Wildlife: birds and birdwatching: general interest Books
Princeton University Press Birds of Argentina and the Southwest Atlantic
Book Synopsis
£30.60
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd The search for the rarest bird in the world
Book SynopsisPart detective trail, part love affair and pure story telling at its best. In 1990 an expedition of Cambridge scientists arrived at the Plains of Nechisar, tucked between the hills of the Great Rift Valley in the Gamo Gofa province in the country of Ethiopia.
£13.25
Cornerstone The Nightingale: ‘The nature book of the year’
Book Synopsis'Wondering and wonderful. The nature book of the year.' JOHN LEWIS-STEMPEL'This lovely book is almost as thrilling as the bird's immortal song - balm for a troubled soul and a glimpse of paradise.' JOANNA LUMLEY______________________________Come to the forest, sit by the fireside and listen to intoxicating song, as Sam Lee tells the story of the nightingale.Every year, as darkness falls upon woodlands, the nightingale heralds the arrival of Spring. Throughout history, its sweet song has inspired musicians, writers and artists around the world, from Germany, France and Italy to Greece, Ukraine and Korea. Here, passionate conservationist, renowned musician and folk expert Sam Lee tells the story of the nightingale. This book reveals in beautiful detail the bird's song, habitat, characteristics and migration patterns, as well as the environmental issues that threaten its livelihood.From Greek mythology to John Keats, to Persian poetry and 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square', Lee delves into the various ways we have celebrated the nightingale through traditions, folklore, music, literature, from ancient history to the present day. The Nightingale is a unique and lyrical portrait of a famed yet elusive songbird.______________________________'Sam Lee has brought the poetic magic that has long enchanted so many of his musical fans into the written word. Allow yourself to glimpse the world Sam sees, to be part of his love affair with the nightingale, and you will no doubt be delighted.' LILY COLE'A wonderful book.' STEPHEN MOSS'A magical marriage of the lyrical and practical: a book that makes us want to seek out the nightingale and then reveals how we can.' TRISTAN GOOLEYTrade ReviewThis lovely book is almost as thrilling as the bird's immortal song - balm for a troubled soul and a glimpse of paradise -- Joanna LumleyWondering and wonderful. The nature book of the year.A wonderful book. -- Stephen MossA magical marriage of the lyrical and practical: a book that makes us want to seek out the nightingale and then reveals how we can. -- Tristan GooleyA beautiful, lyrical, heartfelt book ... Certainly my appreciation of however many nightingalers are left to me will be for ever heightened by the time I've spent with this generous, sensitive book about our most glorious songbird -- Alex Preston * Observer *
£10.44
Pan Macmillan The Snow Geese
Book SynopsisWith an introduction by Robert MacfarlaneShortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize and winner of the Hawthornden Prize.I had attached myself to the birds. I couldn't move on until the birds moved on, and the birds couldn't move on without the spring.One winter, after an enforced period of recuperation, William Fiennes finds himself restless and yearning for adventure. He travels to Texas, where he begins a quest to trace the million-strong flocks of snow geese making their spring flight thousands of miles north to the Arctic tundra. On his epic journey he meets people from every walk of life, from ex-nuns to train fanatics, and their stories resound with the longing to arrive at the right place in the world.Shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize and winner of the Hawthornden Prize, The Snow Geese is a poignant and lyrical paean to the richness and wonder of the world around us. A unique blend of autobiography, travTrade ReviewWhy are we drawn to birds, to landscape, to nature? It is for the sense of wonder - and in capturing that sense of wonder, Fiennes reminds us how desperately we all need it * Sunday Telegraph *The Snow Geese moved me as have few other recent books. No one who reads it is likely to continue to look at the world in the same way * Times Literary Supplement *A beautifully solitary and beautifully reflective book * Evening Standard *The descriptions of the geese and their environment are jaw-droppingly beautiful. But Fiennes' most remarkable talent is for describing the quotidian with such freshness that it is like seeing the world for the first time * Mail on Sunday *An inspired work of natural history and travel. A classic * Irish Independent *His sharp eye and his inventive similes take us everywhere with him . . . an unmistakably gifted writer * The Times *
£11.63
Penguin Random House South Africa Sasol Guide to Birds of the Kruger National Park
Book SynopsisThe Kruger National Park, one of the largest and best-known conservation areas in the world, supports a remarkable diversity of birds. This attractive and handy field guide lists more than 500 species that have been recorded here, and provides full-colour photographs, detailed distribution maps and succinct information on 400 of these - all the species that a visitor is likely to encounter in the park. An informative introduction describes the park's underlying geology, vegetation types, climate and rainfall, and how these dictate bird distributions within the area.
£12.34
Yale University Press Manual of Ornithology
Book SynopsisThis visual guide to the structure and anatomy of birds contains more than 200 specially prepared accurate drawings. The text is written for undergraduate students and to bird lovers in general, and discusses why birds look and act the way they do.Trade Review"As this book demonstrates in excellently clear drawings and text, a bird is a superbly evolved match of structure with function."—Brian Bertram, Times Literary Supplement"The book provides an accurate, up-to-date, self-contained course in ornithology for the advanced lay reader."—Library Journal"For anyone who wants to learn more about what lies under the feathers, The Manual of Ornithology has the answers. . . . As a reference work, the manual has few modern rivals."—David Tomlinson, New Scientist "Excellent. . . . a mine of information to anyone interested in birds at any level."—Jonathan Coatley, Journal of Biological EducationReceived an honorable mention in the Biological Science category, Association of American Publishers’ 1993 Professional/Scholarly Publishing Division Award (AAP/PSP)"A superb contribution to ornithology. It clearly represents the most attractive and accessible contribution to form and function in birds. This book will be of tremendous appeal to academic and lay ornithologists alike."—Steve Zack, Yale University"Students, their instructors, and other interested readers will welcome availability of the well illustrated Manual of Ornithology now in a paperback edition."—George A. Clark, University of Connecticut"This is a tremendous book; to say that it has no rival among laboratory manuals for ornithology is a dramatic understatement. It is clear, comprehensive, and has the most beautiful as well as useful illustrations possibly ever seen in an ornithology textbook."—Margaret Rubega, University of Connecticut"A gold mine of facts. . . . Every library and biology department, as well as every birder, should have a copy close at hand."—Roger Tory Peterson, from the foreword
£34.20
HarperCollins Publishers Birds
Book SynopsisThe ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material.This is the perfect pocket guide for keen birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to identify the most commonly seen species in Britain and Europe.Authoritative text and beautiful photographs show the distinguishing features of each bird, including notes on appearance, colour and distinctive features, and information on juveniles, range and habitat, nests, call and breeding sites.In addition, an extensive introduction covers general information on plumage, habitats and migration, and gives first-time birdwatchers advice on what equipment to buy and where to go to spot the most desirable species.This new edition builds on the strengths of the unrivalled original, covering over 200 species of bird found in Britain and Europe.
