My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2010/05/birdbooker_report_120.php
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
New and Recent Titles
Epps, Susan Allene. Parrots of South Florida. 2007. Pineapple Press. Paperback: 93 pages. Price: $12.95 U.S.
SUMMARY:What is that noisy green bird? This full-color guide will help you identify it. Included are Amazons, conures, parakeets, macaws, and other parrots, some of which are rarely seen. You will find detailed information on each bird--its common name, its scientific name, and any other names it may be known by; its size; a description of its colors and markings; and where it can be found. Each bird is illustrated in a painting by renowned bird artist Karl Karalus. Also included is a section on parrots' preferred foods. The index can be used as a checklist so you can keep track of which parrots you have seen.
RECOMMENDATION: For beginning birders in Florida.
Maehr, David S. and Herbert W. Kale II. Florida's Birds: A Field Guide and Reference (second edition). 2009. Pineapple Press. Flexibinding: 359 pages. Price: $21.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: The Second Edition of Florida’s Birds by David S. Maehr and Herbert W. Kale II, illustrated by Karl Karalus, is a major event for Florida birders, new and old. Each section of the book is updated, and 30 new species are added. Also added are range maps for certain species and color-coded guides to months when the bird is present and/or breeding in Florida. Now with color throughout, each bird is illustrated three times: with the text about the bird, in the index listing, and on a plate with similar species for help in identification. Thus, Florida’s Birds is now an even better field guide. Unlike the other books available on the birds of Florida, Florida’s Birds is also a reference that goes beyond its usefulness in the field. Sections on bird study and bird feeding provide practical advice for enjoying Florida’s birds; and sections on bird habitats, threatened and endangered species, exotic species, and bird conservation will assist the reader in understanding the ecological and cultural landscapes that have created one of the world’s unique avifaunas.
RECOMMENDATION: For beginning and intermediate birders.
Nothiger, Andreas. World History Chart. 2010. World History Online. Wall Chart and 46 page booklet. Price: $26.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: This entertaining chart is a most suitable gift for anybody interested in world events and a great opportunity to complement HyperHistory with the best-selling World History Chart. The Wall Chart is folded into the cover of a book with 48 pages of text, incl. biographical notes for 464 persons. Educational institutions are using the Chart & Book as required textbook reading and many famous people have been using the Chart enthusiastically for many years.The original Chart was created in 1989. It soon became a bestseller with over 38,000 copies being sold worldwide. Re-designed & updated a new edition has been published in 2010.
RECOMMENDATION: A useful reference for teachers, students and the home. Available at this link:
http://www.hyperhistory.com/online_n2/History_n2/contact.html
Thursday, May 27, 2010
New Title
White, Norval, Elliot Willensky with Fran Leadon. AIA Guide to New York City (Fifth Edition). 2010. Oxford University Press. Paperback: 1055 pages. Price: $39.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Hailed as "extraordinarily learned" (New York Times ), "blithe in spirit and unerring in vision," (New York Magazine ), and the "definitive record of New York's architectural heritage" (Municipal Art Society), Norval White and Elliot Willensky's book is an essential reference for everyone with an interest in architecture and those who simply want to know more about New York City.
First published in 1968, the AIA Guide to New York City has long been the definitive guide to the city's architecture. Moving through all five boroughs, neighborhood by neighborhood, it offers the most complete overview of New York's significant places, past and present. The Fifth Edition continues to include places of historical importance--including extensive coverage of the World Trade Center site--while also taking full account of the construction boom of the past 10 years, a boom that has given rise to an unprecedented number of new buildings by such architects as Frank Gehry, Norman Foster, and Renzo Piano. All of the buildings included in the Fourth Edition have been revisited and re-photographed and much of the commentary has been re-written, and coverage of the outer boroughs--particularly Brooklyn--has been expanded.
Famed skyscrapers and historic landmarks are detailed, but so, too, are firehouses, parks, churches, parking garages, monuments, and bridges. Boasting more than 3000 new photographs, 100 enhanced maps, and thousands of short and spirited entries, the guide is arranged geographically by borough, with each borough divided into sectors and then into neighborhood. Extensive commentaries describe the character of the divisions.
Knowledgeable, playful, and beautifully illustrated, here is the ultimate guided tour of New York's architectural treasures.
RECOMMENDATION: Anyone interested in New York City architecture will want this book!
SUMMARY: Hailed as "extraordinarily learned" (New York Times ), "blithe in spirit and unerring in vision," (New York Magazine ), and the "definitive record of New York's architectural heritage" (Municipal Art Society), Norval White and Elliot Willensky's book is an essential reference for everyone with an interest in architecture and those who simply want to know more about New York City.
First published in 1968, the AIA Guide to New York City has long been the definitive guide to the city's architecture. Moving through all five boroughs, neighborhood by neighborhood, it offers the most complete overview of New York's significant places, past and present. The Fifth Edition continues to include places of historical importance--including extensive coverage of the World Trade Center site--while also taking full account of the construction boom of the past 10 years, a boom that has given rise to an unprecedented number of new buildings by such architects as Frank Gehry, Norman Foster, and Renzo Piano. All of the buildings included in the Fourth Edition have been revisited and re-photographed and much of the commentary has been re-written, and coverage of the outer boroughs--particularly Brooklyn--has been expanded.
