The Weekly Birdbooker Report

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman


My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/grrlscientist/2013/jun/30/1

New Title

1) Musselman, Lytton John and Harold J. Wiggins. The Quick Guide to Wild Edilble Plants. 2013. Johns Hopkins University Press. Hardbound: 133 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: A recent rise in the popularity of urban farming, farmers' markets, and foraging from nature means more people are looking for information about plants. In The Quick Guide to Wild Edible Plants, botanists Lytton John Musselman and Harold J. Wiggins coach you on how to safely identify, gather, and prepare delicious dishes from readily available plants—and clearly indicate which ones to avoid.
      More than 200 color illustrations, accompanied by detailed descriptions, will help you recognize edible plants such as nettles, daylilies, panic grass, and tearthumbs. For decades, Musselman and Wiggins have taught courses on how to prepare local plants, and their field-to-table recipes require only a few easily found ingredients. They offer instructions for making garlic powder out of field garlic and turning acorns into flour for Rappahannock Acorn Cakes. To toast your new skill, they even include recipes for cordials.
       The Quick Guide to Wild Edible Plants is a great gift for the beginning naturalist or the perfect addition to every serious forager's library.

IAN'S RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in wild foraging.

Featured Title

1) Stephenson, Tom and Scott Whittle. The Warbler Guide. 2013. Princeton University Press. Flexicover: 560 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: Warblers are among the most challenging birds to identify. They exhibit an array of seasonal plumages and have distinctive yet oft-confused calls and songs. The Warbler Guide enables you to quickly identify any of the 56 species of warblers in the United States and Canada. This groundbreaking guide features more than 1,000 stunning color photos, extensive species accounts with multiple viewing angles, and an entirely new system of vocalization analysis that helps you effectively learn songs and calls.

      The Warbler Guide revolutionizes birdwatching, making warbler identification easier than ever before. For more information, please see the author videos on the Princeton University Press website.

This guide includes:

• Covers all 56 species of warblers in the United States and Canada
• Visual quick finders help you identify warblers from any angle
• Song and call finders make identification easy using a few simple questions
• Uses sonograms to teach a new system of song identification that makes it easier to understand and hear differences between similar species
• Detailed species accounts show multiple views with diagnostic points, direct comparisons of plumage and vocalizations with similar species, and complete aging and sexing descriptions
• New aids to identification include song mnemonics and icons for undertail pattern, color impression, habitat, and behavior
• Includes field exercises, flight shots, general identification strategies, and quizzes

RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for birders with an interest in these birds!

New Titles

1) Beebee, Trevor. Amphibians and reptiles (Naturalists' Handbooks 31). 2013. Pelagic Publishing. Paperback: 170 pages. Price: £19.99/ $32.99 U.S..

SUMMARY: Amphibians and reptiles is a comprehensive guide to the native and non-native species of amphibian and reptile found in the British Isles. Professor Trevor Beebee covers the biology, ecology, conservation and identification of the British herpetofauna, and provides keys for the identification of adult and immature newts and newt eggs, larvae and metamorphs; frog and toad adults and metamorphs, spawn and larvae; adult and hatchling limbed lizards; and adult snakes. Distribution maps are included for all species, and the book is illustrated throughout with colour photographs and figures.
     The goal of this book is to encourage readers to develop their own ecological studies, to this end, the author summarises the current state of knowledge of reptile and amphibian biology, including behaviour, breeding, habitat selection, migration and development, and offers ideas for research projects that could be undertaken to further what is known. A chapter is devoted to the practicalities of professional work with amphibians and reptiles, including licensing requirements. Research techniques, including survey methods such as night searches for newts and bottle trapping, are discussed in detail, and consideration is given to methods of data analysis.
     Author royalties from this book have been donated to Amphibian and Reptile Conservation.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in British herpetofauna.