£6.99
HarperCollins Publishers Scottish Birds
Book SynopsisAn introductory guide to 180 species of bird commonly found throughout Scotland in the best-selling pocketable Gem format.Unlike many field guides, Gem Scottish Birds does not cover birds which only visit occasionally, or which occur in such small numbers and are so difficult to identify that only experienced birdwatchers can spot them. Instead, it concentrates on the commoner species that the amateur birdwatcher is most likely to see, plus a few scarcer ones of particular interest.The entries are grouped taxonomically, with a detailed introduction to all the different habitats. There are also details of key identification features and behavioural characteristics which will help you identify each bird with accuracy and ease.Each entry includes:Full-colour illustrationCommon name and Latin and Gaelic nameThe season in which the bird is likely to be spottedDetails on habitat, feeding habits and voiceThere is also a section with up-to-date details about places of interest and the best sit
£6.99
HarperCollins Publishers Bird Cloud
Book SynopsisAnnie Proulx, one of America''s finest writers, invites us to share her experience in the building of her new home on a rich plot of untouched, unspoilt prairie and her pleasure in uncovering of the layers of American history locked beneath the topsoil.Bird Cloud' is the name Annie Proulx gave to 640 acres of Wyoming wetlands and prairie and 400 foot cliffs plunging down to the North Platte River. On the day she first visited, a cloud in the shape of a bird hung in the evening sky. Proulx also saw pelicans, bald eagles, golden eagles, great blue herons, ravens, scores of bluebirds, harriers, kestrels, elk, deer and a dozen antelope. She knew she had to purchase the land, then owned by the Nature Conservancy, and she knew what she would build on it a house in harmony with her work, her appetites and her character a library surrounded by bedrooms and a kitchen.Proulx''s first non-fiction in more than twenty years, Bird Cloud is the story of building that house solar panels, a Japanese soak tub, a concrete floor, elk horn handles on kitchen cabinets and an enthralling natural history and archeology of the region, inhabited for millennia by Ute, Arapaho and Shoshone Indians. It is also a family history, going back to nineteenth century Mississippi river boat captains and Canadian settlers, and an illuminating autobiography. Proulx, a writer with extraordinary powers of observation and compassion, turns her lens on herself. We understand how she came to be living in a house surrounded by wilderness, with shelves for thousands of books and long worktables on which to heap manuscripts, research materials and maps, and how she came to be one of the great American writers of her time.Trade Review‘Proulx’s prose is monumental’ Observer 'Magic … Books are like homes and within 10 pages of crossing the threshold of this one readers will put up their feet, secure in the knowledge that they won’t be moving on to another any time soon ' Geoff Dyer, Observer ‘A love letter to place…which interweaves details of the land’s daily upkeep with her own equally evocative history’ Vogue A masterpiece’ A. N. Wilson
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers British Birds A photographic guide to every
Book SynopsisA complete photoguide to all the birds of Britain from the best nature publisher in the UKCollins Complete Guide to British Birds makes bird identification easier than ever before. It is the most complete photographic guide to British birds ever published and the only one to be designed to give everything that you need on each spread in a simple-to-use format. Every text entry covers identification of adults and juveniles, songs and calls, and where they are most likely to be found.Illustrated with specially commissioned photography and maps to show where in Britain the birds are found and at what time of year, this accessible guide also features cross-references to similar-looking species, containing everything a birdwatcher needs to know in one, easy-to-use, portable volume. It is the perfect photographic field guide for the birdwatching beginner.
£15.29
Waterford Press Ltd Australian Birds: A Folding Pocket Guide to
Book SynopsisAustralia and its surrounding islands and territories have more than 850 recorded species, of which more than 45% are found nowhere else on earth. Australian Birds features more than 100 of the country's most familiar birds, along with a map to the natural vegetation zones and a list of important bird viewing sites. It is the ideal pocket-sized reference guide for bird lovers of all skill levels. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by visitors and resident alike. Made in the USA.
£7.96
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Mind of the Raven Investigations and Adventures
Book Synopsis
£15.29
McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company, US Purple Martin: How Citizen Scientists & Colony
Book Synopsis
£19.49
Broadway Books (A Division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc) The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North
Book Synopsis
£20.40
Broadway Books (A Division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group Inc) The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North
Book Synopsis
£17.63
Whittles Publishing The Life of Buzzards
Book SynopsisThis is a much-needed and authoritative account of Common Buzzards gained from extensive studies by the author over 60 years and also from enthusiasts in the UK and across northern Europe. The accounts describe the life history and ecology of Buzzards mainly inhabiting the British uplands where historically they have always been most numerous. For the first time, population activities are followed through successive seasonal stages of their life cycle. These include the vital and inter-related aspects of Buzzard territories and social behaviour, diets and hunting methods, food requirements, prey abundance and breeding success, survival and life spans and how Buzzard numbers and distribution have changed, particularly in relation to the influence of Man. The book also demonstrates how well Buzzards have adapted to living in our modern and rapidly-changing landscapes, constantly adapting their habits in response to prey resources and environmental conditions. In the book's first section, The Year of the Buzzard, the sequential changes in the composition and behaviour of a Buzzard community, their seasonal patterns of food habits and hunting methods, their breeding season from courtship until fledging of broods and their subsequent dispersal are outlined. The second section, Special Topics, provides greater detail of six key aspects of their ecology which are explored within the following chapter topics: Territory; Energy and Food Needs; Predation; Food Supply and Breeding Success; Demography and Population Dynamics; and Changes in Buzzard Abundance.Trade Review'...a joy to read in the best traditions of natural history writing. The author's knowledge and passion for the subject comes through without detracting from the detail of work. ...I hope the book is widely read and the buzzard's wide-ranging and adaptive ecology is fully understood'. ECOS -------------------- '...a very comprehensive insight into the life and ecology of Buzzards. ...is easy to follow and caters for both the scientist and amateur birdwatcher with an interest in the species. There really are so many interesting facts here and throughout the book, which is full of informative graphs and charts. ...the wealth of information this book contains, and the only way you can see for yourself is to get a copy; I thoroughly recommend it'. Devon Birds -------------------- '...will be of interest to a wide range of readers. With almost 300 pages, divided into 15 chapters, it takes you through the life of buzzards throughout the four seasons. I have to say I found it a fascinating read. This is a book which I'm sure I will refer to again. ...it's well worth the read for anyone with an interest in birds, let alone the common buzzard.' Dumfries & Galloway Life -------------------- 'I found the book immensely readable and full of snippets on behaviour. I thoroughly recommend the book...' Birds in Wales -------------------- '...no raptor enthusiast in France can afford to ignore this accumulation of experience and detailed observation if he wishes to understand intimately the behaviour of this the most common of our raptors, and to