Famed skyscrapers and historic landmarks are detailed, but so, too, are firehouses, parks, churches, parking garages, monuments, and bridges. Boasting more than 3000 new photographs, 100 enhanced maps, and thousands of short and spirited entries, the guide is arranged geographically by borough, with each borough divided into sectors and then into neighborhood. Extensive commentaries describe the character of the divisions.
Knowledgeable, playful, and beautifully illustrated, here is the ultimate guided tour of New York's architectural treasures.
RECOMMENDATION: Anyone interested in New York City architecture will want this book!
New Titles
Mather, Jennifer A., et al. Octopus: The Ocean's Intelligent Invertebrate. 2010. Timber Press. Hardbound: 208 pages. Price: $25.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: In this beautifully photographed book, three leading marine biologists bring readers face to face with these amazingly complex animals that have fascinated scientists for decades. From the molluscan ancestry of today's octopus to its ingenious anatomy, amazing mating and predatory behaviors, and other-worldly relatives, the authors take readers through the astounding life cycle, uncovering the details of distinctive octopus personalities. With personal narratives, underwater research, stunning closeup photography, and thoughtful guidance for keeping octopuses in captivity, Octopus is the first comprehensive natural history of this smart denizen of the sea.
RECOMMENDATION: For anyone with an interest in octopodes.
Moskowitz, David. Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest: Tracking and Identifying Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Invertebrates. 2010. Timber Press. Flexibinding: 364 pages. Price: $25.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest includes illustrated descriptions for more than 180 mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates most common in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, northern California, Idaho, and western Montana. With more than 460 photographs, hundreds of scale drawings, and more than 90 distribution maps, it belongs in every pack and is a must-have for nature lovers of all ages and skill levels.
RECOMMENDATION: A useful guide for Pacific Northwest naturalists.
SUMMARY: In this beautifully photographed book, three leading marine biologists bring readers face to face with these amazingly complex animals that have fascinated scientists for decades. From the molluscan ancestry of today's octopus to its ingenious anatomy, amazing mating and predatory behaviors, and other-worldly relatives, the authors take readers through the astounding life cycle, uncovering the details of distinctive octopus personalities. With personal narratives, underwater research, stunning closeup photography, and thoughtful guidance for keeping octopuses in captivity, Octopus is the first comprehensive natural history of this smart denizen of the sea.
RECOMMENDATION: For anyone with an interest in octopodes.
Moskowitz, David. Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest: Tracking and Identifying Mammals, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Invertebrates. 2010. Timber Press. Flexibinding: 364 pages. Price: $25.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest includes illustrated descriptions for more than 180 mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates most common in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, northern California, Idaho, and western Montana. With more than 460 photographs, hundreds of scale drawings, and more than 90 distribution maps, it belongs in every pack and is a must-have for nature lovers of all ages and skill levels.
RECOMMENDATION: A useful guide for Pacific Northwest naturalists.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
New Title
Dunne, Peter. Bayshore Summer: Finding Eden in a Most Unlikely Place. 2010. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Hardbound: 262 pages. Price: $24.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: Bypassed by time and "Joisey" Shore-bound vacationers, the marshes and forests of the Bayshore constitute one of North America's last great undiscovered wild places. Sixty million people live within a tank of gas of this environmentally rich and diverse place, yet most miss out on the region's amazing spectacles. Bayshore Summer is a bridge that links the rest of the world to this timeless land. Pete Dunne acts as ambassador and tour guide, following Bayshore residents as they haul crab traps, bale salt hay, stake out deer poachers, and pick tomatoes. He examines and appreciates this fertile land, how we live off it and how all of us connect with it. From the shorebirds that converge by the thousands to gorge themselves on crab eggs to the delicious fresh produce that earned the Garden State its nickname, from the line-dropping expectancy of party boat fishing to the waterman who lives on a first-name basis with the birds around his boat, Bayshore Summer is at once an expansive and intimate portrait of a special place, a secret Eden, and a glimpse into a world as rich as summer and enduring as a whispered promise.
RECOMMENDATION: If you liked Dunne's Prairie Spring, you'll like this title (book two of his seasonal series).
SUMMARY: Bypassed by time and "Joisey" Shore-bound vacationers, the marshes and forests of the Bayshore constitute one of North America's last great undiscovered wild places. Sixty million people live within a tank of gas of this environmentally rich and diverse place, yet most miss out on the region's amazing spectacles. Bayshore Summer is a bridge that links the rest of the world to this timeless land. Pete Dunne acts as ambassador and tour guide, following Bayshore residents as they haul crab traps, bale salt hay, stake out deer poachers, and pick tomatoes. He examines and appreciates this fertile land, how we live off it and how all of us connect with it. From the shorebirds that converge by the thousands to gorge themselves on crab eggs to the delicious fresh produce that earned the Garden State its nickname, from the line-dropping expectancy of party boat fishing to the waterman who lives on a first-name basis with the birds around his boat, Bayshore Summer is at once an expansive and intimate portrait of a special place, a secret Eden, and a glimpse into a world as rich as summer and enduring as a whispered promise.
