears birdsong the way he does."---Eldon Greij, Bird Watching Magazine"[Kroodsma's] delight in attending to the history and settings of the places the two pass through will leave readers listening better, too--and not just to birdsong."---Omnivoracious"Will be enjoyed by anyone with a general interest in natural history, or bicycling, not just those interested in ornithology or birdsong. So many themes permeate this fine book you are sure to find much of interest and learn a great deal about birdsong in the process. What a trip!"---Eugene S. Morton, Journal of Ornithology
£16.19
Princeton University Press All About Birds Midwest
Book Synopsis
£14.24
University of British Columbia Press Birds of Ontario Habitat Requirements Limiting
Book SynopsisThis volume and its predecessor condense the vast amount of literature on the nonpasserines of Ontario into a compact reference manual that will be essential to biologists, environmental planners, and serious birders.Trade Review"Sandilands has done a very thorough job of researching information... A tremendous amount of material is summarized in the species accounts, and it is presented in a well-written style. I strongly recommend this book and future volumes in the series. - Ron Tozer, Ontario Birds"Table of ContentsINTRODUCTIONScope and Sources of InformationFormat of the Species AccountsFuture ResearchSPECIES ACCOUNTSBlack-bellied PloverAmerican Golden-PloverSemipalmated PloverPiping PloverKilldeerBlack-necked StiltAmerican AvocetSpotted SandpiperSolitary SandpiperGreater YellowlegsWilletLesser YellowlegsUpland SandpiperEskimo CurlewWhimbrelHudsonian GodwitMarbled GodwitRuddy TurnstoneRed KnotSanderlingSemipalmated SandpiperWestern SandpiperLeast SandpiperWhite-rumped SandpiperBaird’s SandpiperPectoral SandpiperPurple SandpiperDunlinStilt SandpiperBuff-breasted SandpiperRuffShort-billed DowitcherLong-billed DowitcherWilson’s SnipeAmerican WoodcockWilson’s PhalaropeRed-necked PhalaropeBonaparte’s GullLittle GullFranklin’s GullRing-billed GullHerring GullIceland GullLesser Black-backed GullGlaucous GullGreat Black-backed GullCaspian TernBlack TernCommon TernArctic TernForster’s TernParasitic JaegerBlack GuillemotRock PigeonMourning DoveYellow-billed CuckooBlack-billed CuckooBarn OwlEastern Screech-OwlGreat Horned OwlSnowy OwlNorthern Hawk OwlBarred OwlGreat Gray OwlLong-eared OwlShort-eared OwlBoreal OwlNorthern Saw-whet OwlCommon NighthawkChuck-will’s-widowWhip-poor-willChimney SwiftRuby-throated HummingbirdBelted KingfisherRed-headed WoodpeckerRed-bellied WoodpeckerYellow-bellied SapsuckerDowny WoodpeckerHairy WoodpeckerAmerican Three-toed WoodpeckerBlack-backed WoodpeckerNorthern FlickerPileated WoodpeckerLiterature CitedIndex to Common and Scientific Bird Names
£73.95
Cornell University Press Migrating Raptors of the World
Book SynopsisA comprehensive and accessible account of the history, ecology, geography, science, and conservation aspects surrounding the migration of approximately two hundred species of raptors.Trade Review"While there have been numerous academic papers on raptor migration, no one until Bildstein has attempted to synthesize the widely scattered data. His excellent and well-researched book offers a systematic overview of key migration routes and the species involved—he cites a list of 200 diurnal raptors—while surveying the hypotheses that attempt to explain the origins of bird-of-prey migration. Bildstein also provides an account of the world's top raptor-watching sites and rounds off with a consideration of conservation priorities."—Mark Cocker, Times Literary Supplement, June 22 2007"This book provides an excellent summary of what is known about how raptors prepare for and eventually undertake their movements. It summarises a great volume of scientific papers in a readable style. Eight species are selected for more detailed discussion: Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Honey Buzzard, Hen Harrier, Grey-faced Buzzard, Steppe Buzzard and Amur Falcon."—Birding World,"Migrating Raptors of the World, by Keith L. Bildstein, is a stunning book, exceptional in both its inherently worldwide scope and in the depth with which it treats its subjects. Like Bildstein, I was fascinated at an early age by the hunting flights of birds of prey-then as an adult so entranced by their far-flung migrations that I followed peregrine falcons in a light plane from Texas to Canada and back to the tropics. Yet if this volume had existed to answer, as it does, most of my questions about where my falcons went, and when, and how they did so, I might never have made the journey with them. Thus for both the professional ornithologist and those who simply feel their hearts go out to every autumnal kettle of broadwings channeling south between Vera Cruz and the coastal Sierras, to the sight of a tundra peregrine sweeping over a Caribbean marsh, putting a thousand shorebirds into simultaneous flight, or to the mystery of a golden eagle soaring north—from where to where?