THE BIRDBOOKER REPORT

New Titles

2012-02-09T17:58:00.000-08:00

1) Fagan, Brian. The First North Americans: An Archaeological Journey. 2012. Thames and Hudson. Paperback: 272 pages. Price: $26.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: This new history of North America is based mainly on archaeology, but also on cutting-edge research in many scientific disciplines, from biology and climatology to ethnohistory and high-tech chemistry and physics. Brian Fagan describes the controversies over first settlement, which likely occurred via Siberia at the end of the Ice Age, and the debates over the routes used as humans moved southward into the heart of the continent. A remarkable diversity of hunter-gatherer societies evolved in the rapidly changing North American environments, and the book explores the ingenious ways in which people adapted to every kind of landscape imaginable, from arctic tundra to open plains and thick woodland.
Professor Fagan recounts the increasingly sophisticated acclimation by Native Americans to arctic, arid and semiarid lands, culminating in the spectacular Ancestral Pueblo societies of the Southwest and the elaborate coastal settlements of California and the Pacific Northwest. He then traces the origins of the Moundbuilder societies of the Eastern Woodlands, which reached their apogee in the flamboyant Mississippian culture of the South and Southeast and the mounds of the ancient city of Cahokia. The book ends with a description of the Algonquian and Iroquoian peoples of the Northeast and St. Lawrence Valley, and an epilogue that enumerates the devastating consequences of European contact for Native Americans.
RECOMMENDATION: A good introduction on the subject.

2) Manley, Bill. Egyptian Hieroglyphs for Complete Beginners. 2012. Thames and Hudson. Paperback: 160 pages. Price: $16.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: An original and accessible approach to learning hieroglyphs, written by an experienced teacher and author.
     This is the first guide to reading hieroglyphs that begins with Egyptian monuments themselves. Assuming no knowledge on the part of the reader, it shows how to interpret the information on the inscriptions in a step-by-step journey through the script and language of ancient Egypt.
     We enter the world of the ancient Egyptians and explore their views on life and death, Egypt and the outside world, humanity and the divine. The book draws on texts found on some thirty artifacts ranging from coffins to stelae to obelisks found in museums in Egypt, America, and Europe, and selected across two thousand years. The texts are then explained clearly, and are supported by full translations, photographs, and line drawings.
RECOMMENDATION: Ever wanted to learn about Egyptian hieroglyphs? Here's the book for you!

3) Stringer, Chris and Peter Andrews. The Complete World of Human Evolution (2nd edition). 2012. Thames and Hudson. Paperback: 240 pages. Price: $26.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Human domination of the earth is now so complete that it is easy to forget how recently our role in the history of the planet began. The earliest apes evolved around twenty million years ago, yet Homo sapiens has existed for a mere 160,000 years. In the intervening period, dozens of species of early ape and human have lived and died out, leaving behind the fossilized remains that have helped to make the detailed picture of our evolution revealed here.
     Since this book was first published in 2005 there have been exciting new developments in the story of ape and human evolution, and the authors take account of them in this revised edition. The big gap in the fossil record in Africa is beginning to be filled with the discovery of several new species of apes in Kenya and Ethiopia that date from ten to nine million years ago. There are new discoveries of Australopithecus, updates on the dating of hominin sites, results of new DNA analyses, and much more.
     Illustrated with photographs, diagrams, and reconstruction drawings, this is essential reading for anyone interested in human origins.
RECOMMENDATION: Ever wondered about our ancestors? Here's a readable introduction to human evolution.

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2012-02-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/grrlscientist/2012/feb/05/1

New Title

2012-01-31T20:55:00.000-08:00

1) Meyers, Amy R.W. (editor). Knowing Nature: Art and Science in Philadelphia, 1740-1840. 2012. Yale University Press. Hardbound: 417 pages. Price: $65.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: Philadelphia developed the most active scientific community in early America, fostering an influential group of naturalist-artists, including William Bartram, Charles Willson Peale, Alexander Wilson, and John James Audubon, whose work has been addressed by many monographic studies. However, as the groundbreaking essays in Knowing Nature demonstrate, the examination of nature stimulated not only forms of artistic production traditionally associated with scientific practice of the day, but processes of making not ordinarily linked to science. The often surprisingly intimate connections between and among these creative activities and the objects they engendered are explored through the essays in this book, challenging the hierarchy that is generally assumed to have been at play in the study of nature, from the natural sciences through the fine and decorative arts, and, ultimately, popular and material culture. Indeed, the many ways in which the means of knowing nature were reversed—in which artistic and artisanal culture informed scientific interpretations of the natural world—forms a central theme of this pioneering publication.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in early American scientific history.

New and Recent Titles

2012-01-31T15:16:00.001-08:00

1) Crane, Jeff. Finding the River: An Environmental History of the Elwha. 2011. OSU Press.  Paperback: 250 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: In 1992 landmark federal legislation called for the removal of two dams from the Elwha River to restore salmon runs. Jeff Crane dives into the debate over development and ecological preservation in Finding the River, presenting a long-term environmental and human history of the river as well as a unique look at river reconstruction.
     Finding the River examines the ways that different communities—from the Lower Elwha Klallam Indians to current-day residents—have used the river and its resources, giving close attention to the harnessing of the Elwha for hydroelectric production and the resulting decline of its fisheries. Crane describes efforts begun in the 1980s to remove the dams and restore the salmon. He explores the rise of a river restoration movement in the late twentieth century and the roles that free-flowing rivers could play in preserving salmon as climate change presents another set of threats to these endangered fish.
     A significant and timely contribution to American Western and environmental history—removal of the two Elwha River dams began in September 2011—Finding the River will be of interest to historians, environmentalists, and fisheries biologists, as well as to general readers interested in the Puget Sound, the Olympic Peninsula, and environmental issues.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in river restoration projects and/or Olympic Peninsula history.

2) Kimmerer, Robin Wall. Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses. 2003. OSU Press. Paperback: 168 pages. Price: $18.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Winner of the 2005 John Burroughs Medal Award for Natural History Writing
     Living at the limits of our ordinary perception, mosses are a common but largely unnoticed element of the natural world. Gathering Moss is a beautifully written mix of science and personal reflection that invites readers to explore and learn from the elegantly simple lives of mosses.
     In this series of linked personal essays, Robin Wall Kimmerer leads general readers and scientists alike to an understanding of how mosses live and how their lives are intertwined with the lives of countless other beings. Kimmerer explains the biology of mosses clearly and artfully, while at the same time reflecting on what these fascinating organisms have to teach us.
     Drawing on her diverse experiences as a scientist, mother, teacher, and writer of Native American heritage, Kimmerer explains the stories of mosses in scientific terms as well as in the framework of indigenous ways of knowing. In her book, the natural history and cultural relationships of mosses become a powerful metaphor for ways of living in the world.
RECOMMENDATION: Most people only think of moss as something you get rid of. That should change after reading this book.

3) Li, Judith L. and Michael T. Barbour (editors). Wading for Bugs: Exploring Streams with the Experts. 2011. OSU Press. Paperback: 160 pages. Price: $19.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: In Wading for Bugs, nearly two dozen aquatic biologists share their memorable encounters with stream insects. The contributors, based primarily in North America, work in diverse environments – from arctic to desert, from mountain streams to river valleys. They represent a wide range of expertise as authors of standard field texts, leaders in biomonitoring and assessment programs, directors of major laboratories, and specialists in aquatic ecology and taxonomy.
     The writings in Wading for Bugs allow readers to experience – through the eyes of the scientists – what it’s like to study stream insects and to make discoveries that could help develop biological indicators for stream health. General summaries introduce each insect order. Elegant insect drawings accompany each story, along with morphological, life history, and habitat information for each species or family.
     Wading for Bugs will appeal to general readers as well as students, naturalists, and outdoor enthusiasts curious about streams and the insects that live in them.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in aquatic entomology.

New Title

2012-01-30T14:59:00.000-08:00

1) Milner, Richard. Charles R. Knight: The Artist Who Saw Through Time. 2012. Abrams. Hardbound: 180 pages. Price: $40.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: American wildlife artist Charles R. Knight (1874–1953) spent a lifetime creating some of the first paintings and sculptures of dinosaurs, mammoths, and cavemen that were both spectacularly beautiful and scientifically accurate. For generations, his work has inspired scientists, artists, and filmmakers all over the world. This richly illustrated celebration of Knight’s artwork gathers together famous and never-before-seen paintings, sculptures, sketches, and murals. In addition to a new biographical essay, it also features excerpts from Knight’s extensive writings about extinct and modern animals. Above all, it provides a refreshing new look at Knight’s lifelong quest to depict the range of animal species, his struggles with failing eyesight, his desire for artistic independence, and his deep sense of kinship with Ice Age cave artists.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those with an interest in paleoart!

Leaping Laelaps

Cave Painting

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2012-01-29T09:51:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/grrlscientist/2012/jan/29/1

Forthcoming Title

2012-01-27T11:50:00.000-08:00

Just learned about this forthcoming title: The Unfeathered Bird by Katrina van Grouw (formerly Katrina Cook). It's due out Fall/Autumn 2012 (Princeton University Press).
      From the author's website: A collection of over 300 fine anatomical drawings reflecting the diversity of bird forms. The skull of a Shoebill, skeleton of a Hoatzin, and the remarkable coiled windpipe of Birds of Paradise are just a few of the exotic gems to be found amongst more familiar birds; but birds as you’ve never seen them before. The majority of these drawings represent birds in living postures: flying, sleeping, feeding and displaying. As well as a representative selection from the 10,000 or so wild species, the book also covers domestic variations achieved by selective breeding, including many of the pigeon varieties kept by Charles Darwin which were so important to his theory of Natural Selection.

     The book is arranged according to an 18th Century taxonomy based around simple anatomical features, and has something of the classical flavour of the illustrated natural history works of the past. Its impact is primarily visual, and the concise, accompanying texts are aimed at the layman and free from scientific jargon.

More artwork from this fortthcoming book can be found here: http://www.unfeatheredbird.com/theunfeatheredbird/theunfeatheredbird-gallery.html

FEATURED TITLE

2012-01-26T15:29:00.000-08:00

1) Hume, Julian P. and Michael Walters. Extinct Birds. 2011. T & A D Poyser. Hardbound: 544 pages. Price: 50.00 GBP (about $78.46 U.S.).

SUMMARY: This is the first comprehensive review of the hundreds of bird species and subspecies that have become extinct over the last 1,000 years of habitat degradation, over-hunting and rat introduction. Covering both familiar icons of extinction as well as more obscure birds, some known from just one specimen or from traveller's tales, the book also looks at hundreds of species from the subfossil record – birds that disappeared without ever being recorded. Julian Hume and Michael Walters recreate these lost birds in stunning detail, bringing together an up to date review of the literature for every species. From Great Auks, Carolina Parakeets and Dodos to the amazing yet completely vanished bird radiations of Hawaii and New Zealand, via rafts of extinctions in the Pacific and elsewhere, this book is both a sumptuous reference and an amazing testament to humanity's impact on birds.
A direct replacement for Greenway's seminal 1958 title Extinct and Vanishing Birds, this book will be the standard reference on the subject for generations to come.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for anyone with an interest in bird conservation, especially for those with an interest in what we have already lost! For my U.S.A. readers, Hume's Lost Land of the Dodo has been remaindered and is available at http://www.hamiltonbook.com/ for $9.95 (plus shipping)!

Buteo Books Link

New Title

2012-01-24T21:48:00.000-08:00

1) Tyler, Michael J. and Frank Knight. Field Guide to the Frogs of Australia (revised edition). 2011. CSIRO Publishing. Flexibound: 188 pages. Price: $55.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: Throughout much of the world, frog populations are declining and some species are disappearing totally. In Australia, several species have become extinct in the past 25 years.
     This revised and updated guide provides concise accounts of all the known frogs of Australia. There are 230 species within the five native frog families: Hylidae, Limnodynastidae, Microhylidae, Myobatrachidae and Ranidae. Also included are the introduced Cane Toad and nine ‘stowaway’ species that have arrived in Australia.
     The text for each species includes details of size, status, distribution, habitat, behaviour and advertisement call. Each species is accompanied by a map of Australia showing its known distribution, and a full-colour painted illustration. Closely related frogs are shown in identical poses so that comparisons can be made readily. The introductory section of the book covers frog biology and habitats and includes notes on families and genera.
RECOMMENDATION: Frank Knight's artwork highlights this book! This title is a must have for those with an interest in the frogs of Australia.

New Pitcher Plant Titles

2012-01-23T18:10:00.000-08:00

1 and 2) McPherson, Stewart et al.. Sarraceniaceae of North America and South America (2 volumes). 2011. Redfern Natural History Productions. Hardbound: 810 and 566 pages respectively. Price: 34.99 GBP per volume (about $54.45 U.S. plus shipping).

SUMMARY: Complete with up-to-date conservation assessments, distribution maps and accounts of the diversity, wild ecology and habitats of all species, these monographs are a major and definitive taxonomic revision of all three genera of true pitcher plants of the New World.
Visually beautiful and comprehensive, these books will appeal to both general readers and specialists who are interested in the natural history, diversity, ecology and relationships of Darlingtonia, Heliamphora and Sarracenia.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those with an interest in New World pitcher plants! The books can be ordered through NHBS , Redfern or Amazon.com (see links below).

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2012-01-22T10:31:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/grrlscientist/2012/jan/22/1

Sibley 2013

2012-01-20T17:43:00.000-08:00

David Sibley has been working on a revised edition of his bird guide. It's due out in 2013. Here's a sample plate:

David writes: On the drawing board today... Puffins, auklets and murrelets flying away - as they are so often seen from boats. These will be added to the revised bird guide alongside the other images of each species in flight.