RECOMMENDATION: If you liked Dunne's Prairie Spring, you'll like this title (book two of his seasonal series).
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
New Title
Loxton, Daniel. Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be. 2010. Kids Can Press. Hardbound: 56 pages. Price: $18.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Evolution is the process that created the terrible teeth of Tyrannosaurus rex and the complex human brain, clever enough to understand the workings of nature. Young readers will learn how a British naturalist named Charles Darwin studied nature and developed his now-famous concepts of natural selection and survival of the fittest. And how modern-day science has added to our understanding of the theory of evolution. Can something as complex and wondrous as the natural world be explained by a simple theory? The answer is yes, and now Evolution explains how in a way that makes it easy to understand.
RECOMMENDATION: For ages 8 to 13.
Monday, May 24, 2010
FEATURED TITLE
Howell, Steve N.G. Peterson Reference Guides: Molt in North American Birds. 2010. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Hardbound: 267 pages. Price: 35.00 U.S.
SUMMARY:Here, for the first time, molt is presented for the nonscientist. Molt is very orderly and built on only four underlying strategies: simple basic, complex basic, simple alternate, and complex alternate. This book clearly lays out these strategies, relates them to aspects of life history, such as habitat and migration, and makes this important subject accessible. The book is divided into two sections: introduction and family accounts.It is well illustrated with color photographs.
RECOMMENDATION: For intermediate to advanced level birders.
SUMMARY:Here, for the first time, molt is presented for the nonscientist. Molt is very orderly and built on only four underlying strategies: simple basic, complex basic, simple alternate, and complex alternate. This book clearly lays out these strategies, relates them to aspects of life history, such as habitat and migration, and makes this important subject accessible. The book is divided into two sections: introduction and family accounts.It is well illustrated with color photographs.
RECOMMENDATION: For intermediate to advanced level birders.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
The weekly Birdbooker Report
My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2010/05/birdbooker_report_119.php
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2010/05/birdbooker_report_119.php
Friday, May 21, 2010
New Title
Stutchbury, Bridget. The Private Lives of Birds: A Scientist Reveals the Intricacies of Avian Social Life. 2010. Walker and Company. Hardbound: 249 pages. Price: $25.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: The Private Lives of Birds is a treasure trove of fascinating insights into bird behavior. But understanding the social lives of birds does much more than slake our curiosity. Aware that many birds will not occupy an area unless other birds are already there, biologists used mirrors and two-dimensional cutouts to lure Atlantic puffins to establish colonies off the coast of Maine, getting curious puffins to visit the site and linger long enough to encounter a live bird. As Stutchbury says, “Trying to save birds without understanding what makes them tick is a shot in the dark … birds are highly social, and their social needs are at least as important as their physical needs.”
RECOMMENDATION: An interesting introduction into bird biology.
SUMMARY: The Private Lives of Birds is a treasure trove of fascinating insights into bird behavior. But understanding the social lives of birds does much more than slake our curiosity. Aware that many birds will not occupy an area unless other birds are already there, biologists used mirrors and two-dimensional cutouts to lure Atlantic puffins to establish colonies off the coast of Maine, getting curious puffins to visit the site and linger long enough to encounter a live bird. As Stutchbury says, “Trying to save birds without understanding what makes them tick is a shot in the dark … birds are highly social, and their social needs are at least as important as their physical needs.”
RECOMMENDATION: An interesting introduction into bird biology.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
New Titles
1) Daintith, John and Elizabeth Martin (editors). Oxford Dictionary of Science. 2010. Oxford University Press. Paperback: 900 pages. Price: $19.99 U.S.
SUMMARY: This best-selling dictionary contains 9,200 alphabetically organized entries on all aspects of chemistry, physics, biology (including human biology), earth sciences, and astronomy. In addition to a wealth of reliable, up-to-date entries, users will find useful short biographies of leading scientists, full-page illustrated features on subjects such as the Solar System and Genetically Modified Organisms, and chronologies of specific scientific subjects including plastics, electronics, and cell biology. This new edition includes expanded coverage of global warming, forensic science, astrophysics, quantum theory, and the solar system. Supported by over 200 diagrams and illustrations, the Dictionary of Science also contains recommended web links for many entries, accessed and kept up to date via the companion website.
RECOMMENDATION: A good reference work for students or for a library.
2) Turvey, Samuel T. (editor). Holocene Extinctions. 2009. Oxford University Press. Hardbound: 352 pages. Price: $99.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: Holocene Extinctions describes and analyses the range of global extinction events which have occurred since the end of the Pleistocene epoch, as well as their relationship to both earlier and ongoing species losses. By integrating information from fields as diverse as zoology, ecology, palaeontology, archaeology and geography, and by incorporating data from a broad range of taxonomic groups and ecosystems, this novel text provides a fascinating insight into human impacts on global extinction rates, both past and present.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with a technical interest in extinction biology.
