Wildlife: general interest Books

Book SynopsisRSPB ID Spotlight Wetland Birds is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of 51 of our most widespread and familiar wetland birds by renowned artist Stephen Message.Whether you are listening to a flock of geese communicate as they fly overhead or watching a group of feeding waders on an estuary, wetland birds are among the UK''s most gregarious and charming waterbirds. But do you know a Coot from a Moorhen? And can you tell the difference between a Wigeon and a Pochard? The UK''s wildlife-rich freshwater habitats are home to a diverse collection of our most beautiful wild bird species.The species are grouped by family and helpfully labelled to assist with identification, while the artworks are shown side by side for quick comparison and easy reference at home or in the field. The reverse of the chart provides information on the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our wetland birds, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how the RSPTable of ContentsIntroducing the UK’s Wetland Birds Habitat Distribution and Migration General Behaviour, Life Cycle and Diet Conservation Spotlight ID with Artwork

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Book SynopsisFor a generation, the Basic Illustrated series has been as much a part of the outdoors experience as backpacks and hiking boots. Information-packed tools for the novice or handy references for the veteran, these volumes distill years of knowledge into affordable and portable books. Whether you''re planning a trip or thumbing for facts in the field, Basic Illustrated books tell you what you need to know. Use Basic Illustrated Animal Tracks to discover how to identify animal tracks, read other animal signs, make plaster casts and tracings, practice observation techniques, participate in conservation projects and more.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the Science of (not so) Imaginary Creatures “The sheer depth of material covered in its pages is amazing”….” ―Fortean Times Magazine #1 Bestseller in the Occult and Unexplained Mysteries This is a book about monsters. From an early age we are taught that monsters do not exist. The reality is that monsters walk the earth today. Explore the world through its most unlikely creatures. Cryptozoology, the study of hidden, monstrous, and legendary animals, is truly the art of discovering the unknown. Richard Freeman, Zoological Director of Centre for Fortean Zoology, has explored the corners of the five continents on the search for creatures that many people believe are non-existent. In this book, he shares the exciting stories of his investigations of the Yeti, Mongolian Deathworm, Loch Ness Monster, Orang-Pendak, Ninki-Naka, and more. The line between myth and reality may be more narrow than you think. Cryptozoologists throughout the years have studied unknown species of reptiles, lake and sea creatures, apes, and hominins. The science and history of this field of study includes examples of creatures that were once thought to be mythological, but that have since been proven to exist. Our monsters and ourselves. The history of fabulous beasts and our searches for them is a history of the cultures of the world and the secrets we keep. If you’re ready to begin your search for Sasquatch and learn to hunt monsters, Adventures in Cryptozoology is your guide. In these pages you’ll find: Tales of mythical, extinct, and out-of-place creatures Hints about Bigfoot and other ape-men Tips for equipping your own cryptozoology adventure, including all the gear, field craft, and resources you’ll need to record your findings You’ve read Cryptozoology A to Z, Expedition Unknown, or Chasing American Monsters? Then you’ll want to read Adventures in Cryptozoology

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Book SynopsisA wonderful resource book for any Waldorf or Waldorf-inspired kindergarten. Encourage children to engage with the seasons as they craft willow hanging baskets, harvest and prepare fruit, care for birds and make Advent wreaths. As well as fun nature activities -- both indoor and outside -- for children, this book also includes advice for teachers and valuable background reading, on topics such as biodynamic farms. All the activities in this book are based on practical experience from the Children's Nature and Garden Centre in Germany, and are fully tried and tested. This is the companion book to Spring and Summer Nature Activities for Waldorf Kindergartens.Trade Review'The activities included will be inspiring for all, including those seeking outdoor nature-based ideas and projects for children up to the age of seven and beyond. It is richly illustrated with lovely photographs of young children engaged in these nature activities… With its spring/summer companion it would make a lovely gift and provides a resource to return to as the seasons turn.'-- Kindling'This is another wonderful book full of resources and ideas for activities with children, following the rhythm of the seasons of Autumn and Winter... This book is a worthy addition to any home or Kindergarten Library!'-- Blathu

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Book Synopsis'Evocatively written and charming' - Countryfile'The January Man is a book that makes you want to pull on your boots, grab a map and get out there' - Country LifeThe January Man is the story of a year of walks that was inspired by a song, Dave Goulder's 'The January Man'. Month by month, season by season and region by region, Christopher Somerville walks the British Isles, following routes that continually bring his father to mind. As he travels the country - from the winter floodlands of the River Severn to the lambing pastures of Nidderdale, the towering seabird cliffs on the Shetland Isle of Foula in June and the ancient oaks of Sherwood Forest in autumn - he describes the history, wildlife, landscapes and people he encounters, down back lanes and old paths, in rain and fair weather.This exquisitely written account of the British countryside not only inspires us to don our boots and explore the 140,000 miles of footpaths across the British Isles, but also illustrates how, on long-distance walks, we can come to an understanding of ourselves and our fellow walkers. Over the hills and along the byways, Christopher Somerville examines what moulded the men of his father's generation - so reticent about their wartime experiences, so self-effacing, upright and dutiful - as he searches for 'the man inside the man' that his own father really was.Trade ReviewThis is nature at its most embracing; human nature richly-woven into the cycle of the seasons and the ecologies of father and son, observed with the passion and learning of Britain’s favourite walker. A truly wonderful, uplifting book, bursting with life. * Nicholas Crane *Christopher Somerville's THE JANUARY MAN has taken me on such a happy journey. I have experienced every type of weather, and walked until my feet are very sore; I have learnt many ancient stories, and stopped to notice the crows, the gulls, the geese, not to mention moss, flowers and clouds. I have thought about churches, pubs, morris men, farming, mud, rain, boots, badgers, apples, climate change - as well as growing older. All this from the comfort of my chair in the kitchen. And of course in thinking about all these things, I have also thought about my own place in the world, and the things I love. I have thought about my dad too and his final years. By the time I came to the end, I was crying. It is a wise, entertaining, kind book - one that makes you want to walk and want to read. The language is taut, beautiful, sparky and generous. It’s a book not just for walkers or nature lovers, but anyone who loves a good plain story. * Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry *A delightful, poetical hotchpotch...three parts nature notes to one part history lesson, one part personal memoir and one part loving salute to his late father...Somerville is a great wordsmith and could write about mud and make it interesting...he supplies a bumper draught of inspiration to visit some enticing, intriguing corners of Britain. -- Patrick Hosking * The Times *BOOK OF THE WEEK ... Like all the best nature writers, he's able to evoke an entire landscape with the lightest of touches. * The Daily Mail *This is the kind of book that will make you ache to leave the Tube or train at the very next stop and make for that distant ridge, that glimpsed wood. -- Stuart Maconie * Mail on Sunday *How good is it to read a nature memoir that is not a study in misery? … For a writer, the highest compliment he or she can pay another writer is envy. And I was green on reading The January Man. It’s not just Somerville's knowledge, it’s the truth and clarity in his prose – which is like the pure tone that comes from a tuning fork. * John Lewis-Stempel, author of Meadowland and The Running Hare *The January Man is a book that makes you want to pull on your boots, grab a map and get out there ... [Somerville] has the enviable power of noticing and describing details so beautifully: the subtle but once captured so distinct, variations of yellow in spring flowers; the way a kingfisher's garb - iridescent blue and copper in the sunshine, green and brown in the shadows - gives it the power of discretion ... This is a gentle, thoughtful narrative about the nature of relationships ...love opened up through the mutual experience of the power of place, enjoyed on foot. -- Fiona Reynolds * Country Life *A goldmine of historical nuggets and walking inspiration * Wunderlust *This inspiring book tells the story of a year of walking across the British Isles...Evocatively written, with charming snippets of childhood memories... Somerville explains how walking the countryside shaped him as an adult... Touching on his father's Second World War experiences and stoic nature, Somerville seeks to discover the man inside the man. Poignantly highlights the power walking has in forging close relationships and enabling communication, this heart-warming walker's diary proves real inspiration to exploring Britain on foot. -- Carys Matthews * Countryfile *Christopher Somerville’s moving, measured and immaculate The January Man is part walker’s diary, part celebration of his reticent yet loving father, and part... well, anything that takes his fancy and ours. But most of all it is a tender rumination on the One Big Thing that troubles all of us when we put on our hiking boots – and that’s mortality. * Jim Crace, author of Harvest *