David touching up his small dove plates.

On the drawing board yesterday: The very distinctive Queen Charlotte Islands subspecies of the Northern Saw-whet Owl, which was not included in the first edition of the Sibley Guide, but will be in the second!

To see the artwork in progress, click here

Audubon auction today

2012-01-20T11:38:00.000-08:00

The set went for $7,922,500 (the record is $11.5 million set in 2010). See more details here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/01/20/national/a085430S42.DTL

New Titles

2012-01-19T16:15:00.000-08:00

1) Grimmett, Richard, Carol Inskipp and Tim Inskipp. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. 2012. Helm Field Guides. Paperback: 528 pages. Price: $39.50 U.S.

SUMMARY: This new field guide is based on the authors' groundbreaking Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (1998) and covers all the bird species found in India, Pakistian, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. The plates face the descriptions and maps for quick at-a-glance reference. Many of the plates have been repainted for this edition and a number of new species added. This guide also provides tables, summarising identification features of particularly difficult groups such as nightjars, warblers and rosefinches.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for birders interested in the region, even if you own the first edition! The page count has increased from 384 to 528 pages with 73 NEW color plates! This title is being co-published by Princeton University Press as: Birds of India: Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives (Second Edition).

Buteo Books Link

2) Kirwan, Guy M. and Graeme Green. Cotingas and Manakins. 2012. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 624 pages. Price: $55.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: The New World tropics are home to the richest avifauna on the planet, with more than 4,000 species, many of them endemic. Two groups found exclusively in this region are the cotingas and the manakins. Few other families of birds have such widespread appeal. They are much sought after by birders for their colorful displays, unusual plumages, and, in some cases, great rarity. Their natural history and behavior offer fascinating case studies for evolutionary biologists, while the intriguingly elusive relationships of these birds are of profound interest to taxonomists.
     Cotingas and Manakins is the definitive work on these jewels of the Neotropics, covering more than 130 species. These range from some of the rarest and most enigmatic birds in the world to some of the best studied of all tropical species. Many are breathtakingly colorful and ornate while some are plain and difficult to see. This stunning volume features 34 color plates by Eustace Barnes, who has observed many of these species in the field, as well as distribution maps and approximately 400 color photographs that cover all but a tiny handful of species. Complete with detailed species accounts describing key identification features, Cotingas and Manakins is the authoritative illustrated guide to these magnificent Neotropical birds.
     This book features:

*Covers more than 130 species of cotingas and manakins
*Features 34 color plates and about 400 color photos
*Includes detailed species accounts and distribution maps
*The must-have illustrated guide to these colorful and exotic birds

RECOMMENDATION: I made the Helm (U.K.) version my Best Bird Book of 2011! It's a must have for those with an interest in Neotropical birds or collectors of family monographs!

Buteo Books Link

3) Linzey, Donald W.. Vertebrate Biology (2nd edition). 2012. Johns Hopkins University Press. Hardbound: 583 pages. Price: $110.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: Long recognized as the most readable textbook on vertebrate biology, this comprehensive volume covers subjects ranging from the biology of the smallest shrew to the migration of the largest whales. Thoroughly updated with the latest research, this new edition discusses taxa and topics such as:

• systematics and evolution
• zoogeography, ecology, morphology, and reproduction
• early chordates
• fish, amphibians, reptiles (inclusive of birds), and mammals
• population dynamics
• movement and migration
• behavior
• study methods
• extinction processes
• conservation and management

Complete with appendixes and glossary, Vertebrate Biology is the ideal text for courses in zoology, vertebrate biology, vertebrate natural history, and general biology. Donald W. Linzey carefully builds theme upon theme, concept upon concept, as he walks students through a plethora of topics on the vertebrate life form. Arranged logically to follow the typical course format, Vertebrate Biology leaves students with a full understanding of the unique structure, function, and living patterns of the subphylum that includes our own species.
RECOMMENDATION: A nice but expensive college text book.

FEATURED TITLE

2012-01-17T15:16:00.000-08:00

1) Howell, Steve N.G.. Petrels, Albatrosses & Storm-Petrels of North America: A Photographic Guide. 2012. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 483 pages. Price: $45.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: Petrels, albatrosses, and storm-petrels are among the most beautiful yet least known of all the world's birds, living their lives at sea far from the sight of most people. Largely colored in shades of gray, black, and white, these enigmatic and fast-flying seabirds can be hard to differentiate, particularly from a moving boat. Useful worldwide, not just in North America, this photographic guide is based on unrivaled field experience and combines insightful text and hundreds of full-color images to help you identify these remarkable birds.
     The first book of its kind, this guide features an introduction that explains ocean habitats and the latest developments in taxonomy. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features such as flight manner, plumage variation related to age and molt, seasonal occurrence patterns, and migration routes. Species accounts are arranged into groups helpful for field identification, and an overview of unique identification challenges is provided for each group. The guide also includes distribution maps for regularly occurring species as well as a bibliography, glossary, and appendixes.
     This book features:

*The first state-of-the-art photographic guide to these enigmatic seabirds
*Includes hundreds of full-color photos throughout
*Features detailed species accounts that describe flight, plumage, distribution, and more
*Provides overviews of ocean habitats, taxonomy, and conservation
*Offers tips on how to observe and identify birds at sea

RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for pelagic birders! This title is an early contender for "Best Bird Book for 2012"!

Buteo Books Link

New Title

2012-01-17T14:34:00.000-08:00

1) Dhondt, Andre A.. Interspecific Competition in Birds. 2012. Oxford University Press. Paperback: 282 pages. Price: $59.99 U.S.

SUMMARY: In nature there exist three main types of biotic interactions between individuals of different species: competition, predation, and mutualism. All three exert powerful selection pressures, and all three shape communities. However, the question of how important interspecific competition in nature really is remains controversial and unresolved. This book provides a critical and exhaustive review of the topic. Although the examples are limited mostly to birds (interspecific competition and community structure have been exhaustively studied in this animal group, and a lot of experimental data are available), the conclusions reached have a far broader relevance to population ecologists in general. The book reasons that the coexistence of species is the result of both past and presently on-going interspecific competition.
     Furthermore, understanding the importance of interspecific competition in natural systems will be increasingly important when modelling the effects of climate change on populations.
     This book features:
*Provides a current, critical review of the importance of interspecific competition in birds
*Considers the evolutionary effects of interspecific competition, its importance in structuring communities, and its influence on the traits of individual species
*A comprehensive synthesis based on a series of extensive, long-term experimental studies
*Ideal graduate course material

RECOMMENDATION: For those with a technical interest in avian biology.

Buteo Books Link

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2012-01-15T10:25:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/grrlscientist/2012/jan/15/1

New Title

2012-01-13T14:46:00.000-08:00

1) Bridgewater, Samuel. A Natural History of Belize: Inside the Maya Forest. 2012. University of Texas Press. Hardbound: 390 pages. Price: $45.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: Belize's Chiquibul Forest is one of the largest remaining expanses of tropical moist forest in Central America. It forms part of what is popularly known as the Maya Forest. Battered by hurricanes over millions of years, occupied by the Maya for thousands of years, and logged for hundreds of years, this ecosystem has demonstrated its remarkable ecological resilience through its continued existence into the twenty-first century. Despite its history of disturbance, or maybe in part because of it, the Maya Forest is ranked as an important regional biodiversity hot spot and provides some of the last regional habitats for endangered species such as the jaguar, the scarlet macaw, Baird's tapir, and Morelet's crocodile.
A Natural History of Belize presents for the first time a detailed portrait of the habitats, biodiversity, and ecology of the Maya Forest, and Belize more broadly, in a format accessible to a popular audience. It is based in part on the research findings of scientists studying at Las Cuevas Research Station in the Chiquibul Forest. The book is unique in demystifying many of the big scientific debates related to rainforests. These include "Why are tropical forests so diverse?"; "How do flora and fauna evolve?"; and "How do species interact?" By focusing on the ecotourism paradise of Belize, this book illustrates how science has solved some of the riddles that once perplexed the likes of Charles Darwin, and also shows how it can assist us in managing our planet and forest resources wisely in the future.
RECOMMENDATION: A good general introduction to the Chiquibul Forest of Belize.

Buteo Books Link

Eastern "Bug" Books

2012-01-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

1) Paulson, Dennis. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East. 2011. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 538 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: This is the first fully illustrated guide to all 336 dragonfly and damselfly species of eastern North America--from the rivers of Manitoba to the Florida cypress swamps--and the companion volume to Dennis Paulson's acclaimed field guide to the dragonflies and damselflies of the West. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East features hundreds of color photos that depict all the species found in the region, detailed line drawings to aid in-hand identification, and a color distribution map for every species--and the book's compact size and user-friendly design make it the only guide you need in the field. Species accounts describe key identification features, distribution, flight season, similar species, habitat, and natural history. Paulson's authoritative introduction offers a primer on dragonfly biology and identification, and also includes tips on how to study and photograph these stunningly beautiful insects. This book features:

*Illustrates all 336 eastern species
*Features hundreds of full-color photos
*Includes detailed species accounts, line drawings to aid identification, and a color distribution map for every species
*Offers helpful tips for the dragonfly enthusiast

RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those with an interest in the Odonata of Eastern North America!

Buteo Books Link

2) Wagner, David L. et al.. Owlet Caterpillars of Eastern North America. 2011. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 576 pages. Price: $35.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: This lavishly illustrated field guide features more than 800 species of the most common, interesting, beautiful, and important owlet (noctuid) caterpillars found in eastern North America. More than 2,100 color photographs include numerous stunning images, and the guide's introductory sections offer a wealth of information on noctuid natural history, morphology, larval diets, natural enemies, and classification; suggestions for finding and rearing owlet caterpillars; and much more. The 375 full-page species accounts treat similar species, range, phenology, and larval foodplants. A remarks section addresses behavior, life history, taxonomy, and a variety of other general interest topics. For full species accounts, two adult images are provided, one of a spread museum specimen and the other of a live adult: this is the first guide to comprehensively provide images of live adult moths in representative resting postures. An extensive glossary and foodplant index are also included. This book features:

*More than 800 species of eastern owlets
*More than 2,100 color photographs illustrating many species for the first time
*First North American insect guide to offer hundreds of images of live moths in their natural resting postures
*Extensive information on owlet biology, natural enemies, classification, and finding and rearing owlet caterpillars
*Includes foodplant records for each species and foodplant index

RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those with an interest in Eastern North American moths!

New Title

2012-01-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

1) Ernst, Carl H. and Evelyn M. Ernst. Venomous Reptiles of the United States, Canada, and Northern Mexico (Volume 2). 2012. Johns Hopkins University Press. Hardbound: 391 pages. Price: $75.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: Carl H. and Evelyn M. Ernst have completely revised their landmark reference Venomous Reptiles of North America to present the most comprehensive review of these animals in years.
     The first volume contains species accounts of the venomous lizards and elapid and viperid snakes found north of Mexico's twenty-fifth parallel. Volume 2 of this definitive work covers the twenty-one species of the genus Crotalus (rattlesnakes) found in the United States, Canada, and, for the first time, those found in northern Mexico.
     Mixing their own research with careful data description and intriguing stories, Ernst and Ernst present the most accurate and interesting view of North America's rattlesnakes available. They provide general background information on Crotalus, including venom delivery systems, how rattles function, what rattlesnakes eat, and what eats rattlesnakes. Additionally, they offer specific and fascinating details, such as observations of rattlesnakes swimming to offshore islands, accounts of male combat bouts, possible "anting" behavior in Crotalus viridis, and the features of the Santa Catalina Island rattleless rattlesnake. Each species account includes vivid photographs, range maps, and explanations of the limits to their respective distribution.
     Presenting the latest research on venomous reptiles in the United States, Canada, and northern Mexico and featuring an extensive bibliography of literature on the subject, this volume contains a wealth of information for anyone with an interest in venom, snakes, or herpetology in general.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for anyone studying venomous reptiles of the region!

New Title

2012-01-10T14:33:00.000-08:00

1) Feldhamer, George A. and William J. McShea. Deer: The Animal Answer Guide. 2012. Johns Hopkins University Press. Paperback: 163 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: Think of deer and the image that pops into most American's minds is that of a white-tailed deer, the most common large mammal in North America. Most Europeans are more familiar with red deer. It may surprise many people to know that there are actually about 50 species of deer found throughout the world. Here, readers will find nontechnical, expert information about the wide range of diverse deer species.
     Did you know that elk and caribou are deer? Or that the earliest fossils of deer are 15 to 20 million years old? Have you ever wondered whether deer swim, play, or see color? How do deer avoid predators and survive the winter? Do deer make good pets or carry contagious diseases? George A. Feldhamer and William J. McShea answer these and other intriguing questions about members of the deer family Cervidae.
     From the diminutive pudu of South America that weighs 17 pounds to male moose that weigh close to 2,000 pounds, Feldhamer and McShea explore the biology, evolution, ecology, feeding habits, reproduction, and behavior of deer. They chronicle the relationships between humans and deer—both positive and negative—and discuss the challenges of deer conservation and management.
     With vivid color photographs and an accessible and engaging question-and-answer format, this easy-to-read book is the go-to resource on deer. Nature lovers, hunters, and anyone curious about deer will find this fact-filled book both fascinating and full of surprises.
RECOMMENDATION: A good introduction into the biology of deer.