—along the Rocky Mountains' Front Range, this book is a key to these fierce and lovely creatures' heretofore almost mystical intercontinental realm. I could not recommend it more highly."—Alan Tennant, author of On The Wing: To the Edge of the Earth With The Peregrine Falcon"Through his extensive personal knowledge and familiarity with the published literature, Keith L. Bildstein has produced a comprehensive treatment of the spectacular phenomena of raptor migration. Until recently, migration has been one of the least understood aspects of raptor biology; however, this volume provides both professional ornithologists and amateur raptor migration enthusiasts with a very readable synthesis of our current understanding of raptor migration. Bildstein presents interesting case studies of several raptor species that illustrate how the migration strategies of these magnificent birds can develop very differently. He also highlights stories and findings from twelve of the world's most important hawk-watching sites. This book should be of broad interest to bird watchers, ornithologists, and conservation ecologists, but is a must for the libraries of raptor biologists."—Michael W. Collopy, Executive Director, Academy for the Environment
£40.50
Johns Hopkins University Press Second Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland
Book SynopsisFirst Place, Professional Reference Books, 25th Annual New York Book ShowDespite their small sizes, Maryland and Washington, DC, possess a vast range of environmentsfrom the high peaks of the Allegheny Ridges to the low marshes of the Chesapeake Bay. Home to 200 nesting bird species, these habitats are under constant threat from urban sprawl, changing farming practices, and the degradation of coastal wetlands. The Second Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia documents the impact of these environmental changes on the region's bird population and discusses the recovery of the endangered Bald Eagle and the new confirmation of breeding by three speciesthe Common Merganser, the Ruddy Duck, and the Double-crested Cormorant.Species accounts, each with a stunning color photograph, provide detailed coverage of the habitats, biology, and relative abundance of mid-Atlantic nesting birds. Up-to-date maps reflect changes in their breeding ranges and distributions over the past two decades. Of perhaps greatest value are the comparative analyses with data from the first statewide survey conducted in the 1980s. Treasured by birdersand an invaluable reference for ornithologists, conservationists, and land use plannersthis book will significantly influence our understanding and management of avian species in the region for the next decade.Trade ReviewAn invaluable reference... This book will significantly influence our understanding and management of avian species in the region for the next decade. A must have for birders of the region! -- Ian Paulson Guardian 2011 This is likely to remain the gold-standard reference on Maryland's birds-at least until a third atlas appears in, say, 2030. -- Scott Weidensaul Maryland Yellowthroat 2011 My favorite new naturalist reads these days if the 2nd Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia. -- Stephanie Mason Audubon Naturalist News 2011Table of ContentsForewordPrefaceAcknowledgmentsAcronyms and AbbreviationsIntroductionThe History of Grid-based Ornithological AtlasesProceduresCoverageThe EnvironmentRepresentative Maryland HabitatsResultsConservationUsing the Species AccountsSpecies AccountsAdditional Accounts of Potential Nesting BirdsAppendixesA. Safe Dates for Maryland and DC Breeding BirdsB. Total Species per Block, First and Second AtlasesC. Quarterblock ResultsD. Abundance DefinitionsE. Nonavian Fauna CitedF. Plants CitedReferencesIndex
£61.20
University of Nebraska Press John James Audubons Journal of 1826
Book SynopsisJohn James Audubon produced one of the greatest works of natural history and art of the nineteenth century, The Birds of America. As the record of the interior story of the making of this monumental work, his journal of 1826 is one of the richest documents in the history of American culture. This is the first accurate transcription of Audubon's 1826 journal.Trade Review"Now, nearly 200 years later, Audubon is in fact "here, there and all over the Globe." And we are very lucky indeed to have a definitive transcription of the document that describes how that happened."—Anthony Doerr, Boston Globe“Thanks to [this] new edition of the personal diary he kept during the voyage [to England], for the first time we are able to enter to some degree into Audubon’s thoughts and feelings during that stressful year [of 1826]”—Robert O. Paxton, New York Review of Books "Patterson strives to be faithful to the original manuscript, preserving Audubon's original writing and style except where it would lead to misunderstanding. This fidelity allows Audubon's own voice to finally emerge and provides a fascinating look at his interests, drives, and opinions."