2) Bergner, Daniel. What Do Women Want? Adventures in the Science of Female Desire. 2013. Ecco. Hardbound: 210 pages. Price: $25.99 U.S.
SUMMARY: When it comes to sex, common wisdom holds that men roam while women crave closeness and commitment. But in this provocative, headline-making book, Daniel Bergner turns everything we thought we knew about women's arousal and desire inside out. Drawing on extensive research and interviews with renowned behavioral scientists, sexologists, psychologists, and everyday women, he forces us to reconsider long-held notions about female sexuality.
     This bold and captivating journey into the world of female desire explores answers to such thought-provoking questions as: Are women perhaps the less monogamous sex? What effect do intimacy and emotional connection really have on lust? What is the role of narcissism—the desire to be desired—in female sexuality? Are political gains for women ("No means no") detrimental in the bedroom? And is the hunt for a "female Viagra" anything but a search for the cure for monogamy?
     Bergner goes behind the scenes of some of the most groundbreaking experiments on sexuality today and confronts us with controversial, sometimes uncomfortable findings. Incendiary, profoundly insightful, and brilliantly illuminating, What Do Women Want? will change the conversation about women and sex, and is sure to spark dynamic discussion for years to come.
RECOMMENDATION: For anyone wtih an interest in Human sexuality.

3) Kielan-Jaworowska, Zofia. In Pursuit of Early Mammals. 2013. Indiana University Press. Hardbound: 253 pages. Price: $60.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: In Pursuit of Early Mammals presents the history of the mammals that lived during the Mesozoic era, the time when dinosaurs ruled the Earth, and describes their origins, anatomy, systematics, paleobiology, and distribution. It also tells the story of the author, a world-renowned specialist on these animals, and the other prominent paleontologists who have studied them. Zofia Kielan-Jaworowska was the first woman to lead large-scale paleontological expeditions, including eight to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, which brought back important collections of dinosaur, early mammal, and other fossils. She shares the difficulties and pleasures encountered in finding rare fossils and describes the changing views on early mammals made possible by these discoveries.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with a technical or semi-technical interest in mammalian paleontology.

4) Parrish, J. Michael. et al. (editors). Tyrannosaurid Paleobiology. 2013. Indiana University Press. Hardbound: 294 pages. Price: $60.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: The opening of an exhibit focused on "Jane," a beautifully preserved tyrannosaur collected by the Burpee Museum of Natural History, was the occasion for an international symposium on tyrannosaur paleobiology. This volume, drawn from the symposium, includes studies of the tyrannosaurids Chingkankousaurus fragilis and “Sir William” and the generic status of Nanotyrannus; theropod teeth, pedal proportions, brain size, and craniocervical function; soft tissue reconstruction, including that of “Jane”; paleopathology and tyrannosaurid claws; dating the “Jane” site; and tyrannosaur feeding and hunting strategies. Tyrannosaurid Paleobiology highlights the far ranging and vital state of current tyrannosaurid dinosaur research and discovery.
 RECOMMENDATION: For those with a technical interest in these dinosaurs.

New Titles

1) More, David and John White. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Trees: Second Edition. 2005 (reissued 2013). Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 832 pages. Price: $49.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: Popular, award-winning, and unrivaled for its coverage and beauty, this is a magnificent illustrated guide to nearly 2,000 tree species and cultivars found in North America and Europe. David More spent over a decade painting these illustrations from real specimens, and fellow tree expert John White's informative text describes key facts about each. The result is an extraordinary reference that will continue to be prized by nature enthusiasts, gardeners, landscapers, and foresters.
     This book includes:

*Illustrates nearly 2,000 tree species and cultivars found in North America and Europe
*Includes precise paintings of important details: leaves, needles, bark, blossoms, fruits, nuts, and cones
*Shows deciduous trees in both full leaf and winter
*Describes the native range of each species, the date of its introduction into cultivation, and other key facts
*Features an introduction, a glossary, and indexes of scientific and English names

RECOMMENDATION: If you didn't get a copy of this book the first time, it's available once again!

2) Ross, Stephen T.. Ecology of North American Freshwater Fishes. 2013. University of California Press. Hardbound: 460 pages. Price: $75.00 U.S. SUMMARY: The North American freshwater fish fauna is the most diverse and thoroughly researched temperate fish fauna in the world. Ecology of North American Freshwater Fishes is the only textbook to provide advanced undergraduate and graduate students and researchers with an up-to-date and integrated view of the ecological and evolutionary concepts, principles, and processes involved in the formation and maintenance of this fauna.
     Ecology of North American Freshwater Fishes provides readers with a broad understanding of why specific species and assemblages occur in particular places. Additionally, the text explores how individuals and species interact with each other and with their environments, how such interactions have been altered by anthropogenic impacts, and the relative success of efforts to restore damaged ecosystems.
     This book is designed for use in courses related to aquatic and fish ecology, fish biology, ichthyology, and related advanced ecology and conservation courses, and is divided into five sections for ease of use. Chapter summaries, supplemental reading lists, online sources, extensive figures, and color photography are included to guide readers through the material and facilitate student learning.

