Monday, August 31, 2015

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

                                        Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman


My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.scilogs.com/maniraptora/birdbooker-report-388/

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

New Titles


1) Gallardo, Robert. Guide to the Birds of Honduras. 2015. Self-published. Flexicover: 555 pages. Price: $39.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: The first dedicated field guide to Honduras, featuring 1,000 illustrations on 73 color plates. The book also illustrates the majority of the migratory species. Along with the standard species accounts the book has a lengthy chapter 'Where to Find Birds in Honduras'. There are numerous Tables toward the end of the book, one of which has an extensive list of botanical names for nectar sources that hummingbirds utilize and each species of hummingbird observed for each flower. A unique feature is a large pull-out map approx. 16 x 25 in. One side illustrates a basic layout of ecosystems. The other side is labeled 'Important Bird Sites in Honduras which features over 200 points of interest throughout the country. These GPS-coded marker numbers are embedded in the text throughout most of the book and are all laid out in a separate Table. This layout means that all the numbers can be easily cross-referenced.
     This book covers over 98% of the birds of the surrounding countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize and Nicaragua; all countries where no book exists. 
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for anyone with an interest in the birds of Honduras, BUT I do wonder how the binding and light weight paper will hold up to field use?


2) Walker, Barry. Field Guide to the Birds of Machu Picchu and the Cusco Region. 2015.
Buteo Books and Lynx Edicions. Paperback: 243 pages. Price: $35.00 U.S.
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: A comprehensive field guide that illustrates all the bird species recorded in Machu Picchu, including Cusco and Abra Malaga. Also includes a bird finding guide to the region. Color plates, a color map of the Sanctuary and a comprehensive introduction that deals with the biogeography and conservation, and a checklist.
     The extraordinary ruins of Machu Picchu, at an elevation above 2400 m, were among the most amazing creations of the Inca Empire at its height: its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem to have been cut out of continuous rock escarpments. This remote site lies on the eastern slope of the Andes on the upper reaches of the Amazon basin in a region exhibiting a rich diversity of flora and fauna. With the publication of this Field Guide to the Birds of Machu Picchu and the Cusco Region, visitors from all over the world can now appreciate and identify the birds of the mountains, valleys, and forests of this World Heritage Site.
    The Field Guide to the Birds of Machu Picchu and the Cusco Region is the result of a unique, three-continent collaboration between Barry Walker in Peru, Buteo Books in Virginia (USA), and Lynx Edicions in Barcelona. The text from previous versions of Barry Walker’s field guide has been completely rewritten and updated. Covering the nearly 500 species known to occur in the region, the individual species accounts provide details on habitat, behavior, localizations, and occurrence. The 165 color plates on pages facing the text are drawn from illustrations painted for the monumental Handbook of the Birds of the World. Additional illustrations by Martin Elliot of birds in flight and subspecies present in the Cusco Region were prepared specifically for this book. This is a field guide with all the essentials to identify the bird in the field, yet compact and light enough to fit in a pocket or carry on the Inca Trail. A section of the book contains a detailed guide to the best birding sites in the region and an annotated checklist, both of which will be of great value to the visiting birdwatcher.
     A native of England, Barry Walker has lived in Cusco, Peru for the past 30 years and with his wife Roario is the owner of Manu Expeditions Birding and Wildlife Tours. His knowledge of Peruvian birds is virtually unmatched; he has seen more than 1700 species in Peru alone. An invaluable aid to field identification, Barry's text provides key details on habitat, behavior, and vocalizations. A section describing the principal birding sites will prove essential to the visiting birder.  
    Ultimately, A Field Guide to the Birds of Machu Picchu and the Cusco Region combines the talents of an experience field ornithologist with illustrations by a number of the best bird artists in the world. Visitors from all over the world who travel to see the extraordinary ruins of Machu Picchu will now have a field guide to the magnificent birds inhabiting the region. 
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for anyone with an interest in the birds of the region.

