Wildlife: general interest Books

Book SynopsisBecome part of the energy of the natural world with this oracle deck from Marcella Kroll. The Bee, The Wolf, The Moon: pull a card fromNature Nurture Oracleand learn how these energiesembodying qualities like fierce determination, loyalty, and divine timing, respectivelyare already innate in you. This deck is a tool for self-discovery and support, which invites you into the complex web of interaction between the animal, plant, and spirit worlds. And not only that: by working with these divination cards, you are also calling attention to these symbols of nature, many of which are threatened by extinction. Bringing them to the front of your mind sends healing to them. In exchanging this respect and reverence, you support a more connected world and gain the strength to carry on as you travel your own path. These animal oracle cards will resonate with those who are drawn to animal totems and spirits, modern spiritual practices with ancient roots like shamanism and animism, and seeke

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE MARSH BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD (2019)A pioneering look at how climate change is affecting British wildlife winners, losers, new arrivals and future prospects.There is no escaping the fact that the British climate is changing, and our wildlife is changing with it. In this remarkable account, Trevor Beebee examines the story so far for our plant, fungi and animal species. Warmer and wetter winters, combined with longer summers, have worked to the advantage of plants such as the rare Lady Orchid, and a whole range of insects. The UK is also hosting new arrivals that come in on the wing.But there is adversity, too. Alpine plants and seabirds particularly Kittiwakes are suffering declines as our countryside warms. Given the evidence so far, can we predict what the future holds for our British ecosystems?Fascinating but frightening, compelling and concerning this book brings together all you need to know about how the climate is impacting wildlife. - ChriTrade ReviewFascinating but frightening, compelling and concerning … this book brings together all you need to know about how the climate is impacting wildlife. -- Chris PackhamFor anyone interested in natural history, Climate Change and British Wildlife is a hugely important read. A painstaking volume of research has evidently been invested in producing this book, with the author's own decades of observation and expertise also playing their part ... Beebee has done a brilliant job of capturing the hard facts of science, yet presenting what could easily prove an exhausting topic in an insightful and compelling manner ... thoroughly recommended. -- Josh Jones * Birdguides *This is the sixth volume of the British Wildlife Collection and it maintains its established standard of excellence. Based upon its content and style, I think that this is the best environmental book that I have read in a long time. -- John Hopkins * British Wildlife magazine *This is a must-read for anyone with an interest in British wildlife ... the triumph of this book is the level of detail whilst being an engaging read. -- Claire Boothby * BTO book reviews *A well-illustrated and thought-provoking text. -- Antoinette Mannion * British Ecological Society's 'The Niche' magazine *A broad, approachable and accurate summary of where we are in the early 21st century, as climate change really begins to kick in. -- Trevor James * British Naturalists' Association's 'Country-Side' magazine *Table of ContentsPreface What’s going on? How are plants responding? Invertebrate tales Freshwater and terrestrial vertebrates Fungi, lichens and microbes Freshwater and terrestrial communities Coastal and marine environments As time goes by What the future may hold Conservation in a warming world References Abbreviations Species names Credits Index

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Book SynopsisFrom yaks and vultures to whales and platypuses, animals have played central roles in the history of British imperial control. The contributors to Animalia analyze twenty-six animals—domestic, feral, predatory, and mythical—whose relationship to imperial authorities and settler colonists reveals how the presumed racial supremacy of Europeans underwrote the history of Western imperialism. Victorian imperial authorities, adventurers, and colonists used animals as companions, military transportation, agricultural laborers, food sources, and status symbols. They also overhunted and destroyed ecosystems, laying the groundwork for what has come to be known as climate change. At the same time, animals such as lions, tigers, and mosquitoes interfered in the empire''s racial, gendered, and political aspirations by challenging the imperial project’s sense of inevitability. Unconventional and innovative in form and approach, Animalia invites new ways to consider thTrade Review“Animalia shows us how imperial power was both extended through and disturbed by the multiple entanglements of human/animal worlds. The elephants, lions, and tigers familiar to the imperial imagination jostle with mosquitoes, scorpions, and unicorns, offering a rich variety of animal engagements with empire, both for and against their would-be masters. An essential bestiary for our times.” -- Catherine Hall author of * Civilising Subjects. Metropole and Colony in the English Imagination, 1830–1867 *“With appealing quirkiness, Animalia introduces readers to the complex ways that humans' treatment of animals offers an informative and genuinely fascinating way of understanding how pervasive the impact of imperialism was and continues to be across the globe. Written with verve and elegance while conveying the surprising importance of all sorts of species to the imperial project, Animalia is an intriguing and exhilarating book.” -- Teresa Mangum, editor of * A Cultural History of Women in the Age of Empire *“Animalia is a charming and creative primer concerning the central role animals played in the British empire.... Inviting further research, the chapters are rich in ideas, themes, and postulations.” -- Miles Alexander Powell * Journal of Pacific History *“Animalia strives to be interdisciplinary not only in the theories and empirical evidence found in the individual contributions but also in the hybrid form of the volume.... Its playful form, fascinating stories, and nuggets of insight offer great potential to serve as a springboard for deeper interdisciplinary explorations.” -- John Soluri * Journal of Interdisciplinary History *“What sets Animalia apart from the rest is the playful and innovative way in which it tells animal stories.... Animalia is informative and encyclopedic and a must-have book for anyone who loves and studies animals.” -- Kaori Nagai * Journal of British Studies *“[Animalia] presents succinct, researched commentaries on a number of the animal species brought under imperial control and thereby reconstitutes the bestiary compendium. . . . This is an A-to-Z compendium for the twenty-first century that points back to the historical taxonomy as it moves forward to trouble its purpose, often by revealing the porous boundaries between species and the instability of ‘animalia’.” -- Peta Tait * Animal Studies Journal *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction: Animals, the Bestiary Form, and Disruptive Imperial Histories / Antoinette Burton and Renisa Mawani Some Ways to Read This Book A Is for Ape / Amy E. Martin B Is for Boar / Annaliese Claydon C Is for Cattle / Renisa Mawani D Is for Dog / Heidi J. Nast E Is for Elephant / Jonathan Saha F Is for Fox / George Robb G Is for Giraffe / Angela Thompsell H Is for Horse / Jagjeet Lally I Is for Ibis / Renisa Mawani J Is for Jackal (and Dingo) / Isabel Hofmeyr K Is for Kiwi / Tony Ballantyne L Is for Lion / Antoinette Burton M Is for Mosquito / Neel Ahuja N Is for North Atlantic Right Whale / Krista Maglen O Is for Okapi / Sandra Swart P Is for Platypus / Annaliese Claydon Q Is for Quagga / Harriet Ritvo R Is for Racoon / Daniel Heath Justice S Is for Scorpion / Antoinette Burton T Is for Tiger / Dane Kennedy U Is for Unicorn / Utathya Chattopadhyaya V Is for Vulture / Utathya Chattopadhyaya W Is for Whale / Jonathan Goldberg-Hiller X Is for Xerus / Utathya Chattopadhyaya Y Is for Yak / Peter Hansen Z is for Zebu / Michael A. Osborne Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisA journey through unexplored spaces that foreground new ways of inhabiting the urban One of the fundamental dimensions of urbanization is its radical transformation of nature. Today domestic animals make up more than twice the biomass of people on the planet, and cities are replete with nonhuman life. Yet current accounts of the urban remain resolutely anthropocentric. Lively Cities departs from conventions of urban studies to argue that cities are lived achievements forged by a multitude of entities, drawing attention to a suite of beings—human and nonhuman—that make up the material politics of city making.From macaques and cattle in Delhi to the invasive parakeet colonies in London, Maan Barua examines the rhythms, paths, and agency of nonhumans across the city. He reconceptualizes several key themes in urban thought, including infrastructure, the built environment, design, habitation, and everyday practices of dwelling and provides a critical intervention in animal and urban studies. Generating fresh conversations between posthumanism, postcolonialism, and political economy, Barua reveals how human and nonhuman actors shape, integrate, subsume, and relate to urban space in fascinating ways.Through novel combinations of ethnography and ethology, and focusing on interlocutors that are not the usual suspects animating urban theory, Barua’s work considers nonhuman lifeworlds and the differences they make in understanding urbanicity. Lively Cities is an agenda-setting intervention, ultimately proposing a new grammar of urban life.Trade Review "Urbanities are the intersection and always provisional conjunctions of multiple inhabitations negotiated across a heterogeneity of agencies and forces—engendering dispositions always unsettled in their everyday encounters and unruly ecologies. This text is an unparalleled exploration of the liveliness that other-than-human beings infuse into a sociality extended beyond biopolitical conceptualization and control, underlining an urban economy more attuned to its natural surrounds. An essential excursion across the shifting landscapes of incipient sustenance."—AbdouMaliq Simone, author of The Surrounds: Urban Life within and beyond Capture