—C.T. Brundy, Choice“Audubon’s 1826 journal is one of the few surviving portions of his extensive journals, and a new, scholarly, and correct transcription is a welcome contribution and will become the standard for Audubon scholars and fans alike.”—Ron Tyler, director of the Amon Carter Museum and author of Audubon’s Great National Work: The Royal Octavo Edition of The Birds of America“This volume is all the more important because it deals specifically with the creation of his masterpiece, Birds of America‚ one of the most cherished books ever produced. This edition corrects many of the errors found in earlier published versions.” – Library Journal "The adventure would continue to unroll after Dec. 31, 1826, when this journal ends, but when Audubon signs off that night, he leaves us feeling that we have accompanied him in the achievement of a masterpiece."—James M. Keller, PasatiempoTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsForewordJohn R. KnottAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: The History and Significance of Audubon's Journal of 1826Editorial Principles and ProceduresList of Abbreviations and Symbols1. Departure from Bayou Sara and New Orleans; Voyage to Liverpool2. Liverpool3. Manchester4. Return to Liverpool5. Return to Manchester and Travel to Matlock and Bakewell6. EdinburghAppendix A: A Page from Audubon's 1828 JournalAppendix B: Letters of Introduction Copied into the 1826 JournalAppendix C: Front Matter in the Manuscript of the 1826 JournalTextual NotesIndex
£35.10
University of Nebraska Press John James Audubons Journal of 1826
Book SynopsisDetails the months leading up to Audubon’s creation of The Birds of America, one of the greatest works of natural history and art of the nineteenth century. The first accurate transcription of Audubon's 1826 journal, this edition corrects many of the errors, both intentional and unintentional, found in previous editions.Trade Review“Thanks to [this] new edition of the personal diary he kept during the voyage [to England], for the first time we are able to enter to some degree into Audubon’s thoughts and feelings during that stressful year [of 1826]”—Robert O. Paxton, New York Review of Books "Patterson strives to be faithful to the original manuscript, preserving Audubon's original writing and style except where it would lead to misunderstanding. This fidelity allows Audubon's own voice to finally emerge and provides a fascinating look at his interests, drives, and opinions."—C.T. Brundy, Choice"Now, nearly 200 years later, Audubon is in fact "here, there and all over the Globe." And we are very lucky indeed to have a definitive transcription of the document that describes how that happened."—Anthony Doerr, Boston Globe“This volume is all the more important because it deals specifically with the creation of [Audubon’s] masterpiece, Birds of America‚ one of the most cherished books ever produced. This edition corrects many of the errors found in earlier published versions.”—Library Journal “Audubon’s 1826 journal is one of the few surviving portions of his extensive journals, and [this] new, scholarly, and correct transcription is a welcome contribution and will become the standard for Audubon scholars and fans alike.”—Ron Tyler, director of the Amon Carter Museum and author of Audubon’s Great National Work: The Royal Octavo Edition of “The Birds of America” “[Audubon] proves a memorable observer, who immediately charmed his way as a long-haired ‘American woodsman.’”—John McEwen, Country Life (UK) "The adventure would continue to unroll after Dec. 31, 1826, when this journal ends, but when Audubon signs off that night, he leaves us feeling that we have accompanied him in the achievement of a masterpiece."—James M. Keller, Pasatiempo – Santa Fe New Mexican
£22.79
University of Nebraska Press This River Beneath the Sky A Year on the Platte
Book SynopsisBlends memoir and nature writing, tracking the Platte River valley for one calendar year, ushering readers through its diverse and changing landscape and the plants, animals, and humans that call the ecosystem home.Trade Review“This articulate and compelling account of the history of crane country in Nebraska follows the seasons over a landscape that hosts in spring the planet’s greatest gathering of cranes. Doreen Pfost elegantly weaves together the story of these magnificent ambassadors for things wild and free in a part of our planet that humans have transformed in recent centuries, but where ancient wildlife spectacles still happen.”—George Archibald, cofounder of the International Crane Foundation “Doreen Pfost’s personal homage to Nebraska’s Platte River is a powerful collection of twelve essays encompassing a year, bounded by its spring crane migration. They reveal a Willa Cather–like affection for the place and its people and an Aldo Leopold–like capacity to describe its wildlife, especially the iconic sandhill cranes.”