understand the changes in its populations. It is also a rich source of comparisons, subjects for study and of basic field techniques that many today have tended to forget or to neglect'. Rapaces de France -------------------- '...a readable and informative account of the Buzzard's year with extensive sections on food, demography and population. Anyone...with an interest in birds of prey, will enjoy this book... I found it a fascinating read'. Scottish Birds -------------------- 'I would warmly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in this species. ...it is a fascinating read and I don't doubt that everyone who picks it up will learn something of interest'. BTO News -------------------- 'An extensive study of Britain's most common bird of prey. ... It's an authoritative account written by a man with 60 years of experience studying the bird'. The Great Outdoors -------------------- '...a detailed and authoritative account of all aspects of the life of the species. ...should appeal to anyone with an interest in birds. It is crammed full of information, graphs and charts... ...the fascinating information and research in this book... It is ideal for anyone interested in the natural world'. Kevin Crowe, Am Bratach -------------------- '...a riveting read... ...this book is very welcoming. ...very readable... The depth of knowledge of the author... This is a book for naturalists of all ages and experiences... You must have this on your bookshelf'. Ray Collier, Highland News Group -------------------- '...a good read...' Birdwatching -------------------- '...it is an authoritative and comprehensive account of buzzards and it will appeal to many people... ...if you really want to know all ther is about Buteo buteo, this will be a worthwhile addition to your collection'. The Falconers & Raptor Conservation Magazine -------------------- 'This detailed and scientific account helps redress the balance, and its wealth of data will be invaluable to the serious ornithologist, whether amateur or professional'. Scotland Outdoors -------------------- '...an authoritative and well illustrated account of surely our most abundant and most easily recognisable bird of prey'. Pembrokeshire Life -------------------- 'Whittles Publishing has published several great raptor books over the last years. This is my favourite so far and I highly recommend it to everyone interested in the Common Buzzards in particular but also raptors or birds in general'. European Raptors -------------------- '...a very readable and informative book about our most abundant raptor...' Natur Cymru -------------------- '...I love this book... The inclusion of tables and figures, with data from the 1950s through the 2000s, is a much-appreciated bonus. ... This book is truly an inspirational successor to Colin Tubb's The Buzzard, published as long ago as 1974'. British Birds
£20.69
Pelagic Publishing ABirdwatchers Guide to Cuba Jamaica Hispaniola
Book Synopsis
£17.99
Reaktion Books Owl
Book SynopsisThe owls are not what they seem. From ancient Babylon to Edward Lear's The Owl and the Pussycat and the grandiloquent, absent-minded Wol from Winnie the Pooh to David Lynch's Twin Peaks, owls have woven themselves into the fabric of human culture from earliest times. Beautiful, silent, pitiless predators of the night, possessing contradictory qualities of good and evil, they are enigmatic creatures that dwell throughout the world yet barely make their presence known. In his fascinating new book, bestselling author and broadcaster Desmond Morris explores the natural and cultural history of one of nature's most popular creatures. Morris describes the evolution, the many species, and the wide spread of owls around the world excluding Antarctica, owls are found on every land mass, and they range in size from 28 centimetres (the Least Pygmy Owl) to more than 70 centimetres tall (the Eurasian Eagle Owl). As a result of their wide distribution, owls also occur in the folk-tales, myths and legends of many native people, and Morris explores all these, as well as the many examples of owls in art, film, literature and popular culture. A new title by an acclaimed author, and featuring many telling illustrations from nature and culture, "Owl" will appeal to the many devotees of this emblematic bird. Despite the fact that many have never seen or even heard an owl, he illustrates through this enticing read that the owl's presence is still very real to us today.Trade ReviewIn this small, elegant volume, Morris explores our paradoxical relationship with the owl, symbol of both wisdom and evil. He examines its depiction in mythology, literature and art and provides an overview of its fascinating biology. Beautiful photographs illustrate the allure of this mysterious creature.' - Sierra Magazine 'Owl is sparely and eloquently written, scholarly and highly readable ... an entertaining and informative little gem. It will particularly appeal to the many devotees of these eternally iconic birds.' - Emu-Austral Ornithology
£13.25
Princeton University Press Birds of the Serengeti
Book SynopsisLocated in northern Tanzania, the Serengeti is one of the world's most famous wildlife regions. This title features more than 270 bird species most likely to be encountered in the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area.Trade Review"The bird you see in the field is often exactly what you find in the book, and equally clear is its habitat, such as a thorny acacia branch or a forest floor littered with dead leaves. Kennedy also avoids using intimidating jargon to describe bird species, opting instead to keep the tone of his descriptions light hearted while still being informative... The overwhelming majority of photographs are of exceptionally high quality."--Derek Kverno, Birding in Tanzania "Essential book if you are heading for the Serengeti... Excellent."--Derek Moore, Derek Bird Brain "Birds of the Serengeti: And Ngorongoro Conservation Area by Adam Scott Kennedy may be the best birding book available covering the general safari region for northwestern Tanzania and southern Kenya. Filled with firsthand accounts, excellent photographs, and broken down into chapters by habitats, Birds of the Serengeti: And Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the guidebook for the broader non-scientific community."--Gabriel Thoumi, MongaBay.com "The amateur birder will find this a helpful book to have in hand while in Tanzania."--Library Journal "[A] great companion to existing field guides to the region, so certainly earns its place in my bag."--Martin Sullivan, BTO News "[A]n attractive and handy layout, and informative and accessible text that discusses interesting behaviors and provides insights into species background. Rich in detail, this indispensable volume uses a habitat-based approach, making it simple for everyone--from the novice to the experienced birdwatcher--to locate diverse birds in this fascinating area of the world."--BASE "I'd like to praise the overall visual effect of the Birds of the Serengeti. The overwhelming majority of photographs are of exceptionally high quality, undoubtedly shot with the finest equipment, but also indicative of a high level of skill."--Birding Tanzania Blog "These two guides are keys to prepare you for your journey, whether it is an actual safari or an imaginary one from the comfort of your home."--Dan R. Kunkle, Wildlife Activist "This field guide is 'aimed at all levels of birding ability' and it is definitely suitable for novice birders and for those on a safari primarily for mammals and larger wildlife. The ... quality of the photographs and text would make it a fine addition to field naturalist's library with an interest in East Africa."--Robert F. Foster, Canadian Field Naturalist "The result of this innovative approach is superb. It guides the layman on where to look for birds and what to look for. I wish there was such a field guide for every Important Bird Area (IBA) in East Africa!"