New Titles

                                                 
1) Lewis, Celia. The Illustrated Guide to Ducks and Geese and Other Domestic Fowl. 2012. Bloomsbury. Hardbound: 160 pages. Price: GBP 16.99/$20.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: With just a little land and available water, you can raise a variety of domestic fowl, from friendly ducks and characterful geese to guineafowl, dainty quail, placid turkeys or even peafowl. Illustrated with the author's charming watercolour paintings, this book is packed with practical tips on keeping domestic fowl and selecting the right breed for your circumstances.
     Covering 65 domestic breeds of ducks, geese, guineafowl, quail, turkeys and peafowl, the book gives an insight into the individual personalities and attributes of each kind of bird. The breed profiles are written in engaging text and include the history and place of origin, colour combinations, differences between male and female birds, the appearance of hatchlings and the numbers of eggs to expect.
     As well as selecting an appropriate breed, you need to consider your neighbours, the kinds of bird you can and should keep, whether you want them for eggs or as pets, and whether you want to breed them. The book offers helpful advice on all these issues and also on housing, the provision of water, feeding and the noise and impact your birds will have, as well as preventing and treating common ailments.
     Whether you are starting out as a smallholder, are interested in raising a few ducks or geese in a suburban or rural setting, or are simply a devotee of domestic fowl there is plenty to captivate you in this book.
RECOMMENDATION: Bird keepers will enjoy this book!

                                                 
2) Taylor, Marianne. RSPB British Birdfinder. 2012. Bloomsbury. Paperback: 288 pages. Price: GBP12.99/about $20.82 U.S. SUMMARY: Most bird books are designed to help you identify the birds that you've seen. This book is different. It is a species-by-species guide that shows you how to find and watch more than 250 species of birds that can be seen in Britain. Some are common; others are rare migrants or scarce breeding birds, but this book will tell you the best places to see and watch all of them. Readers will be able to see their most coveted species but also enjoy rewarding watching experiences that will enhance their understanding of the species, of bird behaviour and of key fieldcraft techniques.
     Sections include:
- How to find including the best time of day, how to search the habitat and behavioural signs
- Watching tips including ways to get close to the bird without disturbing it and how to attract it to your garden.
- Super sites includes a short list of some of the best places to see the species.
RECOMMENDATION: Best for casual or beginning birders.