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Book SynopsisThere is no place like home.The conditions of Earth are not just good for life, they are perfect. Everything about our planet - its size, its distance from the Sun, its spin and tilt, its moon - is perfectly suited to our existence, and our planet's forces serve to nurture its spectacular biodiversity. A Perfect Planet shows in stunning detail how Earth has always been more than the sum of its parts. Unlike any other astronomical body, it is a living world.Focusing on four key natural forces - global weather systems distributing fresh water to all corners; marine currents delivering nutrients to the deepest reaches of the ocean; solar energy warming and electrifying everything it touches; and volcanic activity fertilising the earth's surface - Huw Cordey reveals to us new levels of this living world, a place populated with astonishing characters living remarkable lives. From Arctic wolves prowling moonlit landscapes or wood frogs, frozen in winter and magically thawing back to life, to flamingos flying thousands of miles to a vast volcanic lake in Africa to breed, we see time and again how animals are perfectly adapted to whatever the environment throws at them.Packed with over 250 full-colour images, and including a foreword by Alastair Fothergill and stills from the BBC series' spectacular footage, A Perfect Planet is a stunning exploration of life on Earth - life that is increasingly precious and rare.

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Book SynopsisAn adorable collection of the sweetest baby animals you’ve ever seen, brought to exquisitely detailed life by well-loved animal artist Hannah Dale, creator of Wrendale Designs. This beautiful gift book, first published in 2015 but now reissued in a larger size to give even more prominence to the gorgeous illustrations, features over 50 British baby animals that are just starting out in life, painted in the author’s quirky, inimitable style. From the playful fox cub to the tiny fluffy duckling, from the prettiest baby seal to a wobbly thoroughbred foal, everyone’s favourite mini creatures are charmingly brought to life by this award-winning artist - you'll squeal with delight at their cuteness! Each animal portrait is accompanied by informative and entertaining text that will teach you more about how these little creatures will make their way in the world. This truly lovely book is the perfect gift package for nature lovers of any age.

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Book SynopsisThe author explores the natural history of Skomer Island, and provides a personal reflection on life and work of a beautiful and remote seabird colony off the west Wales coast.

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Book SynopsisThis third guide in the 'Gardening with Nature Series' gives step by step advice on where, when and how to create a pond to enrich the wildlife in your garden.

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Book SynopsisNo need to travel the globe to spot iconic wildlife it's here on our doorstep in the UK and Steve Wright, keen amateur naturalist, explores Britain on various short holidays, with his wildlife wish-list for each trip. His enjoyable wildlife encounters are a call to book into B&Bs and follow his example on a series of fun British wildlife safaris.

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Book SynopsisDonald S Murray is widely recognised for his empathy and remarkable ability to convey emotion with restraint and poignancy. In this short collection of poems written during lockdown at his Shetland home, Murray explores the changing geography of the island and how it has, in turn, changed him. On his daily walks through the village, Murray found himself noting shifts in the wind and weather, the imperceptible widening of the sea, and the way time has slowed. Noting the way, too, in which flocks of sheep or birds congregated in a field in anticipation of the arrival of a storm. With beautiful imagery and lyricism, The Man Who Talks to Birds taps into a deep connection with nature, and its ability to ground us, that many of us have rediscovered during 2020.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author ofThe Zen of ClimbingandThe Craft of Bouldering, a manifesto for a new approach to connecting meaningfully with the wildness around and within us. As we live increasingly urbanised lives, we seek out wilderness and green space in times of hardship and turmoil, or simply during our leisure time. In the process of exploring and understanding more about the benefits of being in nature, many of us have taken up swimming, forest bathing, cycling, hiking and running in the open air. But when we spend this time in the wild, are we really connected to it?Francis Sanzaro argues that we often obscure opportunities for real connection through our attachment to screens, our anxieties about our everyday lives, or simply through our egos. When we observe nature, we rarely do so without subconsciously filtering out the parts that don't fit into the perfect snapshot we crave. To foster a genuine connection with the natural world, and to better protect it, we must embrace its contradictions as well as the surface beauty. Through deeper engagement with our environment, we can discover the wild within ourselves, too.

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Book SynopsisWhen all seems lost and we’re certain that love is dead, the animal kingdom teaches us to hope again. It’s easy to let our differences divide us, but that hasn’t stopped the animal pals in this book whose love for each other is pure: a golden retriever and a cheetah. A badger and a fox. A pair of guinea pigs sharing snacks. These friendships, between species and family across the animal kingdom, are captured in this collection of over 80 photos featuring pure and adorable moments of animals playing, cuddling and exploring the world together. Whenever we’re in doubt, this photo collection is here to warm our hearts and remind us that love is real (and that pandas are cute).