--Fleur Ng'weno, Scopus "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 habitats 12 Plains 13 Marsh & water 14 Woodland, scrub & garden 15 Acacia scrub 16 Village 17 Forest 18 Up in the air 19 Nightbirds 20 Lake Victoria specials 21 Map of the Serengeti & Ngorongoro Conservation Area - NCA 22 BIRDS OF THE PLAINS The Big Ones: 1 - Ostrich 24 The Big Ones: 2 - Secretarybird & Grey Crowned Crane 26 Bustards - Kori, Black-bellied & White-bellied Bustards 28 Small plover & coursers - Double-banded & Temminck's Coursers & Kittlitz's Plover 30 Vanellus plovers - Crowned, Senegal & Black-winged Plovers 32 Sandgrouse - Black-faced, Yellow-throated & Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse 34 Storks & ground hornbill - White & Abdim's Storks & Southern Ground Hornbill 36 At the carcass - Marabou Stork & Ruppell's & White-backed Vultures 38 Vultures - White-headed, Hooded & Lappet-faced Vultures 40 Vultures in flight - all species for comparison 42 Black-and-white eagles & Egyptian Vulture - Martial & Black-chested Snake Eagles & Egyptian Vulture 44 Black-and-white eagles - Verreaux's Eagle, Augur Buzzard & Bateleur 46 Brown raptors - Black Kite & Tawny & Steppe Eagles 48 Raptors in flight - all species for comparison 50 Grey raptors - Pallid & Montagu's Harriers & African Harrier Hawk 52 Large falcon & grey kite - Lanner Falcon & Black-shouldered Kite 54 Small falcons - Grey, Common & Lesser Kestrels 56 Rollers - Lilac-breasted & Eurasian Rollers 58 Oxpeckers & starling - Red-billed & Yellow-billed Oxpeckers & Wattled Starling 60 Little brown jobs or 'LBJs' - Pectoral-patch & Zitting Cisticolas & Red-capped & Rufous-naped Larks 62 Sparrow lark & chats - Fischer's Sparrow Lark & Sooty & Anteater Chats 64 Wheatears - Capped, Northern & Pied Wheatears 66 Upright birds of the plains - Yellow-throated & Rosy-breasted Longclaws & Buffy & Grassland Pipits 68 Bishop & widowbirds - Yellow Bishop & Yellow-mantled & Jackson's Widowbirds 70 BIRDS OF MARSH & WATER Flamingos - Greater & Lesser Flamingos 72 Wetland storks - Woolly-necked, Yellow-billed & African Open-billed Storks 74 Stork & ibises - Saddle-billed Stork & Sacred & Hadada Ibises 76 Small herons - Hamerkop & Striated & Squacco Herons 78 Large, dark herons - Goliath, Grey & Black-headed Herons 80 Egrets - Cattle, Little & Great White Egrets 82 Fish eagle - African Fish Eagle 84 Smaller ducks - Red-billed Teal & White-faced Whistling & Fulvous Whistling Ducks 86 Larger wildfowl - Spur-winged & Egyptian Geese & Knob-billed Duck 88 Birds of the water's edge - Black-winged Stilt, African Jacana & Black Crake 90 Wetland plovers - African Wattled, Blacksmith & Spur-winged Plovers 92 Waders: 1 - Water Thick-knee & Ruff 94 Waders: 2 - Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper & Three-banded Plover 96 Waders: 3 - Wood, Common & Green Sandpipers 98 Kingfishers - Giant, Malachite & Pied Kingfishers 100 Wagtails & waxbill - Yellow & African Pied Wagtails & Common Waxbill 102 BIRDS OF WOODLand, SCRUB & GARDEN Open woodland raptors - Brown Snake & Long-crested Eagles & Steppe Buzzard 104 Bustard, thick-knee & courser - Buff-crested Bustard, Spotted Thick-knee & Heuglin's Courser 106 Spurfowl - Red-necked, Grey-breasted & Yellow-necked Spurfowl 108 Gamebirds - Helmeted Guineafowl & Coqui & Crested Francolins 110 'Collared' doves - Ring-necked, African Mourning & Red-eyed Doves 112 Distinctive pigeons & doves - Speckled & African Green Pigeons & Emerald-spotted Wood Dove 114 Doves & mousebird - Namaqua & Laughing Doves & Speckled Mousebird 116 Parrots & hornbill - Fischer's Lovebird, Meyer's Parrot & African Grey Hornbill 118 Large cuckoos & relatives - White-browed Coucal, Red-chested Cuckoo & Bare-faced Go-away-bird 120 Three green gems - Klaas's & Diederik Cuckoos & Little Bee-eater 122 Bush kingfishers - Striped, Woodland & Grey-headed Kingfishers 124 Hoopoes - Green Wood-hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill & Hoopoe 126 Barbets - Usambiro & Spot-flanked Barbets & Red-fronted Tinkerbird 128 Honeyguides & woodpecker - Greater & Lesser Honeyguides & Bearded Woodpecker 130 Woodpeckers - Green-backed, Nubian & Cardinal Woodpeckers 132 Large bushshrikes & oriole - Grey-headed Bushshrike, Tropical Boubou & Black-headed Oriole 134 Small black-and-white birds - Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Chin-spot Batis & Black-backed Puffback 136 White-fronted shrikes - Common & Grey-backed Fiscals & Northern White-crowned Shrike 138 Black birds of woodland edge - Common Drongo, Slate-coloured Boubou & Northern Black Flycatcher 140 Tchagras & bulbul - Brown-crowned & Black-crowned Tchagras, Common Bulbul 142 Thrushes, scrub robin & babbler - Spotted Morning & Olive Thrushes, White-browed Scrub Robin & Arrow-marked Babbler 144 Attractive flycatchers of woods & gardens - White-eyed Slaty & African Paradise Flycatcher 146 Little brown jobs or 'LBJs' - Rattling Cisticola, Red-faced Crombec & Tawny-flanked Prinia 148 Green warblers - Yellow-breasted Apalis, Grey-backed Camaroptera & Grey-capped Warbler 150 Sunbirds: 1 - Scarlet-chested, Collared & Variable Sunbirds 152 Sunbirds: 2 - Marico, Beautiful & Bronze Sunbirds 154 Colourful birds of bush & garden - White-browed Robin Chat & Ruppell's & Greater Blue-eared Starlings 156 Brightly coloured starlings - Superb, Hildebrandt's & Violet-backed Starlings 158 Yellow weavers - Spectacled, Baglafecht & Village Weavers 160 Waxbills - Purple Grenadier, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu & Bronze Mannikin 162 Striking small birds of open bush - Pin-tailed Whydah, Golden-breasted Bunting & Yellow-fronted Canary 164 BIRDS OF ACACIA SCRUB Acacia barbets & go-away-bird - Red-and-yellow & Red-fronted Barbets & White-bellied Go-away-bird 166 Medium-sized birds of acacia scrub - Blue-naped Mousebird, Abyssinian Scimitarbill & Von der Decken's Hornbill 168 Shrikes - Brubru, Taita Fiscal & Magpie Shrike 170 Small birds of acacia scrub - Silverbird, African Grey Flycatcher, White-bellied Canary & Foxy Lark 172 Acacia weavers: 1 - Grey-capped Social, Speckle-fronted & Vitelline Masked Weavers 174 Acacia weavers: 2 - Red-billed Buffalo, White-headed Buffalo & Rufous-tailed Weavers 176 VILLAGE BIRDS Village sparrows - Swahili, Kenya Rufous & House Sparrows 178 Common village birds - Red-billed Firefinch, Village Indigobird & Pied Crow 180 FOREST & CRATER HIGHLandS BIRDS Large forest birds - White-necked Raven, Schalow's Turaco & Crowned Hornbill 182 Small birds of forest edge & open areas - Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Streaky Seedeater & African Stonechat 184 BIRDS OF THE AIR Black swallows & dark martins - Black & White-headed Saw-wings & Plain & Banded Martins 186 Swallows with red rumps - Mosque, Red-rumped, Rufous-chested & Lesser Striped Swallows 188 Swallows with dark rumps - Wire-tailed, Angola & Barn Swallows 190 Swifts - Little, White-rumped, African Palm, Nyanza & Common Swifts 192 Bee-eaters - Eurasian, Blue-cheeked & White-throated Bee-eaters 194 NIGHT BIRDS Owls - Pearl-spotted Owlet, Verreaux's Eagle Owl & African Scops Owlbr 196 Barn Owl & nightjars - Barn Owl & Square-tailed / Gabon & Slender-tailed Nightjars 198 LAKE VICTORIA SPECIALS Birds of the lakeside - Blue-headed Coucal, Swamp Flycatcher & Black-headed Gonolek 200 Sunbird & weavers - Red-chested Sunbird & Grosbeak & Slender-billed Weavers 202 Lakeside weavers - Northern Brown-throated, Golden-backed & Yellow-backed Weavers 204 Terns & gull - Whiskered & White-winged Black Terns & Grey-headed Gull 206 Cormorants & small plovers - Reed & Great Cormorants & White-fronted & Common Ringed Plovers 208 Further reading & useful resources210 Acknowledgements 211 Photographic credits 212 Scientific names of the bird species included in this book 213 Index 217 Short Index inside back cover
£26.60
Hancock House Aratingas
Book SynopsisBeautiful color photographs accompany practical and clear descriptions in which all the important characteristics of each species are given: sub-species, origin of name, parents and young, sizes and weights, habitat and habits, diet, nesting sites, breeding process, general remarks and mutations. Aratingas belong to the group of South American parrots. Together with the Macaws and the Amazons they are the best known parrot-likes from this region. They are familiar to every birdkeeper, albeit in varying degrees, yet until now no easy-reference book about this genus had appeared on the market. The author has successfully attempted to satisfy this need; he has chosen for the same layout as in his previous book Australian Parakeets and their Mutations, a publication which has been received with extreme enthusiasm by aviculturists. Aratingas therefore also contains high quality photographs of all the species and most of the sub-species, which once again have virtually all been taken by Cees Scholtz. The photographs accompany practical and clear descriptions in which all the important characteristics of each species are given: sub-species, origin of name, parents and young, sizes and weights, habitat and habits, diet, nesting sites, breeding process, general remarks and mutations.