SUMMARY: This best-selling dictionary contains 9,200 alphabetically organized entries on all aspects of chemistry, physics, biology (including human biology), earth sciences, and astronomy. In addition to a wealth of reliable, up-to-date entries, users will find useful short biographies of leading scientists, full-page illustrated features on subjects such as the Solar System and Genetically Modified Organisms, and chronologies of specific scientific subjects including plastics, electronics, and cell biology. This new edition includes expanded coverage of global warming, forensic science, astrophysics, quantum theory, and the solar system. Supported by over 200 diagrams and illustrations, the Dictionary of Science also contains recommended web links for many entries, accessed and kept up to date via the companion website.
RECOMMENDATION: A good reference work for students or for a library.
2) Turvey, Samuel T. (editor). Holocene Extinctions. 2009. Oxford University Press. Hardbound: 352 pages. Price: $99.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: Holocene Extinctions describes and analyses the range of global extinction events which have occurred since the end of the Pleistocene epoch, as well as their relationship to both earlier and ongoing species losses. By integrating information from fields as diverse as zoology, ecology, palaeontology, archaeology and geography, and by incorporating data from a broad range of taxonomic groups and ecosystems, this novel text provides a fascinating insight into human impacts on global extinction rates, both past and present.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with a technical interest in extinction biology.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
New Title
Tidemann, Sonia and Andrew Gosler. Ethno-ornithology: Birds, Indigenous Peoples, Culture and Society. 2010. Earthscan. Hardbound: 346 pages. Price: $96.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: This book presents ornithological knowledge that is new or has not been readily available until now because it has not previously been captured or reported by indigenous people. As well as its knowledge base, this book provides practical advice for professionals in conservation and anthropology by demonstrating the relationship between mutual respect, local participation and the building of partnerships for the resolution of joint problems. It identifies techniques that can be transferred to different regions, environments and collections, as well as practices suitable for investigation, adaptation and improvement of knowledge exchange and collection in ornithology. The authors take anthropologists and biologists who have been trained in, and largely continue to practice from, a western reductionist approach, along another path one that presents ornithological knowledge from alternative perspectives, which can enrich the more common approaches to ecological and other studies as well as management for conservation.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with a technical interest in ethno-ornithology.
SUMMARY: This book presents ornithological knowledge that is new or has not been readily available until now because it has not previously been captured or reported by indigenous people. As well as its knowledge base, this book provides practical advice for professionals in conservation and anthropology by demonstrating the relationship between mutual respect, local participation and the building of partnerships for the resolution of joint problems. It identifies techniques that can be transferred to different regions, environments and collections, as well as practices suitable for investigation, adaptation and improvement of knowledge exchange and collection in ornithology. The authors take anthropologists and biologists who have been trained in, and largely continue to practice from, a western reductionist approach, along another path one that presents ornithological knowledge from alternative perspectives, which can enrich the more common approaches to ecological and other studies as well as management for conservation.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with a technical interest in ethno-ornithology.
FEATURED TITLE
1) Schulenberg, Thomas S. et al. Birds of Peru (revised and updated edition). 2010. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 664 pages. Price: $39.50 U.S.
SUMMARY: Birds of Peru is the most complete and authoritative field guide to this diverse, neotropical landscape. It features every one of Peru's 1,817 bird species and shows the distinct plumages of each in 307 superb, high-quality color plates. Concise descriptions and color distribution maps are located opposite the plates, making this book much easier to use in the field than standard neotropical field guides. This fully revised paperback edition includes twenty-five additional species.
*A comprehensive guide to all 1,817 species found in Peru--one fifth of the world's birds--with subspecies, sexes, age classes, and morphs fully illustrated
*Designed especially for field use, with vivid descriptive information and helpful identification tips opposite color plates
*Detailed species accounts, including a full-color distribution map
*Includes 25 additional species not covered in the first edition
*Features 3 entirely new plates and more than 25 additional illustrations
RECOMMENDATION: The text has increased in size from 656 pages to 664 pages. Three new plates have been added at the end of the book that cover 20 species new to Peru. The lighter paperback version will be easier to carry into the field. Anyone interested in South American birds will want this book!
SUMMARY: Birds of Peru is the most complete and authoritative field guide to this diverse, neotropical landscape. It features every one of Peru's 1,817 bird species and shows the distinct plumages of each in 307 superb, high-quality color plates. Concise descriptions and color distribution maps are located opposite the plates, making this book much easier to use in the field than standard neotropical field guides. This fully revised paperback edition includes twenty-five additional species.
*A comprehensive guide to all 1,817 species found in Peru--one fifth of the world's birds--with subspecies, sexes, age classes, and morphs fully illustrated
*Designed especially for field use, with vivid descriptive information and helpful identification tips opposite color plates
*Detailed species accounts, including a full-color distribution map
*Includes 25 additional species not covered in the first edition
*Features 3 entirely new plates and more than 25 additional illustrations
RECOMMENDATION: The text has increased in size from 656 pages to 664 pages. Three new plates have been added at the end of the book that cover 20 species new to Peru. The lighter paperback version will be easier to carry into the field. Anyone interested in South American birds will want this book!