RECOMMENDATION: For those with a technical interest in freshwater fish biology.

3) Smith, Andrew T. and Yan Xie (editors). Mammals of China. 2013. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 395 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: China's breathtaking diversity of natural habitats--from mountains and deserts to grasslands and lush tropical forests--is home to more than 10 percent of the world's mammal species. This one-of-a-kind pocket guide describes the characteristics, geographic distribution, natural history, and conservation status of all 558 species of mammals found in China. An up-to-date distribution map accompanies each species account, and beautiful color illustrations by wildlife artist Federico Gemma depict a majority of the species. The definitive text is written by leading specialists and follows the most current global standards for mammalian systematics.
     This field-ready pocket edition of A Guide to the Mammals of China makes the rich mammal fauna of China accessible to ecotravelers and naturalists like never before.
     This book features:

*The comprehensive pocket guide to all of China's 558 mammal species
*Describes the physical characteristics, geographic distribution, natural history, and conservation status of every species
*Features up-to-date distribution maps and stunning color illustrations throughout
*Written by a team of leading specialists

RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those with an interest in the mammals of China.

4) Zug, George R.. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands: A Comprehensive Guide. 2013. University of California Press. Paperback: 306 pages. Price: $34.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: The Pacific is not only the world’s largest body of water; its vast expanse also includes an extraordinary number and diversity of oceanic islands, from Palau and the Marianas east of the Philippines to Cocos Island and the Galápagos west of the Americas. The isolation of these islands and the extreme distances between them long prevented scientists from studying their floras and faunas in a comparative context.
     But now George R. Zug, one of the world's foremost experts on the diverse reptiles and amphibians of the Pacific Basin, offers the first such systematic overview in more than half a century. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Pacific Islands is a compendium of frogs, lizards, snakes, and turtles living on these lands and in the adjacent waters of the oceanic islands in the tropical Pacific.
     The means to identify each species is included, along with entries that describe each animal's form, coloration, habitat, distribution, reproductive biology, and natural history. Color plates of more than 75 percent of the species also help to facilitate visual identification. This accessible and informative guide is the most comprehensive field guide available and will appeal to both novice sightseers and professional naturalists.
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those with an interest in the herpetofauna of the region.

New Title

1) Cabot, David and Ian Nisbet. Terns. 2013. Collins. Paperback: 461 pages. Price: £35.00 / $50.00 U.S..

SUMMARY: This New Naturalist volume provides a much-anticipated overview of these fascinating birds – the first book on the natural history of British and Irish terns since 1934.
     Terns are small seabirds that are commonly seen along coastlines and estuaries in the summer months – their graceful flight and command of the air are among their most attractive features.
     Most of the five species of terns breeding in Britain and Ireland today are under intensive management, involving protection from predators, human interference, egg-collecting, recreational activities, land-use changes, and a range of issues concerning climate change, including rising sea levels and flooding of low-lying colonies. If these protective measures were abandoned then the numbers of terns would inevitably decline, with the possibility of several species ending up on the endangered list. Covering the history of terns in Britain and Ireland, David Cabot and Ian Nisbet explore these diverse issues as well as offering a comprehensive natural history of these stunning seabirds.
     Drawing on a wealth of new information and research, the authors focus on migrations, food and feeding ecology as well as breeding biology and behaviour. Perhaps most importantly, they highlight recent conservation issues and prospects, and what this means for the future of terns.
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those with an interest in terns or for those that collect the New Naturalist series.

Featured Title

1) Dodd, C. Kenneth, Jr.. Frogs of the United States and Canada. 2013. Johns Hopkins University Press. Hardbound: 2 volume set: 982 pages. Price: $180.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: With many frog populations declining or disappearing and developmental malformations and disease afflicting others, scientists, conservationists, and concerned citizens need up-to-date, accurate information. Frogs of the United States and Canada is a comprehensive resource for those trying to protect amphibians as well as for researchers and wildlife managers who study biodiversity. From acrobatic tree frogs to terrestrial toads, C. Kenneth Dodd Jr. offers an unparalleled synthesis of the biology, behavior, and conservation of frogs in North America.
     This two-volume, fully referenced resource provides color photographs and range maps for 106 native and nonindigenous species and includes detailed information on
- past and present distribution
- life history and demography
- reproduction and diet
- landscape ecology and evolution
- diseases, parasites, and threats from toxic substances
- conservation and management

RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those with an interest in the frogs of the region!

