1) Turner, Angela. Swallow. 2015. Reaktion Books. Paperback: 208 pages. Price: $19.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: Known as heralds of spring and beautiful, elegant flyers, swallows are among the most beloved of familiar birds. Because they return with the spring, swallows, as Angela Turner explains, have long been associated with the renewal of life, love, fidelity, and fertility, while their ability to travel incredible distances has given them associations with freedom and speed. That freedom, however, hasn’t kept them from becoming familiar figures in towns and cities. They often seem to even seek out human company—for example, barn swallows are known for nesting in our buildings and purple martins in our back yards.
Destruction of their natural habitat, however, has proved dangerous to some species of swallow, and recent years have seen some populations dwindling to the point of near-extinction. Turner outlines the reasons for these declines as part of her engaging account of the natural and cultural history of this beloved bird.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for anyone with a serious interest in these species.
Are those not swifts on the top part of the cover? . . . pretty odd for a book about swallows.
ReplyDeleteThose are swift silhouettes. This is the publisher's original cover (not knowing swifts from swallows). The author had it corrected to show swallow silhouettes. Some incorrect versions are still online.
ReplyDeleteCorrect version of cover art is now posted!
ReplyDeleteReally love your reviews - you provide such a valuable source of information. Keep up the great work and all the best for 2016!
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