£14.39
RLPG How Birds Fly
Book Synopsis
£12.30
Adventure Publications, Incorporated Bird Songs of the Northwoods
Book SynopsisEnjoy this virtual walk in the woods with an hour of continuous play.Whether you want to relax, retreat from stress, meditate or just listen to something soothing in the car, this smooth listening experience will immediately transport you into nature. No dialogue, no music, no track breaks; just pure, natural Northwoods sounds.Digitally recorded in the Northwoods, the ambient sounds include: many bird songs wind in the trees distant thunderstorm running stream frogs and rain crickets and more (THE BIRDS ON THIS CD ARE COMMON TO MINNESOTA, WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN, NEW YORK, VERMONT, NEW HAMPSHIRE, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, CONNECTICUT AND RHODE ISLAND.)Want to identify the birds in your backyard or on your walks? Look for Adventure’s state-by-state field guides and the Audio Companions to the books, also by Stan Tekiela.
£11.66
Waterford Press New Guinea Birds
Book Synopsis
£5.99
Schiffer Publishing Ltd MALLARDS A Pictorial Study
Book Synopsis
£12.59
Princeton University Press How Birds Evolve
Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Birdwatcher's Yearbook Best Bird Book of the Year""Terrific. . . . Futuyma writes an accessible overview of bird evolution that lay readers, especially birders, will be able to understand." * BirdWatching *"[Futuyma] skillfully weaves together salient themes of evolutionary biology from the living aviary, stressing the important role that birds played in advancing our understanding of evolution."---Alan Feduccia, Science"This engaging and wide-ranging summary of virtually every aspect of avian evolution synthesizes the earliest insights from Darwin to those of modern phylogenetics, using birds to illustrate each concept. ... [Futuyma] may be the ideal person to explain the marvels of bird evolution."---Daniel S. Cooper, The Quarterly Review of Biology"How Birds Evolve is accessible, exhilarating science for everyone – amateur birder, professional naturalist or just the average man. It’s a great book and one to read over and over and I thoroughly recommend it to all. This is already my Bird Book of 2022 and I can't see it being bettered."---Phil Slade, Another Bird Blog"How Birds Evolve is a book full of accessible and exhilarating science for everyone and not just birders and professional naturalists. It’s simply a stunning book and one to read numerous times and an example of the amalgamation of science and nature writing at its finest and I thoroughly recommend it to everyone."---Roy Stewart, British Naturalists Association"The delight is in the detail. . . . Futuyma unpacks the story of evolutionary science alongside the story of how birds evolved. . . . [How Birds Evolve] is entertaining and passionate."---Simon Ings, New Scientist"[Futuyma’s] life-long passion and competence guide us across the pages of this book with a hint of humour."---Gaia Bazz, Community Ecology
£29.75
Oneworld Publications A Tiding of Magpies: A Birder Murder Mystery
Book SynopsisThe fifth instalment of the Birder Murder series It is in the silent spaces between the facts that the truth often hides When his most celebrated case is suddenly reopened, Detective Chief Inspector Jejeune's long-buried secrets threaten to come to light. Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Lindy, faces an unseen threat of her own, one which Jejeune may not be able to protect her from. Between fending off inquiries from the internal review and an open murder case to solve, more than ever Jejeune will have to rely on the help of the stalwart Sergeant Danny Maik. But Maik is learning things on his own that have caused him to question his DCI‘s actions, both past and present. In the current case, and in the former one, the facts seem clear enough. But often the most insidious lies hide behind the most honest-seeming truths.Trade Review‘A rattling good read… Burrows knows his birds, but he knows how to create a page-turner, too, so keep it handy for downtime between birding expeditions.’ * Birdwatching *‘An excellent police procedural set in rural Norfolk, with enjoyable characters and a strong conservation slant.’ * Mystery People *Praise for the Birder Murder Mysteries: 'A murder plot built around birdwatching doesn’t, at first, seem plausible or even possible. But Burrows pulls it off... Riveting from first page to final line.' Globe and Mail 'A suspenseful and well-crafted mystery perfect for the beach.' Morning Star 'A neatly-constructed and well-told police procedural. If you like north Norfolk you'll feel as though you're there. If you like birds you'll feel as though you're in heaven.' The Bookbag 'Skillfully written, full of moral ambiguities and artful puzzles, with a spine-tingling final sentence.' Kirkus starred review
£8.54
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Roberts Voëlgids
Book SynopsisHierdie hersiene uitgawe van die Roberts Voëlgids bevat byna 1000 spesies wat in Suider-Afrika (suid van die Cunene- en Zambesi-rivier) voorkom. Die gids spog met puik nuwe illustrasiewerk wat besonderhede gee oor seisoenale, ouderdoms en geslagsverskille in ongeveer 240 geannoteerde kleurplate, bygewerkte verspreidingskaarte, broei- en seisoenstafies en bondige dog insiggewende teks oor uitkenning, asook aspekte van biologie soos kos en roep. Voëlgeesdriftiges se biblioteke sal beslis baat by hierdie nuwe toevoeging.
£18.86
Oneworld Publications A Dance of Cranes: A Birder Murder Mystery
Book SynopsisThe sixth instalment of the popular Birder Murder series A trail of a murder leads Domenic Jejeune across a vast continent… Newly estranged from his girlfriend, Lindy Hey, Inspector Domenic Jejeune returns to Southern Ontario, where he receives news that his brother, Damian, has gone missing in Wood Buffalo National Park while conducting research on Whooping Cranes. Domenic immediately heads out to try to find him. Back in the U.K., Jejeune's plan to protect Lindy has failed, and she has been kidnapped by his old foe, Ray Hayes. Jejeune's trusty sergeant, Danny Maik, tracks down Lindy, but there is far more to the situation than he anticipated. With Lindy in imminent danger, Maik is forced into a desperate rescue attempt. Will either of them survive? And if so, can they find their way back to each other?Trade Review'Irresistible...a marvelous series of books.' * 10,000 Birds blog *'Burrows has the ability to make the North Norfolk coast come alive in a way that few other authors have managed.' * The Bookbag *Praise for the Birder Murder Mysteries: 'A murder plot built around birdwatching doesn’t, at first, seem plausible or even possible. But Burrows pulls it off... Riveting from first page to final line.' Globe and Mail 'A suspenseful and well-crafted mystery perfect for the beach.’ Morning Star 'A neatly-constructed and well-told police procedural. If you like north Norfolk you'll feel as though you're there. If you like birds you'll feel as though you're in heaven.' The Bookbag 'Skillfully written, full of moral ambiguities and artful puzzles, with a spine-tingling final sentence.' Kirkus starred review
£8.54
Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc Embroidery Made Easy Beautiful Birds
Book SynopsisLearn to create a variety of birds following the newest embroidery trend: thread painting. Through a collection of 12 detailed, full-color patterns, aspiring and established embroidery artists will discover how to employ the art of thread painting to create a range of popular birds and waterfowl from around the world, including North America, the Amazon rain forest, and Europe.Thread painting is the name for using single strands of embroidery floss to create lifelike images with beautifully blended gradients of color and detail. Fortunately, the process is not as hard as it sounds! After learning a bit about how to create gradients and blend colors, anyone can create incredible embroidered masterpieces. Embroidery Made Easy: Beautiful Birds includes: A primer on embroidery materials, setup, and thread painting techniques Patterns that indicate where each color should go and when the gradients should begin Trade Review"A ideal tutorial featuring easy techniques for anyone wanting to learn how to embroider a variety of colorful birds, including a cardinal, a barn owl, and a puffin. Simply stated, Embroidery Made Easy: Beautiful Birds will prove to be a welcome and appreciated addition to personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections." * Midwest Book Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction Tools & Materials Stitching Techniques Finishing Touches Step-by-Step Projects Calliope Hummingbird, Cardinal, Keen-Billed Toucan, Wood Duck, American Flamingo, Kingfisher, Atlantic Puffin, Swallow, Barn Owl, Hoopoe, Raven, Eastern Bluebird Pattern Templates About the Author
£14.44
Granta Books Corvus: A Life With Birds
Book SynopsisOne spring, many years ago, Esther Woolfson's daughter rescued a fledgling rook. That rook, named Chicken, quickly established herself as part of the family, and other birds, including an irascible cockatiel and a depressive parrot, soon followed. But it was the corvids - members of the crow family - who amazed Woolfson with their personality and their capacity for affection. This classic blend of memoir and natural history combines the author's fascination with all things avian, from the mechanics of flight to the science of birdsong, with her funny, tender stories of life among the birds.
