1) Carter, Ian and Dan Powell. The Hen Harrier's Year. 2022. Pelagic Publishing. Paperback: 172 pages. Price: $30.00 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Most British birds of prey have largely recovered from historical persecution, but the beleaguered Hen Harrier is still struggling and remains far less common than it should be. This is a particular shame, because it is one of our most inspiring raptors. Spectacular sky-dancing displays and balletic food passes from male to female brighten up the moors in summer. And in winter, communal roosts in the lowlands attract birders from far and wide to catch sight of this now-elusive species.
This book follows the Hen Harrier over a year: from rearing young hidden away in dense heather, to the fight for survival in the harshest months of winter. Interspersed among the monthly accounts are chapters on the history and status of this iconic bird, as well as an overview of one of the most intractable conflicts in modern conservation: the Hen Harrier’s liking for grouse moors (and the grouse that are raised there) wins it few friends among shooters, and ongoing persecution continues to hamper its recovery. There are tentative signs of progress, but its fate as a breeding bird in England hangs in the balance.
Evocative illustrations, in part based on privileged access to the handful of breeding birds that remain on England’s moors, showcase the Hen Harrier’s exploits through the seasons. These will delight admirers of this species and hopefully foster a greater interest in its well-being. The Hen Harrier needs all the help it can get.
RECOMMENDATION: Powell's artwork highlights this book! This book is a must have for anyone with an interest in the Hen Harrier!
2) Haig, Susan M. et al. (editors). As the Condor Soars: Conserving and Restoring Oregon's Birds. 2022. Oregon State University Press. Paperback: 334 pages. Price: $39.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: In the early part of this century, few dared imagine that Oregon would ever welcome back the majestic California Condor. Nobody would have predicted record numbers of Snowy Plovers on the coast. Oregon’s raptors and fish-eating birds were almost decimated. Yet, thanks to the heroic efforts of Oregon’s ornithologists, the birds are returning. As the Condor Soars presents a series of engaging essays about the efforts these scientists have made, and continue to make, to reduce the decline of Oregon’s bird species and restore their habitats.
The essays collected in As the Condor Soars focus on the role that ornithologists have played in research, management, and conservation debates across the state over the past century. Contributors to this volume discuss new developments in the study of birds, from sophisticated tracking devices to the evolving connections between ornithologists and artists. Readers also learn about the important role of citizen scientists in saving our treasured birds. These essays provide hope for species recovery, despite environmental threats, when scientists and the public work together. They also offer to other regions examples of adaptive management learned through these efforts.
This full-color book is beautifully illustrated by noted Oregon Coast artist Ram Papish and includes over eighty stunning photographs donated by some of the state’s finest nature photographers. Fifty capsule biographies of noted Oregon avian scientists round out the inspirational stories about the monumental efforts that have taken shape in recent decades. Accessibly written for scientists and laypeople alike, As the Condor Soars is a gift to everyone who cares about the conservation and restoration of Oregon’s birds.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must have for anyone with a serious interest in the birds of Oregon!
3) Cleave, Rohan and Julian Teh. On the Trail of the Plains-wanderer: A Precious Australian Bird. 2022. CSIRO Publishing. Hardbound: 32 pages. Price: $19.99 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: On the Trail of the Plains-wanderer tells
the true story of one of Australia's most critically endangered bird
species. This unique, quirky and precious bird faces many threats, but
continues to survive against the odds. Discover more about this
fascinating bird and see how people are providing hope for their future.
Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 5 to 9.
Features:
- Introduces kids to the life of the Plains-wanderer – an ancient bird species that is unique as it is the sole member of its family.
- Because of its evolutionary uniqueness and risk of extinction, researchers have ranked the Plains-wanderer as Australia's most important bird and the fourth most important bird species in the world.
- The Plains-wanderer has been nicknamed the Goldilocks bird, as they are quite particular about their habitat.
- The books shares a message of hope, highlighting how farmers are working with researchers to make their properties just right.
- Explores how Zoos are helping save the Plains-wanderer with captive breeding programs and creative thinking.
RECOMMENDATION: It was nice to see this children's book on an unusual bird!
4) Kells,Valerie A., Luiz A. Rocha, et al.. A Field Guide to Coastal Fishes of Bermuda, Bahamas, and the Caribbean Sea. 2022. Johns Hopkins University Press. Paperback: 569 pages. Price: $
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Capturing the remarkable diversity of fishes from estuaries, mangrove nurseries, coralline and rocky reefs to well offshore, this fully illustrated guide to the subtropical coast of Bermuda, the tropical waters of the Bahamas, and the entire Caribbean Sea is the most comprehensive guide of its kind. The combined work of award-winning marine science illustrator Val Kells and distinguished ichthyologists Luiz A. Rocha and Carole C. Baldwin, A Field Guide to Coastal Fishes of Bermuda, Bahamas, and the Caribbean Sea is the region's newest and most thorough fish identification guide available.
Whether
you are an angler, scuba diver, snorkeler, traveler, naturalist,
student, teacher, or researcher, you'll find both common and rare fishes
to identify―each illustrated in lifelike detail. The book's coverage
extends from inshore brackish waters to depths of about 200 meters.