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Book SynopsisA Times and Sunday Times Book of the YearPeer into the secret, silent world of the freshwater fish and explore evolution of the art and industry of fishing in Britain''s rivers and streams.From cunning Neolithic traps, intricate Roman nets and quarrellous Victorian societies to the evolution of angling and eventual gentrification of river access, this history spans thousands of years and ends with a poignant call to protect the underwater world from the horrors of industrial fishing and farming.Meanwhile, another thread of the narrative weaves in the lives of the fishes themselves: the incredible struggles of the Atlantic salmon and secretive eel; the pike, a lean and camouflaged predator; the carp, huge and stately, begetter of obsessions; the exquisite spotted brown trout and its silver cousin, the grayling.Lives built on and around fishing have largely faded from Britain, but fishermen and conservationists are working tirelessly to prevent the same fate befalling the fishes.Trade ReviewA Times and Sunday Times Book of the Year ‘Tom Fort’s wonderful social history of angling is the ideal book for fish fanciers … A wonderful and unsnobbish social history of angling by a master fisherman’ Max Hastings, Sunday Times ‘His writings cover a wide range of subjects … he therefore brings to this book a more practised pen than most angling writers bring to theirs’ Literary Review ‘Casting Shadows is a beautifully written, unexpectedly humorous and fastidiously researched expression of gratitude for creatures and for a sport. Fort recreates vivid vignettes of moments in angling’s heritage with novelistic flourish’ Patrick Galbraith, The Times ‘Tom Fort’s Casting Shadows … offers garrulous witness to a fine passion … [Fort] is a sort of aquatic anthropologist, an angler with an infectious curiosity about all things fishy … The aroma of wonder seeps through his sentences. Buried beneath the anecdote and the arcana is the poignancy of the fisherman’s encounter with nature … A plea for attention to the radiant world’ London Review of Books ‘Tom Fort … leads us into all sorts of fishy places, with their delightful sights and smells, and introduces us to rough-hewn, fishy characters – and we love it … His writing must give any fisherman nostalgic thoughts. Equally, any non-fisherman will surely be enticed by the scenes he depicts, and amazed by the facts of history and natural history he reveals’ Oldie ‘Marvellous’ Jeremy Paxman, Saga Magazine ‘An essential antidote to a modern world’ Fly Fishing & Fly Tying magazine ‘The ideal book for lock-down … Thought-provoking … intelligent and well researched … You will not be disappointed’ Journal of the Piscatorial Society Praise for Tom Fort‘This is a captivating study…Tom Fort is incapable of writing a dull sentence'Financial Times ‘A fascinating, beautifully written and deeply peculiar book’ New Scientist

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Book Synopsis Southern Portugal is a superb and rich wildlife destination. The Algarve province and its northern neighbour the Alentejo have a highly diverse landscape. There are high cliffs, dunes and tidal marshes on the coast, and extensive oak pastures, steppes and rocky hills in the interior. Whether you enjoy birdwatching, searching for orchids or simply a pleasant ramble through a flower-dotted landscape, southern Portugal is a great destination at any season. 23 routes (car and walk) 29 site descriptions Where to watch birds information Finding butterflies, wildflowers, reptiles, etc. Detailed background information on landscape and ecology

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Book SynopsisAndalucía is a region of contrast. There are wild mountains and extensive marshes, dry semi-desert and barren karst, but also leafy woodlands laced with murmuring streams. The biodiversity is the highest of any of the Spanish regions. Andalucía is the stronghold of the endangered Iberian Lynx. Herds of wild Ibex roam the mountains and large numbers of vultures and eagles nest on remote, precipitous cliffs. In the wind- beaten dune scrub, the Chameleon shelters, while huge numbers of waterfowl feed in the marshes. 18 routes (car and walk) 28 site descriptions Where to watch birds information Finding butterflies, wildflowers, reptiles, etc. Detailed background information on landscape and ecology

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Book SynopsisThe second edition of Richard Lewington''s pocket guide to the butterflies of Great Britain and IrelandPresented in an accessible, easy-to-use format, this is an ideal guide for both beginners and more experienced enthusiasts. It includes more than 600 superb illustrations of all the life stages of each species, together with beautiful artworks of the butterflies in their natural settings and pertinent species information, distribution maps and life history charts. The second edition features a new, illustrated at-a-glance' identification guide, updated distribution maps and species accounts, and new spreads and artwork for the Cryptic Wood White and Scarce Tortoiseshell.Trade ReviewThis is a beautiful piece of work and exceeds any expectation that one might have of a pocket guide, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. -- Peter Eeles * UK Butterflies website *This is an excellent edition of a very useful, beautiful, well priced and portable guide. -- Dr Katie Cruickshanks * Butterfly Magazine *This is a good update to an already excellent book, with the addition of the 'at a glance' guide and new treatment of the wood whites likely to tempt some owners of the first edition to move to the new edition. -- Mike Toms * BTO *This is the second edition of the essential pocket guide to UK lepidoptera. Climate change is altering the shape of our butterfly life, but in this up-to-date guide you'll find precise illustrations showing the top and underwing for both sexes, plus eggs, larvae, pupae, associated plants and locator map for each species. * RSPB Nature's Home magazine: pick of new nature books *Richard Lewington’s butterfly paintings are legendary … the text is also first rate. It is filled with facts and oozes common sense. So far as UK butterfly field guides go, this is as good as it gets. -- John Tennent * Atropos *This easy-to-follow fact-packed field guide is perfect for beginners and compact enough to slip into your rucksack or pocket when out for a stroll. * Caravan Club Magazine *Table of ContentsIntroduction Conservation The structure of a butterfly The life cycle of a butterfly The six butterfly families How to use this guide At-a-glance guide Main descriptions Swallowtail Skippers Whites and yellows Browns Fritillaries, admirals and tortoiseshells Duke of Burgundy Coppers, hairstreaks and blues Extinct species and rare migrants Day-flying moths Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisA new, thoroughly updated second edition of Bradt's Australian Wildlife, covering habitats, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, the marine environment and where to go. Wildlife writer Stella Martin combines the encyclopaedic knowledge of David Attenborough with the enthusiasm of the late Steve Irwin to offer a unique guide which, compared to others, is variously more portable and more detailed, has a broader scope, goes beyond identification notes and includes an in-depth guide to ecosystems. It also covers all regions of Australia. Background chapters explain how Australia's wildlife evolved in isolation and how the geology, soil and climate affect its natural history. There is also a close look at Australia's infamously dangerous creatures, avoiding the clichés and putting their threat into perspective: although most of the world's most venomous snakes are found in Australia, they are by no means the deadliest. Essential advice is offered for avoiding hazardous wildlife and there are also useful first aid tips. Up-to-date information on conservation is included, including fire and its role in the Australian ecology and the effect of exotic feral animals and weeds. And there are tips on how to find, enjoy and identify wildlife with a 'where to go' section featuring a state-by-state overview of key wildlife sites, with maps. With a focus on interesting information about the general biology and behaviour of the animals - with some detail about the most commonly seen species - and explaining how the different ecosystems 'work', this guide is for visitors who want to know more about what they see but don't have room for an entire library of reference books. It is a book to read in bed - and encourage you to be up at dawn.Trade Review'Bradt Travel Guides simply have the best wildlife coverage of any of the popular guide books.' BBC Wildlife 'This guide is a must-have for wildlife lovers on their way Down Under' Wanderlust 'A definitive, well-arranged and accessible handbook on all manner of Aussie animals, from invertebrates to mammals.' Weekend Australian "We all felt that this book was an excellent guide for visitors to Australia with an interest in natural history and are sure it will do well." Dr Noel Tait, Royal Zoological Society, NSW, AustraliaTable of ContentsIntroduction About this book The backdrop The land, past and present, Evolution - moving with the times, The human connection, Conservation issues, Climate Habitats The arid zone, Tropical savanna, Forests, Heathlands, The role of fire Mammals Monotremes, Marsupials, Placental mammals Birds Seabirds, Waterbirds, Ground birds, Raptors, Pigeons and doves, Parrots and cockatoos, Cuckoos and coucal, Birds of the night, Swifts and swiftlets, Kingfishers, Bee-eater and dollarbird, Songbirds Reptiles Crocodiles, Turtles, Lizards, Snakes Amphibians and freshwater fishes Frogs, Freshwater fishes Invertebrates Worms, Arachnids, Crustaceans, Insects The marine environment Tropical seas, Temperate seas, Marine mammals, Marine reptiles Where to go New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia Top tips When to travel, What to bring, Health and safety, Spotting wildlife, Minimal impact, Wildlife photography Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisThe essential mammal guide to take on safari, covering every African land mammal.Originally published in 2004, the Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals quickly became the field guide of choice to take on African safaris. Its compact format makes it ideal for use in the field, while its coverage is the most comprehensive currently possible in this format.Adapted from the Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals, the greatly condensed text focuses on essential information such as identification and distribution, while the author''s superb illustrations have been rearranged into an easy-to-use plate format and placed opposite the text. Complex and more obscure groups like the bats and certain rodent families are summarised by genera. Over 500 maps plot the distribution of all larger species, and for smaller mammals the maps show distribution by genus.This is a completely revised second edition of this popular guide. The information and taxonomy have been updated to fTrade ReviewExcellent, comprehensive field guide so you can tell your puku from your lechwe. * BBC Wildlife *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction How to Use this Guide The African Environment Evolution in Africa Mammals Afrotheria Primates Rodents Hares, Rock-Hares and Rabbits Hedgehogs Shrews Bats Carnivores Pangolins Odd-toed Ungulates Even-toed Ungulates Further Reading Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisOffers a startling new vision of motherhood: wild, intimate, diverse; as contested and extraordinary as the world in which we live and the animals with which we share it.