Monday, May 17, 2010
New Titles
1) Dwyer, Jim. Where the Wild Books Are: A Field Guide to Ecofiction. 2010. University of Nevada Press. 264 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: As interest in environmental issues grows, many writers of fiction have embraced themes that explore the connections between humans and the natural world. Ecologically themed fiction ranges from profound philosophical meditations to action-packed entertainments. Where the Wild Books Are offers an overview of nearly 2,000 works of nature-oriented fiction. The author includes a discussion of the precursors and history of the genre, and of its expansion since the 1970s. He also considers its forms and themes, as well as the subgenres into which it has evolved, such as speculative fiction, ecodefense, animal stories, mysteries, ecofeminist novels, cautionary tales, and others. A brief summary and critical commentary of each title is included. Dwyer’s scope is broad and covers fiction by Native American writers as well as ecofiction from writers around the world. Far more than a mere listing of books, Where the Wild Books Are is a lively introduction to a vast universe of engaging, provocative writing. It can be used to develop book collections or curricula. It also serves as an introduction to one of the most fertile areas of contemporary fiction, presenting books that will offer enjoyable reading and new insights into the vexing environmental questions of our time.
RECOMMENDATION: A good introduction on the subject with most of the literature listed being from the 1970's to the present.
2)Smallshire, Dave and Andy Swash. Britain's Dragonflies: A Field Guide to the Damselflies and Dragonflies of Britain and Ireland (2nd edition). 2010. WILDGuides. Paperback: 208 pages. Price: 17.95 GBP (about $25.92 U.S.).
SUMMARY: A comprehensive photographic field guide to the dragonflies and damselflies of Britain and Ireland. This completely revised second edition covers in detail the identification of all 56 species that have been recorded, as well as seven potential vagrants. It aims to help the Dragonfly-watcher – beginner or expert – to identify any species they encounter.
• Stunning colour plates of all species – showing males, females, immatures and colour forms.
• Innovative, beautifully detailed and easy-to-use identification charts summarising the key features of both adults and larvae.• Detailed species profiles covering:
• adult identification
• distribution, with up-to-date maps
• flight periods
• eggs and larvae, behaviour, habitat requirements, status and conservation.
• sections on biology, habitats, tips on how and where to watch Dragonflies, and other useful information.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in the world's Odonata and/or British/Irish natural history. This title is available here: https://www.wildguides.co.uk/our-titles/britains-wildlife/britains-dragonflies-second-edition You need to scroll down a ways.
3) Tingay, Ruth E. and Todd E. Katzner (editors). The Eagle Watchers: Observing and Conserving Raptors around the World. 2010. Cornell University Press. Hardbound: 234 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.
SUMMARY:The Eagle Watchers covers twenty-four species on six continents, from well known (bald eagle; golden eagle), to obscure (black-and-chestnut eagle; New Guinea harpy eagle), and from common (African fish eagle) to critically endangered (Philippine eagle; Madagascar fish eagle). The diverse experiences vividly described in this book reveal the passion, dedication, and sense of adventure shared by those who study these majestic birds and strive for their conservation.
Featuring stunning color photographs of the eagles, information on raptor conservation, a global list of all eagle species with ranges and conservation status, and a color map of the sites visited in the book, The Eagle Watchers will appeal to birders, conservationists, and adventure travelers alike. To further support the conservation programs described in this book, all royalties are being donated to two leading nonprofit organizations for raptor conservation training and fieldwork: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Intern Program and the National Birds of Prey Trust.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in birds of prey.
SUMMARY: As interest in environmental issues grows, many writers of fiction have embraced themes that explore the connections between humans and the natural world. Ecologically themed fiction ranges from profound philosophical meditations to action-packed entertainments. Where the Wild Books Are offers an overview of nearly 2,000 works of nature-oriented fiction. The author includes a discussion of the precursors and history of the genre, and of its expansion since the 1970s. He also considers its forms and themes, as well as the subgenres into which it has evolved, such as speculative fiction, ecodefense, animal stories, mysteries, ecofeminist novels, cautionary tales, and others. A brief summary and critical commentary of each title is included. Dwyer’s scope is broad and covers fiction by Native American writers as well as ecofiction from writers around the world. Far more than a mere listing of books, Where the Wild Books Are is a lively introduction to a vast universe of engaging, provocative writing. It can be used to develop book collections or curricula. It also serves as an introduction to one of the most fertile areas of contemporary fiction, presenting books that will offer enjoyable reading and new insights into the vexing environmental questions of our time.
RECOMMENDATION: A good introduction on the subject with most of the literature listed being from the 1970's to the present.
SUMMARY: A comprehensive photographic field guide to the dragonflies and damselflies of Britain and Ireland. This completely revised second edition covers in detail the identification of all 56 species that have been recorded, as well as seven potential vagrants. It aims to help the Dragonfly-watcher – beginner or expert – to identify any species they encounter.
• Stunning colour plates of all species – showing males, females, immatures and colour forms.
• Innovative, beautifully detailed and easy-to-use identification charts summarising the key features of both adults and larvae.• Detailed species profiles covering:
• adult identification
• distribution, with up-to-date maps
• flight periods
• eggs and larvae, behaviour, habitat requirements, status and conservation.