New Title

1) Plater, Zygmunt J.B.. The Snail Darter and the Dam: How Pork-Barrel Politics Endangered a Little Fish and Killed a River. 2013. Yale University Press. Hardbound: 369 pages. Price: $32.50 U.S.

SUMMARY: Even today, thirty years after the legal battles to save the endangered snail darter, the little fish that blocked completion of a TVA dam is still invoked as an icon of leftist extremism and governmental foolishness. In this eye-opening book, the lawyer who with his students fought and won the Supreme Court case—known officially as Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill—tells the hidden story behind one of the nation’s most significant environmental law battles.
     The realities of the darter’s case, Plater asserts, have been consistently mischaracterized in politics and the media. This book offers a detailed account of the six-year crusade against a pork-barrel project that made no economic sense and was flawed from the start. In reality TVA’s project was designed for recreation and real estate development. And at the heart of the little group fighting the project in the courts and Congress were family farmers trying to save their homes and farms, most of which were to be resold in a corporate land development scheme. Plater’s gripping tale of citizens navigating the tangled corridors of national power stimulates important questions about our nation’s governance, and at last sets the snail darter’s record straight.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in American environmental history.

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

                                      Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/grrlscientist/2013/jun/16/1

New Title

1) Felt, Hali. Soundings: The Story of the Remarkable Woman Who Mapped the Ocean Floor. 2013. Picador. Paperback: 340 pages. Price: $18.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: Before Marie Tharp’s groundbreaking work in the 1950s, the ocean floor was a mystery—then, as now, we knew less about the bottom of the sea than we did about outer space. In a time when women were held back by the casually sexist atmosphere of mid-twentieth-century academia—a time when trained geologists and scientists like Tharp were routinely relegated to the role of secretary or assistant—Tharp’s work would completely change the world’s understanding of our planet’s evolution. By transforming dry data into beautifully detailed maps that laid the groundwork for proving the then controversial theory of continental drift, Tharp, along with her lifelong partner in science, Bruce Heezen, upended scientific consensus and ushered in a new era in geology and oceanography.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in the role women played in the history of science.

Featured Title

1) Witton, Mark P.. Pterosaurs: Natural History, Evolution, Anatomy. 2013. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 291 pages. Price: $35.00 U.S./ £24.95.

SUMMARY: For 150 million years, the skies didn't belong to birds--they belonged to the pterosaurs. These flying reptiles, which include the pterodactyls, shared the world with the nonavian dinosaurs until their extinction 65 million years ago. Some pterosaurs, such as the giant azhdarchids, were the largest flying animals of all time, with wingspans exceeding thirty feet and standing heights comparable to modern giraffes. This richly illustrated book takes an unprecedented look at these astonishing creatures, presenting the latest findings on their anatomy, ecology, and extinction.
     Pterosaurs features some 200 stunning illustrations, including original paintings by Mark Witton and photos of rarely seen fossils. After decades of mystery, paleontologists have finally begun to understand how pterosaurs are related to other reptiles, how they functioned as living animals, and, despite dwarfing all other flying animals, how they managed to become airborne. Here you can explore the fossil evidence of pterosaur behavior and ecology, learn about the skeletal and soft-tissue anatomy of pterosaurs, and consider the newest theories about their cryptic origins. This one-of-a-kind book covers the discovery history, paleobiogeography, anatomy, and behaviors of more than 130 species of pterosaur, and also discusses their demise at the end of the Mesozoic.
     This book features:
*The most comprehensive book on pterosaurs ever published
*Features some 200 illustrations, including original paintings by the author
*Covers every known species and major group of pterosaurs
*Describes pterosaur anatomy, ecology, behaviors, diversity, and more
*Encourages further study with 500 references to primary pterosaur literature
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those with an interest in Pterosaurs!

New Title

1) Cannings, Russell and Richard Cannings. Birdfinding in British Columbia. 2013. Greystone Books. Paperback: 466 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: Veteran naturalist and birdfinder Richard Cannings and his son, Russell Cannings, a gifted birder in his own right, use their combined knowledge and expertise to guide readers to the best birding sites in the province. Packed with descriptions of the natural history, ecosystems, and diverse landscapes of British Columbia and accompanied by numerous maps, this thorough guide is enhanced by Donald Gunn's charming line drawings and the authors' infectious~enthusiasm, making it a must-have for novice and expert birders alike.
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those birding the province.