Monday, August 24, 2015

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

                                         Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman


My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.scilogs.com/maniraptora/birdbooker-report-387/

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

New Title



1) Taylor, Marianne. RSPB Spotlight: Robins. 2015. Bloomsbury. Paperback: 128 pages. Price: $17.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: Their melodious voices, bright-red breasts, and cheeky attitudes have always endeared robins to the public, but how much do we really know about these familiar garden visitors? The characteristic image of a robin on a spade handle is actually a consequence of their keen territorial instincts--males are often seen seeking a favorable lookout post. Despite their cute appearance, robins are aggressively territorial, and because they hold their territories year-round, robins are one of the only UK birds that can still be heard singing in gardens on Christmas Day, which has perhaps contributed to their longstanding association with the Christmas season.
     In this delightful new book, Marianne Taylor provides a revealing account of their life cycle, behavior, breeding, what they eat, and how they hold their territories, and looks into the many cultural representations of these much-loved little birds. 
RECOMMENDATION: A well illustrated introduction to the species.

Monday, August 17, 2015

New Title




1) Dunne, Pete. Pete Dunne on Bird Watching: Second Edition: A Beginner's Guide to Finding, Identifying and Enjoying Birds. 2015. Stackpole Books. Paperback: 308 pages. Price: $19.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: Birding is one of the most popular and fastest-growing outdoor activities, but it can seem intimidating for beginners who don't know where, when, or how to search for birds. Fortunately, Pete Dunne, one of the most popular and respected writers in the field, has written a guide that will help even the most casual observers identify the skills and tools they need to develop their interest in birding. This popular how-to guide has been revised, updated, and now has color photos.
RECOMMENDATION: If you liked the first edition, you'll like this edition!

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

                                        Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman


My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.scilogs.com/maniraptora/birdbooker-report-386/

Friday, August 14, 2015

New Title



1) Bernhard,Tim and Timothy Loe. Collecting the New Naturalists. 2015. William Collins. Hardbound: 352 pages. Price: £60.00 (about $94.00 U.S.).
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: The Collins New Naturalist series is the longest-running and arguably the most influential natural history series in the world with over 120 volumes published in nearly 70 years.
     Being a numbered series, with a very low print run for some volumes, New Naturalist publications have been and continue to be highly collectable. Second-hand copies of the rarer volumes, in very good condition, can command high prices. As such, there is considerable interest in a detailed bibliography and history of the series.
    Collecting the New Naturalists offers a detailed insight into the fascinating phenomenon that has gripped Britain since just after World War II and which reflects the country’s continued enthusiasm for wildlife and nature publishing generally.
    With previously unpublished in-depth insight into the workings of the series and its collectors, the book will comprehensively cover every aspect of the New Naturalists, from rare editions produced for Bloomsbury and the Reader’s Union to foreign editions, interviews with the iconic cover artists and well-known naturalists such as Nick Baker and Alan Titchmarsh telling the story of their own fascination with the series. 
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for anyone with an interest in the New Naturalist series!

Monday, August 10, 2015

New Title



1) Avery, Mark and Keith Betton. Behind the Binoculars: Interviews with acclaimed birdwatchers. 2015. Pelagic Publishing. Hardbound: 252 pages. Price: $26.99 U.S.
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: How and why did our most acclaimed birdwatchers take up birding? What were their early experiences of nature? How have their professional birding careers developed? What motivates them and drives their passion for wildlife? How many birds have they seen?
     Mark Avery and Keith Betton, passionate birdwatchers and conservationists, interview members of the birdwatching community to answer these and many other questions about the lives of famous birdwatchers. They take you behind the scenes, and behind the binoculars, of a diverse range of birding and wildlife personalities.
     Behind the Binoculars
includes interviews with: Chris Packham, Phil Hollom, Stuart Winter, Lee Evans, Steve Gantlett, Mark Cocker, Ian Wallace, Andy Clements, Mike Clarke, Debbie Pain, Keith Betton, Roger Riddington, Ian Newton, Steph Tyler, Mark Avery, Stephen Moss, Alan Davies and Ruth Miller, Rebecca Nason and Robert Gillmor. 
RECOMMENDATION: An interesting collection of interviews with British birders.