• sections on biology, habitats, tips on how and where to watch Dragonflies, and other useful information.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in the world's Odonata and/or British/Irish natural history. This title is available here: https://www.wildguides.co.uk/our-titles/britains-wildlife/britains-dragonflies-second-edition You need to scroll down a ways.
3) Tingay, Ruth E. and Todd E. Katzner (editors). The Eagle Watchers: Observing and Conserving Raptors around the World. 2010. Cornell University Press. Hardbound: 234 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.
SUMMARY:The Eagle Watchers covers twenty-four species on six continents, from well known (bald eagle; golden eagle), to obscure (black-and-chestnut eagle; New Guinea harpy eagle), and from common (African fish eagle) to critically endangered (Philippine eagle; Madagascar fish eagle). The diverse experiences vividly described in this book reveal the passion, dedication, and sense of adventure shared by those who study these majestic birds and strive for their conservation.
Featuring stunning color photographs of the eagles, information on raptor conservation, a global list of all eagle species with ranges and conservation status, and a color map of the sites visited in the book, The Eagle Watchers will appeal to birders, conservationists, and adventure travelers alike. To further support the conservation programs described in this book, all royalties are being donated to two leading nonprofit organizations for raptor conservation training and fieldwork: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Intern Program and the National Birds of Prey Trust.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in birds of prey.
New Crossley ID Guide video
At Barnes and Noble's website, there's a new video about the forthcoming Crossley ID Guide:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Crossley-ID-Guide/Richard-Crossley/e/9780691147789/?itm=2
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Crossley-ID-Guide/Richard-Crossley/e/9780691147789/?itm=2
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The weekly Birdbooker Report
My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2010/05/birdbooker_report_118.php
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2010/05/birdbooker_report_118.php
Saturday, May 15, 2010
New Titles
1) Grant, K. Thalia and Gregory B. Estes. Darwin in Galapagos: Footsteps to a New World. 2009. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 362 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Thalia Grant and Gregory Estes meticulously retrace Charles Darwin's island expeditions, taking you on an unforgettable guided tour. Drawing from Darwin's original notebooks and logs from the Beagle, the latest findings by Darwin scholars and modern science, and their own intimate knowledge of the archipelago, Grant and Estes offer rare insights into Darwin's thinking about evolution in the context of the actual locales that inspired him. They introduce Darwin as a young naturalist in England and onboard the Beagle and then put you in his shoes as he explores remote places in the islands. They identify the unique animals and plants he observed and collected, and describe dramatic changes to the islands since Darwin's time. They also explore the importance of Darwin's observations and collections to the development of his thinking after the voyage.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in Darwin and/or the Galapagos Islands.
2) Henderson, Carrol L. Butterflies, Moths, and Other Invertebrates of Costa Rica. 2010. University of Texas Press. Paperback: 173 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Carrol Henderson published Field Guide to the Wildlife of Costa Rica in 2002, and it instantly became the indispensable guide. Now Henderson has created a dedicated field guide to more than one hundred tropical butterflies, moths, and other invertebrates that travelers are most likely to see while exploring the wild lands of Costa Rica. He includes fascinating information on their natural history, ecology, identification, and behavior gleaned from his forty years of travels and wildlife viewing, as well as details on where to see these remarkable and beautiful creatures. The butterflies, moths, and other invertebrates are illustrated by over 180 stunning and colorful photographs—most of which were taken in the wild by Henderson. A detailed and invaluable appendix that identifies many of Costa Rica's best wildlife-watching destinations, lodges, and contact information for trip-planning purposes completes the volume. Color range maps are included.
RECOMMENDATION: For those interested in the natural history of Costa Rica.
SUMMARY: Thalia Grant and Gregory Estes meticulously retrace Charles Darwin's island expeditions, taking you on an unforgettable guided tour. Drawing from Darwin's original notebooks and logs from the Beagle, the latest findings by Darwin scholars and modern science, and their own intimate knowledge of the archipelago, Grant and Estes offer rare insights into Darwin's thinking about evolution in the context of the actual locales that inspired him. They introduce Darwin as a young naturalist in England and onboard the Beagle and then put you in his shoes as he explores remote places in the islands. They identify the unique animals and plants he observed and collected, and describe dramatic changes to the islands since Darwin's time. They also explore the importance of Darwin's observations and collections to the development of his thinking after the voyage.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in Darwin and/or the Galapagos Islands.
2) Henderson, Carrol L. Butterflies, Moths, and Other Invertebrates of Costa Rica. 2010. University of Texas Press. Paperback: 173 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Carrol Henderson published Field Guide to the Wildlife of Costa Rica in 2002, and it instantly became the indispensable guide. Now Henderson has created a dedicated field guide to more than one hundred tropical butterflies, moths, and other invertebrates that travelers are most likely to see while exploring the wild lands of Costa Rica. He includes fascinating information on their natural history, ecology, identification, and behavior gleaned from his forty years of travels and wildlife viewing, as well as details on where to see these remarkable and beautiful creatures. The butterflies, moths, and other invertebrates are illustrated by over 180 stunning and colorful photographs—most of which were taken in the wild by Henderson. A detailed and invaluable appendix that identifies many of Costa Rica's best wildlife-watching destinations, lodges, and contact information for trip-planning purposes completes the volume. Color range maps are included.