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Book SynopsisMany photographers wish to capture stunning and memorable images of the natural world, yet the whole process can be a challenge. Not only does getting the perfect shot require a complex mixture of skill and luck, but there is little practical advice available on how to find wildlife to photograph. This unique book describes a straightforward system for how to successfully locate wildlife, the most difficult aspect of wildlife photography. The patience and persistence have to come from you, but equipped with the right fieldcraft there is far more chance of getting the results – and the special moments – you are looking for. Individual chapters offer guidance on how to photograph birds, mammals, butterflies and dragonflies, as well as reptiles and some of our more elusive species. The particularities of various habitat types are discussed, and there are tips on equipment, technical specifications and how to make a good portable hide. While sharing some of her most successful and beautiful images, the author also gives useful examples of when things didn’t quite work out – reflecting on how things could have been done differently to get a better outcome. With the help of this book you’ll soon be taking the photographs you’ve always dreamed of, sometimes.Trade ReviewThe biggest challenge for nature photographers everywhere is finding great examples of wildlife to take pictures of. In this book, Susan Young helps you understand the subtleties of various habitats to improve your chances of finding the birds, mammals, insects and reptiles that live there. There’s also useful advice on equipment and a guide to building a hide. -- Graeme Green * BBC Wildlife *Author Susan Young calls on a great deal of personal experience with wildlife, and there is good advice on how to get close enough to animals to take quality shots without disturbing or scaring them. * Amateur Photographer Magazine *This book is an easy read and is peppered with examples, both in photographs and text, to illustrate specifics for locating and photographing wildlife. The author holds nothing back and is willing to share her methods for achieving success in a straightforward manner. * Apogee Magazine *Wildlife Photography Fieldcraft fills an important gap in photography literature. It is a unique and much needed gem amongst the myriad available photography books. Overall, this book is perfect for both amateur and professional photographers wanting to increase their knowledge of British wildlife, and one that I thoroughly recommend. * The Mammal Society *Lots of books will tell you how to use your camera for composition and exposure, but this is one of the few to tell you how to be there. -- Conrad Obregon, Nikonians.org

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Book SynopsisCan you tell a hare from a rabbit? What’s the difference between a llama and an alpaca? Which has two humps – the Bactrian camel or the dromedary? In this animal matching game with a twist, the goal is to match 25 pairs of animals that look almost the same but that tend to be confused. Includes a fascinating booklet by a zoologist explaining the differences between the animals.

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Book SynopsisThis is an indispensable guide to the wildlife of Seychelles, covering the birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates most likely to be encountered. It features 64 superb color photographic plates, and highlights the many species and subspecies unique to these islands. The first comprehensive photographic guide to the birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, dragonflies, butterflies, and other conspicuous invertebrates likely to be encountered in Seychelles 64 stunning color photographic plates accompanied by text giving key identification features, behavior, breeding, distribution, population, and conservation status Simple-to-use format and easy-to-read style, aimed at beginners and experts alike Highlights the many species and subspecies unique to Seychelles Notes on conservation status, habitat, and distribution An essential guide for all visitors Contains annotated checklists Written to support local nature conservation