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Book SynopsisJoel Sartore's quest to photograph all the animal species under human care celebrates its 15th year in this glorious and heartwrenching collection of photographs. The animals featured in these pages are either destined for extinction or already extinct in the wild but still alive today, thanks to dedication of a heroic group committed to their continued survival. From the majestic Sumatran rhinoceros to the tiny Salt Creek tiger beetle, Sartore's photographs bring us eye to eye with the kaleidoscopic diversity of shapes, colors, personalities, and attitudes of the animal world. In these vivid pages, Sartore singles out the species most likely to disappear in the next decades, as well as some that have already been lost. Alongside these indelible images are the words of scientists and conservationists who are working to protect and restore populations of endangered species. With Sartore's distinctive portrait photography, he invites us to look Trade Review“I can never unsee these faces, and I believe I am a better person because of it. Thank you, Joel Sartore, for using your passion and talent to give these animals a voice.” –Amy’s Booket List “There are nearly 300 portraits in this book. They are gorgeous. They will break your heart. But this book is SO IMPORTANT.” –Bookapotamus “Any lover of nature or ardent conservationist would adore this book, its photos, and its message.” –JulzReads “This book is both beautiful and heart rending. All of the animals in it are either already extinct in the wild or heading towards extinction. Just think about that. The man taking all of these magnificent pictures wants to at least make a record of each one’s existence before it falls from the earth.” –Broken Teepee “It’s a very sad thing, to read through this book, and see all the critters on the Endangered list, and on the Extinction lists.” –The Pages In-Between “I'm going to tell you that the photos in this book are absolutely stunning and you will find yourself compulsively turning the pages.” –Stranded in Chaos “Joel Sartore has captured the soul of each animal on a simple black or white background, forcing the reader to look into the eyes of many of the animals that our actions are helping to decimate.” –Stephanie’s Book Reviews

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Book SynopsisThe first guidebook of its kind for the Caucasus, not only giving information on where to go birding, but also covering mammals, dragonflies, flora and much more.

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Book SynopsisThere are five races of tiger on our planet and all but one live in tropical regions: the Siberian Tiger Panthera tigris altaica is the exception. Mysterious and elusive, and with only 350 remaining in the wild, the Siberian tiger remains a complete enigma. One man has set out to change this.Sooyong Park has spent twenty years tracking and observing these elusive tigers. Each year he spends six months braving sub-zero temperatures, buried in grave-like underground bunkers, fearlessly immersing himself in the lives of Siberian tigers. As he watches the brutal, day-to-day struggle to survive the harsh landscape, threatened by poachers and the disappearance of the pristine habitat, Park becomes emotionally and spiritually attached to these beautiful and deadly predators. No one has ever been this close: as he comes face-to-face with one tiger, Bloody Mary, her fierce determination to protect her cubs nearly results in his own bloody demise.Poignant, poetic and fiercely compassionate, The Trade ReviewPraise for The Great Soul of Siberia: ‘If you read one nature book this year, make it this one.’ Mark Cocker, Spectator ‘Wonderful … deserves to become a classic of wildlife literature.’ The Times ‘A wonderful evocation of the land and the habits of the desperately endangered Siberian tiger.’ Independent ‘The year's best wildlife book could already have arrived’ Wanderlust ‘Subtly intense … Park has a deep sense of oneness with the world around him. His close engagement with the forest ecology is the most extraordinary element of this remarkable book.’ New Statesman ‘It’s a masterpiece. One of the most moving outdoor texts I’ve read in years. This is a book about love – one exceptional human being’s love for the wild, beautiful and persecuted creatures to which his life is dedicated. It also comprehends a fortitude and hardihood so far beyond the everyday I was left shaking my head in astonished admiration.’ The Great Outdoors ‘Sooyong’s magical prose led me into little-known and breathtakingly beautiful forests, exposed me to the bitter cold of long winter months, and revealed the secret life of that most mysterious of cats, the Siberian tiger.’ Jane Goodall ‘A triumph of nature writing; an original and authentic voice from the wilderness.’ Jonathan and Angela Scott ‘The book is a love letter … To read it is to hear the voice of a remarkable man.’ Daily Telegraph ‘Spellbinding … Park’s book burns an indelible memory.’ Country Life

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Book SynopsisThis new edition of Bradt's Sri Lankan Wildlife has been fully updated to reflect all the most recent developments relevant to visitors to this beguiling island who come to watch wildlife. Whale watching, now a major part of Sri Lanka's wildlife experience, is covered, and so too is the improved visitor access to some of the national parks. With a general increase in visitors over the past decade, more entrance gates have been opened to popular national parks and access improved to others. Sri Lanka is home to elephants, leopards, bears and water buffalo and boasts one of the highest species densities of marine mammals in the world, with populations of blue whales and sperm whales off the coast proving a compelling draw. Sri Lanka is one of the few destinations in the world where you can be out at sea whale watching in the morning, then spend the afternoon in a national park watching leopards and elephants or visiting a rainforest. A balanced, all-round natural history guide, ideal field guide and armchair read, Bradt's Sri Lankan Wildlife is illustrated with colour photographs of species and includes maps charting animal habitats to aid identification. It is an ideal companion for general wildlife travellers and wildlife enthusiasts who want some background reading on the island's natural history, and is written in an accessible, easy-to-read style by an expert who visits Sri Lanka at least once a year.Trade Review'Bradt Travel Guides simply have the best wildlife coverage of any of the popular guide books.' BBC Wildlife 'Sri Lankan Wildlife provides a very good overview.' WanderlustTable of ContentsContents Introduction Sri Lanka: a biodiversity jewel, How to use this book, The Sri Lankan environment Habitats and Reserves Habitats, National parks and reserves Mammals Asian elephant, Ungulates, Carnivores, Primates, Squirrels, Bats, Other mammals Birds Birds of town and garden, Birds of the rainforest, Birds of the highlands, Birds of the dry lowlands, Birds of the wetlands, Birds of the coast, Endemic birds Reptiles and Amphibians Lizards, Snakes, Crocodiles, Turtles, terrapins and tortoises, Amphibians Invertebrates Lower invertebrates, Arthropods, Butterflies, Dragonflies and damselflies The Underwater World Freshwater fish, Marine life, Under the sea, Marine mammals Getting About Independent travel, Tours, Suggested itinerary, Photography tips Further Information Books, Societies, Finding out more Index Features Where to watch primates in Sri Lanka Watching nocturnal wildlife Snake bites Nesting sea turtles in Sri Lanka