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2012-01-08T09:51:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/grrlscientist/2012/jan/08/1

New CD

2012-01-05T20:26:00.000-08:00

1) Connop, Scott. Birdsongs of the Northern Neotropics: Southern Mexico to Costa Rica. 2011. Turaco Nature. CD with booklet. Price: $20.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: The Neotropics are known for their sheer numbers of species in relation to tropical forests globally, and it has more than its share of the gaudy and spectacular. This compilation highlights many of the birds that have made tropical birding so thrilling for me. I have always emphasized rare or difficult-to-find species: target birds that often required a knowledge of voice as an aid to their discovery. For this initial volume of neotropical birdsongs, I have added other parameters in determining the playlist. A number of the species on this CD represent favourite moments, favourite species or families, or noteworthy vocal comparisons. Or they are just stunning birds that epitomize birding in the Middle American Neotropics. Great Curassow, Resplendent Quetzal, and Long-tailed Manakin fall into this category while also having very intriguing vocalizations. On the other hand, Rufous-browed Tyrannulet, Black-capped Pygmy-Tyrant and Ochre-breasted Antpitta represent simple sounds that birders often walk right by without realizing the significance of the source.
     The production coverage is southern Mexico to Costa Rica and include a few of the fascinating rarities of Oaxaca and Guerrero in complement to the lowland jungle birds that abound in the Mayan ruins of Belize and Tikal. Costa Rican species are prevalent on the CD as this country has exerted such a powerful influence on ecotourism for North American and overseas birders alike. Orange-breasted Falcon, Tawny-chested Flycatcher, Keel-billed Motmot and Wrenthrush represent some of the more obscure and poorly known birds that are included, whereas there are tinamous, quail-doves, owls, leaftossers, antpittas, wrens, and, of course, numerous flycatchers. From the wavering tremolo of the ultra-shy Fulvous-bellied Antpitta to the haunting crepuscular cry of the normally conspicuous but ultra-cool Laughing Falcon, Birdsongs of the Northern Neotropics features a wide spectrum of the birds that make the Neotropics the most sought-after birding experience on the planet.
     The CD's are shrink-wrapped in slim design cases.
RECOMMENDATION: This CD covers 99 species. Both the English and Scientific names are announced on the CD. The only problem I had with the CD is that the slim design case broke apart when I opened it! It's available in the USA from Buteo Books and in the UK from NHBS.

Audubon up for auction

2012-01-05T12:23:00.000-08:00

From finebooksmagazine.com: Coming up later this month [20 January 2012] at Christie's [of New York City], the Duke of Portland's four-volume set of John James Audubon's Birds of America, the most expensive book ever sold at auction. Estimated at $7-10 million, bibliophiles will wait with bated breath to find out if the duke's Birds will break the current world record of $11.5 million, set at Sotheby's sale of Lord Hesketh's rare books and manuscripts in December of 2010. See more here:
http://www.finebooksmagazine.com/fine_books_blog/2012/01/the-worlds-most-expensive-book-at-auction.phtml?utm_source=fbnotes&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20120105

For those that can't afford this set, I recommend this title:

For more information of Audubon and his art try these titles:

John James Audubon: The Making of An American
Audubon Art Prints
The Double Elephant Folio

New Title

2012-01-04T17:33:00.000-08:00

1) Fitter, Julian and Don Merton. A Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. 2011. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 288 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: New Zealand is commonly described as "the land of birds." Now, there is an easy-to-use guide for all those interested in this country's remarkable bird population. A Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand contains over 600 stunning photographs of the more than 350 bird species likely to be seen in this area of the world. Comprehensive and compact, the book includes full descriptions of all native species and regular visitors, distribution maps and measurements, key information on national parks, and useful information on ongoing conservation efforts in the country. Filled with handy tips for nature enthusiasts wanting to make the most of their trip, this is the only bird guide that anyone exploring this region will need.

This guide features:

*600+ color photographs feature more than 350 bird species with full descriptions
*Distribution maps and measurements
*Key information on national parks helps readers find the best spots for bird sightings
*Useful information on conservation efforts
*Guidelines on sensible behavior for encountering nature at its best

RECOMMENDATION: This title was published in the U.K. as "Collins Traveller's Guide: Birds of New Zealand." It's probably the best photographic guide to the birds of New Zealand currently available.

Buteo Books Link

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2012-01-01T10:03:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/grrlscientist/2012/jan/01/1

New Title

2011-12-28T18:03:00.000-08:00

1) Wheelwright, Jeff. The Wandering Gene and the Indian Princess: Race, Religion, and DNA. 2012. W.W. Norton. Hardbound: 260 pages. Price: $26.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: A brilliant and emotionally resonant exploration of science and family history.
     A vibrant young Hispano woman, Shonnie Medina, inherits a breast-cancer mutation known as BRCA1.185delAG. It is a genetic variant characteristic of Jews. The Medinas knew they were descended from Native Americans and Spanish Catholics, but they did not know that they had Jewish ancestry as well. The mutation most likely sprang from Sephardic Jews hounded by the Spanish Inquisition. The discovery of the gene leads to a fascinating investigation of cultural history and modern genetics by Dr. Harry Ostrer and other experts on the DNA of Jewish populations.
     Set in the isolated San Luis Valley of Colorado, this beautiful and harrowing book tells of the Medina family's five-hundred-year passage from medieval Spain to the American Southwest and of their surprising conversion from Catholicism to the Jehovah's Witnesses in the 1980s. Rejecting conventional therapies in her struggle against cancer, Shonnie Medina died in 1999. Her life embodies a story that could change the way we think about race and faith.
RECOMMENDATION: Fans of Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, should enjoy this book.

New Title

2011-12-27T14:35:00.000-08:00

1) Peters, Andrew. Ravenwood. 2011. Chicken House/Scholastic. Hardbound: 354 pages. Price: $16.99 U.S.

SUMMARY: Who holds the seeds to save a sky-high world?
     Arborium is at risk, the sharpened blades of rival Maw poised to saw off its bark and branches. What can a poor plumber's apprentice armed with little more than a monkey wrench do to stop the chopping?
     Carved into a massive, mile-high canopy, the forest kingdom of Arborium stands upon the tallest of trees. Within them, 14-year-old Ark holds the lowest of jobs: unclogging toilets. He's already up to his elbows in gunk when he REALLY steps in it. He overhears a plot echoing through the pipes: Maw, a ruthless glass-and-steel superpower, is scheming to wield its axes of evil to strip Arborium of its wood - a natural resource now more precious than gold.
     The fate of a kingdom in the filthy hands of a plumber boy?
     Plunged into danger, Ark must make the treacherous climb down to the darkest roots of RAVENWOOD if there's any hope of rescuing his threatened tree home!
RECOMMENDATION: An entertaining tale in the "eco-punk" genre. Although the listed ages are 9-14, the battle scene at the end of the book may scare younger kids.

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2011-12-25T09:39:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/grrlscientist/2011/dec/25/1

New Title

2011-12-23T15:10:00.000-08:00

1) Peat, Neville. Seabird Genius: The Story of L.E. Richdale, the Royal Albatross, and the Yellow-eyed Penguin. 2011. Otago University Press. Paperback: 288 pages. Price: $45.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: The first biography of Lance Richdale (1900-1983), who achieved international fame as the father of Otago's albatross colony from 1936 and for his research on the behaviour of the Yellow-eyed Penguin – Time magazine dubbed him 'The Dr Kinsey of the penguin world' – and the sooty shearwater, or muttonbird. Richdale grew up in Wanganui, took a tertiary course in agriculture in New South Wales, and returned to New Zealand to teach mainly in rural schools in the North Island for several years, eventually taking up a position with the Otago Education Board in 1928 as an inspiring itinerant agricultural instructor and nature study teacher.
     Richdale never gave up his day job and incredibly in the weekends, holidays and evenings undertook major, meticulous and time-consuming research on penguins, albatrosses and several petrel species. His study of the muttonbird was achieved during prolonged solo camps on tiny Whero Island in stormy Foveaux Strait, where the wind blew straight from Antarctica.
     Neville Peat's biography searches the traces left by this shy and obsessed man for some answers to two questions: why? and what drove him? Richdale's legacy is a nature tourism industry in Dunedin worth $100 million a year, and the longest-running seabird population study in the world.
RECOMMENDATION: For anyone with an interest in seabirds and/or New Zealand birds.

Buteo Books Link

New Titles

2011-12-21T18:47:00.000-08:00

1) Chinsamy-Turan, Anusuya (editor). Forerunners of Mammals: Radiation, Histology, Biology. 2011. Indiana University Press. Hardbound: 330 pages. Price: $60.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: About 320 million years ago a group of reptiles known as the synapsids emerged and forever changed Earth’s ecological landscapes. This book discusses the origin and radiation of the synapsids from their sail-backed pelycosaur ancestor to their diverse descendants, the therapsids or mammal-like reptiles, that eventually gave rise to mammals. It further showcases the remarkable evolutionary history of the synapsids in the Karoo Basin of South Africa and the environments that existed at the time. By highlighting studies of synapsid bone microstructure, it offers a unique perspective of how such studies are utilized to reconstruct various aspects of biology, such as growth dynamics, biomechanical function, and the attainment of sexual and skeletal maturity.
A series of chapters outline the radiation and phylogenetic relationships of major synapsid lineages and provide direct insight into how bone histological analyses have led to an appreciation of these enigmatic animals as once-living creatures. The penultimate chapter examines the early radiation of mammals from their nonmammalian cynodont ancestors, and the book concludes by engaging the intriguing question of when and where endothermy evolved among the therapsids.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with a technical interest in vertebrate paleontology, especially histology.

2) Feduccia, Alan. Riddle of the Feathered Dragons: Hidden Birds of China. 2011. Yale University Press. Hardbound: 358 pages. Price: $55.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: Examining and interpreting recent spectacular fossil discoveries in China, paleontologists have arrived at a prevailing view: there is now incontrovertible evidence that birds represent the last living dinosaur. But is this conclusion beyond dispute? In this book, evolutionary biologist Alan Feduccia provides the most comprehensive discussion yet of the avian and associated evidence found in China, then exposes the massive, unfounded speculation that has accompanied these discoveries and been published in the pages of prestigious scientific journals.
Advocates of the current orthodoxy on bird origins have ignored contrary data, misinterpreted fossils, and used faulty reasoning, the author argues. He considers why and how the debate has become so polemical and makes a plea to refocus the discussion by “breaking away from methodological straitjackets and viewing the world of origins anew.” Drawing on a lifetime of study, he offers his own current understanding of the origin of birds and avian flight.
RECOMMENDATION: There are two schools of thought on the origin of birds. Birds Are Dinosaurs (BAD) and Birds Are Not Dinosaurs (BAND). Feduccia is in the BAND school, which has lost favor among most paleontologists. If you're interested in the BAND arguments, I suggest you read this book.

3) Proctor Noble S. and Patrick J. Lynch. A Field Guide to the Southeast Coast & Gulf of Mexico. 2011. Yale University Press. Flexibound: 386 pages. Price: $24.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: This superb book, with its unique focus on the entire marine coastal environment, is the most comprehensive and up-to-date field guide available on the southeastern Atlantic Coast and the Gulf Coast. Not just for beachgoers, the book is essential for birders, whale watchers, fishers, boaters, scuba divers and snorkelers, and shoreline visitors.
Features of the guide:
*Entries on 619 coastal and ocean species
*More than 1,100 color illustrations
*450 up-to-date range maps
*Overviews of key ecological communities, including mangroves, salt marshes, beaches, sand dunes, and coral reefs
*Special attention to threatened and endangered species
*Discussions of environmental issues, including such catastrophic events as Hurricane Katrina and the *Deepwater Horizon blowout
*Glossary
*Excellent organizational aids for locating information quickly

RECOMMENDATION: A good introduction to the natural history of the region.

Buteo Books Link

FEATURED TITLE

2011-12-20T16:41:00.000-08:00

1) James, David G. and David Nunnallee. Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies. 2011. Oregon State University Press. Paperback: 447 pages. Price: $35.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: David G. James and David Nunnallee present the life histories of the entire butterfly fauna of a North American geographic region in exceptional and riveting detail for the first time in Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies.
     Virtually all of the 158 butterfly species occurring in southern British Columbia, Washington, northern Idaho, and northern Oregon are included in the book. Color photographs of each stage of life—egg, every larval instar, pupa, adult—accompany information on the biology, ecology, and rearing of each species.
     Life Histories of Cascadia Butterflies will appeal to naturalists, hikers, amateur entomologists, butterfly gardeners, conservationists, students, and general readers of natural history. For scientists and dedicated lepidopterists, the book provides an unparalleled resource on the natural history of immature stages of butterflies in the Pacific Northwest—and beyond, as many of Cascadia’s butterflies occur in other parts of North America as well as Europe and Asia.
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those with an interest in Pacific Northwest Butterflies!

New Title

2011-12-19T21:06:00.000-08:00

1) Thomas, Peggy. For the Birds: The Life of Roger Tory Peterson. 2011. Calkins Creek. Hardbound: 40 pages. Price: $16.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: Roger Tory Peterson revolutionized the way we look at and appreciate birds, animals, and plants. Some kids called him “Professor Nuts Peterson” because of his dedication to his craft; yet he went on to create the immensely popular Peterson Guides, which have sold more than seven million copies, and which birders everywhere appreciate for their simple text and exquisite illustrations. Working closely with the Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, New York, author Peggy Thomas and artist Laura Jacques have created a fascinating portrait of a global environmentalist with this very first children’s biography of Peterson.
RECOMMENDATION: For ages 8 and up. Adults interested in the life of Roger Tory Peterson will enjoy this book too!