—Paul A. Johnsgard, author of Seasons of the Tallgrass Prairie: A Nebraska YearTable of ContentsAcknowledgments1. Swept Up in a Wind-Borne River: March and Early April2. Regarding the Aftermath: Late April3. Trails and Consequences: May4. Rooted in Sand: June5. Of Legendary Worth: July6. River Walkers: August and September7. Flickering Light on the Flyway: October and Early November8. Outside Home: Late November9. This Living Planet: December10. Teaching Ourselves to See: January11. Wonders Close to Home: February12. Swept Up, Still and Again: MarchBibliography
£14.24
University of Nebraska Press Scarlet Experiment Birds and Humans in America
Book SynopsisTraces the ways in which birds have historically been seen as beautiful creatures worthy of protection and study and yet subject to experiments - scientific, literary, and governmental - that have irrevocably altered their relationship with humans. Scarlet Experiment speculates about the effects our decisions will have on the future of North American bird ecology.Trade Review"A good introduction to this vibrant literature."—Amy Coale, H-Environment"The subject of this carefully documented and well researched book is how experiments, in all senses of the word, have affected both humans and birds in America over the last two centuries."—David J. Robertson, Natural Areas Journal“The breadth and coverage of not only the science but the history and changing treatment of birds is astounding. . . . Brilliantly written.”—Heidi Marcum, senior lecturer in the Department of Environmental Science at Baylor UniversityTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction: Split the Lark 1. Emotion and Intelligence: The Blue Jay 2. Interpellation and Interiority: The European Starling 3. Capital and Conservation: The Red Knot 4. Nuisance and Neighbor: Canada Goose 5. Confusion and Classification: Black-Crested Titmouse or Tufted Titmouse Conclusion: The Future of Birds Notes Bibliography Index
£33.25
MP-OKL Uni of Oklahoma Oklahoma Winter Bird Atlas
Book SynopsisBeautifully illustrated with colour photographs, maps, graphs, and tables, the Oklahoma Winter Bird Atlas offers ornithologists and amateur birders alike a wealth of easy-to-read information about the status of bird species in Oklahoma.
£34.16
MP-FLO Uni Press of Florida The Art of Birds
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£30.56
Rutgers University Press How Fast Can a Falcon Dive Fascinating Answers to
Book SynopsisFrom stories of red-tailed hawks making their homes on the ledges of Manhattan skyscrapers to their role in protecting California's vineyards from flocks of grape-loving starlings,How Fast Can a Falcon Dive? explores how these avian predators interact with people and with their environment.Trade Review"Want to know everything about birds of prey—our amazing raptors? Then Capainolo and Butler's compact book, How Fast Can a Falcoln Dive?, is the place to start!" -- Joel Cracraft * Lamont Curator of Birds, American Museum of Natural History *"Birds of prey are endlessly fascinating. They fill us with wonder—and questions. Fortunately, this book has the answers, presented in an engaging style. A 'must-read' for anyone who admires raptors." -- Tim Gallagher * author of Falcon Fever and The Grail Bird *"This work will appeal to lay readers and raptor fanatics (there are many!). As abudding bird-watcher in high school, this reviewer would have devoured this book. Highly recommended." * Choice *"This reader-friendly and interesting book contains a wealth of information about birds of prey." * Wildlife Activist *"Almost anything a student might wish to know about raptors can be found in this well-organized, detailed, and thoroughly documented book." * NSTA Recommends *Table of ContentsRaptor basics Raptor bodies Raptor behavior Raptor reproduction Dangers and defenses Raptor husbandry Taming and training Raptors and people Research and conservation
£20.69
University of Minnesota Press A Love Affair with Birds
Book SynopsisTrade Review"For those of us who spend a lifetime helping preserve and encourage the conservation of birdlife, one of the greatest gifts we can receive is the chance to enter the ‘conservation time machine’ provided by books like Sue Leaf’s A Love Affair with Birds. It transports us back more than a hundred years to experience the diversity and abundance of the birdlife that once existed in Minnesota. It allows us to sense Roberts’s passion for birds, his detailed powers of observation, and his thoroughness in documenting his lifetime of bird observations."