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This superbly illustrated photographic field guide packs a great deal into a relatively slim package with all the essential species covered. . . . It’s hard to see how it could be bettered."---Matthew Merrit, Birdwatching Magazine

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Book SynopsisThe British beach is full of creatures that we think we know - from crabs to clams, starfish to anemones. But, in fact, we barely understand how many survive or thrive. In Rock Pool the delights of childhood paddling are elevated to oceanic discoveries, as the fragile beauty and drama of intertidal existence is illustrated through the incredible lives of twenty-four individual creatures. Rock Pool is the eye-opening account of a life-long passion by a talented writer and naturalist.Trade Review`Here are three simple steps to help you feel better about the world: read Heather Buttivant's marvellous book, grab a pair of wellies and get yourself to a rocky shore ... [a] thoughtful, enlightening and entertaining read.' BBC Wildlife Magazine | 'An utterly joyous book, a celebration of our incomparable 11,000 miles of British coastline ... an eye-opening delight from start to finish.' Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisGone is a fascinating and timely illustrated narrative exploring the lively tales of eleven extraordinary extinct species from around the globe––sharing an enlightening story of extinction and conservation for today.Table of ContentsIntroduction-The Booth Museum of Natural History Chapter One-Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis) Chapter Two-Spectacled Cormorant (Phalacrocorax perspicillatus) Chapter Three-Steller’s Sea Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) Chapter Four-Upland Moa (Megalapteryx didinus) Chapter Five-Huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) Chapter Six-South Island K.okako (Callaeas cinereus) Chapter Seven-Xerces Blue (Glaucopsyche xerces) Chapter Eight-Pinta Island Tortoise (Chelonoidis abingdonii) Chapter Nine-Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) Chapter Ten-Schomburgk’s Deer (Rucervus schomburgki) Chapter Eleven-Ivell’s Sea Anemone (Edwardsia ivelli) Map of Featured Locations Museums Charities Further Reading Index Biographies & Author Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisThis lushly illustrated and fully comprehensive book about the wildlife, landscapes and history of Pembrokeshire is a much-anticipated addition to the New Naturalist series, and reveals the incredible wealth of biodiversity present in the region.Surrounded by sea on three sides, Pembrokeshire is the only national park in the UK designated mainly for its coastline. In addition to idyllic beaches, the park includes deep wooded valleys and tranquil estuaries, as well as a marine nature reserve. There is greater variety of geological and landform scenery in the park than in any other area of the same size in the British Isles, and it is an essential sanctuary for many of Britain's seabird species. There are also important archaeological sites in the park, from Iron Age hill forts and standing stones to the spectacular cathedral of St Davids, as Pembrokeshire has been consistently inhabited by humans since the Neolithic period.Jonathan Mullard explores the evolving landscape and observes itTrade ReviewPraise for Pembrokeshire ‘Pairing the storytelling ways of Mullard with the beautiful and stunning images and artwork found throughout the book truly does make this a must for any natural history lover … A welcome addition to the New Naturalist series’ BBC Wildlife magazine Jonathan Mullard is having a great run in this series with two other fine books – The Gower and The Brecon Beacons – already out there. Here, he covers a National Park designated for its 200 miles or so of coastline, offering a wide variety of wildlife with some amazing offshore islands that hold some of Britain's best seabird colonies. AIong with that, a collection of great naturalists have laid down the foundations of this book with their records over many years. Add in some brilliant photography, along with Jonathan Mullard’s quest to discover every last bit of relevant information, and you are set for an exciting read and a chance to book your next holidays’ Bird Watching magazine Praise for the New Naturalist series ‘Taken either individually or as a whole, they are one of the proudest achievements of modern publishing’ The Sunday Times ‘The series is an amazing achievement’ The Times Literary Supplement ‘The books are glorious to own’ Independent

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Book Synopsis**SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**One man''s quest to save the bumblebee...Dave Goulson has always been obsessed with wildlife, from his childhood menagerie of exotic pets and dabbling in experimental taxidermy to his groundbreaking research into the mysterious ways of the bumblebee and his mission to protect our rarest bees.Once commonly found in the marshes of Kent, the short-haired bumblebee is now extinct in the UK, but still exists in the wilds of New Zealand, descended from a few queen bees shipped over in the nineteenth century.A Sting in the Tale tells the story of Goulson''s passionate drive to reintroduce it to its native land and contains groundbreaking research into these curious creatures, history''s relationship with the bumblebee, the disastrous effects intensive farming has had on our bee populations and the potential dangers if we are to continue down this path.Trade Review[Goulson’s] book is not only enormously informative, but also hugely entertaining: its light touch and constant humour make cutting-edge research a pleasure to read about… For anyone interested in the natural world, this is essential reading. -- Michael McCarthy * Independent *Goulson reminds himself that he ‘began studying bumblebees not because they are important pollinators but because they are fascinating, because they behave in interesting and mysterious ways, and because they are rather loveable.’ It’s worth reading A Sting in the Tale for the same reasons. -- Hannah Rosefield * Literary Review *A worthy book of the year. -- Mary Beard * Observer *Goulson has plenty of wondrous biological stories to tell, as well as the tale of his own struggle to return the short-haired bumblebee to Britain. -- Patrick Barkham * Guardian *This isn’t one of those natural science books that simply tells you things – it admits how much we don’t know. -- Mark Mason * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisCreative activities and ideas to explore the outdoors. This is a fun and educational outdoor activity book, ideal for green-fingered and nature-friendly families