RECOMMENDATION: For those interested in the natural history of Costa Rica.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
New and Recent Titles
1) Alderfer, Jonathan and Jon L. Dunn. National Geographic Birding Essentials. 2007. National Geographic Society. Paperback: 224 pages. Price: $15.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: For beginning and intermediate enthusiasts, National Geographic Birding Essentials is a must. Comprehensive and authoritative, yet engaging and user-friendly, it teaches readers how to begin and improve their birding: what to look and listen for and how to make sense of what they see and hear. A unique visual component shows actual field guide pages and how to read them, while another compares the same bird in photography versus artwork and explains how to use both for species identification. National Geographic's quality photography is a major highlight of the book, supplemented by pencil drawings and full-color maps to give birders a full range of visual information.
RECOMMENDATION: A useful book for beginning and intermediate birders.
2) Brinkley, Douglas. The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America. 2009. Harper Perennial. Paperback: 940 pages. Price: $19.99 U.S.
SUMMARY: From New York Times bestselling historian Douglas Brinkley comes a sweeping historical narrative and eye-opening look at the pioneering environmental policies of President Theodore Roosevelt, avid bird-watcher, naturalist, and the founding father of America’s conservation movement—now approaching its 100th anniversary.
RECOMMENDATION: Now available in paperback.
3) Reid, Fiona A. et al. The Wildlife of Costa Rica: A Field Guide. 2010. Cornell University Press. Paperback: 267 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.
SUMMARY:This full-color field guide is an indispensable companion to the most popular neotropical ecotourism destination: Costa Rica. Featuring all the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods that one is likely to see on a trip to the rainforest (as well as those secretive creatures such as the jaguar that are difficult to glimpse), The Wildlife of Costa Rica is the guide to have when encountering trogons, tapirs, and tarantulas. In addition to providing details for identifying animals along with interesting facts about their natural history, this guide offers tips for seeing them in the wild.
RECOMMENDATION: For naturalists visting or living in Costa Rica.
4) Wallace, Alfred Russel. The Malay Archipelago. 2008. Periplus. Paperback: 488 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.
SUMMARY:The Malay Archipelago is an extraordinarily accessible book written by noted British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. A century and a half after it was published, this book remains one of the great classics of natural history and travel, on par with Charles Darwin's work. Full of a wealth of detail about pre-modern life in the Indonesian archipelago, The Malay Archipelago is a fascinating look at natural selection.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in Victorian era science and travel writing.
SUMMARY: For beginning and intermediate enthusiasts, National Geographic Birding Essentials is a must. Comprehensive and authoritative, yet engaging and user-friendly, it teaches readers how to begin and improve their birding: what to look and listen for and how to make sense of what they see and hear. A unique visual component shows actual field guide pages and how to read them, while another compares the same bird in photography versus artwork and explains how to use both for species identification. National Geographic's quality photography is a major highlight of the book, supplemented by pencil drawings and full-color maps to give birders a full range of visual information.
RECOMMENDATION: A useful book for beginning and intermediate birders.
2) Brinkley, Douglas. The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America. 2009. Harper Perennial. Paperback: 940 pages. Price: $19.99 U.S.
SUMMARY: From New York Times bestselling historian Douglas Brinkley comes a sweeping historical narrative and eye-opening look at the pioneering environmental policies of President Theodore Roosevelt, avid bird-watcher, naturalist, and the founding father of America’s conservation movement—now approaching its 100th anniversary.
RECOMMENDATION: Now available in paperback.
3) Reid, Fiona A. et al. The Wildlife of Costa Rica: A Field Guide. 2010. Cornell University Press. Paperback: 267 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.
SUMMARY:This full-color field guide is an indispensable companion to the most popular neotropical ecotourism destination: Costa Rica. Featuring all the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods that one is likely to see on a trip to the rainforest (as well as those secretive creatures such as the jaguar that are difficult to glimpse), The Wildlife of Costa Rica is the guide to have when encountering trogons, tapirs, and tarantulas. In addition to providing details for identifying animals along with interesting facts about their natural history, this guide offers tips for seeing them in the wild.
RECOMMENDATION: For naturalists visting or living in Costa Rica.
4) Wallace, Alfred Russel. The Malay Archipelago. 2008. Periplus. Paperback: 488 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.
SUMMARY:The Malay Archipelago is an extraordinarily accessible book written by noted British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace. A century and a half after it was published, this book remains one of the great classics of natural history and travel, on par with Charles Darwin's work. Full of a wealth of detail about pre-modern life in the Indonesian archipelago, The Malay Archipelago is a fascinating look at natural selection.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in Victorian era science and travel writing.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
The weekly Birdbooker Report
My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2010/05/birdbooker_report_117.php
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2010/05/birdbooker_report_117.php
Friday, May 7, 2010
FEATURED TITLE
Fukuchi, Mitsuo and Harvey J. Marchant. Antarctic Fishes. 2006. Johns Hopkins University Press. Hardbound: 136 pages. Price: $45.00 U.S.