Buteo Books Link

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2011-12-18T10:09:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/grrlscientist/2011/dec/18/1

New Title

2011-12-17T15:23:00.000-08:00

1) Salomon, David. Penguin-Pedia: Photographs and Facts from One Man's Search for the Penguins of the World. 2011. Brown Books Publishing. Hardbound: 303 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: An exhaustive resource for penguin-o-philes, amateur and academic alike, Penguin-Pedia unites careful analysis of the behavior, habitat, reproduction, feeding habits, and population levels of all seventeen penguin species with the author s personal observations and reflections. Each chapter draws on a wealth of scientific data and reports, as well as providing detailed measurements and weights of penguins from various colonies and nests. An extensive bibliography will direct students of the penguin to scholarly books and journals, while dozens of full-color photographs of penguins in their natural habitat and personal accounts provide entertainment for the layman. A full directory of penguin exhibiting zoos from around the world completes this source of all things penguin.
     Penguins have become a standard fixture in both zoos and imaginations for centuries. But beyond the classic tuxedo markings of the Emperor penguin and what we see in childrens cartoons, how much do we really know about these fascinating creatures? How aware are we of the perpetual danger in which these animals find themselves after so many years of environmental abuse on the part of humans? David Salomon has traveled the world photographing and studying the various species and subspecies of penguin. From the sleek Galapagos penguin to the bushy-eyebrowed Rockhopper penguin, Salomon combines personal accounts of his trips to remote penguin habitats at the far edges of the world with a comprehensive survey of all available scientific data for the various penguin species.
     Penguin-Pedia is a wealth of information on penguin behavior, habits, population, and endangerment. Full of David's own up-close photography, Penguin-Pedia will bring you into the fascinating world of the penguin.
RECOMMENDATION: The author's photography highlights this book! This title is a must have for penguin fans!

New Title

2011-12-15T17:04:00.000-08:00

1) Borrow, Nik and Ron Demey. Birds of Senegal and The Gambia. 2011. Helm Field Guides. Paperback: 352 pages. Price: GBP 29.99 (about $46.58 U.S.).
SUMMARY: This new field guide covers The Gambia, a country which is very popular with a large number of birders and tourists, and the whole of neighbouring Senegal. This fascinating region shelters many Western Palearctic migrants from September to April, as well as a significant list of resident West African birds.
The stunning colour plates depict more than 680 species, covering almost every distinct plumage and race. The authoritative text highlights the key features needed to identify each species in the field, and accurate up-to-date maps are provided for every species. This comprehensive guide is an essential companion for anyone visiting The Gambia and Senegal.
RECOMMENDATION: The artwork is mostly from the author's Birds of Western Africa. This book is a must have for those birding these countries!

Buteo Books Link

Shop Indie

2011-12-13T20:51:00.000-08:00

SHOP INDIE: I just joined Buteo Books's affiliate program, so if you want to Shop Indie AND help support The Birdbooker Report, use the BUTEO BOOKS LINK I have placed at the bottom of the Amazon.com widget!

New Title

2011-12-12T11:47:00.000-08:00

1) Cooper, Murray. Birds in Colombia. 2011. Villegas Editores. Hardbound with slipcase: 552 pages. Price: $70.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Exploring a wealth of incredible winged fauna, this fascinating compendium travels to the tropical setting of Colombia, where many different climates blend to encourage the development of habitats. The country's diverse landscapes are explored along with the rare beauty of its singular birds, showcasing their distinct plumage, colors, various sizes, songs, beaks, and wings. Illustrating how these creatures are currently threatened, this study also highlights the inadequate colonization and urbanization, deforestation, and many other factors that could potentially destroy the habitats of many species, increasing their rates of extinction. Suggestions for defensive and protective actions are included.
RECOMMENDATION: The photography highlights this coffee-table book! A must have for those with an interest in the birds of Neotropics!

Buteo Books Link

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2011-12-11T10:19:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/grrlscientist/2011/dec/11/1

New Title

2011-12-10T15:11:00.000-08:00

1) Wieland, Monika. A Guide to Birds of San Juan Island. 2011. Orca Watcher. Paperback: 215 pages. Price: $19.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: San Juan Island is a diverse place made up of a wide variety of habitats: shorelines, farmlands, forests, and prairies. As a result, over 300 bird species have been documented here. Whether a budding nature enthusiast, an advanced birder, or somewhere in between, A Guide to Birds of San Juan Island will give you details about all of the birds that can be seen here and where to find them. Part species guide and part site guide, Monika Wieland's book will help residents and visitors alike discover more about the bird life of San Juan Island.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those birding San Juan Island, Washington State, U.S.A.!

New Titles

2011-12-07T20:53:00.000-08:00

Butler, Georgia Anne. Of the Wing: A Trilogy (Book 1: The Legend Awakes; Book 2: The Ivory-billed Obsession). 2010 and 2011. Pinchey House. Paperback: 208 and 241 pages. Price: $7.99 U.S.

SUMMARY: Of the Wing is a trilogy that follows Claire and her friend Victor through birding adventures in the woodlands of Pennsylvania (book 1) to the bayous of Arkansas (book 2) and finally to the hills and lakes of Ireland (book 3).
Description of Book 1:
     Claire Belle hears like an owl, sees like a hawk, and draws birds to her in some inexplicable way. Is it magic? Or some special power? Claire keeps her ability secret, afraid that sharing it will somehow break the spell. But can that spell be broken violently? A ruthless man seeks to kill a local, legendary Red-tailed Hawk—a raptor to which Claire is devoted and bound, and who holds the answers to her questions.
Description of Book 2:
     Birds repeatedly call an urgent message to twelve-year-old Claire Belle: Hurry! But she isn’t listening. The avid birder is preoccupied with a famous ornithologist, back from another failed effort to find the fabled Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Claire meets Robert Crawley at his Pennsylvania retreat, revealing to him her mysterious appeal to birds. Promising to attract the Ivory-bill, she earns a canoe expedition for herself and friends to the muddy bayous of Arkansas. But the bottomland forest conceals something more than the reclusive woodpecker, something dangerous. And though Claire leaves Pennsylvania, the message of the birds follows her.
RECOMMENDATION: For ages 9 and up. You can order the books from this website:
http://www.ofthewing.com/purchase.htm

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2011-12-04T10:03:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2011/dec/04/1

New Title

2011-12-02T15:16:00.000-08:00

1) Doughty, Robin W. and Virginia Carmichael. The Albatross and the Fish: Linked Lives in the Open Seas. 2011. University of Texas Press. Hardbound: 302 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: Breeding on remote ocean islands and spending much of its life foraging for food across vast stretches of seemingly empty seas, the albatross remains a legend for most people. And yet, humans are threatening the albatross family to such an extent that it is currently the most threatened bird group in the world. In this extensively researched, highly readable book, Robin W. Doughty and Virginia Carmichael tell the story of a potentially catastrophic extinction that has been interrupted by an unlikely alliance of governments, conservation groups, and fishermen.
Doughty and Carmichael authoritatively establish that the albatross's fate is linked to the fate of two of the highest-value table fish, Bluefin Tuna and Patagonian Toothfish, which are threatened by unregulated commercial harvesting. The authors tell us that commercial fishing techniques are annually killing tens of thousands of albatrosses. And the authors explain how the breeding biology of albatrosses makes them unable to replenish their numbers at the rate they are being depleted. Doughty and Carmichael set the albatross's fate in the larger context of threats facing the ocean commons, ranging from industrial overfishing to our habit of dumping chemicals, solid waste, and plastic trash into the open seas. They also highlight the efforts of dedicated individuals, environmental groups, fishery management bodies, and governments who are working for seabird and fish conservation and demonstrate that these efforts can lead to sustainable solutions for the iconic seabirds and the entire ocean ecosystem.
RECOMMENDATION: If you're interested in these birds, or ocean life in general, you'll want to read this book!

Best Bird Book(s) of the Year(s)

2011-11-28T21:39:00.000-08:00

I realized that in the nearly four years that I've been doing the Birdbooker Report, I've never done a "Best Bird Book of the Year" posting. So I decided to do one this year. I'll start by catching up and awarding a "Best Bird Book" for the previous years that I've been doing the Birdbooker Report:

2008: Tennyson, Alan and Paul Martinson. Extinct Birds of New Zealand. 2006. Te Papa Press. Hardbound: 180 pages. Price: $54.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: Although technically it's from 2006, I didn't learn about it until 2008. Covers 58 species of "recently" extinct birds of New Zealand. The full page award winning artwork by Paul Martinson almost brings these extinct birds back to life!

Buteo Books Link

2009: Forshaw, Joseph M. Trogons: A Natural History of the Trogonidae. 2009. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 292 pages. Price: $150.00 U.S. [Amazon: $119.34].
SUMMARY: This large folio covers the 39 species of trogons and quetzals of the world's tropical regions. The book is divided into two sections: the introductory material and the species accounts. Each species account includes information on the following: the species name,a range map, distribution, description, subspecies, habitat and status, movements, habits, calls, feeding, breeding and eggs. The artwork by Albert Earl Gilbert highlights this book!
RECOMMENDATION: For those interested in tropical birds, that collect species monographs or fine bird art. Only 1400 copies of this book were printed of which several hundred were damaged during shipping and not sold. That will cause this book to become a collectors item!

Buteo Books Link

2010: Kennerley, Peter and David Pearson. Reed and Bush Warblers. 2010. Helm Identification Guides. Hardbound: 712 pages. Price: 65 GBP (about $105.00 U.S.).
SUMMARY: This detailed and comprehensive identification guide follows in the mo(u)ld of Sylvia Warblers and Pipits and Wagtails. It primarily covers the genera Acrocephalus, Locustella, Cettia and Bradypterus, together with a few smaller related genera. To the uninitiated, these are the archetypal ‘little brown jobs’ and as if they weren’t hard enough to identify anyway, many of them are hard to see as well! This authoritative handbook covers their identification in breathtaking detail, illustrated with line drawings, sonograms, wonderful colour plates and photographs. It is destined to become the ultimate reference for these challenging birds.
RECOMMENDATION: Brian Small's artwork highlight this book! A must have for all World birders!

Buteo Books Link
And finally 2011: Kirwan, Guy and Graeme Green. Cotingas and Manakins. 2011. Helm Identification Guides. Hardbound: 624 pages. Price: GBP 60.00.
SUMMARY: This book looks in detail at two families of South American birds, the cotingas and manakins, perhaps the most colourful of all neotropical bird groups, and widely regarded as the South American equivalent of New Guinea's Birds of Paradise. The book is a synthesis of the very latest research into the identification, taxonomy and behaviour of each of the 160 species, along with detailed colour maps, several hundred previously unpublished colour photographs, and Eustace Barnes's stunning 34 colour plates.
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those with an interest in Neotropical birds or collectors of family monographs! Princeton University Press will be co-publishing this title in February 2012 for $55.00 U.S.

Buteo Books Link

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2011-11-27T09:56:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2011/nov/27/2

New Title

2011-11-26T16:26:00.000-08:00

1) Groves, Colin and Peter Grubb. Ungulate Taxonomy. 2011. Johns Hopkins University Press. Hardbound: 317 pages. Price: $100.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: A group of special interest to mammalogists, taxonomists, and systemicists, ungulates have proven difficult to classify. This comprehensive review of the taxonomic relationships of artiodactyls and perissodactyls brings forth new evidence in order to propose a theory of ungulate taxonomy.
     With this straightforward volume, Colin Groves and the late Peter Grubb cut through previous assumptions to define ungulate genera, species, and subspecies. The species-by-species accounts incorporate new molecular, cytogenetic, and morphological data, as well as the authors' own observations and measurements. The authors include references and supporting arguments for new classifications.
     A starting point for further research, this book is sure to be discussed and hotly debated in the mammalogical community. A well-reasoned synthesis, Ungulate Taxonomy will be a defining volume for years to come.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those with a technical interest in ungulate taxonomy.

New Titles

2011-11-23T17:49:00.000-08:00

1) Seebohm, Henry. The Birds of Siberia: A Record of a Naturalist's Visits to the Valleys of the Petchora and Yenesei. 1901 (2011). Cambridge University Press. Paperback: 512 pages. Price: $39.99 U.S.

SUMMARY: Henry Seebohm (1832–95) was a Yorkshire steel manufacturer and passionate amateur ornithologist. He travelled widely in Greece, Scandinavia, Turkey and South Africa studying birds in their native habitats. He served as secretary of the Royal Geological Society, was a fellow of the Linnean Society, and member of the British Ornithologists' Union and of the Zoological Society. This volume, published in 1901, contains two books recounting his travels in Siberia. Siberia in Europe (1880) was the result of an expedition to the lower Pechora River valley in 1875 with zoologist J. A. Harvie-Brown, and also his study of bird migrations in Heligoland with ornithologist Heinrich Gätke. He located the breeding grounds of several visitors to Britain, including the grey plover and Bewick's swan. Siberia in Asia (1882) was published after his 1877 journey with Arctic explorer Joseph Wiggins along the Yenisey River. There are numerous woodcuts illustrating birds and Siberian landscapes.
RECOMMENDATION: For those that have an interest in early ornithological studies or Siberian exploration.

2) Wormworth, Janice and Cagan H. Sekercioglu. Winged Sentinels: Birds and Climate Change. 2011. Cambridge University Press. Paperback: 262 pages. Price: $40.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: 'The ability of the birds to show us the consequences of our own actions is among their most important and least appreciated attributes. Despite the free advice of the birds, we do not pay attention', said Marjory Stoneman Douglas in 1947. From ice-dependent penguins of Antarctica to songbirds that migrate across the Sahara, birds' responses provide early warning signs of the impact of climate change. Winged Sentinels: Birds and Climate Change uses colourful examples to show how particular groups of birds face heightened threats from climate change and to explore how we can help birds adapt in a warming world. Generously illustrated with colour photographs, the book is a fascinating insight into what climate change means for birds, and the potential consequences of ignoring these warning signs.
RECOMMENDATION: A good introduction on the subject.