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group The Bird Way
Book SynopsisA SUNDAY TIMES NATURE BOOK OF THE YEAR It''s flight and egg and feathers and song. It''s the demure plumage of a mountain thornbill and the extravagant tail feathers of an Indian paradise flycatcher, the solo song of a superb lyrebird and the perfectly timed duets of canebrake wrens, an osprey''s hurtling dive toward the sea, and a long-legged heron''s still, patient eyeing of the dark water.There is no single bird way of being.Drawing on personal observations, the latest science, and her bird-related travel around the world, Jennifer Ackerman playfully explores our dramatically shifting understanding of these magnificent animals.''Jennifer Ackerman knows what she''s talking about...Her knack for catching the personalities of different species in gorgeous, playful prose further collapses comfortable barriers between the human and the birdlike'' Daily Telegraph''The real joy of [this] book is its close attention tTrade ReviewThis book is a celebration of the dizzying variety of bird life and behaviour, one that will enthral birders and non-birders alike . . . The science here is hard, compelling and presented in Ackerman's engaging and jargon-free prose, and on every page there is evidence to support the book's thesis . . . The Bird Way crystallises and threads together these revelations into a book full of wonders large and small. * The Observer (Alex Preston) *The American author Jennifer Ackerman is not a field researcher, but with her eye for a great story she converts the scientific findings of others into popular books. The Bird Way builds on her previous volume The Genius of Birds (2016), already considered a classic. The new book, while offering a global survey of the latest research into the lives of birds, focuses on Australasia, and confronts the prejudice of so much Euro-American ornithology . . . The real joy of her book is its close attention to some of the specialists of the region . . . Ackerman is also alive to the humour at play in field research. * Mark Cocker, The Spectator *Quirky, poetic . . . biologist and bestselling author Jennifer Ackerman knows what she's talking about . . . Chapter by meatily evidence-based chapter, she lays out the assumptions that underpin our understanding of birds - and then pecks them apart . . .Her knack for catching the personalities of different species in gorgeous, playful prose further collapses comfortable barriers between the human and the birdlike . . . More than it is a book about birds - and it is, indisputably, a book about birds - The Bird Way is about diversity and tolerance. A little bird told me that's just what we need in 2020. * Daily Telegraph, ***** FIVE STARS *In The Bird Way, Jennifer Ackerman digs deeper and ranges farther into bird behaviour, pulling tasty stories out of rich ground as she hops across the continents [ . . . ] Like a bowerbird, Ms. Ackerman gathers and displays treasures to amaze and delight - then lets the scientists' stories take center stage [. . .] Refreshingly, Ackerman spotlights a number of female researchers * Wall Street Journal *Ackerman's new book reminds us that we have a lot in common with birds - like us, they are capable of deception and manipulation, not to mention cooperation, culture and communication * The Washington Post *From tales of dazzling plumage to anecdotes about almost unfathomable mimicry, Jennifer Ackerman's The Bird Way is a walk through the mysteries, wonders, and peculiarities of the avian world [. . . ] Ackerman's excitement and love for it are evident in her writing. Her superb storytelling paints a rich picture that engages the reader's imagination, making sometimes-hard-to-grasp research accessible * Science Magazine *[Ackerman's] exhilarating book will leave you as awestruck by the complexities and contradictions of bird life as she is * San Francisco Chronicle *
£11.69
Workman Publishing A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching: Getting to
Book SynopsisYou don't need to travel to experience the joy of bird-watching: just take a look at the pigeons in your nearby park! With this fun, quirky, and scientifically correct field guide to the most common bird in most cities, you'll learn to see pigeons and doves (they're the same thing) with a bird-watcher's expertise, understanding their fascinating behaviour and appreciating nature right outside your window.Part field guide, part history, part ornithology primer, and altogether fun. Fact: Pigeons are amazing, and until recently, humans adored them. We've kept them as pets, held pigeon beauty contests, raced them, used them to carry messages over battlefields, harvested their poop to fertilize our crops-and cooked them in gourmet dishes. Now, with The Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching, readers can rediscover the wonder. Equal parts illustrated field guide and quirky history, it covers behaviour: Why they coo; how they flock; how they preen, kiss, and mate (monogamously); and how they raise their young (on chunky pigeon milk). Anatomy and identification, from Birmingham Roller to the American Giant Runt to the Scandaroon. Birder issues, like what to do if you find a baby pigeon stranded in the park. And our lively shared story together, including all the things we've taught them-Ping-Pong, for example. "Rats with wings?" Think again. Pigeons coo, peck and nest all over the world, yet most of us treat them with indifference or disdain. So Rosemary Mosco, a bird-lover, science communicator, writer, and cartoonist (and co-author of The Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide for the World's Most Adventurous Kid) is here to give the pigeon's image a makeover, and to help every town- and city-dweller get closer to nature by discovering the joys of birding through pigeon-watching.Trade Review"This book will change what you think about pigeons! With loads of eye-opening pigeon science, delivered in playful and engaging style by Rosemary Mosco's text and illustrations, A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching you will help you gain a whole new appreciation of these smart, savvy, and adaptable birds whose lives are so intertwined with ours." --David Allen Sibley, author of The Sibley Guide to Birds "We scorn pigeons for their commonness, but their ubiquity speaks to their talents. Past civilizations domesticated them and brought them wherever they went, for pigeons were loved and prized--as messengers, as producers of fertilizer, as meat on the plate. With her trademark wit and artistic charms, Mosco gives us a hundred reasons to rekindle the love affair. A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching is part field guide, part history, part ornithology primer, and altogether fun!" --Mary Roach, New York Times bestselling author of Stiff and Grunt "So joyful that it's almost effervescent, A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching will convert even the grumpiest pigeon skeptics into being, at the very least, pigeon-curious. Readers will never hear the cooing in a city park or watch a preening flock of pigeons the same way again." --Foreward Reviews "A gifted communicator, Rosemary Mosco makes every science subject both fascinating and fun--as they should be. This delightful look at the world of pigeons is a treasure." --Kenn Kaufman, editor of Kaufman Field Guides "A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching is my favorite kind of book: one that teaches you everything you could want to know about a single fascinating topic in a way that is accessible, charming, and hilarious." --Ryan North, New York Times bestselling author of How to Invent Everything "Sparkling, witty prose, loaded with relatable pop-culture references and enhanced with charming cartoons, A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching is a seductive draw into the multilayered world of pigeons. This little book will sneak up and drop a load of solid ornithology on the unsuspecting reader." --Julie Zickefoose, author of Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay
£11.39
Lone Pine Publishing International Inc. Compact Guide to Colorado Birds
Book Synopsis
£12.59
Dorling Kindersley Ltd RSPB Birds of Britain and Europe
Book SynopsisWriter, editor, artist, and identification expert, Rob Hume is highly adept at penning detailed identification notes for rarity watchers yet is also skilled at providing interesting descriptions for armchair birdwatchers. He is a lifelong birdwatcher who worked for the RSPB for over 30 years and edited the RSPB's award-winning Birds magazine.
