New Titles

                                                 
1) Haag, Wendell R.. North American Freshwater Mussels: Natural History, Ecology, and Conservation. 2012. Cambridge University Press. Hardbound: 505 pages. Price: $140.00 U.S./ £85.00.

SUMMARY: This well-illustrated book highlights freshwater mussels' fabulous diversity, amazing array of often bizarre ecological adaptations and their dire conservation plight. Summarizing and synthesizing historical and contemporary information as well as original research and analysis, the book describes the diverse array of mussel life history strategies and builds a cohesive narrative culminating in the development of explicit frameworks to explain pervasive patterns in mussel ecology. The fascinating and colorful role of mussels in human society is also described in detail, including the little-known pearl button industry of the early 1900s and the wild and often violent shell harvest of the 1990s. The final chapter details humans' efforts to save these fascinating animals and gives a prognosis for the future of the North American fauna. The book provides the first comprehensive review of mussel ecology and conservation for scientists, natural resource professionals, students and natural history enthusiasts.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those with a technical interest in North American freshwater mussels.

2) Pizzey, Graham and Frank Knight. The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia (Ninth Edition, edited by Sarah Pizzey). 2012. Harper Collins. Flexibound: 608 pages. Price: $45.00 AUD/ £56.99 / $95.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: The definitive and most respected guide to Australian bird identification, this book is a must for both experts and amateurs.
     First published in 1980, Graham Pizzey′s Field Guide to the Birds of Australia combines a depth and breadth of knowledge with beautiful, full-colour illustrations by Frank Knight.
     Comprehensive and fully updated, this 9th edition of the Guide is more user-friendly than ever before. Species entries have been re-ordered and updated to reflect the new taxonomy, and the book has been expanded to include eighteen new species as well as a new section on vagrant species. It also features new information on bird family groups, more than 750 distribution maps based on the most recent bird atlas data, as well as a new Quick Find Index, to assist with quick identification of birds in the field.
     This is the essential reference for every bird enthusiast.
RECOMMENDATION: The page count has increased from 580 (8th edition) to 608 (9th edition). A must have for those with an interest in the birds of Australia! This title is available from BUTEO BOOKS here.