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"I often wonder why there hasn't been any really good books dealing with the antelopes, wild cattle, sheep, gazelles and goats of the world. Well I guess I need wonder no more. With the publication of Castello's new book, I have found a resource that will be invaluable as I travel in search of wildlife... As with other Princeton guides, the layout is eye-pleasing and the text factual, informative and inclusive. Ranges, habitats, descriptions, subspecies and behaviour are covered for every species."--North Durham Nature Newsletter "This volume provides excellent introductory information about hundreds of animals; it will serve a wide range of readers seeking a basic understanding of this subject; high school students, college students, and interested adults will benefit from its content. Libraries working with these populations should consider adding this reasonably priced volume."--Mark Schumacher, American Reference Books Annual "With this title, new ground has been broken in several ways. Visually, Castello, a medical doctor, has replaced traditional artists' renderings with photos from global photographers. This is also the first field guide to reflect the revised species list, which recently doubled the number of bovid species from 143 to 279... Castello fills a void, and this book should generate wide interest in scientists, students, and general reader... This volume may inspire a new generation of conservationists and raise awareness of beautiful, endangered bovids and their perilous situations."--Choice "Bovids of the World offers a compelling and beautiful introduction to one of the world's most diverse and important families of creatures with hair... Few books have done more to remind me than Bovids of the World that I've only just scratched the surface of what the planet has to show me."--Ed Kanze, Bedford (NY) Record-Review "This is a handy reference to what I consider the coolest taxonomic family on earth: the bovids... Sit down with it and enjoy these fascinating creatures."--Matt Miller, Cool Green Science blog "I am confident that Bovids of the World is a valuable addition to any wildlife biologist's library. Those with and without close familiarity to the family Bovidae will have a handy reference for office and field use. Hats off to Jose R. Castello, an M.D. from Spain, for his knowledge and passion to highlight the bovids in such a detailed and taxonomically relevant field guide."--David M. Leslie, Jr., Journal of Wildlife ManagementTable of ContentsFOREWORD by Brent Huffman and Colin Groves 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 7 INTRODUCTION 8 TRIBE AEPYCEROTINI Impalas 24 TRIBE NEOTRAGINI Sunis, Royal Antelope, Pygmy Antelope 28 TRIBE REDUNCINI Reedbucks, Waterbucks, Rhebok 38 TRIBE ANTILOPINI Gazelles, Oribis, Steenbok, Grysbok, Dik-diks 82 TRIBE OREOTRAGINI Klipspringers 224 TRIBE CEPHALOPHINI Duikers 244 TRIBE CAPRINI Sheep, Goats, and relatives 302 TRIBE HIPPOTRAGINI Horse Antelopes 466 TRIBE ALCELAPHINI Tsessebes, Topis, Hartebeests, Wildebeests 496 TRIBE BOSELAPHINI Nilgai, Four-horned Antelope 542 TRIBE TRAGELAPHINI Spiral-horned Antelopes 546 TRIBE BOVINI Bison, Buffaloes, Cattle, Saola 596 SKULLS 650 REFERENCES 659 INDEX 660

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Book SynopsisThis book guides people as to what they can see at different times of year (it is useful year-round) and describes trees, flowers, plants, insects, birds and mammals that can be found in UK woodlands. It weaves fascinating facts with snippets of folklore.

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Book SynopsisIn pursuit of a connection to Britain''s captivating natural world, Jini Reddy searches for the magic in our landscape.A London journalist with multicultural roots and a perennial outsider, she determinedly sets off on an unorthodox path through the wanderlands of Britain. Serendipity and her inner compass guide her around the country: Where might this lead? And if you know what it is to be Othered yourself, how might this color your experiences? And what if, in invoking the spirit of the land, it decides to make its presence felt?Whether following a cult map to a hidden well that refuses to reveal itself, attempting to persuade a labyrinth to spill its secrets, embarking on a coast-to-coast pilgrimage or searching for a mystical land temple, Jini depicts a whimsical, natural Britain. Along the way, she tracks down ephemeral wild art, encounters women who worship The Goddess, and falls deeper in love with her birth land. Throughout, she rejoices in the wildneTrade ReviewWhat a wonderful book Wanderland is! A witty, gentle, original and very modern quest for the magical (not the mythical) in Britain's landscape, which both made me laugh and moved me. I wish Roger Deakin could have read this book, for he would surely have recognised a kindred spirit in Jini Reddy. -- Robert MacfarlaneA breath of fresh air. * Observer *[An] effervescent exploration… Reddy’s engaging narrative has an assurance and humour which both charm and convince. -- Elizabeth Dearnley * The Times Literary Supplement *Witty and engaging. -- Tom Robbins * Financial Times, Best mid-year reads of 2020 *An honest, contradictory and refreshing take on nature writing. * Conde Nast Traveller *Funny and touching. * The Mail on Sunday *Candid, soulful and uplifting search for natural magic. * The Lady *Warm, open-minded and endlessly curious, Jini is an ideal guide to Britain’s more unusual places and people. Wanderland is a truly engaging exploration, full of heart and soul. -- Melissa HarrisonA page turner. * Sunday Express ‘S’ Magazine *Wanderland is extraordinary, unique even, standing apart from recent books about the British countryside….. She is, she declares, lovesick: at times her prose has a dreamy, almost erotic charge. -- Ben Hoare * Countryfile *She rejects the stereotypes placed on people of colour, and crafts a beautiful story of self-discovery and exploration of the natural world. * Brown Girl magazine *Curious and tenacious, Jini learns to accommodate both solitude and the gifts of chance, discovering at last a new way of being, a new way of seeing, a new way of listening to the complex voices of this archipelago – animal, aerial, human and other-than-human. -- Katharine NorburyWith an unusual but timely eco-spiritual edge, and an alluring blend of memoir and nature-writing this touches on themes of identity and belonging as it charts how a restless spirit fell in love with her native land. -- Caroline Sanderson, Editor at The Bookseller (Editor’s choice in the Bookseller)Wanderland is a skilfully crafted and touching memoir of self-discovery inspired by Britain's wild places. -- Mark Whitley * The Countryman *A joyous celebration of the beauty we can see and the magic we can't. -- Tay Aziz * BBC Wildlife *…doesn’t just open your eyes to the Isles’ mystical history, but also your mind to the possibilities of what spirits may be lurking there. * Wanderlust magazine *In this funny, touching book…we are left with a sense that Reddy really has made contact with something deep within herself that feels entirely new and special. -- Kathryn Hughes * Mail on Sunday *Her easy style, genuinely questioning approach and willingness to take a wry look at her own self all carry the reader along in an engaging and often delightful tale. -- Stephen Moss * Resurgence & Ecologist *Table of ContentsWhat Happens Up the Mountain Doesn’t Always Stay Up the Mountain Beginnings To the Oracle on the Sea The Lost Spring Walking through Woods and Pain A Woman of the Old Ways The Secret Place of the Wild Strawberries – Part I The Tree Whisperer A Pilgrimage Walk in a Land of Giants Lost in Glastonbury A Temple in the Land When You Can See Neither Wood Nor Trees In Search of Ash Dome and Maidens of Mud and Oak The Secret Place of the Wild Strawberries – Part II Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisRSPB Spotlight: Ospreys is packed with eye-catching, informative colour photos, and features succinct, detailed text written by a knowledgeable naturalist.A hunting Osprey is one of the great sights of the natural world, and its fishing prowess is admired and revered around the globe. However, its penchant for taking fish from trout ponds resulted in a drastic decline in the UK with the species wiped out by human persecution and habitat loss.Thanks to concerted conservation efforts, it has made an encouraging comeback in recent decades, giving people across the country the chance to see this majestic hunter in action once again. This easy-to-read text explores all aspects of the Osprey's biology and ecology, including a detailed overview of the adaptations that make it such a skilled and proficient hunter. There is also a chapter dedicated to Osprey migration with a summary of the findings of groundbreaking satellite tracking research. Tim Mackrill also explores the relatTable of ContentsMeet the Osprey Diet and Feeding Behaviour Breeding Migration A History of Ospreys in Great Britain Osprey Conservation Ospreys in Culture Watching Ospreys Glossary Further Reading and Resources Acknowledgements Image Credits Index