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Book SynopsisFor as long as humans have inhabited the earth, we have lived alongside the multitude of other creatures with which we share our planet. However it is undoubtedly true that today most of us are not as close to the animals around us as our forebears were, and that many of the world's best loved large mammals and most beautiful birds are in danger of becoming extinct. The threats of the 21st century to the animal world make it even more pertinent to explore the many legends and folktales, myths and superstitions that reflect this past closeness, highlight our desire to explain nature's wonders and mysteries, and underline the necessity to preserve for future generations all creatures great and small.Gathered together in this fascinating book are the lore and legends of the animal world, alongside the realities of nature. Yet whatever their natural attributes, in folklore animals can do almost anything. They can be our friends and foes - and of course they can talk to each other. They can be evil witches and devils in disguise, they can bring good luck and bad. And in real life they can be our dearest companions, to the point of sheer worship.An amazing collection of fanciful superstitions, intriguing tales and amusing anecdotes, which any animal lover will truly relish.Table of Contents1 Little birds that know 14 2 The cruel crocodile 15 3 Cunning as the fox 17 4 Spider talents 18 5 A complete turkey 20 6 Safe with the dolphins 21 7 The pure and gentle dove 22 8 The stupid ass 23 9 The Devil's goat 24 10 Piggy tales 26 11 Beware the bats 28 12 The swan's pure beauty 29 13 The victory eagle 31 14 Bee messengers 32 15 The helpful robin 34 16 Hippo lore 35 17 The mighty elephant 36 18 Dirty rats 38 19 A mouse in the house 40 20 Bear strength 41 21 The lion, king of the beasts 43 22 Menacing big cats 44 23 Monkey business 45 24 Fluttering by 47 25 The wisdom of salmon 48 26 The ways of the serpent 49 27 Beetle power 51 28 Cats, good and bad 52 29 The faithful dog 54 30 For love, luck and health 56 31 Animal love signs 58 32 Money and wealth 59 33 The lucky greeting 60 34 Harm them at your peril 62 35 Predicting stormy weather 63 36 Animals at home 65 37 Birds of doom 66 38 Christmas lore 67 39 Easter rites 69 40 Beware the owl 70 41 Forecasting the weather 71 42 Groundhog Day and Candlemas 73 43 Creatures of the zodiac 74 44 Aries - the ram 76 45 Taurus - the bull 77 46 Cancer - the crab 78 47 Leo - the lion 79 48 Scorpio - the sting in the tail 80 49 Capricorn - the goat 81 50 Pisces - a fishy duo 82 51 Chinese astrology 83 52 Dreams and prophecies 86 53 Healing the stomach 87 54 To cure a fever 88 55 The dreaded cough 90 56 Blood letting leeches 91 57 To drive out illness 93 58 Maggot clinic 94 59 Just a flea bite? 95 60 Mosquitoes - the flying foe 97 61 To ease the rheumatism 98 62 Of Gods, spirits and monsters 100 63 The mystery of mermaids 102 64 Phoenix rising 104 65 Hideous winged monsters 105 66 The elusive sea serpents 107 67 Norway's own Kraken 109 68 The monster of the loch 111 69 Follow the footprints 113 70 Tales of the thunderbird 114 71 Curses of the 'were' creatures 115 72 Tales of the vampire 117 73 The croak of the evil toad 118 74 The serpent god 120 75 The unicorn - one-horned wonder 121 76 'Here be dragons' 123 77 Enter the dragon 126 78 The ghastly griffin 127 79 Magical horses 129 80 The sacred bull giant 130 81 The mighty wolf 131 82 Beware the boggart and bug-a-boo 132 83 Mystic water horses 134 84 The charming sirens 135

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Anyone lucky enough to be visiting this region of Australia should have a copy of the book."--Frederic H. Brock, Wildlife ActivistTable of Contents*Frontmatter, pg. 1*Contents, pg. 3*About this book, pg. 7*How to use this book, pg. 8*Maps of the Top End, pg. 10*Geography and geology of the Top End, pg. 12*Weather and seasons of the Top End, pg. 14*Habitats of the Top End, pg. 16*How to watch wildlife, pg. 20*Where to find wildlife, pg. 22*Birds of Wetlands and Beaches, pg. 24*Raptors: Hawks, Eagles and Falcons, pg. 80*Birds of the Forest: Mangroves and Monsoon Forests, pg. 94*Birds of Open Areas Woodlands and Grasslands, pg. 120*Mammals, pg. 196*Reptiles and Amphibians, pg. 220*Further reading, pg. 264*Acknowledgements, pg. 264*Photo credits, pg. 265*Index, pg. 267

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Book Synopsis A highly diverting celebration of television’s favourite naturalist, packed with games, trivia and Attenborough-inspired activities. Attenborough. Just saying the name makes everyone feel better. Words like 'dependable', 'inspiring' and 'soothing' cascade like the rains returning to the sun-parched savanna. And according to a recent poll, he's the most trustworthy person alive, above Michelle Obama and The Queen. As the saga of Boaty, McBoatface showed (the research ship was finally called RRS Sir David Attenborough), British people love silliness. And this book is a celebration of our two favourite things: Attenborough and silliness. You'll find games like Guess the animal from David's description, the David Attenborough drinking game, Create your own Attenborough coat of arms, Spot the fake species, Attenbingo, come up with a new animal print design for David's patented blue shirt in Patternborough, and if you find yourself in times of trouble, seek solace with the What would Attenborough do? self-help guide. Everything you've ever wanted to know about the great man – from fun facts and remarkable quotes, plus ludicrous games – lies within the sustainably forested habitat of these pages. It's the perfect present for, well, anyone, really.

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Book SynopsisThey change color depending on their mood. They possess uniquely adapted hands and feet distinct from other tetrapods. They feature independently movable eyes. This comprehensive volume delves into these fascinating details and thorough research about one of the most charismatic families of reptiles--Chameleonidae. Written for professional herpetologists, scholars, researchers, and students, this book takes readers on a voyage across time to discover everything that is known about chameleon biology: anatomy, physiology, adaptations, ecology, behavior, biogeography, phylogeny, classification, and conservation. A description of the natural history of chameleons is given, along with the fossil record and typical characteristics of each genus. The state of chameleons in the modern world is also depicted, complete with new information on the most serious threats to these remarkable reptiles.Trade Review"Taken overall, this book is an excellent and timely addition to the natural history literature for both professional biologists and other chameleon aficionados." -- Robin Andrews The Quarterly Review of Biology 90, no. 1Table of ContentsContributors Foreword 1 Biology of the Chameleons: An Introduction Krystal A. Tolley and Anthony Herrel 2 Chameleon Anatomy Christopher V. Anderson and Timothy E. Higham 2.1 Musculoskeletal Morphology 2.2 External Morphology and Integument 2.3 Sensory Structures 2.4 Visceral Systems 3 Chameleon Physiology Anthony Herrel 3.1 Neurophysiology 3.2 Muscle Physiology 3.3 Metabolism, Salt, and Water Balance 3.4 Temperature 3.5 Skin Pigmentation, Color Change, and the Role of Ultraviolet Light 3.6 Developmental Physiology 4 Function and Adaptation of Chameleons Timothy E. Higham and Christopher V. Anderson 4.1 Locomotion 4.2 Feeding 5 Ecology and Life History of Chameleons G. John Measey, Achille Raselimanana, and Anthony Herrel 5.1 Habitat 5.2 Life-History Traits 5.3 Foraging and Diet 5.4 Predators 6 Chameleon Behavior and Color Change Devi Stuart-Fox 6.1 Sensory Systems and Modes of Communication 6.2 Color Changes 6.3 Social and Reproductive Behavior 6.4 Sexual Dimorphism: Body Size and Ornamentation 6.5 Antipredator Behavior 7 Evolution and Biogeography of Chameleons Krystal A. Tolley and Michele Menegon 7.1 Evolutionary Relationships 7.2 Diversity and Distribution 7.3 Regional Diversity 7.4 Patterns of Alpha Diversity 7.5 Patterns of Beta Diversity 8 Overview of the Systematics of the Chamaeleonidae Colin R. Tilbury 8.1 Evolution of Methodology in Chameleon Taxonomy 8.2 Current Status of Taxonomy of the Chamaeleonidae 8.3 Subfamilial Groupings within Chamaeleonidae 8.4 Overview of Extant Genera 9 Fossil History of Chameleons Arnau Bolet and Susan E. Evans 9.1 Phylogenetic Relationships of Iguania and Acrodonta 9.2 Fossil Record of Acrodonta 9.3 Origins of Acrodonta 9.4 Origins of Chamaeleonidae 10 Chameleon Conservation Richard Jenkins, G. John Measey, Christopher V. Anderson, and Krystal A. Tolley 10.1 Conservation Status of Chameleons 10.2 Trade in Chameleons 10.3 Chameleons and Global Change 10.4 The Way Forward Appendix Abbreviations References Photo Credits Index

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Book SynopsisFor more than 50 years, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition has championed honest and ethical wildlife photography, while pushing the boundaries of artistic freedom, technical skill, and narrative excellence. This powerful collection of pictures features all the winning photographs from the 2018 competition. The collection represents the work of many international photographers, both professionals and amateurs. The photographs are chosen by an international jury for their artistic merit and originality, from categories that represent a diversity of natural subjects. The range of styles is diverse, as is the genre of photography, including action, macro, underwater, landscape, or environmental reportage. Each photograph is accompanied by an extended caption and there is an introduction by one of the world's most respected nature photographers.

