1) Cox, Cameron. 27.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: This is the essential identification guide to the terns,
noddies, and skimmers of North America. Covering every species and
featuring hundreds of high-quality color images, this book is the ideal
companion for anyone interested in this charismatic but sometimes
challenging group of seabirds. Detailed species accounts describe the
size of each bird as it appears in the field along with structure,
behavior, flight style, vocalizations, subspecies, and North American
and worldwide ranges. An incisive introduction lays out a remarkably
simple approach to identification that focuses on key elements and
addresses how to avoid getting bogged down in the variability of
appearance. This state-of-the-art guide also provides additional
in-depth coverage of the two most challenging groups of terns, Sterna
terns and crested terns, aiding field identification while also
highlighting the beauty and elegance of these marvelous seabirds.
- Features more than 325 stunning color photos, with side-by-side comparisons of similar species throughout
- Includes detailed captions for each image that describe age and key identification traits
- Covers 19 species found in North America, including the most frequent vagrants
- Presents a unique, simplified approach to field identification
- Explains the fundamentals of molts, plumages, and hybridization
- Provides in-depth coverage of Sterna terns and crested terns
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST-have for anyone with an interested in the terns of North America!
2) Nesbitt, Elizabeth A. and David B. Williams. 24.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: From trilobites near the Idaho border and primitive horses on the
Columbia Plateau to giant bird tracks near Bellingham and curious
bear-like beasts on the Olympic Peninsula, fossils across Washington
State are filled with clues of past life on Earth. With abundant and
well-exposed rock layers, the state has fossils dating from Ice Age
mammals only 12,000 years old back to marine invertebrates more than 500
million years old.
In Spirit Whales and Sloth Tales, renowned
paleontologist Elizabeth A. Nesbitt teams up with popular science writer
David B. Williams to offer a fascinating, richly illustrated tour
through more than a half billion years of natural history. Following an
introduction to key concepts, twenty-four profiles―each featuring a
unique plant, animal, or environment―tell the incredible stories of
individual fossils, many of which are on display in Washington museums.
The spectacular paleontology of Washington is brought to life with
details of the fossils' discovery and extraction, their place in
geological time, and the insights they provide into contemporary issues
like climate change and species extinction.
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST-have for anyone with an interest in Washington State's fossils!
3) Svensson, Lars.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: This is the 5th edition of the leading guide for European bird ringers, fully revised and enlarged. Identification Guide to European Passerines now treats 267 species, 38 more than in the fourth edition. The taxonomy and sequence have been updated and the entire text has been revised and expanded. The book features numerous new or improved drawings, in total now almost 500. The guide offers detailed advice on ageing and sexing, and a summary of moult strategy for each species. The brief accounts of subspecific variation and distribution ranges are based largely on the author's own assessment of large quantities of museum specimens.
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST-have for all European Ringers!
4) deMaynadier, Phillip G. et al.. 34.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Butterflies of Maine and the Canadian Maritime Provinces introduces readers to over one hundred and twenty butterfly species documented in the Acadian region. Including contributions from researchers and community scientists, this volume is indispensable for anyone interested in the study and conservation of these ecologically important insects.
This user-friendly guide features:
• The first annotated checklist of the species and subspecies of Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island
• Species accounts covering habitat, behavior, threats, and more
• Color photographs, flight histograms, and distribution maps
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST-have for anyone with an interest in the butterflies of the region!
5) Kurta, Allen and Armando Rodríguez-Durán (editors). 39.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Bats of the West Indies is a concise guide to the sixty-one bat species found across the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles, and the Lesser Antilles. Edited by Allen Kurta and Armando Rodríguez-Durán, this volume synthesizes the expertise of twenty-nine accomplished chiropterologists to present up-to-date information on the natural history, ecology, and behavior of these fascinating creatures.
Bats represent an evolutionarily distinctive and ecologically significant part of biological diversity in the West Indies. Opening chapters introduce readers to the unique biology of bats, factors influencing their distribution, and conservation concerns. Family and species accounts detail anatomical traits, natural history, and conservation status. With over a one hundred illustrations, a glossary, and other useful identification tools, Bats of the West Indies is an authoritative yet accessible reference for bat enthusiasts and experts alike.
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST-have for anyone with an interest in the bats of the region!