New Titles

2011-11-21T21:04:00.000-08:00

1) Fallon, Katie. Cerulean Blues: A Personal Search for a Vanishing Songbird. 2011. Ruka Press. Paperback: 210 pages. Price: $17.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Cerulean Blues describes the plight of the cerulean warbler, a tiny migratory songbird, and its struggle to survive in ever-shrinking bands of suitable habitat. This elusive creature, a favorite among bird watchers and the fastest-declining warbler species in the United States, has lost 3% of its total population each year since 1966. This precipitous decline means that today there are 80% fewer ceruleans than 40 years ago, and their numbers continue to drop due to threats including deforestation, global warming, and an ecologically devastating practice—mountaintop removal coal mining—that affects not only the cerulean warbler but all residents of the Appalachian mountains, including humans.
     With both scientific rigor and a sense of wonder, Fallon leads readers on a journey of more than two thousand miles—from the top of the forest canopy in the ancient mountains of Appalachia to a coffee plantation near troubled Bogotá, Colombia—and shows how the fate of a creature weighing less than an ounce is vitally linked to our own.
     Cerulean Blues will appeal to nature lovers, bird watchers, actual and armchair adventurers, and anyone interested in the health and future of our planet.
RECOMMENDATION: A thorough and entertaining account (especially the "warbler parade" scene in chapter 16) on the plight of the Cerulean Warbler.

2) Hunter, Luke and Priscilla Barrett. Carnivores of the World. 2011. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 240 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Carnivores are among the most spectacular creatures in the natural world, and also the most feared. Carnivores of the World is the first comprehensive field guide to all 245 terrestrial species of true carnivores, from the majestic polar bear and predatory wild cats to the tiny least weasel. This user-friendly illustrated guide features 86 color plates by acclaimed wildlife artist Priscilla Barrett that depict every species and numerous subspecies, as well as about 400 line drawings of skulls and footprints. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, distribution and habitat, feeding ecology, behavior, social patterns, reproduction and demography, status, threats, lifespan, and mortality. Carnivores of the World includes an introduction that provides a concise overview of taxonomy, conservation, and the distinct families within the order Carnivora.
This book features:

*Covers all 245 terrestrial species of true carnivores
*Includes 86 color plates by acclaimed wildlife artist Priscilla Barrett
*Features detailed species accounts and hundreds of line drawings
*The first field guide of its kind

RECOMMENDATION: The only drawback to this useful guide is the lack of range maps in the book, but they can be found on-line here: http://www.panthera.org/carnivoreguide-maps

Buteo Books Link

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2011-11-20T09:51:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2011/nov/20/1

New Title

2011-11-19T14:39:00.000-08:00

1) Meldahl, Keith Heyer. Rough-Hewn Land: A Geologic Journey from California to the Rocky Mountains. 2011. University of California Press. Hardbound: 296 pages. Price: $34.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: “Unfold a map of North America,” Keith Heyer Meldahl writes, “and the first thing to grab your eye is the bold shift between the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains.” In this absorbing book, Meldahl takes readers on a 1000-mile-long field trip back through more than 100 million years of deep time to explore America’s most spectacular and scientifically intriguing landscapes. He places us on the outcrops, rock hammer in hand, to examine the evidence for how these rough-hewn lands came to be. We see California and its gold assembled from pieces of old ocean floor and the relentless movements of the Earth’s tectonic plates. We witness the birth of the Rockies. And we investigate the violent earthquakes that continue to shape the region today. Into the West’s geologic story, Meldahl also weaves its human history. As we follow the adventures of John C. Frémont, Mark Twain, the Donner party, and other historic characters, we learn how geologic forces have shaped human experience in the past and how they direct the fate of the West today.

RECOMMENDATION: A good introduction to the geology of the region.

4 New Titles

2011-11-14T19:42:00.000-08:00

1) Aspinall, Simon and Richard Porter. Birds of the United Arab Emirates. 2011. Helm Field Guides. Paperback: 240 pages. Price: GBP 24.99 (about $39.73 U.S.).
SUMMARY: The UAE is an increasingly popular tourist destination, with a good infrastructure for visitors. This new field guide is based on the bestselling Birds of the Middle East (2nd edition) and covers all the birds of these Gulf states. The new text written by Simon Aspinall and Richard Porter is specific to the Gulf, and new maps are provided for all breeding birds and regular visitors. The plates are recomposed from Birds of the Middle East, with three extra plates of introduced species.
RECOMMENDATION: Birders interested in the UAE will like this book.

Buteo Books Link

2) Dunlap, Thomas R.. In the Field, Among the Feathered: A History of Birders and Their Guides. 2011. Oxford University Press. Hardbound: 241 pages. Price: $34.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: America is a nation of ardent, knowledgeable birdwatchers. But how did it become so? And what role did the field guide play in our passion for spotting, watching, and describing birds?
     In the Field, Among the Feathered tells the history of field guides to birds in America from the Victorian era to the present, relating changes in the guides to shifts in science, the craft of field identification, and new technologies for the mass reproduction of images. Drawing on his experience as a passionate birder and on a wealth of archival research, Thomas Dunlap shows how the twin pursuits of recreation and conservation have inspired birders and how field guides have served as the preferred method of informal education about nature for well over a century.
     The book begins with the first generation of late 19th-century birdwatchers who built the hobby when opera glasses were often the best available optics and bird identification was sketchy at best. As America became increasingly urban, birding became more attractive, and with Roger Tory Peterson's first field guide in 1934, birding grew in both popularity and accuracy. By the 1960s recreational birders were attaining new levels of expertise, even as the environmental movement made birding's other pole, conservation, a matter of human health and planetary survival. Dunlap concludes by showing how recreation and conservation have reached a new balance in the last 40 years, as scientists have increasingly turned to amateurs, whose expertise had been honed by the new guides, to gather the data they need to support habitat preservation.
     Putting nature lovers and citizen-activists at the heart of his work, Thomas Dunlap offers an entertaining history of America's long-standing love affair with birds, and with the books that have guided and informed their enthusiasm. This book features:

*First book to examine the development of this book genre, relating changes in the guides to shifts in science, the craft knowledge of field identification, and the developing technologies of birding photography.
*As a birder himself, author brings passion for the subject, inner knowledge of how birders think, and familiarity with guides.
*Examines the intersection of recreation, social class, and birding.

RECOMMENDATION: This book covers the time period between 1889 to 2008. A very good treatment on the subject and a must have for those interested in the history of the field guide!

Buteo Books Link

3) Harris, Mike P. and Sarah Wanless. The Puffin (2nd edition). 2011. T&AD Poyser. Hardbound: 256 pages. Price: GBP 50.00 (about $79.49 U.S.).
SUMMARY: With its colourful beak and fast, whirring flight, the Atlantic Puffin is the most recognisable and popular of all North Atlantic seabirds. Puffins spend most of the year at sea, but for a few months of the year the come to shore, nesting in burrows on steep cliffs or on inaccessible islands. Awe-inspiring numbers of these birds can sometimes be seen bobbing on the sea or flying in vast wheels over the colony, bringing fish in their beaks back to the chicks. However, the species has declined sharply over the last decade; this is due to a collapse in fish stocks caused by overfishing and global warming, combined with an exponential increase in Pipefish (which can kill the chicks).
The Puffin is a revised and expanded second edition of Poyser's 1984 title on these endearing birds, widely considered to be a Poyser classic. It includes sections on their affinities, nesting and incubation, movements, foraging ecology, survivorship, predation, and research methodology; particular attention is paid to conservation, with the species considered an important ‘indicator’ of the health of our coasts.
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those with an interest in the species!

4) Redman, Nigel et al.. Birds of the Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia and Socotra (2nd edition). 2011. Helm Field Guides. Paperback: 512 pages. Price: GBP 35.00 (about $55.64 U.S.).
SUMMARY: The Horn of Africa has the highest endemism of any region in Africa, and around 70 species are found nowhere else in the world. Many of these are confined to the isolated highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea, but a large number of larks specialise in the arid parts of Somalia and adjoining eastern Ethiopia, whilst the island of Socotra has its own suite of endemic species. The region is also an important migration route and wintering site for many Palearctic birds.
     This is the first field guide to the birds of this fascinating region, and a companion to Birds of East Africa by two of the same authors. Over 200 magnificent plates by John Gale and Brian Small illustrate every species that has ever occurred in the five countries covered by the guide, and the succinct text covers the key identification criteria. Special attention is paid to the voices of the species, and over 1000 up-to-date colour distribution maps are included.
     This long-awaited guide is a much-needed addition to the literature on African birds and an essential companion for birders visiting the region.
RECOMMENDATION: The page count has increased from 496 pages (1st edition) to 512 pages. If you didn't get the first edition, here's you chance to own this guide!

FEATURED TITLE

2011-11-14T17:17:00.000-08:00

1) Kirwan, Guy and Graeme Green. Cotingas and Manakins. 2011. Helm Identification Guides. Hardbound: 624 pages. Price: GBP 60.00.

SUMMARY: This book looks in detail at two families of South American birds, the cotingas and manakins, perhaps the most colourful of all neotropical bird groups, and widely regarded as the South American equivalent of New Guinea's Birds of Paradise. The book is a synthesis of the very latest research into the identification, taxonomy and behaviour of each of the 160 species, along with detailed colour maps, several hundred previously unpublished colour photographs, and Eustace Barnes's stunning 34 colour plates.
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those with an interest in Neotropical birds or collectors of family monographs! Princeton University Press will be co-publishing this title in February 2012 for $55.00 U.S.

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2011-11-13T09:50:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2011/nov/13/1

New Title

2011-11-12T20:53:00.000-08:00

1) Harvey, Michael J. et al.. Bats of the United States and Canada. 2011. Johns Hopkins University Press. Paperback: 202 pages. Price: 24.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: The only mammals capable of true flight, bats are among the world's most fascinating creatures. This accessible guide to the forty-seven species of bats found in the United States and Canada captures and explains the amazing diversity of these marvels of evolution.
     A wide variety of bat species live in the United States and Canada, ranging from the California leaf-nosed bat to the Florida bonneted bat, from the eastern small-footed bat to the northern long-eared bat. The authors provide an overview of bat classification, biology, feeding behavior, habitats, migration, and reproduction. They discuss the ever-increasing danger bats face from destruction of habitat, wind turbines, chemical toxicants, and devastating diseases like white-nose syndrome, which is killing millions of cave bats in North America. Illustrated species accounts include range maps and useful identification tips.
     Written by three of the world's leading bat experts and featuring J. Scott Altenbach's stunning photographs, this fact-filled and easy-to-use book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date account of bats in the U.S. and Canada
RECOMMENDATION: A thorough introduction to the bats of the region.

New Title

2011-11-10T17:14:00.000-08:00

1) Dickinson, Edward C. et al. (editors). Priority! The Dating of Scientific Names in Ornithology: Directory to the Literature & its Reviewers. 2011. Aves Press. Hardbound: 319 pages. Price: 80.00 GBP ($135.00 U.S.).

SUMMARY: This is the first book to explain the importance of priority in relation to names in ornithology and in the context of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Backgrounds are first provided on the Code and on printing and publishing over the last 250 years. The compilers then bring together reports on 148 books and 121 periodicals in zoology which, between them, present almost all the challenges that can make date determination problematic.
The reports provide links to the published authorities and are supported by tables containing extensive detail about the subsidiary parts or issues with their pagination and dates. This book and the included CD Rom are a searchable treasure trove.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those with a technical interest in ornithological nomenclature. The title is available from Aves Press here: http://www.avespress.com/books/ and from Buteo Books here: http://www.buteobooks.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BBBAO&Product_Code=13614&Category_Code=

New Title

2011-11-10T14:51:00.000-08:00

1) Chaline, Eric. Fifty Animals that Changed the Course of History. 2011. Firefly Books. Hardbound: 223 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: Fifty Animals that Changed the Course of History is a beautifully presented guide to the animals that have had the greatest impact on human civilization. Entries are organized by scientific name, except for Homo sapiens, which is featured last.
     The 50 animals include the horse, dog, rat, whale, reindeer, beaver, flea, leech, dodo, falcon, oyster and shark. These creatures, great and small, have played central roles in the evolution of humankind, but they have remained at the periphery of our understanding of history. Whether it is an advancement in scientific knowledge, a trade war, disease and death, battles won and lost, or encounters with explorers in unknown lands, these animals have changed the course of history.
     More than 150 elegant drawings, photographs and paintings, as well as excerpts from literature, highlight the concise text. Each animal is judged by its influence in four categories:

*Edible -- animals that have shaped agriculture, such as the cow
*Medical -- animals that are "disease vectors," spreading bacteria and viruses, from malaria to plague
*Commercial -- animals used for trade or in manufacturing
*Practical -- animals used for transportation or clothing.

The animals described in Fifty Animals that Changed the Course of History are familiar, but their roles in human history are easily overlooked. This attractive reference gives us a fresh perspective on our place in the animal kingdom.
RECOMMENDATION: A well illustrated account of human/animal interactions over the centuries.