—Carrol Henderson, Nongame Wildlife Program supervisor, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources"Sue Leaf's engaging and carefully researched portrait of Thomas Sadler Roberts captures not just the man, but also the place and time in which his passions—medicine and ornithology—were born. Arriving in Minneapolis as a child when the city was young, Roberts over the course of a long, industrious life claimed an important place in Minnesota history that lives on in the book he wrote, The Birds of Minnesota, and the institution he founded, the Bell Museum of Natural History. Leaf tells Roberts's story with grace and empathy. A lively, important biography."—William Souder, author of Under a Wild Sky: John James Audubon and the Making of The Birds of America"A Love Affair With Birds, published by the University of Minnesota Press, traces the life of the Minneapolis physician who led birding expeditions, kept meticulous and now invaluable birding journals, and helped found the Bell Museum of Natural History."—Star Tribune"Minnesota’s importance to birds and birders cannot be overstated. More than 400 species have been recorded there. It’s a migratory pathway. And it’s the home of not just great hotspots but great advocates, like Carrol Henderson and our own Laura Erickson. That’s why this book is so relevant."—BirdWatching"In biographer Sue Leaf’s capable hands, we are drawn into Roberts’ long and worthy life, beginning with his family’s arrival in St. Paul in 1867. As a boy he was free to explore this edge-of-the-prairie region and its wildlife, and Leaf, herself a bird watcher, paints a vivid picture of what the area was like a century ago. Anyone with an interest in birds, Minnesota’s natural history and learning about the life of a singular doctor, author, curator, educator, conservationist and bird enthusiast will find this book a rare treat."—Star Tribune"Leaf’s recounting of this long life is a great read, especially for those of us who love history and the history of ornithology; the author’s tendency to wax poetic recalls the literary style of many of Roberts’s contemporaries."—American Birding Association Blog"An entertaining read that will engage anyone with an interest in our state’s history."—The Minnesota Historical Society Press"[Leaf] deserves warm plaudits for her careful scrutiny of mass of data, both ornithological and medical."—Canadian Field NaturalistTable of ContentsContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. A Fledgling Start2. Acquiring an Eagle Eye3. The Young Naturalists’ Society4. College Boy5. A Gypsy Life6. The Medical Student7. A Family Man8. The Busy Physician9. The Empty Day10. A Florida Interlude11. The Associate Curator12. Gains and Losses13. Writing the Book14. Building Mr. Bell’s Museum15. The Cardinal HourEpilogueNotesIndex
£12.34
University of Hawai'i Press Hawaiian Birds of the Sea Na Manu Kai Latitude 20
Book SynopsisMore than 300 species of seabirds range across the world's oceans. In excess of 14 million birds, representing nearly two dozen species, make their home in the Hawaiian islands. This book displays the seabirds of Hawai'i - from the far eastern tip of the Big Island to the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
£15.26
Seattle Audubon Society Birding in Seattle and King County
Book Synopsis
£22.73
Temple University Press,U.S. Gone Goose
Book SynopsisSumner, MO, pop. 102, near the Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge, proclaims itself The Wild Goose Capital of the World. It even displays Maxie, the World's largest goose: a 40-foot tall fiberglass statue with a wingspan stretching more than 60 feet. But while the 200,000 Canada geese that spent their falls and winters at Swan Lake helped generate millions of dollars for the local economywith hunting and the annual Goose Festivalclimate change, as well as environmental and land use issues, have caused the birds to disappear. The economic loss of the geese and the activities they inspired served as key building blocks in the rural identities residents had developed and treasured. In his timely and topical book, Gone Goose, Braden Leap observes how members of this rural town adapted, reorganized, and reinvented themselves in the wake of climate changeand how they continued to cultivate respect and belonging in their community. Leap conducted interviews with residents and participated i
£25.19
University of Texas Press They Tell of Birds
Book SynopsisThis book, a study of birds as they are presented by four great English poets, inquires into the extent and sources of their knowledge of birds and analyzes the methods by which they adapted that knowledge for poetic purposes.Table of Contents Preface I. The Background II. Chaucer III. Spenser IV. Milton V. Drayton VI. Conclusion Index to Birds Named by Chaucer, Spenser, Milton, and Drayton
£15.19
MB - Cornell University Press Photo Guide to Birds of Costa Rica