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Book SynopsisThe authorised biography of the great naturalist and conservationist Gerald Durrell, who died aged seventy in January 1995 in Jersey, where he founded the zoo he'd dreamed of as a small boy and pioneered the captive breeding of animals for conservation.Gerald Durrell was a world-famous naturalist and popular author who wrote, in all, some thirty-seven immensely readable yarns, including the bestselling My Family and Other Animals'. His other books include Birds, Beasts and Relatives', The Bafut Beagles' and A Zoo in My Luggage'.Above all, he paved the way in print for the popular presentation of the natural world on television and presented twelve series himself the early ones, of his own expeditions. Sir David Attenborough has said: He was responsible for changing people's attitudes to zoology and changing their agenda. He showed them small animals could be as interesting as apes and elephantsHe was a pioneer with a marvellous sense of humour.'His brother was the famous writer Lawren

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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 SynopsisPublished In Aid of BBC Children in Need *The Countryfile Calendar has brought nature into our homes for nearly three decades, and now this comprehensive collection captures the essence of each season, bringing together viewers' photographs of the British countryside throughout the year.The Countryfile Calendar is an institution, raising millions for BBC Children in Need and celebrating the glorious range of British nature photography. Now nearly three decades of stunning images taken by Countryfile viewers have been brought together for the first time in a unique, all-encompassing view of rural Britain, offering a month-by-month guide to the natural world around us.John Craven, who has chaired the judging panel from the start, introduces this treasury of images, and he is joined by Matt Baker in picking out their personal favourites, as well as describing what is going on in each month. Illustrated with beautiful colour photographs throughout, this book brings the beauty of the countrTrade Review‘Beautiful’ East Anglian Daily Times

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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 SynopsisA photographic celebration of British wildlife and the country way of life.A Year in the Country is a book about the beauty of the British countryside, featuring stunning photography from some of Britain's greatest wildlife photographers.The book will follow the changes in nature throughout the year and revel in the joy of the British countryside. Each season presents its own gifts to the nature lover: from the trumpeting of wild daffodils in spring to the hypnotic dive and twist of starlings gathering over roosting sites in autumn. The majesty of British wildlife is captured in stunning images that evoke a timeless country existence.Part celebration of nature, part nostalgia for a slower pace of life, this book will make a stunning gift. An escape from everyday life, A Year in the Country transports its audience to a world where the sun shines and the grass is always greener.

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Book SynopsisThe Natural History of Selborne (1789) is written as a series of letters, which describe with wit and precision the flora and fauna White observes in his Hampshire parish. A classic of nature writing, this edition includes contemporary illustrations, a contextualizing introduction, and an appendix of readers' responses over 200 years.Trade Review'I can wholeheartedly recommend this edition ... Beautifully produced ... Secord's introduction - surely one of the chief reasons to purchase this new edition of a book never out of print - provides a nuanced and stimulating account of the origins, character, and legacies of Selborne.' * Diarmid A. Finnegan, Journal of Historical Geography *'This Oxford edition offers new insights into a work that has been hugely popular. ' * Land and Business *

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Book SynopsisThe animal world is immensely diverse, and our understanding of it has been greatly enhanced by analysis of DNA and the study of evolution and development (''evo-devo''). In this Very Short Introduction Peter Holland presents a modern tour of the animal kingdom. Beginning with the definition of animals (not obvious in biological terms), he takes the reader through the high-level groupings of animals (phyla) and new views on their evolutionary relationships based on molecular data, together with an overview of the biology of each group of animals. The phylogenetic view is central to zoology today and the volume will be of great value to all students of the life sciences, as well as providing a concise summary for the interested general reader.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. What is an animal? ; 2. Animal phyla ; 3. The evolutionary tree of animals ; 4. Basal animals: corals, sponges and jellyfish ; 5. The bilaterians: building a body ; 6. Lophotrochozoa: wondrous worms ; 7. Ecdysozoa: insects and nematodes ; 8. Deuterostomes I: starfish, sea squirts and amphioxus ; 9. Deuterostomes II: the rise of vertebrates ; 10. Deuterostomes III: vertebrates on land ; 11. Enigmatic animals ; Further reading

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Book SynopsisThis text chronicles millions of years of evolution, linking extinct larger feline species with those still living, including lions, tigers, cougars, and cheetahs. It explains how living species and fossil remains make possible the reconstruction of the cat's social and predatory behaviour.Trade ReviewWhether your interest is scientific or you merely wonder what a giant cat whose teeth inspired the name 'he who brings devastation'looked like, this book is not to be missed. -- Luke Hunter BioScience A well-written, informative, and beautifully illustrated guide to the large cats, both extinct and extant. -- Blaire Van Valkenburgh The Quarterly Review of Biology A very interesting book-a cross between popular natural history and a coffee table volume. -- F. S. Szalay Choice Beautifully illustrated... Clearly, this work has been a labour of love for both author and illustrator. -- Douglas Palmer New Scientist Anton's illustrations, refreshingly 'based directly on the skeletal evidence available and... not merely slightly altered versions of living cats with the addition of large fangs,'are perhaps the finest ever published. They are intertwined with Turner's cogent text in an eloquent demonstration of the interplay between art and science, paleontology and zoology, predator and prey, ecology and behavior, and anatomy and geography. -- Dawn A. Adams Science

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Book Synopsis''I once travelled back from Africa on a ship with an Irish captain who did not like animals. This was unfortunate, because most of my luggage consisted of about two hundred odd cages of assorted wildlife . . .''Gerald Durrell''s accounts of the animals he encountered on his travels were some of the first widely shared descriptions of the world''s most extraordinary animals.Moving from the West Coast of Africa to the northern tip of South America - and elsewhere - Durrell observes the courtships, wars and characters of a variety of creatures, from birds of paradise, to ants and anteaters, among others.Trade ReviewDurrell has an uncanny knack of discovering human as well as animal eccentricities * Sunday Telegraph *A renegade who was right . . . He was truly a man before his time -- Sir David Attenborough