6) Poole, Alan F.. 26.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: In Quetzals, the renowned ornithologist Alan F. Poole introduces readers to one of the world's most alluring group of birds. Native to the cloud forests of Mexico, and Central and South America, quetzals have played an essential role in the cultures of those lands, where their radiant, brightly colored feathers have been worshipped as sacred objects and coveted as luxury goods for millennia.
Drawing on scientific and historical facts, Poole details the natural history and cultural significance of these legendary birds. He focuses on the most iconic of quetzal species, the Resplendent Quetzal, delving into its distinctive ecology and behavior. He offers an overview of four other known quetzal species―the Pavonine Quetzal, the Golden-headed Quetzal, the White-tipped Quetzal, and the Crested Quetzal―and traces their evolutionary descent from the trogons. Spectacular photographs and illustrations accompany details of quetzal ecology, the long history of their place in the Mayan and Aztec worlds, and current conservation efforts.
A celebration of quetzals and the forests that nurture them, Quetzals is a must-have for anyone who wants to better understand these awe-inspiring birds.
RECOMMENDATION: A well illustrated overview of the genus Pharomachrus trogons.
7) Smith, Douglas W. et al. (editors). 35.00 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is the oldest
and arguably the most famous national park in North America, attracting
millions of visitors each year. While many come to the park for its
recreational activities, the wildlife of Yellowstone is just as
alluring. This book brings together more than 30 leading experts to
provide the first comprehensive survey of the natural history, science,
and conservation of birds in Yellowstone. Covering most bird species
breeding within the great park as well as the many migrants that pass
through, Yellowstone’s Birds is a scientific tour de force and an essential resource for visitors to Yellowstone and bird lovers everywhere.
- Tallies more than 200 species, including migrants
- Describes the natural history, status, and latest science on the birds of Yellowstone
- Features fact-filled, easy-to-read chapters, informative sidebar essays, maps, infographics, and photos that present current science in an easily understood way
- Accompanied by videos by award-winning cinematographer Bob Landis
- Draws on a wealth of data on Yellowstone’s birds collected over many decades
- With contributions by many of today’s leading bird experts, this is a long-overdue survey of Yellowstone’s breathtaking avian fauna
RECOMMENDATION: A must-have for anyone with a serious interest in Yellowstone's birds.
8) Wright, Jim and Scott Weston. 24.99 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: This must-read for birders features a complete guide to attracting, understanding, and protecting owls.
The call of an owl evokes mystery; seeing one in the wild inspires wonder. Of the top ten birds people hope to see, three are owls. Although they may be out of sight, owls are widespread throughout North America—and screech owls are the most likely to make their homes near humans. In this book, experts Jim Wright and Scott Weston show you how to attract them to nest in your yard, year after year.
9) Safina, Carl. 32.50 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: A moving account of raising, then freeing, an orphaned [Eastern] Screech-Owl, whose lasting friendship with the author illuminates humanity’s relationship with the world.
When ecologist Carl Safina and his wife, Patricia, took in a near-death baby owl, they expected that, like other wild orphans they’d rescued, she’d be a temporary presence. But Alfie’s feathers were not growing correctly, requiring prolonged care. As Alfie grew and gained strength, she became a part of the family, joining a menagerie of dogs and chickens and making a home for herself in the backyard. Carl and Patricia began to realize that the healing was mutual; Alfie had been braided into their world, and was now pulling them into hers.
Alfie & Me is the story of the remarkable impact this little owl would have on their lives. The continuing bond of trust following her freedom―and her raising of her own wild brood―coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a year in which Carl and Patricia were forced to spend time at home without the normal obligations of work and travel. Witnessing all the fine details of their feathered friend’s life offered Carl and Patricia a view of existence from Alfie’s perspective.
One can travel the world and go nowhere; one can be stuck keeping the faith at home and discover a new world. Safina’s relationship with an owl made him want to better understand how people have viewed humanity’s relationship with nature across cultures and throughout history. Interwoven with Safina’s keen observations, insight, and reflections, Alfie & Me is a work of profound beauties and magical timing harbored within one upended year.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-read for fans of the author's other works!
10) Drummond, Hugh. Oxford University Press. Hardbound: 288 pages. Price: $
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: In Blue-Footed Boobies,
Hugh Drummond presents a lifetime field study of one of the planet's
most charismatic and observable birds, focused on two themes of human
relevance: aggressive competition between siblings and monogamous
pair-bonding combined with frequent infidelity. In an account peppered
with research anecdotes, he immerses readers in a bustling blue-footed
booby colony where social manipulation and life-and-death dramas are the
stuff of family life.