Book SynopsisFew ecosystem destinations are as abundant in their biodiversity as Costa Rica. Having the right field guides in hand can make all the difference when you're enjoying the country’s birdlife. Photo Guide to Birds of Costa Rica features 549 excellent photographs and treats 365 species.Table of ContentsIntroductionMap of Costa RicaAnatomical FeaturesGlossarySpecies Accounts and IllustrationsTinamousCurassows, Chachalacas, GuansNew World QuailSungrebeGrebesDucksCormorantsAnhingasPelicansFrigatebirdsBoobiesGulls, Terns, SkimmersSunbitternHerons, Egrets, BitternsIbises, SpoonbillsStorksLimpkinThick-kneesPlovers, LapwingsStilts, AvocetsSandpipers, AlliesJacanasRails, Crakes, GallinulesNew World VulturesOspreyHawks, Kites, EaglesFalcons, CaracarasOwlsPotoosOilbirdNightjars, AlliesSwiftsSwallowsHummingbirdsPigeons, DovesParrotsCuckoosTrogonsMotmotsKingfishersPuffbirdsJacamarsNew World BarbetsToucan-BarbetsToucansWoodpeckersOvenbirds, WoodcreepersTypical AntbirdsAntpittasAntthrushesTapaculosTyrant FlycatchersTityras, Becards, AlliesManakinsCotingasJays Thrushes, Allies Dippers Mockingbirds Silky-flycatchersGnatwrens, GnatcatchersWrensVireos New World WarblersTanagers, Seedeaters, AlliesFinches, New World Sparrows, Allies Grosbeaks, Buntings, Allies Blackbirds, Orioles Euphonias Species Index
£17.99
Cornell University Press Bird Talk
Book SynopsisBird Talk delves into new scientific developments to reveal the complexities of how birds make, learn, and use sound in a bewildering array of songs and calls. The beauty of birdsong is one of the joys of nature, and this book reveals how songs are learnt and performed, why the quality of a male''s repertoire can affect his mating success, and how birds use song-matching and countersinging in territorial disputes. Bird Talk illustrates how birds communicate through visual signals too, from the dazzling feathers of a Peacock to the jumping displays a Jackson''s Widowbird performs to show off his long tail. Plumage features such as the red bill shield of a Pukeko can indicate dominance, and how aggressive wing-waving is used to ward off impostors.Bird Talk will help you understand how birds communicate in a range of situations, whether in harmony or in conflict, providing essential new insight into avian intelligence.Trade ReviewI highly recommend this book for anyone who is passionate about ornithology and birding, and interested in expanding their knowledge about the different ways that birds communicate, as well as the impacts of human activity on birdsong and other behavior. * San Francisco Book Review *Bird Talk: An Exploration of Avian Communication is a very good and surprisingly relatively inexpensive way to expand one's knowledge of birds and what we know about how they communicate by song, movement, physical appearance, and smell. [The book makes] scientific information easily available, effortless to read and process, primarily through the use of stunning visual material to engage our eyes and spike our interest. * 10,000 Birds *
£22.79
University of Minnesota Press The Breeding Birds of Minnesota
Book SynopsisA comprehensive, detailed, illustrated history of Minnesota's breeding birdsthe first in nearly a century Unique among North American states, Minnesota sits squarely at the convergence of four major ecological regions, or biomes: aspen parklands, prairie grasslands, deciduous forest, and boreal forest. Consequently, the state hosts remarkably diverse avifauna. The Breeding Birds of Minnesota, the first comprehensive and in-depth assessment of Minnesota's breeding birds in nearly a century, offers an unprecedented, extraordinarily detailed, finely illustrated account of 250 of those birds, including their historical and present breeding distribution, habitat, population abundance, and prospects for the future.For each species, The Breeding Birds of Minnesota gives a brief life history, providing Minnesota seasonal status, migration, foods consumed, nest structure, and name origin; a summary of identification hints, primary vocalizations, and specific features of distribution or behavior
£45.00
University of Minnesota Press Birds in Minnesota: Revised and Expanded Edition
Book SynopsisA comprehensive update of the classic from the state’s foremost expert In the nearly half-century since the first publication of the landmark Birds in Minnesota, the state and its bird populations have undergone dramatic changes. This newly revised, expanded edition reflects those changes as well as the most recent advances in birding, making it the indispensable resource for birdwatchers in Minnesota, both passionate amateur and professional. Featuring full-color photographs and more than one thousand distribution maps, the updated Birds in Minnesota describes where and during which season the 443 species of birds in the state can be found. Introductory comments by Carrol L. Henderson of the Minnesota DNR and Kim R. Eckert, author of A Birder’s Guide to Minnesota, along with the expert contributions of David Cahlander of the Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union, further enhance this new edition for today’s Minnesota birders. This edition of Birds in Minnesota is the essential birding reference—at once authoritative and user-friendly, comprehensive and concise, eminently practical and a delight to peruse. Trade Review"Minnesota conservationists, birders, educators, and children, now and in the future, stand to benefit for decades from this new and monumental update of Birds in Minnesota by my friend and lifetime Minnesota birder Robert B. Janssen. If you are not up to taking ‘six round trips to the moon’ to know Minnesota’s birdlife, read this book, and take a moment to thank Bob for his lifetime passion for birding in Minnesota and for sharing what he has learned."