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Book SynopsisFor as long as he can remember, Ben Fogle has been surrounded by creatures great and small. As a young boy his best friends were Liberty and Lexington, the family dogs. Then there was Milly the puma-sized cat, Jaws the goldfish and three very charismatic' parrots, not to mention a whole host of weird and wonderful animals that came through the doors of his father's veterinary practice.Then came Inca, Ben's adorable black Labrador, who changed his life. Since first melting the nation's heart on Castaway, the duo have been inseparable. With Inca's help, Ben was soon charming worms and tickling trout on Countryfile, minding the big cats on Animal Park and fronting the BBC's coverage of Crufts.Ben's passion for wildlife has taken him all over the world, from the plains of Africa to the sea ice of Antarctica. He has played with penguins, been chased by bull elephant seals and tapirs, and helped operate on a cheetah. He has given mud packs to rh

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Book SynopsisThe most memorable images taken from 55 years of the acclaimed Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

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Book SynopsisThis powerful collection features the 100 winning images from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 competition.

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of animal attachments that, in human terms, can only be called love. Take, for instance, the dog living in a wildlife sanctuary who treats an orphaned leopard cub as his litte beloved sister. Or the dalmation who mothers an abandoned newborn lamb - a lamb who just happened to be covered in spots like her adopted mama.

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Book SynopsisJUNGLE features exotic animals in vivid colour and vibrant motion: A tree frog blinks his big red eyes. A tiger stalks his prey. A blue leaf monkey scratches his back. A tarantula scurries across the ground. A butterfly drinks from a tropical flower. A nocturnal tarsier scans for food. A vividly patterned macaw comes in for a landing.

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Book SynopsisWhat can we learn about culture from other species?

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1995. It will soon be forty years since the original edition of this work, Sur la piste des bêtes ignorées (1955), appeared in French. With this book, the great adventure of Cryptozoology', the science of hidden animals, began.Table of ContentsPart 1 The great days of zoology are not done: there are lost worlds everywhere; Cuvier's rash dictum; survivors from the past. Part 2 The man-faced animals of South-East Asia; Nittaewo, the lost people of Ceylon; Orang-Pendek, the ape-man of Sumatra; the not so abominable snowman. Part 3 The living fossils of Oceania: the surrealist dinosaur of New guinea; the incredible Australian bunyips; the Queensland marsupial tiger; the moa, a fossil that may still thrive; waitoreke, the impossible New Zealand mammal. Part 4 Riddles of the green continent: the Patagonian giant sloth; the giant anaconda and other inland "sea serpents"; apes in green hell. Part 5 The giants of the far North: the mammoth of the Taiga. Part 6 The terrors of Africa: three large pygmies - the forest rhinoceros, the water elephant and the spotted lion; the Nandi bear; Mngwa, the strange one; the little hairy men; the dragon St. George did not kill; Kongamato, the last flying dragon. Part 7 The lesson of the Malagasy ghosts: Tratratratra, vorompatra, etcetera.

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Book SynopsisAn eye-opening and witty account of the global ecological transformations wrought by roads, from an award-winning authorTrade Review"An eye-opening road trip that spans continents to show how paved roads, seen as markers of civilisation, disrupt the natural world... This is a rare, beautifully written book, which tells us hard truths about roads, cars and life on Earth, but still manages to make us feel positive about the road ahead. " -- Vijaysree Venkatraman - New Scientist"[A] wide-ranging and absorbing account. " -- Bill McKibben - The New York Review of Books"Fascinating and compassionate. " -- Emily Raboteau - The New York Times Book Review"[A] swift and winding ride... Many readers came away from Goldfarb's first book, Eager, as newly minted beaver fans; don't be surprised if you finish Crossings as an evangelist for road ecology." -- Tess Joosse - Scientific American"Goldfarb is perceptive about how roads tangle animals together with humans... Crossings is well-paced and vivid, an engaging account of a potentially dull subject. " -- Timothy Farrington - Wall Street Journal"Whether he is writing about wallabies or butterflies, beavers or anteaters, Ben Goldfarb approaches our fellow animals with delighted curiosity and rare perception. In Crossings, he chronicles their epic struggles within our global network of roads and hi" -- Michelle Nijhuis, author of Beloved Beasts"A brilliantly panoptic look at our planet’s sprawling network of roads: what’s wrong with them, how they got that way, and how they could be set right. Precise in detail but vast in scale, Goldfarb's storytelling carries echoes of Michael Pollan and John McPhee, but with a wry humor that is uniquely his own. He makes it clear that if we are serious about ending the extinction crisis, we must first learn to care about the unnatural disaster that is our road system." -- Robert Moor, best-selling author of On Trails: An Exploration"Like some David Attenborough of the asphalt, Ben Goldfarb has written a fascinating guide to understanding the wilder side of roads, both symbols of freedom and harbingers of unnatural selection.”" -- Tom Vanderbilt, best-selling author of Traffic"A truly important and landmark book on a subject whose full impacts continue to be disregarded or underestimated in considering conservation efforts. Crossings is a moving, compassionate, and indispensable guide to navigating the issue of wildlife" -- Jeff VanderMeer, best-selling author of the Southern Reach Trilogy"Ben Goldfarb is the kind of gonzo environmental journalist Hunter Thompson would love. He goes everywhere, interviews everyone, pulls his weight alongside biologists, engineers, and road-kill salvagers, then writes compellingly about all of it. Crossings, his meditation on the ecological devastation roads and highways inflict—and on the very clever responses from humans and other creatures that road life demands—is an absolute shining star of a book." -- Dan Flores, best-selling author of Coyote America and Wild New World