New Title

1) Beedy, Edward C. and Edward R. Pandolfino. Birds of the Sierra Nevada: Their Natural History, Status, and Distribution. 2013. University of California Press. Paperback: 430 pages. Price: $39.95 U.S./ £27.95.

SUMMARY: This beautifully illustrated and user-friendly book presents the most up-to-date information available about the natural histories of birds of the Sierra Nevada, the origins of their names, the habitats they prefer, how they communicate and interact with one another, their relative abundance, and where they occur within the region. Each species account features original illustrations by Keith Hansen.
     In addition to characterizing individual species, Birds of the Sierra Nevada also describes ecological zones and bird habitats, recent trends in populations and ranges, conservation efforts, and more than 160 rare species. It also includes a glossary of terms, detailed maps, and an extensive bibliography with over 500 citations.
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those with an interest in the birds of the region.

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

      

           Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/grrlscientist/2013/jun/09/1

New Title

                       
1) Campbell, Iain and Sam Woods. Wildlife of Australia. 2013. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 286 pages. Price: $19.95 U.S./ £13.95.

SUMMARY: Ideal for the nature-loving traveler, Wildlife of Australia is a handy photographic pocket guide to the most widely seen birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and habitats of Australia. The guide features more than 400 stunning color photographs, and coverage includes 350 birds, 70 mammals, 30 reptiles, and 16 frogs likely to be encountered in Australia's major tourist destinations.
Accessible species accounts are useful for both general travelers and serious naturalists, and the invaluable habitat section describes the Australian bush and its specific wildlife. Animal species with similar features are placed on the same plates in order to aid identification. Wildlife of Australia is an indispensable and thorough resource for any nature enthusiast interested in this remarkable continent.
     This book features:
*Easy-to-use pocket guide
*More than 400 high-quality photographs
*Accessible text aids identification
*Habitat guide describes the Australian bush and its specific wildlife
*Coverage includes the 350 birds, 70 mammals, 30 reptiles, and 16 frogs most likely to be seen on a trip around Australia

RECOMMENDATION: A good introduction to the wildlife of Australia.

New Title

                              
1) Rothenberg, David. Bug Music: How Insects Gave Us Rhythm and Noise. 2013. St. Martin's Press. Hardbound: 278 pages. Price: $26.99 U.S.

SUMMARY: In the spring of 2013 the cicadas in the Northeastern United States will yet again emerge from their seventeen-year cycle—the longest gestation period of any animal. Those who experience this great sonic invasion compare their sense of wonder to the arrival of a comet or a solar eclipse. This unending rhythmic cycle is just one unique example of how the pulse and noise of insects has taught humans the meaning of rhythm, from the whirr of a cricket’s wings to this unfathomable and exact seventeen-year beat.
     In listening to cicadas, as well as other humming, clicking, and thrumming insects, Bug Music is the first book to consider the radical notion that we humans got our idea of rhythm, synchronization, and dance from the world of insect sounds that surrounded our species over the millions of years over which we evolved. Completing the trilogy he began with Why Birds Sing and Thousand Mile Song, David Rothenberg explores a unique part of our relationship with nature and sound—the music of insects that has provided a soundtrack for humanity throughout the history of our species. Bug Music continues Rothenberg’s in-depth research and spirited writing on the relationship between human and animal music, and it follows him as he explores insect influences in classical and modern music, plays his saxophone with crickets and other insects, and confers with researchers and scientists nationwide.
     This engaging and thought-provoking book challenges our understanding of our place in nature and our relationship to the creatures surrounding us, and makes a passionate case for the interconnectedness of species.
RECOMMENDATION: A CD of "Bug Music" is available separately. Samples of the music can be heard here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/davidrothenberg5
If you enjoyed the author's other books, you should enjoy this one.

New Titles

                               
1) Bradley, Patricia E. and Yves-Jacques Rey-Millet. A Photographic Guide to the Birds of the Cayman Islands. 2013. Helm. Paperback: 288 pages. Price: $40.00 U.S./£25.00.