£18.00
Adventure Publications, Incorporated Bird Nests: Amazingly Ingenious and Intricate
Book SynopsisCoffee-table book filled with unparalleled photography and small blocks of fascinating text about bird nests: nature's most amazing dwelling places.
£10.44
Orion Publishing Co Featherhood The best piece of nature writing
Book Synopsis
£12.74
HarperCollins Publishers The Ravenmaster
Book Synopsis''Packed with insight and anecdote, his story brings the Tower ravens to vivid life, each bird with a personality of its own. I''ve been fortunate enough to tour the Tower and meet the ravens a few times in years past; after reading this book, I cannot wait to go back'' George R. R. MartinFor centuries, the Tower of London has been home to a group of famous avian residents: the ravens. Each year they are seen by millions of visitors, and they have become as integral a part of the Tower as its ancient stones themselves. But their role is even more important than that legend has it that if the ravens should ever leave, the Tower will crumble into dust, and great harm will befall the kingdom.One man is personally responsible for ensuring that such a disaster never comes to pass the Ravenmaster. The current holder of the position is Yeoman Warder Christopher Skaife, and in this fascinating, entertaining and touching book he memorably describes the ravens' formidable intelligence, their iTrade Review‘He is a born storyteller’ Evening Standard ‘A born storyteller with a gift for banter honed by years in the British army, Skaife has written a book that is far from a dry monograph about the species … [it is] a beguiling, fascinating, and highly amusing account of the strangely magical birds. He is making us love them in a way that makes them more than mere symbols’ Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk, Atlantic ‘A natural story teller, Skaife writes with affection and insight about these powerful, unpredictable and highly intelligent birds … a wonderfully personal account’ Guardian ‘The best Christmas presents are often a little unexpected and this lovely memoir of Yeoman Warder Christopher Skaife's experience of looking after the Tower of London ravens fits the bill. A beguiling mixture of personal experience, folklore and humour, The Ravenmaster is a charming delight’ iNews ‘A strange, wise and fascinating book that takes you deep into the interwoven myth and history of the raven. At a time when we're thinking more than ever about tradition and identity, this is a book that feels both urgent and timeless, with the Ravenmaster himself an eccentric, genial and quintessentially British narrator’ Alex Preston, author of When Kingfishers Catch Fire ‘The London book of the year this year has to be The Ravenmaster, a funny and informative account of life with the royal ravens’ Evening Standard ‘Balancing fascinating tidbits with macabre details (blood-soaked dog biscuits and ghostly sightings), [Skaife] titillates as he educates, rehabilitating the gloomy reputation of the raven. Skaife’s conversational style and disarming candor make this a rollicking tale fit for nearly any armchair adventurer’ Publisher's Weekly
£10.44
The New York Review of Books, Inc The Peregrine
Book SynopsisThis extraordinary, poetic portrait of two peregrine falcons is one of the most beloved works of nature writing ever published.From fall to spring, J.A. Baker set out to track the daily comings and goings of a pair of peregrine falcons across the flat fen lands of eastern England. He followed the birds obsessively, observing them in the air and on the ground, in pursuit of their prey, making a kill, eating, and at rest, activities he describes with an extraordinary fusion of precision and poetry. And as he continued his mysterious private quest, his sense of human self slowly dissolved, to be replaced with the alien and implacable consciousness of a hawk. It is this extraordinary metamorphosis, magical and terrifying, that these beautifully written pages record.
£13.29
University of Texas Press One More Warbler
Book SynopsisWith stories of sighting rare birds ranging from an Eskimo Curlew to the cranes of Asia, one of America's foremost birders recalls a lifetime of birding adventures, including friendships with luminaries Roger Tory Peterson, Peter Matthiessen, and George Plimpton.Trade ReviewGeopolitically sensitive and savvy, and already looking ahead to habitat preservation, Mr. Emanuel was holistic from the very beginning…Mr. Emanuel's passion for birds was always placed within a larger philosophical framework. Yet even as he quotes one of the maxims at Delphi—'nothing in excess'—he can't help pushing to see, on a spring evening before a dinner party, 'just one more warbler.' Such love of discovery is the hum under the magical stories Mr. Emanuel tells. * Wall Street Journal *Table of Contents Prologue 1. Early Days 2. The Tropics 3. Freeport Christmas Count 4. The Bird of My Life 5. Beginnings 6. Meeting Curlew 7. The Triumph 8. Search for the Imperial Woodpecker 9. My Travels with King Penguin 10. The Mozart of Birding 11. New Territories 12. The Big Day 13. The Next Generation of Birders 14. End of the Earth 15. The Birds Of Heaven: Cranes, Asia, and Peter 16. Birding with the Bushes 17. Palace on Wheels 18. Birding on the Edge 19. Voyage on the Sea Cloud 20. My True Obsession 21. My World Epilogue Acknowledgments Suggested Readings Index
£21.59
Fox Chapel Publishers International Know Your Ducks
Book SynopsisKnow Your Ducks is designed for the novice enthusiast of any age. For each breed the right hand page is dedicated to a quality picture of the duck accompanied by a description of its appearance. On the facing page is a concise description of the breed's origins and its history. For many for the breeds Jack gives a description of their personality, egg laying and flying abilities and how they are best kept.Table of Contents1. Abacot Ranger 2. African Yellow Billed 3. Ancona 4. Australian Spotted 5. Aylesbury 6. Baikal Teal 7. Bali 8. Black-Bellied Whistling 9. Black East Indian 10. Bronze Winged 11. Call 12. Campbell 13. Carolina 14. Cayuga 15. Chiloe Wigeon 16. Eider 17. Gadwall 18. Garganey 19. Goldeneye 20. Harlequin 21. Indian Runner 22. Magpie 23. Mallard 24. Mandarin 25. Muscovy 26. Orpington 27. Pekin 28. Pintail 29. Red-Billed Pintail 30. Red-Crested Pochard 31. Redhead 32. Ringed Teal 33. Rosy-Billed Pochard 34. Rouen 35. Ruddy Shelduck 36. Saxony 37. Sharp-Winged Teal 38. Silky 39. Silver Appleyard 40. South African Shelduck 41. Swedish Blue 42. Tufted 43. Welsh Harlequin 44. White-Faced Whistling
£6.95
Jacana Media (Pty) Ltd Roberts bird guide
Book SynopsisThe Roberts Bird Guide (2nd Edition) has gone to great trouble to concentrate on, and illustrate, difficult-to-identify species and family groups such as raptors, warblers, cisticolas and waders. Special attention has been given to make sure there is far greater coverage of male-female differences and there are also many more juvenile illustrations. Unlike all previously published southern African bird guides, this new edition will be scattered with informative photographs that are incorporated in the text pages and each plate illustration is augmented with an introduction. Apart from the approximately 240 plate spreads, the guide also has 12 photographic and illustrated double spreads that show head enlargements and other details. Plates are annotated far more definitively than other guides – highlighting key identification features, especially for difficult-to-identify species. Plates are richly illustrated with vignettes, which will make any birding experience more informative.
£21.38
Whittles Publishing Days with the Golden Eagle
Book SynopsisA reprint of the classic eagle book from one of the pioneers of nature writing. Seton Gordon was among the first to observe in some detail - through countless hours in his hide - the daily life of the golden eagle and to present in his books an account of their habitat, diet and behaviour. But his writing was much more than that - his books are interwoven with acute observation and his narrative possesses a clarity that ensures the reader sees as much as Seton Gordon himself saw. From life day to day on the eyrie through the different Scottish landscapes and the interaction of the eagles with other wildlife, it is all covered and in his inimitable style.