New Titles

2011-11-09T21:03:00.000-08:00

1) Hayes, Derek. Historical Atlas of Washington and Oregon. 2011. University of California Press. Hardbound: 240 pages. Price: $39.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: This gorgeous atlas, illustrated throughout with more than 500 colorful images and maps, provides a visually rich and textually engaging history of the states of Oregon and Washington. Derek Hayes brings his enthusiasm and expertise to a full range of topics, beginning with the first inhabitants and tracing the westward expansion, conflict between settlers and Native Americans, and the establishment of the Oregon Trail. We see in vivid images, old maps, and lively text the coming of the railroads and the rapid establishment of the coastal ports, northwest cities and roads, the fur and lumber industries, and the large farms. We also witness the twentieth-century development of the war industries, the establishment of the aviation industry, and the celebratory 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. At once a valuable reference and an exhilarating adventure through history, the Historical Atlas of Washington and Oregon presents readers with a fascinating chronicle of how these proud states came into their own and how they each look toward the future.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those interested in the history of these two states!

2) Kirk, Jay. Kingdom Under Glass: A Tale of Obsession, Adventure, and One Man's Quest to Preserve the World's Great Animals. 2011. Picador. Paperback: 387 pages. Price: $18.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: In this epic account of an extraordinary life lived during remarkable times, Jay Kirk follows the adventures of legendary explorer and taxidermist Carl Akeley, who revolutionized taxidermy and environmental conservation and created the famed African Hall at New York’s Museum of Natural History. Akeley risked death time and again in the jungles of Africa as he stalked animals for his dioramas and hobnobbed with outsized personalities of the era, such as Theodore Roosevelt and P. T. Barnum.
RECOMMENDATION: An interesting read, but could have used more than the five photos provided to illustrated the story.

Forthcoming Title

2011-11-09T14:41:00.000-08:00

Here's a sneak peak of the forthcoming Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America:
http://seabrookeleckie.com/the-new-peterson-moth-guide/

New Title

2011-11-08T16:46:00.000-08:00

1) Sidles, Constance. Second Nature: Tales from the Montlake Fill. 2011. Constancy Press, LLC. Hardbound: 248 pages. Price: $23.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: In the rush of modern life, in the chaos of a world that is often in crisis, where can you find peace of mind? Constance Sidles finds it in nature. If, like her, you're searching for a haven that gives you respite from care and grants you hope for the future, then come with her as she takes you on a journey into the wilds of a natural area set in the heart of a big city: the Montlake Fill in Seattle.
     The Fill is 75 acres of wild beauty on the campus of the University of Washington. In 32 essays arranged into four seasons, Connie describes the birds who come here and the things they do.In the process, she reflects on the meaning of wild nature and its healing role in our modern lives.
     Connie's essays are by turns funny, serious, light, and dark. Like her first book about the Fill, In My Nature: A Birder's Year at the Montlake Fill, Connie writes about the human heart, as wild and free as the birds she finds at the Fill, as worn by care, and as lifted up by beauty.
     Her essays are illustrated with spectacular photos of the birds of the Fill, taken by some of the best wildlife photographers in the world. Visually stunning and emotionally uplifting, this book is for everyone who loves nature, both human and wild...
RECOMMENDATION: If you enjoyed the author's first book about the Montlake Fill: In My Nature, you'll enjoy this one! You can order the book here: http://constancypress.com/store/

New Title

2011-11-07T20:58:00.000-08:00

1) Brooks, Matt et al.(editors). Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona (8th edition). 2011. Tucson Audubon Society. Spiralbound: 371 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Tucson Audubon's updated edition of Finding Birds in Southeast Arizona, its eighth, brings together all the latest information on finding birds in southeast Arizona. This is your best source of detailed information that will help in planning bird watching adventures throughout southeast Arizona.
New for the eighth edition:

*15 new birding sites across Southeast Arizona
*New maps and updated older maps
*Updated contact information and web addresses
*Updated information on existing site locations
*Updated information on entering Mexico
*Updated IBA (Important Bird Areas) information, including sites
*Information pertaining to areas affected by the 2011 fires
*New Classifieds section for businesses catering to birders
*Updated bar graphs and species accounts for all species
*Easier to use index with bolding of key pages
*Printed locally on recycled paper using renewable energy
*New simple butterfly checklist

RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for birders interested in the region! You can order the book from the Tucson Audubon Society here: http://www.tucsonaudubon.org/what-we-do/publications/fbi.html
Also available:

Buteo Books Link

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2011-11-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2011/nov/06/1

New Title

2011-11-05T15:03:00.000-07:00

1) Sinclair, Ian et al.. Birds of Southern Africa (4th edition). 2011. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 464 pages. Price: $35.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: Birds of Southern Africa continues to be the best and most authoritative guide to the bird species of this remarkable region. This fully revised edition covers all birds found in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and southern Mozambique. The 213 dazzling color plates depict more than 950 species and are accompanied by more than 950 color maps and detailed facing text.
This edition includes new identification information on behavior and habitat, updated taxonomy, additional artwork, improved raptor and wader plates with flight images for each species, up-to-date distribution maps reflecting resident and migrant species, and calendar bars indicating occurrence throughout the year and breeding months. This book features:

*Fully updated and revised
*213 color plates featuring more than 950 species
*950+ color maps and over 380 new improved illustrations
*Up-to-date distribution maps show the relative abundance of a species in the region and indicate resident or migrant status
*New identification information on behavior and habitat
*Taxonomy includes relevant species lumps and splits
*Raptor and wader plates with flight images for each species
*Calendar bars indicate occurrence throughout the year and breeding months.

RECOMMENDATION: The page count has increased from 447 pages (in the 3rd edition) to 464 pages. I prefer this title over the Newman's Birds of Southern Africa guide.

Buteo Books Link

New Titles

2011-11-02T21:05:00.000-07:00

1) Liddell, Judy and Barbara Hussey. Birding Hot Spots of Central New Mexico. 2011. Texas A&M University Press. Flexibound: 203 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: From pine forest to desert scrub, from alpine meadow to riparian wetland, Albuquerque and its surrounding area in New Mexico offer an appealing variety of wildlife habitat. Birders are likely to see more than two hundred species during a typical year of bird-watching. Now, two experienced birders, Judith Liddell and Barbara Hussey, share their intimate knowledge of the best places to find birds in and around this important region.
     Covering the Rio Grande corridor, the Sandia and Manzano Mountains, Petroglyph National Monument, and the preserved areas and wetlands south of Albuquerque (including crane and waterfowl haven Bosque del Apache), Birding Hotspots of Central New Mexico offers twenty-nine geographically organized site descriptions, including maps and photographs, trail diagrams, and images of some of the birds and scenery birders will enjoy. Along with a general description of each area, the authors list target birds; explain where and when to look for them; give driving directions; provide information about public transportation, parking, fees, restrooms, food, and lodging; and give tips on availability of water and picnic facilities and on the presence of hazards such as rattlesnakes, bears, and poison ivy.
     The book includes a “helpful information” section that discusses weather, altitude, safety, transportation, and other local birding resources. The American Birding Association’s code of birding ethics appears in the back of the book, along with an annotated checklist of 222 bird species seen with some regularity in and around Albuquerque.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those birding in the region!

Buteo Books Link

2) Tattersall, Ian and Rob DeSalle. Race? Debunking A Scientific Myth. 2011. Texas A&M University Press. Hardbound: 226 pages. Price: $35.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: Race has provided the rationale and excuse for some of the worst atrocities in human history. Yet, according to many biologists, physical anthropologists, and geneticists, there is no valid scientific justification for the concept of race.
     To be more precise, although there is clearly some physical basis for the variations that underlie perceptions of race, clear boundaries among “races” remain highly elusive from a purely biological standpoint. Differences among human populations that people intuitively view as “racial” are not only superficial but are also of astonishingly recent origin.
     In this intriguing and highly accessible book, physical anthropologist Ian Tattersall and geneticist Rob DeSalle, both senior scholars from the American Museum of Natural History, explain what human races actually are—and are not—and place them within the wider perspective of natural diversity. They explain that the relative isolation of local populations of the newly evolved human species during the last Ice Age—when Homo sapiens was spreading across the world from an African point of origin—has now begun to reverse itself, as differentiated human populations come back into contact and interbreed. Indeed, the authors suggest that all of the variety seen outside of Africa seems to have both accumulated and started reintegrating within only the last 50,000 or 60,000 years—the blink of an eye, from an evolutionary perspective.
     The overarching message of Race? Debunking a Scientific Myth is that scientifically speaking, there is nothing special about racial variation within the human species. These distinctions result from the working of entirely mundane evolutionary processes, such as those encountered in other organisms.
RECOMMENDATION: If you think you understand what "race" is, read this book!

New Title

2011-11-01T21:01:00.000-07:00

1) Congedo, Fiorella (editor). Birds: Adapted from Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon's Histoire Naturelle. 2011. Harper Design. Paperback: 287 pages with DVD. Price: $22.99 U.S.

SUMMARY: This lovely book showcases the delicate copper engravings of birds created by Georges-Louis Leclerc, Compte de Buffon (1707-88), for his masterpiece work Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière.
     The glorious birds captured within are original reproductions of Leclerc’s art, which depicts the vibrant hues of the birds’ feathers, the varying length of their wings, and their wide eyed expressions as they stand perched, always alert for symbols of danger or other forms of life that might serve as their next meal. Leclerc’s original text from Histoire naturelle is also faithfully reproduced to provide descriptive information on the birds, such as their living locations and their unique physical characteristics.
     To bring this lovely book into the 21st century, the paperback format and low price make this rare and significant volume accessible and affordable. A DVD is also included with images of the birds to be used by readers at their discretion.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those that collect bird art!

New Title

2011-10-31T15:31:00.000-07:00

1) Wells, Jeffrey V. (editor). Boreal Birds of North America: A Hemispheric View of Their Conservation Links and Significance. 2011. University of California Press. Hardbound: 136 pages. Price: $39.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: Reaching from interior Alaska across Canada to Labrador and Newfoundland, North America’s boreal forest is the largest wilderness area left on the planet. It is critical habitat for billions of birds; more than 300 species regularly breed there. After the breeding season, many boreal birds migrate to seasonal habitats across the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. This volume brings together new research on boreal bird biology and conservation. It highlights the importance of the region to the global avifauna and to the connectivity between the boreal forest and ecoregions throughout the Americas. The contributions showcase a unique set of perspectives on the migration, wintering ecology, and conservation of bird communities that are tied to the boreal forest in ways that may not have been previously considered. This title is Studies In Avian Biology # 41.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with a technical interest in the ecology of boreal birds.

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2011-10-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2011/oct/30/1

FEATURED TITLE

2011-10-28T23:20:00.000-07:00

1) Dunn, Jon L. and Jonathan Alderfer. National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America (Sixth Edition). 2011. National Geographic Society. Paperback: 574 pages. Price: $27.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 6th Edition contains the most all-new material since the first edition was published more than 25 years ago. The 6th and latest edition includes 300 new art figures (mostly of rarities and subspecies); unique subspecies maps never before seen in a field guide (detailed maps for 27 species are in a separate appendix, less detailed maps for 59 species are in the main text). extensive migration information overlaid on species maps (colored dark yellow for Spring/Autumn migration range, green for Spring range, pale yellow for Autumn range on the maps) ; field-mark labels on all artwork (this feature was added to the Western/Eastern guides from 2008); text updates to include (23, mostly rarities) new species; reorganization reflecting taxonomic changes in the bird community (AOU Checklist supplements); organization, readability, and increased page count (from 503 pages in the 5th to 574 pages in the 6th) with a fresh new design. The Visual Index To Bird Families on the front and rear flaps is retained from the Western/Eastern guides. Major artwork changes are made to the following groups: Anser Geese, Storm-Petrels, Sea-Eagles, long-billed Rails (they look too dark to me), Rhinoceros Auklet and Pacific Puffins, Cuculus Cuckoos, Nightjars, Crows and Ravens, Cistothorus Wrens, Kinglets (although they didn't get the leg color on the Golden-crowned Kinglet quite right), Phylloscopus Warblers, Palm Warbler, Waterthrushes, Chipping/Clay-colored/Brewer's Sparrows, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Emberiza Buntings, Passerina Buntings, Brown-headed Cowbird, Rosy-Finches, Carpodacus Finches. This is a MAJOR revision of the guide!
RECOMMENDATION: This title is a MUST have for every birder interested in North American birds, even if you own previous editions of this book! To enter a giveaway related to this book go to FACEBOOK here: http://www.facebook.com/NatGeoBooks?sk=app_250583268326247

Buteo Books Link

FEATURED TITLE

2011-10-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

1) Clement, Peter, Alan Harris and John Davis. Finches and Sparrows. 1993 (reprinted 2011). Helm Identification Guides. Hardbound: 500 pages. Price: 65.00 GBP (about $104.90 U.S.).

SUMMARY: This is a guide to true finches (Fringillidae and Estrildidae) and (Old World) sparrows (Passeridae) illustrating all the species, many races and most sex and age variations, with almost 950 portraits. The maps accompanying the illustrations show breeding and wintering ranges for all species. Although the guide is not primarily intended for cagebird enthusiasts, it will also be useful for those wishing to know more about the species encountered in captivity.
RECOMMENDATION: This is a reprint, NOT a new edition of the 1993 book. If you missed out on getting the book the first time, here's a second chance!

1993 Cover

Remainder Alert

2011-10-27T15:19:00.000-07:00

Just returned from Half Price Books and bought two books being remaindered by Yale University Press for $9.99 each: The Gyrfalcon by Potapov and Sale and Seabirds: A Natural History by Gaston. For the nearest Half Price Books store nearest you, go here: http://www.hpb.com/stores/

New Titles

2011-10-25T21:16:00.000-07:00

1) Barnard, Peter C.. The Royal Entomological Society Book of British Insects. 2011. Wiley-Blackwell. Hardbound: 383 pages. Price: 39.95 GBP (about $64.01 U.S.).