SUMMARY: With a rich avifauna of more than 300 species, the three islands that make up the Cayman Islands - Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac - form an increasingly popular birding destination. Although the islands' sole endemic species, Cayman Islands Thrush, was extinct by the 1940s, the islands have a healthy crop of regional scarcities and are an important migrant stopping point as they cross the Caribbean.
     Containing hundreds of stunning photographs by Yves-Jacques Rey-Millet, A Photographic Guide to the Birds of the Cayman Islands, the latest addition to Helm's Photographic Guides series, provides full photographic coverage of every species on the Cayman Islands list. Concise text for each species includes identification, similar species, voice, habitats and behaviour, status and distribution.
     This guide is an essential companion for anyone visiting these beautiful islands.
RECOMMENDATION: Birders to these islands will find this book useful.


                                     
2) Mackrill, Tim, Tim Appleton, and Helen McIntyre . The Rutland Water Ospreys. 2013. Bloomsbury. Hardbound: 160 pages. Price: $30.00 U.S./ £20.00. SUMMARY: Anglian Water's project to reintroduce the Osprey to England has been an outstanding success, but is also a very personal project for the volunteers who have been involved in the Ospreys' journey from Scotland to Africa via Rutland.
     This new book, published in close collaboration with Anglian Water and the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, is a celebration of their project and a chance for Osprey fans everywhere to discover the many amazing stories behind the Rutland Osprey team's efforts over the last two decades to re-establish these magnificent birds in England.
     Historically the Osprey was widely distributed throughout England but by at the end of the last century Ospreys hadn't bred in England for more than 150 years. Thanks to Anglian Water's close work with the LRWT English chicks hatched in 2001 at Rutland Water, their largest reservoir.
     This ground-breaking project was the first of its kind in Europe, and is now in its eighteenth year. Other Osprey translocation projects in Italy and Spain have come about as a direct result of it, and breeding pairs are also now established in Wales as an indirect result of the work of the Rutland Osprey team.
     The Rutland Water team monitor the Ospreys from their arrival from Senegal and the Gambia in March, through to their autumn migration. The nest sites at Rutland allow visitors to get close views to the Ospreys, and artist and photographer John Wright has been working for Anglian Water for several years to document the Rutland Ospreys from even closer.
     Stories will reveal early disappointments, detail the Ospreys' incredible journeys as they migrate to Africa, and convey the pride the Rutland field team and many locals feel as 'their' Ospreys return to the same roost year on year.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in British Ospreys.


                                 
3) Potapov, Eugene and Richard Sale. The Snowy Owl. 2012. T & A D Poyser. Hardbound: 304 pages. Price: $90.00 U.S./£50.00. SUMMARY: The Snowy Owl - possibly the world's sexiest bird - needs little introduction. This massive white owl breeds throughout the Arctic, wherever there are voles or lemmings to hunt, from Scandinavia through northern Russia to Canada and Greenland. Southerly movements in winter see North American birds travel as far south as the northern United States, while infrequent vagrants on the Shetlands and other northern isles are a magnet for birders.      The Snowy Owl gives this popular bird the full Poyser treatment, with sections looking at morphology, distribution, palaeontology and evolution, habitat, breeding, diet, population dynamics, movements, interspecific relationships and conservation, supported by some fabulous photography and the art of Jackie Garner. A major strength is the availability to the authors of Russian literature, which is generally out of reach for Western scientists.
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those with a technical or semi-technical interest in the species.

New Title

                                  
1) Anderson, Ted R.. The Life of David Lack: Father of Evolutionary Ecology. 2013. Oxford University Press. Hardbound: 246 pages. Price: $59.00 U.S./£37.50.

SUMMARY: Most people who have taken a biology course in the past 50 years are familiar with the work of David Lack, but few remember his name. Almost all general biology texts produced during that period have a figure showing the beak size differences among the finches of the Galapagos Islands from Lack's 1947 classic, Darwin's Finches. Lack's pioneering conclusions in Darwin's Finches mark the beginning of a new scientific discipline, evolutionary ecology. Tim Birkhead, in his acclaimed book, The Wisdom of Birds, calls Lack the 'hero of modern ornithology.' Who was this influential, yet relatively unknown man? The Life of David Lack, Father of Evolutionary Ecology provides an answer to that question based on Ted Anderson's personal interviews with colleagues, family members and former students as well as material in the extensive Lack Archive at Oxford University.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with an interest in the history of science.

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

          
    
               Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/grrlscientist/2013/jun/02/1