New Title

                                                                               
1) Spotila, James R.. Saving Sea Turtles: Extraordinary Stories from the Battle against Extinction. 2011. Johns Hopkins University Press. Hardbound: 216 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: In April 2007, eleven leatherback turtles captured the imagination of the public worldwide as they "raced" from Costa Rica toward the Galápagos Islands. Known as the Great Turtle Race, this event tracked these critically endangered sea turtles, drawing attention to their fragile status and generating data on the turtles vital to efforts to study and protect them.
     But the Great Turtle Race is just one of many tools marine conservationists use to inform people about the status, biology, and lives of the seven sea turtle species. Due to human actions, once-plentiful sea turtle population levels plummeted throughout much of the twentieth century, stabilizing somewhat only after Archie Carr and Jacques Cousteau popularized their plight. With Saving Sea Turtles, award-winning author James R. Spotila picks up where Carr and Cousteau left off, going inside the modern-day conservation movement to tell the tales of today's sea turtle conservationists. He provides a complete overview of sea turtle biology and life cycles, discusses the human and natural world threats they face, and examines the new methods and technologies humans are using to save them. Throughout, Spotila dots the narrative with stories of real-life heroes who risk life and limb to understand, track, and conserve sea turtles across the globe.
     Spotila has been at the forefront of sea turtle research and conservation for decades. His inspirational story of dedicated individuals, creative endeavors, and adventure reveals what is being done and what else we must do in order to ensure that these fascinating animals continue swimming in the oceans.
RECOMMENDATION: An interesting overview on the threats to the survival of sea turtles.

New Title

                                                                                 
1) Thomas, Richard et al.. The Complete Guide to Finding the Birds of Australia (2nd edition). 2011. CSIRO Publishing. Paperback: 463 pages. Price: $42.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: First published in 1994, The Complete Guide to Finding the Birds of Australia was the first ever book of its type in Australia – a complete guide to locating every resident bird species in Australia, plus supplementary information on where to find rarities, migratory species and logistical information.
     This fully revised second edition expands on the best-selling appeal of the first, describing the best-known sites for all of Australia’s endemic birds, plus vagrants and regular migrants such as seabirds and shorebirds. It covers all states and territories, and is the first guide to include all of Australia’s island and external territories. A comprehensive Bird Finder Guide details site information on all Australian bird species, and the authors provide valuable travel advice, including transport, climate and accommodation.
     Profusely illustrated with colour photographs of interesting, unique or unusual Australian birds, this book is a must-have for all birdwatchers living in Australia or visiting from overseas.
RECOMMENDATION: The first half of the book is the site guide, the second half is the bird species guide. Birders with an interest in the birds of Australia will want this book!

MUSIC: Rare Bird Alert

                                                                        
     In case you haven't heard, Steve Martin is co-starring in the movie version of Mark Obmascik's book: The Big Year (the movie is due out later this year). Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers have just released a bluegrass album titled: Rare Bird Alert. The title song to the album ( Rare Bird Alert) was inspired by Martin's role in The Big Year. It's rare to find birding related music so I thought I would share this album with you. Samples of the album's music can be found here:

http://www.amazon.com/Rare-Bird-Alert-Steve-Martin/dp/B004K7M73M/ref=tmm_acd_title_1

You need to scroll down a ways to get to the samples. The album is available as MP3 downloads, Audio CDs (regular and deluxe editions) and a vinyl record (if you're under 30 years old, as your parents what a vinyl record is!).

New Titles

1) Honovich, Nancy. The Field Guide to Birds: Explore Southern Asia and Oceania. 2011. Silver Dolphin. Hardbound: 36 pages with diorama. Price: $15.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: Discover the world's most fascinating birds! Written as the research notebook of a 1920s naturalist, The Field Guide to Birds includes 59 pieces that kids can easily use to assemble eight exotic birds. By placing their birds in the removable diorama, they'll get closer than ever before to seeing these wild creatures in their natural habitats.
     The Field Guide to Birds offers kids an in-depth look at the remarkable creatures that fly through the skies of southern Asia and Oceania, from the greater flamingo, whose color is determined by its diet, to the golden bowerbird, who croaks like a bullfrog.
     Kids can go on the adventure of a lifetime-without leaving home!
RECOMMENDATION: For ages 8 and up. Kids will enjoy putting the diorama together.

2) Pearson, Richard. Driven to Extinction: The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity. 2011. Sterling. Hardbound: 263 pages. Price: $22.95 U.S.
SUMMARY: Could more than a million species disappear in the 21st century?
Written by a leading scientist in the field, Driven to Extinction draws upon fascinating case studies from around the world, providing balanced and well-reasoned insight into the potential impacts of climate change on the diversity of life. Richard Pearson focuses on the science of the issue, revealing what has happened––as well as what is likely to happen––to some of the world's weirdest and most wonderful species as global temperatures continue to rise.
RECOMMENDATION: A must read for anyone with an interest in the current biodiversity crisis!

FALL 2011 Princeton University Press nature titles

I just got in a "sneak peak" of the forthcoming Fall 2011 nature titles from Princeton University Press:

1) Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America: A Photographic Guide by Steve N.G. Howell. Hardbound: 440 pages, 975 photos and figures, 66 maps. Price: $45.00 U.S. DUE OUT: JANUARY 2012.

2) Birds of North America and Greenland by Norman Arlott. Paperback: 224 pages, 102 color plates, 900 color maps. Price: $15.95 U.S. DUE OUT: NOVEMBER 2011.

3) Birds of Southern Africa: 4th edition by Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton. Paperback: 448 pages, 200 color plates, 950+ maps. Price: $35.00 U.S. DUE OUT:  NOVEMBER 2011.

4) Birds of Hawaii, New Zealand, and the Central and West Pacific by Ber van Perlo. Paperback: 256 pages, 95 color illustrations, 750 maps. Price: $29.95 U.S. DUE OUT: AUGUST 2011.

5) Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East by Dennis Paulson. Paperback: 576 pages, 675 color photos, 333 maps. Price: $29.95 U.S. DUE OUT: NOVEMBER 2011.

6) Wildlife of Southern Africa by Martin Withers and David Hosking. Paperback: 256 pages, 600 color illustrations. Price: $19.95 U.S. DUE OUT: SEPTEMBER 2011.


7) Carnivores of the World by Luke Hunter. Paperback: 240 pages, 86 color plates. Price: $29.95 U.S. DUE OUT: NOVEMBER 2011.

8) Wildflower Wonders by Bob Gibbons. Hardbound: 192 pages, 200 color photos. Price: $27.95 U.S. DUE OUT: NOVEMBER 2011.

The weekly Birdbooker Report

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2011/mar/13/2

FEATURED TITLE

                                                                          
1) Black, John E. and Kayo J. Roy. Niagara Birds. 2010. Self-published. Paperback: 703 pages. Price: $55.00 U.S. (plus $10.00 U.S. shipping).

SUMMARY: This unique volume presents a wealth of new information, most of it previously unpublished, on the occurrence and abundance of wild bird species in the Niagara Region of Ontario,Canada (mainly covering the years between 1966 to 2006).Over 500 stunning photographs and illustrations accompany the text. The book contains some 25 articles and 368 species accounts. The table of contents and sample species accounts can be viewed here: http://www.niagarabirds.ca/Contents.html
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for birders of the Niagara region! Anyone with an interest in regional bird guides will also want this book. The book's website is here: http://www.niagarabirds.ca/Niagara_Birds_home.html