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Book SynopsisThis practical pocket guide, published in association with the Wildlife Trusts, includes more than 190 species of animal and plant that inhabit still-water bodies such as ponds, pools and small lakes.Each species account includes accurate artworks and concise descriptions outlining essential details such as size, habitat, ecology and distribution in Britain and the Northern Europe. A vast number of species occurs in these habitats, so the guide selectively pictures and describes the fauna and flora that are most likely to be found and identified. Among the fascinating animals featured are freshwater sponges, hydras, water bears, worms, leeches, water snails, dragonflies and damselflies, frogs and toads, bats, fish, birds, and iconic mammals such as the Water Vole and European Otter. The easy-to-follow layouts and illustrations aid quick and precise identification, making the book an indispensable reference in the field as well as in the home and garden. It''s compact enough to fTable of ContentsIntroduction Natural Wetlands Artificial Ponds Threats to Ponds Today Garden Ponds Pond Wildlife Marginal Plants Water Plants Rushes Grasses Mosses Trees Sponges Hydras Worms Water Bears Leeches Molluscs Crustaceans Insects Arachnids Fish Amphibians Reptiles Birds Mammals

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Book SynopsisFINALIST IN THE PEOPLE''S BOOK PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2022/2023 WRITTEN BY THE WAINWRIGHT-CONSERVATION-PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR OF REBIRDING. Transform your understanding of the natural world forever and discover the wild forces that once supported Britain's extraordinary natural riches, and could again.Our precious archipelago is ravaged by climate change, bereft of natural ecosystems and lies at the mercy of global warming, flooding, drought and catastrophic biodiversity loss. But could restoring species that once helped protect our islands help turn this crisis around?From familiar yet imperilled honeybees and ancient oak woods to returning natives like beavers and boars, Britain's cornerstone species may hold the key to recovering our biodiversity on land and in our seas. In Cornerstones, we discover how beavers craft wetlands, save fish, encourage otters, and prevent rivers from flooding. We learn how disruptive' boars are seasoned butterfly conservationisTrade ReviewCornerstones makes a bold, riveting and visionary case for reviving the wild species that can help us restore our living planet. This is an exciting read! * Patrick Barkham, author of The Butterfly Isles and Wild Child *By concentrating on 'cornerstones', we have the potential to transform landscapes and lives. A brilliant read. * Bird Watching magazine *Very few writers can navigate the complexities of the interconnectedness of nature and humanity, but Macdonald achieves this with skill and impact. Cornerstones paves a compelling pathway of hope, and it is as bright and brilliant as it is essential. * Sophie Pavelle, author of Forget Me Not *It’s an interesting debate and one we should have. * Simon Lester, Country Life *This celebration of the species that anchor healthy, life-giving ecosystems is a timely reminder to recognise – and urgently protect – our common roots. * New Statesman *A primordially fortifying book. * New Statesman *It is ultimately a hopeful tale, and one well worth reading. * Lorraine Connolly, Country Life *Benedict Macdonald continues to come up with practical and effective solutions to the biodiversity crisis, with his latest book, Cornerstones. -- Stephen MossI think this is this author’s best book, so far, and that makes it excellent. -- Mark AveryMacdonald crams in evidence from a dizzying array of studies and writes with the urgency of an evangelist […] it’s exciting, convincing stuff. * Countryfile *Macdonald's skill is in painting a big picture and communicating the benefits for all to see. -- Keith Betton * Birdwatch magazine *This book is a brave, wonderfully descriptive and immensely important diagnosis of how far the countryside has drifted. -- Chris Fitch * Geographical *From the first sentence of the introduction, I was drawn in by evocative descriptions of Nature at its best. * Lorraine Connolly, Country Life *The author’s great strength is in painting vivid pictures, helping us to imagine a possible future where we have more self-willed, wilder land. -- Ian Carter * British Wildlife *Macdonald excels in describing the who and what of rewilding. He offers fascinating tales of the ways in which animals may transform British landscapes [...] Macdonald’s vision for rewilding reminds us of the potentially transformative animal lives around us. Humans could and should allow them to help restore our natural world. -- Barbara J. King * Times Literary Supplement *From this book you will uncover the important role ‘wild forces’ once played, and could play again, in boosting biodiversity and restoring broken ecosystems — all described in remarkably researched detail [...] one very important book. * Rewilding Britain *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter one - Boar Chapter two - Birds of Prey Chapter three - Beavers Chapter four - Whales Chapter five - Bees Chapter six - Cattle and Horses Chapter seven - Trees Chapter eight - Lynx and Wolves Chapter nine - Humans

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Book Synopsis“Take Clausen's tips, and you just might convince the deer to eat at a restaurant down the street.” —Good House Keeping Are deer destroying your garden? There is a solution, and it doesn’t involve fencing, barriers, or chemicals. Keeping your garden safe from deer is as simple as choosing the right plants. In 50 Beautiful Deer-Resistant Plants, perennial plant expert Ruth Rogers Clausen highlights the best, most versatile plants that deer simply don’t eat. The plant choices include annuals and perennials, shrubs, bulbs, grasses, and herbs. For each suggested plant, Clausen shares helpful growing and design tips. This practical, authoritative, full-color guide is a must-have solution to a common garden problem.

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Book SynopsisFrom the lifelong devotion of the American crow to the dalliances of the eastern bluebird, from the bald eagle’s dazzling aerial display to the male ruby-throated hummingbird’s reputation as a “deadbeat dad” — courtship, mating, and parenting differ dramatically among birds. Ornithologist and author Laura Erickson takes readers on a romance-fueled romp through the love lives of 35 species, exploring the diversity of avian approaches to pairing up. Each species spotlight pairs Erickson’s remarkable depth of scientific knowledge with her talent for drawing humorous and insightful parallels between human and bird. The result is a riveting read for bird-watchers and nature lovers alike.

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Book SynopsisJulia Rothman's series of Anatomy books (549,000 copies in print) are beloved by children and adults alike. In Wildlife Anatomy, Rothman captures the excitement and distinctive attributes of wild animals around the world.The book is packed with hundreds of her charming, original illustrations, detailing the unique features of animals of the rainforest, desert, grasslands, oceans, and much more. From lions, bears, and zebras to monkeys, mongoose, bats, elephants, giraffes, hippos, and much more, Rothman's visual guide covers all the key features, right down to the anatomy of a lion's claw and a wild horse's hoof. All the illustrations are accompanied by labels, intriguing facts, and identifying details, such as: When is a Panther Not a Panther? and What Makes Aardvarks So Odd? Rothman's characteristic combination of curiosity and an artist's eye makes this wildlife treasury rich and full, and promises new discoveries every time it's opened.