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

                                          Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman


My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.scilogs.com/maniraptora/birdbooker-report-384-5/

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

New Titles

 
 
1) Hadley, Jane (editor). A Birder's Guide to Washington, Second Edition. 2015. American Birding Association, Incorporated. Paperback: 613 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: Few states show more dramatic contrasts in their environment than Washington. Elevations range from sea level to over 14,000 feet. Precipitation varies from over 200 inches annually on the Olympic Peninsula, nurturing a temperate rain forest and mountaintop glaciers, to a mere six inches in parts of the Columbia Basin, where near-desert conditions prevail. Between these extremes, an array of aquatic and terrestrial communities supports a remarkable diversity of bird species. This revised version of A Birder's Guide to Washington brings current the 2003 first edition, and, in the process, adds a number of new destinations, while eliminating a few that are no longer worthwhile. The guide details hundreds of birding routes and sites in the state, together with year-round access instructions and birding advice. Over 220 maps pinpoint the most productive destinations in the field and offer regional overviews to help with trip planning. An annotated checklist of 510 species recorded in the state through 2014 gives information about status and habitat associations, while the seasonal abundance and regional occurrence bar graphs will assist birders in locating regularly occurring species. 
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for anyone birding Washington State!

 
2) Baker, Nick. The Complete Naturalist. 2015. Bloomsbury. Paperback: 352 pages. Price: $34.00 U.S.
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: Nick Baker's fascination with the natural world began at an early age, inspired by Gerald and Lee Durrell's classic book The Amateur Naturalist. His The Complete Naturalist is an up-to-date, practical introduction to observing, understanding, and investigating the natural world around us. Whether you want to understand what makes an insect an insect, rear a family of frogs for your garden pond, or record birdsongs and calls, Nick can give you all the advice and information you need.
     Fact-packed and brimming with practical tips, techniques, and activities, The Complete Naturalist offers a rich source of new ideas for more experienced naturalists, as well as sparking the natural curiosity of a whole new generation. Covering everything from communicating with wild animals to setting up an aquarium, this is the naturalist's guide no family bookshelf should be without. Nick is an experienced and well-traveled naturalist, and his book includes his international experiences.
Nick Baker's fascination with the natural world began at an early age, inspired by Gerald and Lee Durrell's classic book The Amateur Naturalist. His The Complete Naturalist is an up-to-date, practical introduction to observing, understanding, and investigating the natural world around us. Whether you want to understand what makes an insect an insect, rear a family of frogs for your garden pond, or record birdsongs and calls, Nick can give you all the advice and information you need.

Fact-packed and brimming with practical tips, techniques, and activities, The Complete Naturalist offers a rich source of new ideas for more experienced naturalists, as well as sparking the natural curiosity of a whole new generation. Covering everything from communicating with wild animals to setting up an aquarium, this is the naturalist's guide no family bookshelf should be without. Nick is an experienced and well-traveled naturalist, and his book includes his international experiences. - See more at: http://bloomsbury.com/us/the-complete-naturalist-9781472912077/#sthash.7CM1lvur.dpuf
Nick Baker's fascination with the natural world began at an early age, inspired by Gerald and Lee Durrell's classic book The Amateur Naturalist. His The Complete Naturalist is an up-to-date, practical introduction to observing, understanding, and investigating the natural world around us. Whether you want to understand what makes an insect an insect, rear a family of frogs for your garden pond, or record birdsongs and calls, Nick can give you all the advice and information you need.

Fact-packed and brimming with practical tips, techniques, and activities, The Complete Naturalist offers a rich source of new ideas for more experienced naturalists, as well as sparking the natural curiosity of a whole new generation. Covering everything from communicating with wild animals to setting up an aquarium, this is the naturalist's guide no family bookshelf should be without. Nick is an experienced and well-traveled naturalist, and his book includes his international experiences. - See more at: http://bloomsbury.com/us/the-complete-naturalist-9781472912077/#sthash.7CM1lvur.dpuf
The Complete Naturalist
RECOMMENDATION: A well illustrated introduction to natural history study.