—Carrol L. Henderson, from the Foreword
£26.99
Texas A & M University Press Birding the Southwestern National Parks
Book SynopsisAt the end of the twentieth century roughly 265 million people visited the 374 sites in the American National Park System. These places, designated and protected because of their significance to our nation's historical and natural heritage, contain some of the most beautiful landscapes in the United States - landscapes that naturally lend themselves to outdoor recreation. In this book, veteran parks interpreter Roland H. Wauer introduces the pleasures of birding in the national parks of the American Southwest. From California to Texas, from hugely popular destinations such as Arizona's Grand Canyon to the mostly undiscovered shores of Amistad National Recreation Area, Wauer visits fourteen sites and gives us his advice on what birds to expect and where and how to find them.
£15.26
Texas A & M University Press Finding Birds on the Great Texas Coastal Birding
Book SynopsisThe Texas coast offers rich avian treasures for expert birders and beginners alike, if only they know where to look. For those familiar with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's maps to the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, this book on the Upper Texas Coast offers more - more information, more convenient and detailed maps, more pictures, more finding tips, and more birding advice from one of the trail's creators, Ted Lee Eubanks Jr., and trail experts Robert A. Behrstock and Seth Davidson. For those new to the trail, the book is the perfect companion for learning where to find and how to bird the very best venues on this part of the Texas coast.In an opening tutorial on habitat and seasonal strategies for birding the Upper Texas Coast, the authors include tips on how to take advantage of the famous (but elusive) fallouts of birds that happen here. They then briefly discuss the basics of birding by ear and the rewards of passive birding before turning to the trail itself and each of more than 120 birding sites from the Louisiana-Texas border, through Galveston and Houston, to just south of Freeport.While not intended as a field identification guide, the book contains more than 175 color photographs of birds and their coastal habitat, giving readers an excellent feel for the trail's diversity and abundance. Whether you are making your annual spring pilgrimage to Texas, leisurely traveling with the family along the coast, or wondering what to do during a layover in Houston, using this book as your guide to the trail will greatly enhance your birding experience.
£18.36
Texas A & M University Press Extreme Birder: One Woman's Big Year
£23.96
University Press of New England Birdwatching in New York City and on Long Island
Book SynopsisIncluding the latest information on the seasonal status and distribution of more than 400 species, with 39 maps and over 50 photographs, this easy-to-use, full-color guide features information essential to planning a birding visit.
£20.70
Texas A & M University Press Birding Hotspots of Santa Fe, Taos, and Northern
Book SynopsisIn their second guide to birding in New Mexico, Judy Liddell and Barbara Hussey share their experiences and intimate knowledge of the best places to find birds in and around Santa Fe and other areas in northern New Mexico.Following the same format as their book on the Albuquerque area, the authors describe 32 sites organized by geographic regions. Along with a general description of each area, the authors list target birds; explain where and when to look for them; give driving directions; provide information about public transportation, parking, fees, restrooms, food, and lodging; and give tips on availability of water and picnic facilities and on the presence of hazards such as poison ivy, rattlesnakes, and bears. Maps and photographs provide trail diagrams and images of some of the target birds and their environments.A “helpful information” section covering weather, altitude, safety, transportation, and other local birding resources is included along with an annotated checklist of 276 bird species seen with some regularity in and around Santa Fe.