SUMMARY: The Royal Entomological Society (RES) and Wiley-Blackwell are proud to present this landmark publication, celebrating the wonderful diversity of the insects of the British Isles, and the work of the RES (founded 1833).
     This book is the only modern systematic account of all 558 families of British insects, covering not just the large and familiar groups that are included in popular books, but even the smallest and least known. It is beautifully illustrated throughout in full colour with photographs by experienced wildlife photographers to show the range of diversity, both morphological and behavioural, among the 24,000 species.
     All of the 6,000 genera of British insects are listed and indexed, along with all the family names and higher groups. There is a summary of the classification, biology and economic importance of each family together with further references for detailed identification. All species currently subject to legal protection in the United Kingdom are also listed.
     The Royal Entomological Society is one of the oldest and most prestigious of its kind in the world. It is the leading organisation for professional entomologists and its main aim has always been the promotion of knowledge about insects. The RES began its famous Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects in 1949, and new works in that series continue to be published. The Royal Entomological Society Book of British Insects has been produced to demonstrate the on-going commitment of the RES to educate and encourage each generation to study these fascinating creatures.
     This is a key reference work for serious students of entomology and amateur entomologists, as well as for professionals who need a comprehensive source of information about the insect groups of the British Isles they may be less familiar with.

RECOMMENDATION: A thorough introduction to the insects of Britain! You can read Chapter 8 here: http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/62/14443325/1444332562-3.pdf

2) Molenaar, Dee. The Challenge of Rainier: A Record of the Explorations and Ascents, Triumphs and Tragedies on the Northwest's Greatest Mountain, 4th Edition. 2011. The Mountaineers Books. Paperback: 432 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: Originally published in 1971, The Challenge of Rainier is a classic in mountaineering reference and literature, long considered the definitive work on the climbing history of Mount Rainier.
Author Dee Molenaar covers geology, glaciology, and climate; early climbs dating before 1900; the pioneering efforts on over 35 routes in winter and summer; notable summit climbs; mountain tragedies on the steep slopes; and the guides who have led summit seekers over the years. For the 40th anniversary edition new information includes more recent ascents, rescues, mountain guides, and climbing trends; updated statistics through 2010; and a new foreword by famed climber (and former Rainier guide) Ed Viesturs.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those with an interest in the modern human history of Mt Rainier, Washington State, USA.

Reprinted Title

2011-10-25T14:42:00.000-07:00

1) Bach, Richard. Jonathan Livingston Seagull: A Story. 1970 (reprinted 2011). Harper Element. Hardbound: 87 pages. Price: 8.99 GBP (about $14.38 U.S.).

SUMMARY: Jonathan Livingston Seagull, the most celebrated inspirational fable of our time, tells the story of a bird determined to be more than ordinary. Now at its 40th anniversary, this bestselling modern classic is released in a beautiful celebratory hardback. This is the perfect gift for anyone who has the courage to follow their dreams.
‘Most gulls don’t bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight – how to get from shore to food and back again,’ writes author Richard Bach in this allegory about a unique bird named Jonathan Livingston Seagull. ‘For most gulls it is not flying that matters, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight.’ Flight is indeed the metaphor that makes this story soar. This bestselling modern classic is a fable about seeking a higher purpose in life, even if your flock, tribe or neighbourhood finds your ambition threatening. It has shown generations to believe in themselves and make their own goals: by not compromising his higher vision, Jonathan earns life’s greatest reward - transcendence. This stunning 40th anniversary edition of a spirituality classic celebrates the timelessness of the story and the inspiration it has brought to thousands: the perfect gift for anyone who knows there is more to life than following the flock.
RECOMMENDATION: I remember reading this book as a kid and I'm glad to see this 40th anniversary edition. Reread it or share it with the next generation!

New Titles

2011-10-24T14:26:00.000-07:00

1) Elbroch, Mark and Kurt Rinehart. Peterson Reference Guides: Behavior of North American Mammals. 2011. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Hardbound: 374 pages. Price: $35.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: This new addition to the Peterson Reference Guide series is highly readable and full of curious facts. For example, did you know that when an opossum plays dead it isn’t pretending? Opossums actually do enter a catatonic deathlike state. Or look at armadillos, who sequester air in their guts, blow up to twice their normal volume, and paddle across the water. A guide not for identifying mammals, but to understanding what they do, Behavior of North American Mammals provides detailed information on more than 70 species of mammals and includes illuminating and attractive photographs and drawings. Comprehensive, authoritative, and accessible, the book includes information on daily and seasonal activity, food and foraging, home range and habitat, communication, courtship, and mating, development and dispersal of young, interactions with their own species, and interactions with other species.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those interested in North American Mammals!

2) Matsen, Brad. Death and Oil: A True Story of the Piper Alpha Disaster on the North Sea. 2011. Pantheon. Hardbound: 203 pages. Price: $25.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: The first full account of the most tragic oil rig disaster in history, the human story behind it, and the true nature of its legacy.
     July 6, 1988, began as a normal day on Piper Alpha, the biggest offshore oil rig on the North Sea. But just after 10:00 p.m., a series of explosions rocked the platform, and the inferno continued to burn for weeks. Of the 226 men working on the platform, 162 died, along with two of their would-be rescuers. Brad Matsen talked to the survivors and their families; to the rescue teams, firefighters, and hospital workers; and to other witnesses. Now he brings together the full story of the human error and corporate malfeasance behind this tragedy.
     Here is a comprehensive account of the catastrophe, from the origins of the fires on the rig to the investigation into the causes of its demise to the pain it continues to cause the survivors and the families of the dead. Written with a novelist’s sense of pace and eye for detail, it is a riveting, gut-wrenching saga, made even more timely and important in light of recent disasters.
RECOMMENDATION: An interesting story on the true price of oil!

Crossley Giveaway

2011-10-24T10:56:00.000-07:00

Got this in from Princeton University Press:

    We are celebrating our new facebook page for birds and all other things in nature by giving away posters and signed copies of The Crossley ID
Guide. Richard Crossley has now spoken at well over 20 societies and
groups, but if you missed your chance to get a signed copy at one of
those events, this is a great opportunity.
     On Halloween, we will give away two different prizes - first up is an
autographed copy of the book with a poster of the {American} kestrel plate; the
second is a poster of the Black-throated Blue Warbler plate. Both
posters are professionally printed and gorgeous. They would be a treat
for any birder to hang in their den or office.
     All you have to do to be entered in the giveaway is to become a fan on
the Princeton Birds & Natural History facebook site:
http://www.facebook.com/PrincetonUPressBirds.NaturalHistory. My guess
is that we'll see additional giveaways for other bird and nature books
in the future, so if you become a fan you will be eligible for those
too. We'll also be posting bird/nature specific material there so it's a
great way to keep up to date on what's coming up in our natural history
books.

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2011-10-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2011/oct/23/4

FEATURED TITLES

2011-10-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

1) Coulson, John C.. The Kittiwake. 2011. T&AD Poyser. Hardbound: 304 pages. Price: 50.00 GBP (about $79.05 U.S.).

SUMMARY: Returning to its breeding sites in the spring after a winter spent far out at sea, the Kittiwake is a familiar sight around the coasts of Britain and Europe. A pale, medium-sized gull with a 'gentle' expression and bright yellow bill, the Kittiwake has been the subject of behavioural research since the late 1950s - one of the longest running studies in the world. In this Poyser Monograph, John Coulson summarises these decades of research, revealing amazing insights into the life of these gulls, with wider implications for the behavioural ecology of all colonial birds. There are sections on life at sea, nest-site selection, breeding biology, feeding ecology, colony dynamics, moult, survivorship and conservation.
This book is essential for academics working on colonial species, and is also of great interest to birders who want to learn more about these elegant cliff-dwelling birds.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for anyone interested in this species!

2) Dutson, Guy. Birds of Melanesia: Bismarcks, Solomons, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. 2011. Helm Field Guides. Paperback: 447 pages. Price: 40.00 GBP (about $63.24 U.S.).
SUMMARY: This new Helm Field Guide covers the species-rich Melanesia region of the south-west Pacific, from New Caledonia and the Solomons through the Bismarcks to Vanuatu, an increasingly popular destination for tours and travellers and one that has never before had complete field-guide coverage. The cover star is the Kagu, the region's most iconic bird species and a highly sought-after endemic of New Caledonia.
     Superb colour plates illustrate the 650 species that occur in the region, allied with concise identification text and a series of distribution colour bars.
     For anyone travelling to this far-flung Pacific region, this book is indispensable.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for birders interested in the region! This title will be co-published in North America by Princeton University Press in March 2012.

Binoculars

2011-10-19T17:12:00.000-07:00

NIKON Trailblazer All Terrain Binocular: #8239 10 x 42. Also available as 8 x 42 and 10 x 50. PRICE: $149.95 U.S.
Fusing top-end optical performance with Nikon ATB ruggedness, and a full-sized view, this binocular can tackle the most extreme conditions. Turn-and-slide rubber eyecups make for clear and comfortable viewing for everyone. These binoculars feature:

*Bright, multicoated lenses
*Multiple layers of anti-reflective compounds deliver bright, high-resolution images.
*Smooth central focus knob
*Fast range of focus for quick viewing.
*Lightweight, roof prism design
*Provides excellent ergonomics, strength and durability in a package that is comfortable to carry all day.
*Durable and protective, rubber-armored coating
*Provides a sure, non-slip grip, wet or dry.
*Generous eye relief
*For a clear and comfortable view, especially for eyeglass wearers. Includes turn-and-slide rubber eyecups.
*Waterproof/fogproof
*Nitrogen filled and O-ring sealed.
*Manufactured Responsibly with Lead and arsenic-free Eco-Glass™.

RECOMMENDATION: best for beginning birders and birders on a budget.

New Titles

2011-10-18T21:17:00.000-07:00

1) Galobart, Angel et al.(editors). Dinosaurs of Eastern Iberia. 2011. Indiana University Press. Hardbound: 322 pages. Price: $45.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: Written for the general reader, this book is both a colorful introduction to the history and study of dinosaurs and an eye-opening survey of dinosaur discoveries in Spain. At the time of the dinosaurs, Iberia was in the process of becoming a peninsula of Continental Europe and looked very different than it does today. Now an area only slightly larger than Vermont and New Hampshire, Eastern Iberia contains one of the richest fossil records of Mesozoic vertebrates in Europe. This record spans an 80-million-year period that includes key moments in Earth’s history, such as the extinction events at the Jurassic-Cretaceous and the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundaries. Dinosaurs of Eastern Iberia tells the story of Iberia’s tumultuous geological history and presents a detailed synthesis of the region’s dinosaur discoveries, with fact sheets and reconstructions of each species found there. This volume also describes the flora and fauna that made up the ancient ecosystems and explores the paleobiogeography of this dynamic region.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those interested in the dinosaurs and other Mesozoic life of the region!

2) Sanderson, James G. and Patrick Watson. Small Wild Cats: The Animal Answer Guide. 2011. Johns Hopkins University Press. Paperback: 144 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Did you know that most wild cat species are small and that lions, tigers, and other large cats are the exception? That adult bobcats, clouded leopards, and other small wild cats are completely asocial? And that they fight only as a last resort? This entertaining and informative book reveals these and hundreds of other facts about the behavior, biology, and conservation of the more than 30 small wild cat species.
     From bobcats to servals, small cats are spread across the globe. They range in size from the rusty-spotted cat and African black-footed cat, each of which weighs around 5 pounds when fully grown, to the Eurasian lynx, which can reach an adult weight of 60 pounds. These felids are elusive, some are nocturnal, others are arboreal, and all are rare and secretive, making them especially difficult to study. James G. Sanderson, the world's leading field expert on small wild cats, and naturalist and wildlife artist Patrick Watson provide informative and entertaining answers to common and unexpected questions about these animals. The authors explain why some small cats live on the ground while others inhabit trees, discuss the form and function of their coat types and colors, offer scientifically sound information on human–small wild cat interactions, and even review the role that small wild cats have played in literature, religion, and mythology.
     The world of cats is as fascinating as it is diverse. Small Wild Cats: The Animal Answer Guide shows just how important and interesting the littlest of the nondomesticated feline family are.
RECOMMENDATION: A good general introduction on these wild cats.

New Title

2011-10-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

1) Day, Leslie. Field Guide to the Street Trees of New York City. 2011. Johns Hopkins University Press. Paperback: 289 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: Field Guide to the Street Trees of New York City acquaints New Yorkers and visitors alike with fifty species of trees commonly found in the neighborhoods where people live, work, and travel. Beautiful, original drawings of leaves and stunning photographs of bark, fruit, flower, and twig accompany informative descriptions of each species. Detailed maps of the five boroughs identify all of the city's neighborhoods, and specific addresses pinpoint where to find a good example of each tree species.
     Trees provide invaluable benefits to the Big Apple: they reduce the rate of respiratory disease, increase property values, cool homes and sidewalks in the summer, block the harsh winds of winter, clean the air, absorb storm water runoff, and provide habitat and food for the city's wildlife.
     Bald cypress, swamp oak, silver linden, and all of New York's most common trees are just a page turn away. Your evening walk will never be the same once you come to know the quiet giants that line the city's streets.
RECOMMENDATION: The artwork by Trudy Smoke highlights this book! This book will be useful for those with an interest in the trees of the region.

