1) Beehler, Bruce M.. Smithsonian Books. Hardbound: 264 pages. Price: $
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Flying more than 8,000 miles from Alaska to eastern Australia
without stopping to eat or rest, the Bar-tailed Godwit holds the record
for the longest nonstop migration of any land bird in the world. Flight of the Godwit invites
readers on ornithologist Bruce M. Beehler's awe-inspiring journey in
search of North America's largest and farthest-flying shorebirds.
Driving 35,000 miles between 2019 to 2023, Beehler sought birds he dubs
the "Magnificent Seven":
- Hudsonian Godwit
- Bar-tailed Godwit
- Marbled Godwit
- Whimbrel
- Long-billed Curlew
- Bristle-thighed Curlew
- Upland Sandpiper
Beehler interweaves colorful fieldwork stories and rich details on local culture with the natural history and biology of shorebirds—including evolution, the physics of migration, orientation, homing, foraging, diet, nesting, parental care, wintering, staging, elusive "super-migrators," and the importance of conservation efforts.
With authoritative prose and 30 beautiful black-and-white illustrations from artist Alan T. Messer, the book journeys through 37 states and 9 Canadian provinces from Texas to Alaska to Canada's High Arctic. Flight of the Godwit is a captivating adventure and a tribute to remarkable birds and birding itself.
RECOMMENDATION: If you enjoyed Hall's A Gathering of Shore Birds and/or Matthiessen's The Wind Birds, you should like this book!
2) Rivel, Deborah and Brandeis University Press. Paperback: 325 pages. Price: $
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Over five hundred species of birds can be seen in New York City’s
five boroughs and on Long Island, one of the most densely populated and
urbanized regions in North America, which also happens to be situated
directly on the Atlantic Flyway. In this fragmented environment where
resources are scarce, birds congregate in small spaces—Central Park
alone attracts over 225 species of birds (not to mention birders from
around the world who flock to the park during spring and fall
migration). Beyond Central Park, the five boroughs and Long Island boast
numerous wildlife refuges of extraordinary scenic beauty where resident
and migratory birds inhabit forests, wetlands, grasslands, and beaches.
These places present a unique opportunity to see a wide array of
songbirds, endangered nesting shorebirds, raptors, and an unprecedented
number and variety of waterfowl.
The fully updated edition of
this easy-to-use guide provides year-round information for both popular
birding sites as well as those off the beaten path. Precise directions
to the best viewing locations within the region’s diverse habitats
enable birdwatchers to explore urban and wild birding hot spots.
Including the latest information on the seasonal status and distribution
of more than four hundred species, and featuring thirty-nine maps and
over fifty photographs, this full-color guide offers information
essential to locals and visitors alike. This is the go-to book for both
longtime birders and those exploring the area for the first time.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for anyone birding New York City and/or Long Island!
Readers learn of Archibald's experience as a Royal Navy surgeon in the epic Caribbean Battle of The Saintes, his encounters with the Indigenous people of Pacific Northwest Coast and the islands of Hawaii, his near court-martial by Captain Vancouver, his life-threatening and little-known experiments in the nascent field of virology, and his post-navy life in London. The result of this work is not just a full accounting of Archibald's career but which also provides insights into his character and personality. His attitude toward issues such as slavery, human rights, religion, and the opportunities and dangers of European contact with Indigenous peoples are explored and show a man of intelligence, compassion, and wisdom.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-read for anyone with an interest in Archibald Menzies.
4) Graham, Edward. 224 pages. Price: $
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: A one-of-a-kind illustrated guide to clouds, cloud formations, and the artists who painted them.
The
mystery of clouds has captivated scientists and artists alike. This
unique book shows you how to use the meteorological techniques of
nephology to identify these elusive and transmutable shapes. It curates,
classifies, and measures every species—including those recently
discovered—considering the height, size, texture, arrangement,
modifications, and movement of their many shifting forms. Clouds
blends a lively and engaging narrative by one of today’s leading
meteorologists with an essay on historic cloud art, and includes a
wealth of breathtaking cloud studies by some of the greatest artists
ever to look skyward.