Here, dominant elder chicks prefer to
bully their siblings into abject submission rather than killing them and
younger siblings' susceptibility to subordination is an evolved
ability. The narrative expands to survey the colorful strategies used by
young birds and mammals to compete with siblings ruthlessly, with
restraint or with courtly manners, scrutinize the role of parents in
sibling conflict, and assess the lifetime impacts of bullying on those
that survive.
Next, a compelling eye-witness account of
monogamous partnerships in blue-foots reveals a world disturbingly
familiar to humans. After displaying their beauty and physical prowess
to each other, females and males select partners and commit to months of
relentless parental care, sharing duties and making decisions jointly.
Half of them renew their bond the following year, and renewers are more
efficient and successful than first-time partners. But colonies of
bonded blue-foot pairs are hotbeds of infidelity! Nearly all females and
males carry on semi-secret liaisons with 1-3 neighbors, roughly one
third of them copulate repeatedly with those extra partners, and one in
ten males ends up caring for another male's chick. Countermeasures
include surveillance, aggression and partner-switching, and males unsure
of paternity sometimes resort to infanticide. Drummond discusses a
panoply of plausible biological functions of infidelity.
Sibling
competition and sexual conflict are widespread in animal species in
which two partners raise contemporaneous offspring together, and
notorious in humans. In the final chapter Drummond argues for a common
evolutionary cause in the blue-foot and human lineages, despite the
psychology of their behavior being quite different: whereas boobies
thoughtlessly follow routines of predictable actions, humans experience
inclinations and urges they can implement in diverse ways, or choose to
veto.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-read for anyone with a serious interest in Blue-footed Boobies!
11) Bohannon, Cat. 35.00 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: THE REAL ORIGIN OF OUR SPECIES: a myth-busting, eye-opening landmark account of how humans evolved, offering a paradigm shift in our thinking about what the female body is, how it came to be, and how this evolution still shapes all our lives today.
How did the female body drive 200 million years of human evolution? • Why do women live longer than men? • Why are women more likely to get Alzheimer’s? • Why do girls score better at every academic subject than boys until puberty, when suddenly their scores plummet? • Is sexism useful for evolution? • And why, seriously why, do women have to sweat through our sheets every night when we hit menopause?
These questions are producing some truly exciting science – and in Eve,
with boundless curiosity and sharp wit, Cat Bohannon covers the past
200 million years to explain the specific science behind the development
of the female sex: “We need a kind of user's manual for the female
mammal. A no-nonsense, hard-hitting, seriously researched (but readable)
account of what we are. How female bodies evolved, how they work, what
it really means to biologically be a woman. Something that would rewrite
the story of womanhood. This book is that story. We have to put the
female body in the picture. If we don't, it's not just feminism that's
compromised. Modern medicine, neurobiology, paleoanthropology, even
evolutionary biology all take a hit when we ignore the fact that half of
us have breasts. So it's time we talk about breasts. Breasts, and
blood, and fat, and vaginas, and wombs—all of it. How they came to be
and how we live with them now, no matter how weird or hilarious the
truth is.”
Eve
is not only a sweeping revision of human history, it’s an urgent and
necessary corrective for a world that has focused primarily on the male
body for far too long. Picking up where Sapiens left off, Eve
will completely change what you think you know about evolution and why
Homo sapiens has become such a successful and dominant species.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-read for anyone with an interest in Human evolution!
12) Costa, James and Bobbi Angell. 30.00 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Uncover Darwin’s most important writings about plants with this important collection featuring expert interpretations and rare illustrations.
Charles Darwin is best known for his work on the evolution of animals, but in fact a large part of his contribution to the natural sciences is focused on plants. His observations are crucial to our modern understanding of everything from the amazing pollination process of orchids to the way that vines climb. Darwin and the Art of Botany collects writings from six often overlooked texts devoted entirely to plants, and pairs each excerpt with beautiful botanical art from the library at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, creating a gorgeously illustrated volume that never existed in Darwin's own lifetime, and hasn't since. Evolutionary botanist and science historian James Costa brings his expertise to each entry, situating Darwin's words in the context of the knowledge and research of the time. The result is a new way of visualizing Darwin's work, and a greater understanding of the ways he's shaped our world.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-read for anyone with an interest in Charles Darwin and/or botanical history.