£21.56
Texas A & M University Press Big Years, Biggest States: Birding in Texas and
Book SynopsisUndertaking a Big Year requires a more extreme version of planning than what is needed to bird in a typical year. In a Big Year a birder is trying to see or hear new birds every day, day after day, throughout the whole year.The first woman to complete a North American Big Year (continental United States and Canada) and identify over 700 species, Lynn E. Barber clocked more than 175,000 miles and ticked off a then record setting 723 species over twelve months in 2008. Yet even as an anomaly - a female birder in the then male-dominated world of competitive birding - she took the initiative to reimagine the whole idea of a Big Year in the two biggest states in the country.At home in both Texas and Alaska, Barber offers an inside look into how to plan, execute, and thoroughly enjoy a year of finding the birds that inhabit two of the nation's most diverse landscapes. The drastic differences between the climate, geography, plant life, and habitat at the far northern and southern edges of the US mainland mean seeing a distinct number of birds in each state that are not found in the other. Yet as states with both coastal and international boundaries, Texas and Alaska provide countless opportunities to see the most seasonally varied, far flying, and specifically adapted birds in the world.As Barber chronicles her travels throughout the Texan and Alaskan landscapes, serious and casual birders alike will appreciate her lively and informative prose and commitment to her distinct approach to the Big Year challenge.
£23.96
Texas A & M University Press Raptors of Texas: A Natural History of Diurnal
Book SynopsisRaptors - birds of prey that hunt during the day - include easily recognizable birds like eagles, hawks, or falcons. They may be seen perched on highway signs, electrical poles, or soaring overheard in urban and rural spaces across North America. Here, avian ecology and raptor experts Craig Farquhar and Clint Boal present the first comprehensive volume on these birds of prey in Texas. Given the state's size, location, and biodiversity, it is not surprising that Texas leads other states in the documented number of raptor occurrence.The introductory chapters of Raptors of Texas provide information on raptor ecology, evolution, behavior, morphology, and the unique conservation challenges raptors face. Detailed species descriptions of the most common raptors in Texas come next, illustrated with life-like graphite drawings and range maps. Additionally, short entries for rare raptors sighted in the state are provided.This reference is a must-have for serious birders, ornithologists, avian ecologists, and wildlife professionals who want to know more about these birds of prey and the important roles they play in our urban and rural environments alike.
£35.96
University of South Carolina Press Birdlife: A Naturalist's Guide to Birds of the
Book SynopsisAn illustrated flight across the SoutheastBirdlife invites readers into the lives of birds we often meet in the southeastern United States. Writer, scientist, and illustrator Todd Ballantine presents the habits and habitats, colorings, migratory paths, and songs of nearly one hundred birds of the Southeast that he has come to know so well. He wings us across diverse landscapes, along the coasts of states from Virginia to Texas, and in elds and forests in between, providing keen insights and tips for recognizing birds on the branch, on the beach, or in the air.Along the coast and estuaries, you will meet the double-crested cormorant and the herring gull; near marshes and wetlands, the American coot and the great blue heron; in elds and open areas, the killdeer and the savannah sparrow. In the brush and at the wood's edge, you will encounter the dark-eyed junco and the white-eyed vireo, and in the forest—if you are lucky—you might hear the evocative call of the nocturnal Chuckwill's-widow.Birdlife delights with Ballantine's own artistic and precise illustrations, hand-lettered text, easy-to-follow presentations, and memorable descriptions. His black-and-white bird renderings provide easy identi cation of shape and form. A unique book to enjoy in nature's habitats, high and low, Birdlife is a must-have companion for birding enthusiasts and anyone intrigued by the lives of birds.
£17.95
Texas A&M University Press Texas Quails
£54.00
Texas A&M University Press Cemetery Birding: An Unexpected Guide to
Book Synopsis
£27.96
NewSouth Publishing Feeding the Birds at Your Table: A guide for
Book SynopsisMillions of Australian feed wild birds in their gardens. Yet there is currently very little information or advice on offer to tell them how to do this properly. This book provides the first readily available source of reliable information relevant to Australia. What’s more, it is written by an expert who feeds birds himself in his own suburban backyard. Including profiles on different types of Australian urban birds, what to feed them and what types of feeders to use, it also has tips on how to create a bird-friendly garden. Feeding the Birds at Your Table offers sensible and practical suggestions so feeding doesn’t only benefit us, but benefits the birds themselves. Packed with lists, tips and boxes for easy use, and featuring illustrations of some of the most common Australian birds, Feeding the Birds at Your Table tells you how to do just that - as responsibly as possible.
£14.36