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Book SynopsisCHOSEN AS A BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 BY WATERSTONES AND THE TIMES''Entertaining and original.'' Guardian''Accessible and insightful, it''s a thought-provoking read.'' Observer'' Highly readable.'' The Times''Nothing less than brilliant.'' Wall Street JournalWhat if human intelligence is actually more of a liability than a gift? After all, the animal kingdom, in all its diversity, gets by just fine without it. At first glance, human history is full of remarkable feats of intelligence, yet human exceptionalism can be a double-edged sword. With our unique cognitive prowess comes severe consequences, including existential angst, violence, discrimination, and the creation of a world teetering towards climate catastrophe. What if human exceptionalism is more of a curse than a blessing?As Justin Gregg puts it, there''s an evolutionary reason why human intelligence isn''t moreTrade ReviewI love the book and everyone should read it -- Ryan HolidayIf Nietzsche Were A Narwhal makes some extraordinary and thought-provoking points. It is not only engagingly written, but its controversial thesis is worth taking seriously... some of the cognitive concepts introduced...are nothing less than brilliant. * Wall Street Journal *Beautiful, thought-provoking, and often hilarious * BBC Science Focus *Gregg's clever and provocative book is full of irreverent notions and funny anecdotes - the creative upside to being a human animal. But our ability to abstract from our immediate experience means we can take that creativity too far....undeniably entertaining * New York Times *A dazzling, delightful read on what animal cognition can teach us about our own mental shortcomings. You won't just tear through this book in one sitting - you'll probably want to invite Justin Gregg over for dinner to spend more time inside his brilliant mind. This is one of the best debuts I've read in a long time, and I dare you to open it without rethinking some of your basic ideas about intelligence. -- Adam GrantI defy you not to be interested by this book - it finds a novel way of getting at very deep questions about who we are and what it means, and does so with clear-eyed compassion and a certain humor that softens the conclusion a bit -- Bill McKibbenCombining first rate story-telling with the latest research on animal minds and cognitive psychology, If Nietzsche Were A Narwhal is the rare book that will cause readers to think deeply about big questions and moral issues and to laugh out loud on nearly every page. I loved it. -- Hal HerzogIf Nietzsche Were a Narwhal is a book full of observations as surprising and off-the-beaten-path as its title. It's scientifically very well informed. It's not a treatise - it's a pleasure. -- Carl SafinaI felt dumber after reading this book. Mission accomplished, Justin! -- David GrimmWe've heard that a mind is a terrible thing to waste, but have you ever considered that having a human mind is more a bane than a gift? Justin Gregg's delightful and provocative book melds science with anecdote to explore that question. Read it, have your preconceptions challenged, and feel some humility. It might do you good. -- Jonathan BalcombeA highly original take on the nature of intelligence across life forms. Simultaneously thought -provoking and delightfully humorous, Justin Gregg guides readers into an essential re-thinking of human exceptionalism. This is a welcome upending of all we have been molded to believe about humans and other animal minds. -- Lyanda Lynn HauptThis is an important book to read if you want to understand animals for what they are - not as cardboard cutouts, or as furry humans. Animal minds aren't in competition with us, although Gregg makes a good case that if they were, they would win hands down. The idea that human intelligence may be nothing more than a failed evolutionary dead end, gives humanity an important challenge to which we must rise. -- Arik KershenbaumWhat's it like to be a bat, a bee, or a bed bug? In this enthralling book, Justin Gregg offers a window into the minds of other creatures, and debunks many of the myths of human exceptionalism. He makes the provocative argument that human thinking may be complex, but it is by no means superior - and its unique qualities could even be the cause of our species' ultimate downfall. If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal is both a humbling and awe-inspiring read. -- David RobsonA funny, perceptive book that answers questions we've been told not to ask. Like many of the great sages, Justin Gregg uses animal stories to treat deep questions of consciousness and justice. The result is a deft field guide to the mixed blessings of intelligence and the real possibility that consciousness (and joy) exist perfectly well without it. -- William PoundstoneA sparkling and witty tour of the many minds we share this planet with. Nietzsche might be surprised to find himself contemplated in the company of beasts from narwhals to slugs - but the fascinating and detailed payoff of the cognitive lives of so many animals is immense. -- Clive WynneEnlightening! If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal is a hilarious and thrilling look at intelligence that asks: are humans really the best? Gregg will dazzle and sweep you off your feet with his detailed exploration of the animal kingdom and its many secrets. This is an absolute must-read. -- Wednesday MartinIf Nietzsche Were a Narwhal is an unusual, delightful, and entertaining book that will help us achieve a more precise understanding of human nature, counterintuitively by looking at our reflection in light of the clues of conscious behavior expressed by our fellow animals. I loved Dr. Gregg's book because I learned quite a few interesting things from each chapter. As a scholar, I can offer no higher praise. Highly recommended. -- Oné R PagánIf Nietzsche were a Narwhal is a beautiful, thought-provoking and often hilarious exploration of this planet's different kinds of minds. Justin Gregg points out that while many of the hallmarks of human intelligence are also found, in some form, in animals from insects to narwhals, humans are by all means exceptional. But our intelligence is still constrained by our evolutionary history; we may be too intelligent for own good, and too stupid to look after our planet with a sufficiently long-term planning perspective. Gregg's magnificent book is a poignant reminder that if we don't raise our game fast, we might once again cede Earth to the rule of insects and other supposedly less intelligent creatures. -- Lars Chittka[If Nietzsche Were a Narwhal] challenges deep-seated ideas about the superiority of human intelligence by contrasting it with stories of animals who've gotten along just fine without it * Publishers Weekly *A fascinating take on human intelligence. * Kirkus Reviews *Wonderfully accessible and charmingly narrated, this is a fascinating investigation of intellect and cognition -- Publishers Weekly(An) entertaining and original book...Gregg is a brilliant communicator of complex ideas, with a writing style that is rich in both humour and detail. His argument is also surprisingly convincing. * PD Smith, Guardian *So many of our narratives describe how our mega-human brains have allowed us to conquer the world. But these brains have also led us to a point where we might make ourselves extinct. And crucially, do they make us any happier? These are deep and important questions; Gregg harnesses his marvellous human brain to also make them really funny. This is a great way to get acquainted with the current understanding of other animal intelligence and an interesting corrective to our anthropocentric instincts. * BBC Science Focus *Justin Gregg's witty exploration of animal intelligence is a useful guide - but there is more to human life than a search for contentedness... No one who reads Gregg's witty and instructive book will come away without having learnt some humbling truths about themselves and their animal kin. His argument is twofold. He details instances of intelligent behaviour which show that attributes believed to be uniquely human are present, in varying degrees, in animals, birds, fish and insects. On the other hand, he suggests that in humans these attributes come at a price. Consciousness - the hallmark of the human species in many philosophies - is double-edged in precisely this way. * New Statesman *'By melding science, history and philosophy, the book becomes a highly readable, and on occasion quite surprising, tour of the limits of consciousness.' * The Times *'His understanding of human and animal cognition provides real insight into how we think, why our brains have evolved to think that way, and what we might want to do about it - since, perhaps uniquely as a species, we can.' * Financial Times *'A fascinating work of popular science... Accessible and insightful, it's a thought-provoking read.' * The Observer *

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Book SynopsisRSPB Spotlight: Hedgehogs is packed with eye-catching, informative colour photos, and features succinct and detailed text written by a knowledgeable naturalist.Much loved - but about to be lost? The Hedgehog regularly tops polls of the UK's favourite animal, yet numbers in our countryside have halved this century. Generations of children have been captivated by Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, though our complex and contradictory relationship with the Hedgehog is also characterised by persecution and death. This unmistakable, spiny mammal is a gardener's best friend', but one that we rarely see alive and in our midst.In Spotlight: Hedgehogs, James Lowen reveals what a Hedgehog is and how it lives, unveiling the secrets of its lifestyle, such as foraging and hibernating, rolling into a ball and building a nest. He also investigates the relationship between Hedgehogs and people from film and fun to conservation and crisps and offers practical aTrade ReviewProfusely illustrated, and written in an informal, engaging style ... it manages to tell you just about everything you could possibly want to know about hedgehogs, including in many cases how surprisingly little we know -- Ken Thompson * British Ecological Society's 'The Niche' magazine *Table of ContentsMeet the Hedgehogs Bodywork Breeding and Growth Home, Habits and Food (Anti)social Life Threats and Conservation Hedgehogs and People Hedgehogs in Culture How to See Hedgehogs Glossary Acknowledgements Further Reading Resources Image Credits Index