Key features include:
• Over 1,470 illustrations of adults, juveniles, and other color variants
• Descriptions of 161 fish families and around 1,300 species
• Concise details about the features, range, and biology of each species
This guide is your go-to reference for fish identification on your boat, in your travel case, or on your bookshelf.
RECOMMENDATION: Val Kells artwork highlights this book! This title is a must have for anyone with an interest in the coastal fishes of the region.
5) Philip, Leila. Beaverland: How One Weird Rodent Made America. 2022. Twelve. Hardbound: 317 pages. Price: $30.00 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: From award-winning writer Leila Philip, BEAVERLAND is a masterful
work of narrative science writing, a book that highlights, though
history and contemporary storytelling, how this weird rodent plays an
oversized role in American history and its future. She follows fur
trappers who lead her through waist high water, fur traders and fur
auctioneers, as well as wildlife managers, PETA activists, Native
American environmental vigilantes, scientists, engineers, and the
colorful group of activists known as beaver believers.
Beginning with the early trans-Atlantic trade in North America, Leila
Philip traces the beaver’s profound influence on our nation’s early
economy and feverish western expansion, its first corporations and
multi-millionaires. In her pursuit of this weird and wonderful animal,
she introduces us to people whose lives are devoted to the beaver,
including a Harvard scientist from the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana,
who uses drones to create 3-dimensional images of beaver dams; and an
environmental restoration consultant in the Chesapeake whose nickname is
the “beaver whisperer”.
What emerges is a poignant personal
narrative, a startling portrait of the secretive world of the
contemporary fur trade, and an engrossing ecological and historical
investigation of these heroic animals who, once trapped to the point of
extinction, have returned to the landscape as one of the greatest
conservation stories of the 20th century. Beautifully written and
impeccably researched, BEAVERLAND reveals the profound ways in which one
odd creature and the trade surrounding it has shaped history, culture,
and our environment.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must have for anyone with an interest in the American Beaver!
6) Kelly, Ryan P. et al.. Between the Tides in Washington and Oregon: Exploring Beaches and Tidepools. 2022. University of Washington Press. Paperback: 253 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: A spectacular variety of life flourishes between the ebb and flow
of high and low tide. Anemones talk to each other through chemical
signaling, clingfish grip rocks and resist the surging tide, and
bioluminescent dinoflagellates―single-celled algae―light up disturbances
in the shallow water like glowing fingerprints.
This guidebook
helps readers uncover the hidden workings of the natural world of the
shoreline. Richly illustrated and accessibly written, Between the Tides
in Washington and Oregon illuminates the scientific forces that shape
the diversity of life at each beach and tidepool―perfect for beachgoers
who want to know why.
Features include:
• profiles of
popular and off-the-beaten-track sites to visit along the Greater Salish
Sea, Puget Sound, and Washington and Oregon coasts
• the fascinating stories behind both common and less familiar species
• a lively introduction to how coastal ecosystems work and why no two beaches are ever alike
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must have for anyone with an interest in the marine ecology of the region.
7) Woolington, Josephine. Where We Call Home: Lands, Seas, and Skies of the Pacific Northwest. 2022. Ooligan Press. Paperback: 258 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Reconnect with the natural world through essays that blend science and prose. In her debut work, Josephine Woolington turns back the clock to review the events that have challenged Pacific Northwest wildlife in an effort to provide a deeper sense of place. Only then can we imagine how these imperious effects might be overcome.
Join Woolington as she sheds light on the diverse species whose populations are slowly declining from the lands, seas, and skies of the Pacific Northwest. Only by acknowledging this truth can we understand that our impact on the Earth is deeper and far more significant than we ever imagined. Through interviews with local educators, Indigenous leaders, scientists, and artists from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, the Haida Nation, the Yakama Nation, the Makah Tribe, and beyond, we are invited to decenter our singular perspective in favor of a more empathic, collective approach.
The flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest are resilient. As they adapt to a world far removed from its wonders, we must realize our own interconnectedness to nature and to one another. Woolington colors the rich history of the Pacific Northwest within the eye of its beholder so that society can learn to live intentionally in the land that sustains us all. From the coastal tailed frog to the sandhill crane, the yellow-cedar to the camas flower, these stories reimagine what it means to live mindfully in the colorful region we call home.
RECOMMENDATION: Anyone with an interest in the natural history of the Pacific Northwest should read this book!
8) Imbler, Sabrina. How Far the Light Reaches: A Life in Ten Sea Creatures. 2022. Little, Brown and Company. Hardbound: 263 pages. Price: $27.00 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: A queer, mixed race writer working in a largely white, male field, science and conservation journalist Sabrina Imbler has always been drawn to the mystery of life in the sea, and particularly to creatures living in hostile or remote environments. Each essay in their debut collection profiles one such creature, including:
- the mother octopus who starves herself while watching over her eggs,
- the Chinese sturgeon whose migration route has been decimated by pollution and dams,
- the bizarre, predatory Bobbitt worm (named after Lorena),
- the common goldfish that flourishes in the wild,
- and more.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must read for anyone with an interest in marine life!