The Big Year movie

2011-10-16T21:09:00.000-07:00

      I saw the THE BIG YEAR movie this afternoon. I have mixed feelings about the movie. I liked most of the birding scenes especially those that are set on Attu. But I found the home life of the birders in the movie predictable. I could rant on about the birding mistakes made in the movie, but I'll just mention of a couple:
     1) The CGI birds. For the most part I found these birds unrealistic looking. This is especially true in the scene when the gulls attack birders on Attu. I don't know why Hollywood can't get birds quite right? Is it the feathers? I hope they do a better job of making realistic birds in the remake of Hitchcock's The Birds that's due out in 2013.
     2) The birdcalls the actors make in the film. I could barely recognize them! Birdcalling expert Nicolle Perretta did coach the actors, but she wrote to me: "I saw the movie on Friday, and I actually did coach Rashida [Jones, who played Jack Black's love interest]. They hired me and sent me up to Canada for a few days to work with her. The problem is, they did not get me involved in the post production process so I could check up on her bird calling. She sounded good when I was working with her, but it did not carry through once she was being filmed. She did her [Red-tailed] hawk and Audubon's [Oriole] ok, but the rest she should have redone. Actually they should have just dubbed in my calls. They also forgot to mention me in the credits, oh well."

     Another point I want to bring up about this movie. On various blogs and listservers I've been reading state how they hope this movie will help make birding more mainstream. I doubt that will happen. For one thing it bombed at the U.S. box office on its opening weekend: It came in ninth earning only $3.25 million, which means there WON'T be a THE BIG YEAR 2! Secondly in order to become more mainstream, birding needs something more attention grabbing then this movie. Action heros are always popular with teenagers (probably the main demographic in the movie business). How about a movie like THE BIRDMAN where mild-mannered ornithologist Bax Barton becomes The Birdman (the hard-hitting super hero). Or perhaps a very popular author writes a series of fictional books related to birding. J.K. Rowling comes to mind and it would help her with her "owlgate" problem. Otherwise I see birding remaining for: The Few, The Proud, The Birders!

RECOMMENDATION: Read the book and rent the movie.

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2011-10-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2011/oct/16/2

New African Titles

2011-10-12T21:32:00.000-07:00

1) Ertel, Rainer Christian. Birds in Africa: An Introduction and Survey to the Birdlife of Africa. 2011. Fauna Verlag. Hardbound: 415 pages. Price: GBP 39.99 (about $62.96 U.S.).
SUMMARY: This is an English translation of the German book "Vogel in Afrika", which covers 1,300 species breeding or migrating in Africa. There is a colour photo and a distribution map included for most species, together with a short description of the bird's appearance, habitat, and song. This book was translated and revised by Nik Borrow. Species names are given in English, French, German. Scientific names are also given.
RECOMMENDATION: Might make a useful supplement to the standard field guides of Africa.

2) Oates, John F.. Primates of West Africa: A Field Guide and Natural History. 2011. Conservation International. Paperback: 556 pages. Price: GBP 34.99 (about $55.09 U.S.).

SUMMARY: West Africa, from the coast of Senegal to Lake Chad and Cameroon's Sanaga River, is home to 60 primate species and subspecies, 46 of which - more than three-quarters - occur nowhere else. They range from the nocturnal angwantibo, pottos, and galagos, to the mangabeys, baboons, and the drill, to an extraordinary diversity of guenons and colobus monkeys.
     In addition, no less the three of the great apes are restricted to this region, including two chimpanzees and the Cross River gorilla. The savannas and open woodlands in the north are home to baboons, vervets and patas monkey, but the main focus of this guide is the Guinean Forest, ranking high among the world's 35 Biodiversity Hotspots, the richest and most endangered of our planet's terrestrial systems. Forest loss, degradation and fragmentation, and widespread and intensive hunting for bushmeat mean that no less than 30 of the region's primates are now threatened.
     This comprehensive guide provides a brief introduction to the region, its topography, climate, vegetation, native peoples and history, and includes as well essays on the classification and evolutionary history of the region's primates, and a review of conservation activities and primate field research projects since the 1960's.
     The bulk of the book is dedicated to accounts for each primates species and subspecies, providing information not only on their identifying features and geographic distributions, but also on their natural history - their populations and habitats, locomotion, vocalizations, activity patterns, diets and feeding, ranging, and social behaviors.
     The guide is richly illustrated with full-color plates by Stephen D. Nash, distribution maps for every species and subspecies, and more than 140 color photographs of the primates and their habitats. An appendix describes key sites where these primates can be seen in the wild.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those interested in the primates of Africa!

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

2011-10-09T09:58:00.000-07:00

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2011/oct/09/1

New Titles

2011-10-08T16:08:00.000-07:00

1) Hilmarsson, Johann Oli. Icelandic Bird Guide (2nd edition). 2011. Mal Og Menning. Paperback: 341 pages. Price: $59.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: This new edition of the popular Icelandic Bird Guide has been completely revised and expanded. It covers all Icelandic breeding birds and regular visitors in detail and also describes numerous annual vagrants – more than 160 species in total.
This book is an ideal identification guide when travelling around Iceland for experienced birdwatchers and beginners alike. The clear and concise text describes the birds’ appearance and behaviour, as well their diet and habitat. Maps and diagrams clearly show distribution, movements and population sizes. The book contains:

*More than 700 stunning photos
*Breeding range and winter distribution maps
*Diagrams showing information on breeding and migration
*Photographs of eggs shown in actual size

RECOMMENDATION: A must have for birders with an interest in Iceland! This title is available from Buteo Books here: http://www.buteobooks.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BBBAO&Product_Code=12503&Category_Code=

2) Tomelleri, Joseph R. and Mark E. Eberle. Fishes of the Central United States (Second edition, revised and expanded). 2011. University Press of Kansas. Paperback: 192 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: This is the greatly-expanded second edition of a book that has been hailed by In-Fisherman as “magnificent . . . the finest, most comprehensive book on the fishes of the central United States.” Featuring the artwork of nationally acclaimed fish illustrator Joseph Tomelleri, it bridges the gap between technical studies and popular field guides in a volume that is indispensable for anglers and naturalists alike.
Working with Prismacolor, graphite pencils, and painstaking attention to scientifically precise detail, Tomelleri showcases his ability with stunning illustrations that are both technically and aesthetically satisfying, while also capturing subtle variations among fishes that the camera lens misses. In this new edition he depicts 250 fishes, including 87 appearing for the first time (a more than 50% increase over the original edition), found in 21 states from the Great Lakes in the north through the Mississippi Valley to the southern tip of Texas, and west to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and Rio Grande.
Tomelleri teams up once again with Mark Eberle to provide keen insights into the ecology, natural history, and conservation of these fishes and the types of threats they face. Species accounts are informative but not technical, and are interwoven with folklore and anecdotes.
RECOMMENDATION: The artwork highlights this book! A must have for anyone with an interest in the fishes of this region.

3) Helfman, Gene and Bruce Collette. Fishes: The Animal Answer Guide. 2011. Johns Hopkins University Press. Paperback: 178 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Fishes range in size from tiny gobies to the massive Ocean Sunfish, which weighs thousands of pounds. They live in just about every body of water on the planet. Ichthyologists Gene Helfman and Bruce Collette provide accurate, entertaining, and sometimes surprising answers to over 100 questions about these water dwellers, such as "How many kinds of fishes are there?" "Can fishes breathe air?" "How smart are fishes?" and "Do fishes feel pain?" They explain how bony fishes evolved, the relationship between them and sharks, and why there is so much color variation among species. Along the way we also learn about the Devils Hole Pupfish, which has the smallest range of any vertebrate in the world; Lota lota, the only freshwater fish to spawn under ice; the Candiru, a pencil-thin Amazonian catfish that lodges itself in a very personal place on male bathers and must be removed surgically; and many other curiosities.
With more than 100 photographs—including two full-color photo galleries—and the most up-to-date facts on the world's fishes from two premier experts, this fun book is the perfect bait for any curious naturalist, angler, or aquarist.
RECOMMENDATION: A good general introduction to fish biology.

New Title

2011-10-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

1) Schein, Michael. Bones Beneath Our Feet. 2011. Bennett & Hastings Publishing. Paperback: 372 pages. Price: $16.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: BONES BENEATH OUR FEET is the moving historical epic of the conquest of Puget Sound by the "Boston" tribe. This is lyrical fiction deeply rooted in the people and events that made our history. BONES BENEATH OUR FEET resonates with political intrigue, tenderness and betrayal, misunderstanding and fear, greed and sacrifice--all the richness and grit of life. The gravestone of Chief Leschi, leader of the Native cause, reads:

LESCHI - Judicially Murdered Feb. 19, 1858

Behind these words lies an essential story for all who are passionate about tolerance, dignity and liberty.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in historical fiction.

BIRD ART TITLES

2011-10-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

1) Gould, John. The Family of Toucans. 2011. Taschen. 51 color plates with booklet in box. Price: $99.99 U.S.

SUMMARY: John Gould's toucans are arguably the most striking and dramatic bird illustrations ever published. Gould (1804–1881) was without question the most prolific ornithological artist of the 19th century, and the only one to rival John James Audubon in ambition and quality. Gould had a romantic enthusiasm for winged creatures, as well as a passion for natural history and a impulse to catalog. Drawing on his outstanding scientific and artistic talents, he embarked on a series of projects that would eventually make him the leading publisher of ornithological illustrations in Victorian Britain. Gould's unparalleled career spanned five decades, during which he produced a series of books depicting birds from all over the world.
The dazzling illustrations from Gould's Monograph of the Ramphastidae, or Family of Toucans, 1852-1854 represent his most dramatic, magnificent images. The amazing range of vivid colors—shiny black, vibrant red, yellow, and orange—creates an unprecedented sense of animation. Shown against simple backgrounds, Gould's toucans look very much alive, as if they were about to take flight. The inspiration for Toucans came while Gould was working on his Birds of Europe, when he became fascinated by the toucan collection of a fellow ornithologist. He made several trips to central European museums to gather material for Toucans, and after publication of the first edition, redrew some of the plates and added 20 new birds to this revised and expanded second edition. All are included in these touchingly beautiful reproductions of Gould's hand-colored lithographs.Booklet text is by Jonathan Elphick.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those that collect bird art or like toucans!

2) Audubon, John James. The Birds of America. 2011. Sterling. Hardbound with slipcase: 448 pages. Price: $80.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: John James Audubon's paintings and descriptions of the birds of North America remain the gold standard against which all ornithological portraits are judged. His landmark work, Birds of America (1838), consisted of 435 life-size prints that were published in batches of five over the course of thirteen years. Because the prints were extremely large and had to be hand-colored by a team of painters, the cost of creating the original sets was exorbitant. Today, complete copies are rare--the last to be sold commanded approximately $11.5 million in a December 2010 auction, making it the most expensive book ever.
The exquisitely preserved, complete set of prints from which this slip-cased facsimile edition was created is part of the permanent collection of the Natural History Museum of London. The images were captured using state-of-the-art digital scanning techniques to preserve the intricate detail and vibrant colors of Audubon's original work. It's a stunning book--and a reminder to us of the importance of preserving these lovely creatures and their natural habitats. David Sibley wrote the introduction to this volume.
RECOMMENDATION: An affordable and accurate reproduction of Audubon's master work. Would make a nice gift for bird art collectors or birders.

H. Douglas Pratt's artwork

2011-10-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

Most of you know H. Douglas Pratt as the senior author and illustrator of: A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific (1987). He has begun work on a second edition of this book but needs financial support to be able to continue working on this much needed update. You can help by three ways detailed at his blog here:
http://www.hdouglaspratt.com/aproposednewedition.html

If you collect bird art or enjoy Pratt's artwork, here's a chance to own a piece or to sponsor his artwork!

Plate 30 from Pratt's A Field Guide to the Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific.
Artwork Copyright H. Douglas Pratt

A&C Black competition

2011-10-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

For those that live in the United Kingdom, you might be interested in this competition: WIN one of these recently published titles. Simply email your name and address to: competition@bloomsbury.com with the title of the book you'd like to win in the subject line before 15th November 2011.

NEW TITLES:

AVIAN SURVIVORS

http://bloomsburynews.com/go.asp?/bBLM001/qVMHWG1F/x19R6G1F

The History and Biogeography of Palearctic Birds

Clive Finlayson
     History and chance events play a central role in a story that has its origins before the asteroid impact that finished off the dinosaurs. In this book, Finlayson shows that the avifauna of the Palearctic long predates the glaciations of the last two million years, and had established itself gradually during the turbulent times of the Miocene and Pliocene, the lifting of Tibet and the drying of the continents having a major influence on these birds.
     Packed with figures and with a rich colour section, Avian Survivors tells the definitive story of the birds of the Palearctic, across space and time.

BIRDS OF SEYCHELLES

http://bloomsburynews.com/go.asp?/bBLM001/qDM85G1F/x19R6G1F

Adrian Skerrett & Tony Disley
     The only field guide to cover every species recorded in Seychelles, covering more than 250 species, including all residents, migrants and vagrants. Concise text on facing pages highlights key identification features, including habitat, distribution, status and voice. The plates are based on the authors' previous work, but with the addition of many new images.

THE KITTIWAKE

http://bloomsburynews.com/go.asp?/bBLM001/qVMHNG1F/x19R6G1F

John Coulson
    The Kittiwake has been the subject of behavioural research since the late 1950s - one of the longest running studies in the world. In this Poyser Monograph, John Coulson summarises these decades of research, revealing amazing insights into the life of these gulls, with wider implications for the behavioural ecology of all colonial birds. This book is essential for academics working on colonial species, and is also of great interest to birders who want to learn more about these elegant cliff-dwelling birds.

*** BACK IN PRINT ***

FINCHES AND SPARROWS

http://bloomsburynews.com/go.asp?/bBLM001/q4D8WG1F/x19R6G1F

Peter Clement
     This is a guide to true finches and sparrows illustrating all the species, many races and most sex and age variations, with almost 950 portraits. The maps accompanying the illustrations show breeding and wintering ranges for all species.

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