SUMMARY:This book describes the physical characteristics, habits, and distribution of fifty—four species of these fascinating fish. Each description is accompanied by a delicate full—page illustration executed in the unique gyotaku method as employed by master artist Boshu Nagase. The result is an impressive tribute to these little—known fishes.
Antarctic Fishes is an important contribution to our knowledge of a unique environment and extraordinary species equipped with their own "antifreeze." A book for anyone seeking to truly understand the diversity of fishes in the world, Antarctic Fishes will also find a welcome home among fans of Asian and nature art, as well as the growing number of gyotaku collectors.
RECOMMENDATION: For those interested in marine fish and/or nature art.
SUMMARY:This book describes the physical characteristics, habits, and distribution of fifty—four species of these fascinating fish. Each description is accompanied by a delicate full—page illustration executed in the unique gyotaku method as employed by master artist Boshu Nagase. The result is an impressive tribute to these little—known fishes.
Antarctic Fishes is an important contribution to our knowledge of a unique environment and extraordinary species equipped with their own "antifreeze." A book for anyone seeking to truly understand the diversity of fishes in the world, Antarctic Fishes will also find a welcome home among fans of Asian and nature art, as well as the growing number of gyotaku collectors.
RECOMMENDATION: For those interested in marine fish and/or nature art.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
New Title
Moffett, Mark W. Adventures among Ants: A Global Safari with a Cast of Trillions. 2010.
University of California Press. Hardbound: 280 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Intrepid international explorer, biologist, and photographer Mark W. Moffett, “the Indiana Jones of entomology,” takes us around the globe on a strange and colorful journey in search of the hidden world of ants. In tales from Nigeria, Indonesia, the Amazon, Australia, California, and elsewhere, Moffett recounts his entomological exploits and provides fascinating details on how ants live and how they dominate their ecosystems through strikingly human behaviors, yet at a different scale and a faster tempo. Moffett’s spectacular close-up photographs shrink us down to size, so that we can observe ants in familiar roles; warriors, builders, big-game hunters, and slave owners. We find them creating marketplaces and assembly lines and dealing with issues we think of as uniquely human—including hygiene, recycling, and warfare. Adventures among Ants introduces some of the world’s most awe-inspiring species and offers a startling new perspective on the limits of our own perception.
RECOMMENDATION: Anyone interested in insects will like this book.
University of California Press. Hardbound: 280 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Intrepid international explorer, biologist, and photographer Mark W. Moffett, “the Indiana Jones of entomology,” takes us around the globe on a strange and colorful journey in search of the hidden world of ants. In tales from Nigeria, Indonesia, the Amazon, Australia, California, and elsewhere, Moffett recounts his entomological exploits and provides fascinating details on how ants live and how they dominate their ecosystems through strikingly human behaviors, yet at a different scale and a faster tempo. Moffett’s spectacular close-up photographs shrink us down to size, so that we can observe ants in familiar roles; warriors, builders, big-game hunters, and slave owners. We find them creating marketplaces and assembly lines and dealing with issues we think of as uniquely human—including hygiene, recycling, and warfare. Adventures among Ants introduces some of the world’s most awe-inspiring species and offers a startling new perspective on the limits of our own perception.
RECOMMENDATION: Anyone interested in insects will like this book.
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Using that code, they can order via our order desk-1.800.537.5487
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Wednesday, May 5, 2010
New and Recent Titles
1) Burney, David A. Back to the Future in the Caves of Kaua'i: A Scientist's Adventures in the Dark. 2010. Yale University Press. Hardbound: 198 pages. Price: $28.00 U.S.
SUMMARY:For two decades, paleoecologist David Burney and his wife, Lida Pigott Burney, have led an excavation of Makauwahi Cave on the island of Kaua‘i, uncovering the fascinating variety of plants and animals that have inhabited Hawaii throughout its history. From the unique perspective of paleoecology—the study of ancient environments—Burney has focused his investigations on the dramatic ecological changes that began after the arrival of humans one thousand years ago, detailing not only the environmental degradation they introduced but also asking how and why this destruction occurred and, most significantly, what might happen in the future.
RECOMMENDATION: For those interested in the paleoecology of Hawaii.
2) Onley, Derek and Sandy Bartle. Identification of Seabirds of the Southern Ocean. 1999 (2006). Te Papa Press. Hardbound: 81 pages. Price: $22.50 U.S.
SUMMARY: This book has been written to help scientific observers identify those seabirds likely to be caught in the Southern Ocean, and takes into account the requirements of the CCAMLR Scheme of International Scientific Observation. It covers the identification of 36 species of birds from the Southern Ocean that have been caught in fishing gear or have been seen feeding from fishing boats. By following the keys to identification, observers should be able to identify most seabirds caught in commercial fisheries in the Southern Ocean with confidence.
RECOMMENDATION: Seabirders in the North Pacific will find this book useful.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The weekly Birdbooker Report
My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2010/05/birdbooker_report_116.php
http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2010/05/birdbooker_report_116.php
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