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Book SynopsisRSPB Spotlight: Swifts and Swallows is packed with eye-catching, informative colour photos, and features succinct, detailed text written by a knowledgeable naturalist.People all over Britain and Europe have long welcomed the arrival of swifts and swallows as a promise of summer being just around the corner. And with their similar long wings and dashing flight, it is perhaps understandable that we often confuse the two birds. After all, they have much in common: both feed on flying insects, both breed around buildings, and both are long-distance migrants that spend winter in Africa. But appearances can be deceptive. Swifts and swallows are completely unrelated birds that have adapted through evolution to survive in similar ways. In Spotlight: Swifts and Swallows, Mike Unwin reveals their fascinating lifestyles, explains how and why they have acquired their similarities, and ways in which we can help protect them. The Spotlight series introduces readers to the livesTable of ContentsMeet the Swift and the Swallow Ancestors and Relatives Built for Flight An Airborne Menu Born in a Tower Born in a Barn Globetrotters Life and Death Icons of Summer Protecting Swifts and Swallows Glossary Further Reading and Resources Acknowledgements Image Credits Index

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Book SynopsisRSPB Spotlight: Frogs and Toads is packed with eye-catching, informative colour photos, and features succinct and detailed text written by an expert on these amphibians.They were bestowed with magical properties in folklore, they were sought after as ingredients of witches' broth, and they are comic characters that have invaded popular culture, from Kermit the Frog to Toad of Toad Hall. Frogs and toads are charismatic members of Britain's wildlife. But what do you really know about them?Scratch beneath the surface, and you will discover some of nature's weirdest creatures, amphibians whose ecology we are only now coming to understand. Spotlight Frogs and Toads is a compelling account of Britain's four native amphibian species: the Common Frog, the Pool Frog, the Common Toad and the rare and secretive Natterjack Toad. New research suggests that, in the next ten years, three out of four UK species are likely to be listed as threatened. Revealing a host of secrets, inTable of ContentsAmphibian Apparel Meet the Residents Life on Land Reproduction The Life Cycle Under Threat Frogs and Toads in Culture A Future for Frogs and Toads Glossary Further Reading and Resources Acknowledgements Image Credits Index

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Book SynopsisWhether you live in a house or flat, in a rural or urban environment, this beautiful book shows how to harness the natural world around us and feel more grounded and rooted in our surroundings.'Inspirational' – Cara DelevingneThe Wild Journal is a beautifully illustrated guide from leading florist and nature writer Willow Crossley. Guiding you through creative practical projects and therapeutic seasonal reflections, The Wild Journal celebrates the potential of nature to mend, heal and transform our mood.The simple, back-to-basics habits and small seasonal changes in the book can help everyone to counteract the unpredictability and chaos of everyday life. Wherever you live, there are simple mindful actions – from listening to birdsong instead of rushing on your commute, to collecting natural treasures such as feathers, branches, pebbles or pine cones. Willow shares her creative techniques for bringing nature into your daily routine – whether it's planting and potting, identifying wild flowers, trying your hand at beautifully simple flower arrangements or making your own essential oils and candles. There is space to record reflections and your favourite seasonal activities, as well as ideas for star-gazing, bird-watching, and so much more.Willow Crossley's creative approach is informed by an artistic eye and a life spent immersed in nature. From growing up in Wales where days were spent exploring outdoors and flowers adorned every surface, to living in France surrounded by fields of sunflowers, iris and fragrant lavender, nature has always been an intrinsic part of her everyday life.Trade ReviewBeautifully illustrated...a pleasing entry into the transformative and healing power of the outdoors. -- Evening Standard Top Pick for books on mindfulness and meditationHaving moved to the countryside four years ago, this book is not only a wonderful guide, but also feels like it could be my own personal journal. In her passion-driven knowledge and playful storytelling, Willow talks and cares for her surroundings the way one would for a friend. It has reminded me how much love, loyalty and kindness are as important to nature, as they are to me. -- Jack SavorettiA must-have for anyone interested in the positive impact engaging with nature can have on your soul -- Chloe Delevingne

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Book SynopsisEducation is a critical part of safety - and not getting lost, or knowing how to get found if you do, is one of the most important lessons. Simple techniques to navigate out of dangerous situations are the focus of this handy waterproof reference guide, along with basic compass use and travelling by simple bearings. Contents also cover navigation skills around obstacles, pacing beads, aiming off, and dead reckoning. Developed by noted survival expert and woodsman Dave Canterbury, this is one of a 10-part series on survival skills. Made in the USA.

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Book SynopsisHow to connect with animal guides to expand individual and planetary awareness • Reveals techniques for exploring dreams, shamanic journeys, healing, and shapeshifting with animals • Presents words of wisdom from cats, dogs, horses, llamas, rabbits, ravens, bears, and even insects As companions, helpers, and spiritual guides, animals have always held a special relationship with humans. As we access our natural ability to communicate with animals, we cannot help but open ourselves more profoundly to life, other human beings, and our own deep nature--the essence of who we really are. Animal Voices, Animal Guides presents a wide variety of ways in which we can tune in to the “universal language” of all life and reconnect with the animal kingdom in more conscious, meaningful ways. Through myths, shamanic journeys, and dreams we meet our power animals, spirit animals, and wise animal guides. The exercises, meditations, stories, and experiments included are designed to help us tune in to the subtle whispers of nature and expand our awareness. We learn what sled dogs have to teach us about teamwork, how llamas see themselves as healers of the world, and how it would feel to inhabit the skin of a shark. Filled with advice from animal communication professionals and actual conversations with animals, Animal Voices, Animal Guides is an invitation to explore our inner ways of knowing. When we learn how to use all our senses to listen to animals, we will find out how to listen to our authentic self as well.

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Book Synopsis“Tallamy lays out all you need to know to participate in one of the great conservation projects of our time. Read it and get started!” —Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction Douglas W. Tallamy’s first book, Bringing Nature Home, awakened thousands of readers to an urgent situation: wildlife populations are in decline because the native plants they depend on are fast disappearing. His solution? Plant more natives. In this new book, Tallamy takes the next step and outlines his vision for a grassroots approach to conservation. Nature’s Best Hope shows how homeowners everywhere can turn their yards into conservation corridors that provide wildlife habitats. Because this approach relies on the initiatives of private individuals, it is immune from the whims of government policy. Even more important, it’s practical, effective, and easy—you will walk away with specific suggestions you can incorporate into your own yard. If you’re concerned about doing something good for the environment, Nature’s Best Hope is the blueprint you need. By acting now, you can help preserve our precious wildlife—and the planet—for future generations.