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Book SynopsisThis up-close, captivating look at an iconic animal traces our complex relationship to bears throughout history—and what they can tell us about ourselves. On Being a Bear draws on history, legends, scientific studies, and the author’s thirty years of observing bears around the world to offer a richly detailed biography of these iconic animals, including the many ways bears have figured in our lives and imaginations. As author Rémy Marion tells us, some cultures view bears as our wild cousins—as humans cloaked in fur—while others cast bears as cuddly characters in cartoons or seek to eradicate their grizzled forms from civilization. Scientists have made new discoveries into bears’ varied diets, their powerful sense of smell, and a mother bear’s stubborn patience with her cubs. Bears play a vital role in our ecosystems, and new studies into bear hibernation could lead to medical breakthroughs for humans. Offering these and more astonishing insights, On Being a Bear brings readers face-to-face with these long admired, feared, and misunderstood animals, and sets the record straight through a combination of thrilling science and expert storytelling.Trade Review“[T]here’s plenty of entertaining biology and anthropology alike in these pages. Those with a fondness for our shaggy fellow mammals will enjoy Marion’s wanderings in the world of bears.” —Kirkus Reviews “Marion's obvious love for bears shines throughout this very readable primer on our ursine cousins.” —Booklist “[A] holistic look at brown bears, black bears and polar bears...a celebration of all things bear.” —Hollywood Soapbox “[On Being a Bear] delivers a precise and passionate account of the current state of bears wherever they live. It deserves a prominent place on the shelf of every serious lover of the ursus species.” —Bernd Brunner, author of Bears: A Brief History, Birdmania: A Remarkable Passion for Birds, and Winterlust:Finding Beauty in the Fiercest Season

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Book SynopsisWilderness guide Sicelo Mbatha shares lessons learnt from a lifetime's intimate association with Africa's wildest nature.Black Lion begins in rural South Africa where a deeply traumatic childhood experience - a cousin being dragged away by a crocodile - should have turned him against the surrounding wilderness. Instead, he was irresistibly drawn to it. As a volunteer at Imfolozi Nature Reserve, close encounters with animals taught him to 'see' with his heart and thus began a spiritual awakening.Drawing from his Zulu culture and a yearning to better understand human's relationship to nature, Sicelo has forged a new path to nature with an immersive, respectful and transformative way of being in the wilderness. As humanity hurtles into the anthropogenic 21st century, Black Lion is an urgent reminder of how much we need wilderness for our emotional and spiritual survival.'A brave account of a natural disaster, and of achieving reconciliation with the predatoriness of life.' Richard Mabey on Mbatha's essay, Letting Go.Trade ReviewBlack Lion is a powerful, propulsive and unflinchingly honest account of one man's remarkable spiritual journey. It is life-affirming and deepening, and a vital contribution to the discourse around conservation. A must-read. * Jini Reddy, author of Wanderland *

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Book SynopsisPolly Pullar has had a passion for red squirrels since childhood. As a wildlife rehabilitator, she knows the squirrel on a profoundly personal level and has hand-reared numerous litters of orphan kits, eventually returning them to the wild. In this book she shares her experiences and love for the squirrel and explores how our perceptions have changed. Heavily persecuted until the 1960s, it has since become one of the nation’s most adored mammals. But we are now racing against time to ensure its long-term survival in an ever-changing world. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Polly’s Perthshire farm, where she works continuously to encourage wildlife great and small, she highlights how nature can, and indeed will, recover if only we give it a chance. In just two decades, her efforts have brought spectacular results, and numerous squirrels and other animals visit her wild farm every day.Trade Review'A Scurry of Squirrels is a delight. Part history, part natural history, and part memoir, and written in Polly Pullar's compelling and always readable style, it will appeal to anyone captivated by one of Britain's favourite wild creatures' -- Stephen Moss, author and naturalist'A charming, engrossing story of the many creatures Pullar has fostered over the years. It's a treat for animal lovers and a tribute to the healing power of nature' -- Alastair Mabbott * The Herald *'In A Scurry of Squirrels, Pullar shares her experiences and love for the red squirrel, and, with reference to history and natural history, explores how our perceptions of the animals have changed. The book highlights how nature can, and indeed will, recover if we give it a chance' * Dundee Courier *'Polly Pullar brings her lifetime's experience of Scottish nature into this compelling account set around the rehabilitation of orphaned and injured wild animals at her Perthshire home…. It's a very personal tale of paradise lost and hope that it can be regained' -- Sheena Harvey * BBC Countryfile *'Truly fascinating…accompanied by personal photographs and anecdotes, this book is. A good read for any wilderness enthusiasts or strong believers in the preservation of native animals' * Scottish Field *'This engaging book also reminds us that our life’s troubles are seen in clearer perspective when viewed in the context of the part we play in the living world' * Green Christian Magazine *'It’s the storytelling that really sings here... the squirrels in particular will capture your heart' * Rewilding Magazine *

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Book SynopsisIn our modern, distracted world it is easy to miss the kaleidoscope of life that exists on our doorsteps.Stretching nearly thirty kilometers from the Wicklow Mountains to the Grand Canal Dock, the River Dodder offers a serene escape into nature in our capital city. In Wild Waterways, Robert O? Leary showcases the river? s rich biodiversity through stunning photography and informative text in Irish and English.In these pages, you are invited to pause and reconnect with the teeming wildlife that surrounds us - kingfishers diving, otters playing, wagtails busily foraging and emperor dragonflies patrolling the river? s surface for prey.Showcasing birds, mammals and insects in glorious detail, these dazzling images remind us that you? re never too young, too old or too busy to ? stand and stare? and reconnect with the natural world in all its glory.

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Book SynopsisBeauty is more than skin deep.'The natural world is awash with colour, but we are only seeing half the story. If we could see things as animals do, our world would become unimaginably brighter. Now, thanks to new science and technology, we can at last open our eyes.' - Sir David AttenboroughIn nature, colour is more than a source of beauty; it's a form of vital communication. Depending on the situation, colour says different things - it can be an expression of power or seduction, warning or deceit - and it can even, occasionally, save your life. Accompanying a major new BBC series with David Attenborough, Life in Colour explores the fascinating story of how colour works in the natural world. From the 'trichromatic' vision of Silver Leaf Langurs, which allows them to see orange and red against forest foliage - the colours not only of ripe fruit, but of their young - to African Mandrills who use their colouration to do battle, Professor Martin Stevens reveals a complex system of messaging visible only to those who know the code.Based on the latest scientific research in the field, and illustrated with stunning photography throughout, Life in Colour reveals a world previously unknown to us.

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Book SynopsisFrom Nancy Lawson, author of The Humane Gardener, an insightful and personal exploration of the vibrant web of nature outside our back door—where animals and plants perceive and communicate using marvelous sensory capabilities we are only beginning to understand. In The World Through Their Eyes, master naturalist Nancy Lawson takes readers on a fascinating visual tour of the secret life of animals and plants. Organized into chapters investigating each of their five senses, Lawson's exploration reveals a remarkable world of interdependent creatures with amazing capabilities. You'll learn of ultrasound clicks humans can't hear, and ultraviolet colors humans can't see. You'll cross paths with foraging American bumblebees drawn to the scent of wild bergamot, urban sparrows who adapt their mating song in response to human clamor, beech trees whose proximity provides protection and sugary sustenance to salamanders and nearby flora, and a chipmunk behaving like the world's smallest pole vaulter to nab juicy red berries hanging from the lowest parts of a coral honeysuckle vine. Synthesizing cutting-edge scientific research, original interviews with animal and plant researchers, and poetic observations made in her own garden, Lawson shows us how to appreciate the natural environment from the sensory perspective of our wild neighbors right outside our door and beyond, and how to respect and nurture the full range of their vibrancy and diversity.

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