New Titles

 

1) Edwards, Scott V., and J. Michael Reed (Editors). New Perspectives in Ornithology: 21st Century Dispatches across the World of Birds. 2025. Oxford University Press. Hardbound: 576 pages. Price: $45.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: People have been long-fascinated with birds, and their scientific study has been central to advances in evolution, animal behavior, biogeography, population dynamics, and community ecology. Research questions in these fields have been driven in part by innovations in technology. Ornithologists even 20 years ago could scarcely imagine the detail and precision with which we can now monitor bird populations on a global scale, whether through digital tools like eBird, indirectly through remote sensing satellites, or at closer range via drones.

     Highlighting these advances, New Perspectives in Ornithology brings together leading and rising professionals across ornithology, spanning behavior and ecology to genomics and conservation. Organized thematically into five sections - ecology, evolution, behavior, citizen science, and conservation - the volume reflects the major swaths of modern ornithology.

     Its contributions offer diverse perspectives on some of the most pressing challenges facing birds today, including climate change, habitat loss, and effects of urbanization. New Perspectives in Ornithology also showcases extraordinary and inspiring new insights into how birds work, their amazing colors and songs, movements around the globe, and their deep-time evolution.

     Approachable and conversational in style, yet scientifically rigorous, this volume is essential reading for graduate students, early career researchers, and senior academics, and anyone else who will need to be aware of key approaches and conceptual domains in ornithology today.

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-read for all ornithologists!

 

2) McClure, Christopher JW. How to Count Birds: A Guide for Monitoring Avian Populations. 2026. Johns Hopkins University Press. Paperback: 228 pages. Price: $49.95 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Counting birds may sound simple―just step outside and start tallying. But in reality, it's a complex and essential endeavor at the core of modern wildlife conservation. In How to Count Birds, conservation biologist Christopher JW McClure offers a practical guide to designing effective bird monitoring programs that inform real-world management and conservation strategies.

     As species vanish at unprecedented rates, having accurate population data is more urgent than ever. Yet too often, flawed study designs and outdated techniques lead to wasted time, ill-used resources, and misleading conclusions. McClure equips researchers, students, and birders with the tools to design efficient studies that avoid common pitfalls and capture what's truly happening in bird populations. This guide explains the biological, statistical, and philosophical principles behind good monitoring and explores study designs for estimating key demographic rates like survival and reproduction. McClure surveys the techniques used to estimate populations and highlights methods prone to error. Throughout, he advocates for a shift away from traditional approaches toward more precise techniques available today, such as acoustic monitoring and occupancy modeling.

     Effective study design requires collaboration among wildlife managers, field biologists, and statisticians from the start, as well as flexibility for field conditions and methodological adaptability. Whether you're just beginning or reevaluating a long-standing program, How to Count Birds is a timely reminder that precision and planning are just as critical as passion in the work of conservation.

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-read for those with a serious interest in avian population monitoring.

3-5) Jones, Bryce. The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods, Sauropods, and Ornithischians. 2026. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 519, 392, and 422 pages (respectively). Prices: $55.00 U.S., $45.00 U.S., and $49.95 U.S. (respectively).

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARIES: The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Theropods brings together every species of predatory dinosaur known to have roamed the prehistoric world, with a dedicated entry for each species describing its key characteristics, taxonomic classification, location, and known remains along with a concise history of its discovery. Each species is beautifully brought to life with vivid illustrations and is supported by meticulously detailed diagrams of all known fossils. These visual aids enable readers to explore how scientists reconstruct these incredible creatures from fossilized remains. Whether you’re curious about Tyrannosaurus rex, Velociraptor, or the multitude of less familiar theropod species, this encyclopedia covers them all.

     The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Sauropods brings together every species of long-necked dinosaur known to have roamed the prehistoric world, with a dedicated entry for each species describing its key characteristics, taxonomic classification, location, and known remains along with a concise history of its discovery. Each species is beautifully brought to life with vivid illustrations and is supported by meticulously detailed diagrams of all known fossils. These visual aids enable readers to explore how scientists reconstruct these incredible creatures from fossilized remains. Whether you’re curious about Brachiosaurus, Titanosaurus, or the multitude of less familiar sauropod species, this encyclopedia covers them all.

     The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs: Ornithischians brings together every species of armored and horn-faced dinosaur known to have roamed the prehistoric world, with a dedicated entry for each species describing its key characteristics, taxonomic classification, location, and known remains along with a concise history of its discovery. Each species is beautifully brought to life with vivid illustrations and is supported by meticulously detailed diagrams of all known fossils. These visual aids enable readers to explore how scientists reconstruct these incredible creatures from fossilized remains. Whether you’re curious about Stegosaurus, Triceratops, or the multitude of less familiar ornithischian species, this encyclopedia covers them all.

     The Princeton Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs is a comprehensive three-volume resource for anyone who is fascinated by dinosaurs. Packed with engaging dino facts and original, full-color reconstructions, drawings, and graphics, this one-of-a-kind encyclopedia strikes a perfect balance between depth and accessibility—detailed enough to captivate professionals yet clear and exciting enough for beginners eager to dive into the amazing lost world of the dinosaurs. The three volumes, available individually, are Theropods, Sauropods, and Ornithischians. Organized for easy reference, these books are perfect for casual browsing or in-depth study. Together, this encyclopedia invites dinosaur lovers of all ages to walk among the wondrous beasts of the Mesozoic era.

RECOMMENDATION: These books are a MUST-HAVE for anyone with an interest in dinosaurs!

 

6) Carwardine, Mark. Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of North America. 2026. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 208 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: This outstanding field guide covers all 54 species and every subspecies of whale, dolphin, and porpoise that occur off the coasts of North America. It is packed with more than 450 illustrations featuring detailed annotations pointing out important field marks. It also features up-to-date distribution maps and concise text that includes helpful identification tips and information about everything from dive sequences to population sizes. Beautifully designed to ensure quick access to essential identification information, this is a must-have guide for every whale watcher in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

• Covers all 54 species and every subspecies of whale, dolphin, and porpoise
• Features more than 450 illustrations with detailed annotations pointing out important field marks
• Includes concise text, distribution maps, and other information to aid quick, reliable identification 

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for those with an interest in the region's marine mammals! 

 

 

7) Bainbridge, David. Geology: An Illustrated History. 2026. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 256 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: The geological processes that underlie all life on Earth can seem intimidatingly vast, ancient, and sometimes even alien. Our planet’s dynamics have fascinated humans for millennia, yet only recently have we developed a clear picture of how they work. This book presents the discoveries and critical scientific advances that inform our understanding of Earth’s origins and the forces driving geological change. Each chapter tells a key piece of the story, focusing on a major aspect of geology that shapes how we experience our world—time, energy, processes, use, and the interplay between geology and life. Geology: An Illustrated History takes readers from antiquity to the Anthropocene, providing an essential introduction to the subject.

• Discusses how the ancient Greeks, medieval Islamic thinkers, and figures of the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution conceptualized geological time
• Profiles leading figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, Nicolas Steno, James Hutton, Lord Kelvin, Charles Lyell, Charles Darwin, Louis Agassiz, and Inge Lehmann
• Covers topics ranging from the Santorini and Tambora eruptions to seismology, tectonics, erosion, mineralogy, and crystallography
• Looks at geology in art and its role in Chinese history, the Industrial Revolution, and the atomic age
• Explores how geology is guiding us to an understanding of life’s origins and whether there might be life elsewhere in the universe

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a well illustrated introduction to the history of geology.