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Book SynopsisThe relationship between humans and mountain lions has always been uneasy. A century ago, mountain lions were vilified as a threat to livestock and hunted to the verge of extinction. In recent years, this keystone predator has made a remarkable comeback with the help of enlightened wildlife management policies and protection under the Endangered Species Act. But its recovery has led to an unexpected conundrum: Do more mountain lions mean they’re a threat to humans and domestic animals? Or, are mountain lions still in need of our help and protection as their habitat dwindles and they’re forced into the edges and crevices of communities to survive? Carnivore expert Mark Elbroch welcomes these tough questions. He dismisses long-held myths about mountain lions and uses ground-breaking science to uncover important new information about their social habits. Elbroch argues that humans and mountain lions can peacefully coexist in close proximity if we ignore uninformed hype and instead arm ourselves with knowledge and common sense. He walks us through the realities of human safety in the presence of mountain lions, livestock safety, competition with hunters for deer and elk, and threats to rare species, dispelling the paranoia with facts and logic. In the last few chapters, he touches on human impacts on mountain lions and the need for a sensible management strategy. The result, he argues, is a win-win for humans, mountain lions, and the ecosystems that depend on keystone predators to keep them in healthy balance. The Cougar Conundrum delivers a clear-eyed assessment of a modern wildlife challenge, offering practical advice for wildlife managers, conservationists, hunters, and those in the wildland-urban interface who share their habitat with large predators.

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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 Synopsis“Beauchemin discovers again and again that happiness is a function of the connection between beings—the nonhuman animals as well as the human.”—Maria Popova, A Favorite Book of 2023For readers of Ross Gay’s The Book of Delights comes a joyful, tender memoir of encounters with animals and their potential to transform our lives through joy.Two mismatched ducks quarrel amorously. A tortoise basks on a rock in the sun. Four deer ceremoniously visit a writer’s garden to announce the arrival of a newborn fawn. In Archives of Joy, renowned poet, essayist, and novelist Jean-François Beauchemin turns his poetic and playful gaze to memories of animals he has known throughout his life, from fleeting encounters to deep relationships. With each meeting, Beauchemin returns to a simple thought: that joy in nature is an essential counterweight to the inescapable awareness of the brevity of life.In short, humorous, and often dreamlike vignettes, Beauchemin meditates on the mysteries of existence, the alchemy of memory, and the entwinement of the animal world with our own—whether he’s nursing an injured bird back to health, deciphering the gaze of a judgmental cat, or keeping company with a workhorse nearing its death.His life as a writer and his beloved pet dogs and cats feature often, as do the creatures he encounters in his garden, at farms, or on woodland walks: sparrows, crows, deer, foxes, horses, and cows. Deeply restorative, imaginative, and dreamily poetic, Archives of Joy is a memoir that will stay with readers long after its final page.Trade Review"Jean-François Beauchemin looks back, around and into the mystic, to great effect. His brief and often breathtaking reflections on creatures he has encountered throughout his life meld into a salve for the troubled, weary or distracted mind and will appeal to fans of Brian Doyle, Ross Gay and Margaret Renkl. . . [A] small treasure."—Bookpage/p>"I love this book! In a time when far too many people are estranged from nature, Archives of Joy will make you want to get outside and watch the animals you encounter wherever you are."—Marc Bekoff, PhD, author of The Emotional Lives of Animals and Dogs Demystified"I was taken with this book from the first page to the last, but how to describe it? Not poetry, not essay, not memoir, but all of these merging like watercolors on wet paper. Jean-François Beauchemin calls this collection 'a bestiary of memory.' What an apt description! Critters, both wild and domestic, accompany him through his wanderings, and the past, even the time before his birth, shines its light on the path he is walking now. The writing is grounded in the real and earthy, yet the imaginative leaps dazzle and delight. A tortoise contemplates death, God makes an appearance to apologize for giving dogs such a short life, a rabbit takes comfort in tarot readings in his favor. He calls himself 'a man who is always moved and amazed by the brevity of everything.' You, reader, will be moved and amazed too."—Lorna Crozier, Governor General's Award–winning poet and author of Through the Garden: A Love Story (With Cats) and After That"Referring to the work as a 'bestiary of memory,' the author embraces his past as he reflects on moments he's spent with the other denizens of his world in observations on each interaction that move from the practical to the metaphysical . . . A lovely, meditative volume."—BooklistPraise for the French Edition"Reading Jean-François Beauchemin is an experience in itself. It is like an exercise in meditation; like pausing in front of a particular image, in a suspended moment. It is him in the image—as he projects himself—but it is ourselves that we see, or rather those aspects of our own lives which have escaped us."—Le Devoir"[Jean-François Beauchemin] is an author known for his writings about life, full of deep and heartfelt reflection. He opens the door wide to allow us into the core of his being. He is the kind of person you meet and with whom, after the first sentence, and without quite knowing why, you are talking earnestly about the meaning of life."—Le Passe Mot

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Book SynopsisAmong the world’s most fascinating living fossils, scorpions have been around for some 420 million years. South Africa is home to an astonishing variety, with 108 species in three families occurring in most of the region’s biomes, from desert and grassland to fynbos, savanna and forest. Scorpions are even found in urban gardens. Field Guide to Scorpions of South Africa is the first comprehensive guide to describe and illustrate all known species in the country. The clear, detailed species accounts cover appearance, habitat and behaviour, and discuss the variation within species according to region. Up-to-date distribution maps are included for all species and exceptional photographs, carefully worked to show astounding detail and vivid colours, bring to life the intricate patterning and colours of different species. Both males and females are presented, as well as a variety of colour forms, facilitating accurate identification in the field. The introduction discusses scorpion classification, anatomy, biology, behaviour and habitat, as well as venomosity and the treatment of stings. Tips on how and where to find scorpions and how to contribute to their conservation as a citizen scientist are also included. Sales points: The first comprehensive field guide to this group of arachnids. Detailed profiles of families, genera and species. Covers venomosity and the treatment of stings. Extraordinary photography, including colour forms within species.

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Book SynopsisThis trusted best-seller has been comprehensively updated and expanded to feature accounts of over 1,500 species and insect groups. Included are the most common, most economically and ecologically important, interesting and attractive insects in the region. It features: vivid photographs, easy-to-read text, detailed accounts covering identification, biology, distribution and related species, a helpful introduction detailing the significance, life history, collection and photography of insects, and quick reference guides on the inside covers to facilitate identification. Entomologists both amateur and professional, students, gardeners, farmers, tourists and anyone with an interest in the natural world will appreciate this illuminating and invaluable guide.

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