£17.09
Penguin Random House South Africa Sasol Southern African Birdfinder: Where to find
Book SynopsisSouthern African Birdfinder: Guide to finding over 1 000 species from South Africa to Zambia, is the ideal companion to all local field guides to birds, and fills a gap in the market for a comprehensive guide to the region's top birding spots and to finding southern Africa's most desirable birds. After an introduction to birding in the southern African region, the authors identify and describe more than 200 top birding sites and associated birds across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, the Indian Ocean islands and the little-documented, but increasingly popular areas of Angola, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi. All sites are ranked into one of three categories of priority: essential (the region's best); excellent (top sites but expendable to a time-limited visitor) and local interest (ideal for those looking for new areas to explore). All sites include practical details of access, best times to visit, habitat diversity and general natural history. A guide to finding the region's top 100 birds and an annotated checklist conclude the book.
£20.89
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to the Pigeons and
Book SynopsisThis volume is dedicated to the field identification of pigeons and doves, and it incorporates much recent information on the family. Pigeons and doves are a large family of birds occurring throughout the world. Many species are specialist frugivores, while others feed on seeds. Most are arboral and the tropical species in particular are often brightly coloured. The family includes gregarious migratory species, as well as shy, ground-dwelling forms such as the exotic crowned pigeons of New Guinea.
£61.75
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC RSPB Spotlight Ducks and Geese
Book SynopsisRSPB Spotlight: Ducks and Geese is packed with eye-catching, informative colour photos, and features succinct, detailed text written by a knowledgeable naturalist.This is a detailed ''biography'' of ducks and geese that breed in or regularly visit the UK covering 30 species in all. It will include chapters on the evolution of ducks and geese, their place in the natural world, their anatomy and physiology, various feeding methods, spectacular courtship displays and diverse breeding behaviour. Marianne Taylor reveals their often epic migrations and examine their social interactions with their own and other species, including their unusual readiness to hybridise. She also details their relationships with humankind over the centuries, including their presence in folklore and literature and their role in our lives as both prey and pets.She explores their presence as feral and sometimes invasive species outside their natural ranges, and their current status within their nativeTable of ContentsMeet the Ducks and Geese Evolution and Adaptation Breeding Diet and Feeding Social Life Migration Threats and Conservation Wildfowl and People Watching Ducks and Geese Glossary Further Reading and Resources Acknowledgements Image Credits Index
£12.34
Sasquatch Books Every Penguin in the World: A Quest to See Them
Book SynopsisA husband and wife travel the globe to see all 18 penguin species in this “celebration of these delightful birds and a call for their conversation” that offers “joy, love, and hope for penguins and the world” (Dr. Jane Goodall). Every Penguin in the World tracks author-photographer Charles Bergman’s forays around the southern hemisphere—from the Galapagos to South Africa to the Antarctic—in his quest to see all 18 species of penguins in the world. The sections of the book are organized around themes of adventure, science and conservation, and pilgrimage—in which stories of each penguin species will be touched upon. This endearing and thought-provoking book beautifully combines narrative and photography to capture the plight and the experience of penguins worldwide. The author and his wife developed a passion after seeing their first penguin species and have since spent years traveling far and wide to see each variety of penguin in its natural habitat. Both a love letter and a call to action, Every Penguin in the World is a joyful ode to adventure, conservation, and the beautiful penguins that capture our hearts.“It's SO good! [...] Chuck Bergman’s writing, photography, and vulnerability is so kick-ass!”—Brené Brown, New York Times–bestselling author of Dare to LeadTrade ReviewWashington State Book Award FinalistSilver Nautilus Book Award Winner“Through powerful stories and beautiful photographs, Every Penguin in the World is a celebration of these delightful birds and a call for their conservation. This is a book of joy, love, and hope for penguins and the world.”—Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace“It's SO good! [...] Chuck Bergman’s writing, photography, and vulnerability is so kick-ass!”—Brené Brown, podcast host and bestselling author of Dare to Lead“[A] visually impressive volume...Readers will enjoy Bergman’s enthusiastic recollections of his jaunts around the world and be astonished by his vivid photos.”—Publishers Weekly“With his new book Every Penguin in the World, Professor Charles Bergman has lovingly collated his 17-year obsession with these endlessly fascinating flightless birds.”—Outdoor Photographer“Having written books about nature and numerous wildlife-magazine articles, Bergman is practiced in the skills required for providing armchair naturalists with information and images that will spark their interest...the photographs are extraordinary and unforgettable.”—Booklist“Part travelog, part conservation, part philosophical musing, the book supplies ample, frequently adorable photos of every species, along with tales of wet, often cold, and occasionally uncomfortable adventures.”—Library Journal“Intensely personal, [Bergman's] quest is full of adventure, challenges, serious medical issues, danger, and descriptions of some of the most remote areas anywhere.”—American Birding Association“What a wonderful book. Bergman is an apt ambassador to the southern ocean’s most charismatic inhabitants, and his quest celebrates the spirit of rugged wilderness." —Noah Strycker, author of Birding Without Borders “Rarely have I read a bird book of such devoted science, spirit, and what Bergman calls ‘awakened wonder.’ Every Penguin in the Worldinspires the inner longing of our species for another with its majestic and tender photos and the intimate, often soaring prose of a seeker after that ‘penguin glow.’ Like Bergman, we are ‘reborn again and again in being with animals we love.’”—Brenda Peterson, author of Wolf Nation “Charles’ passion for the natural world’s most endearing inhabitants shines out from every page, both in his words and his images. The natural world needs passionate advocates like Charles, and images that capture your attention and make you want to make a difference. Charles has done just that.”—Sue Flood, wildlife photographer and author of Emperor: The Perfect Penguin
£16.14
Short Books Ltd How to Be a Bad Birdwatcher Anniversary Edition:
Book SynopsisTHE BESTSELLING BIRDWATCHING CLASSIC - 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION'A delightful ode to the wild world outside the kitchen window - leaves you with the warm feeling that a shared love conquers all.' The Daily Telegraph'A witty, perceptive book; thoughtful, instructive and full of simple wisdom.' The Daily MailLook out the window. See a bird. Enjoy it. CONGRATULATIONS! You are now a bad birdwatcher.Anyone who has ever gazed up at the sky or stared out of the window knows something about birds. In this fun, eye-opening and inspiring book, award-winning nature writer Simon Barnes paints a riveting picture of how birdwatching has framed his life and can help us all to a better understanding of our place on this planet. How to be a Bad Birdwatcher shows why birdwatching is not the preserve of twitchers, but one of the simplest, cheapest and most rewarding pastimes around.
£15.29
Pen & Sword Books Ltd The Secret Life of Birds of Prey
Book SynopsisEnter the fascinating world of the UK's birds of prey. These noble hunters, with their remarkable flying skills, good looks and mysterious ways, are amongst our most attractive and interesting wildlife. They are some of the most enigmatic and rare species too, and this book will reveal them to you.Learn about the falcons, hawks, kites, osprey and eagles that grace our skies and landscape from their impact on our culture in past and recent times, their value and uses in falconry, the history of their persecution and decline at the hands of humans, and their return to the UK through our reintroduction and conservation efforts.Admire their beauty up close with gorgeous photography and take an extraordinary peek into their secretive world. Be inspired by the moving words of people across the UK, who have described their thrilling, first-hand encounters, and discover where you can ethically experience these birds for yourself, to form an enduring connection with nature and make memories th
£21.25
