New Title

1) Garrett, Kimball L., Jon L.Dunn, and Brian E. Small. Birds of Southern California. 2012. R.W. Morse Company. Paperback: 496 pages. Price: $19.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: Birds of Southern California is a pocket-sized 506 page photographic guide for the birds that reside in or visit the lower half of California, an area of approximately 56,000 square miles.
    The Species Account pages provide color photographs of the 350 local birds and have a companion page with key information about each bird including: description, voice, behavior, similar birds, where and when to find this bird, and a Did you know section with interesting facts. There is a space at the bottom of each page to record sightings of each bird.
     The Short Index inside the back cover also gives a quick way to find birds in the guide.
     The Map inside the front cover gives a good overview of the geographic area covered in this book and the location of some of the top birding spots.
     The Common Local Birds pages show photographs of Southern California's most common birds.
     There are a number of sections of the book designed for beginning birders:
*Identifying Birds (how to tell one bird from another)
*Observing Birds (how to be successful in seeing more birds)
*Bird Habitats (describes the 12 types of habitat in Southern  California and some of the birds in each habitat)
*Helpful Resources (where to get more information)
*Index/Checklist (use this checklist to record bird sightings)

RECOMMENDATION: This book is best for beginning/novice birders of the region.

New Title

1) Siegel, Mark. Sailor Twain: or The Mermaid in the Hudson. 2012. First Second. Hardbound: 400 pages. Price: $24.99 U.S.

SUMMARY: One hundred years ago. On the foggy Hudson River, a riverboat captain rescues an injured mermaid from the waters of the busiest port in the United States. A wildly popular--and notoriously reclusive--author makes a public debut. A French nobleman seeks a remedy for a curse. As three lives twine together and race to an unexpected collision, the mystery of the Mermaid of the Hudson deepens.
     A mysterious and beguiling love story with elements of Poe, Twain, Hemingway, and Greek mythology, drawn in moody black-and-white charcoal, Sailor Twain is a study in romance, atmosphere, and suspense.
RECOMMENDATION: This graphic novel isn't for children due to nudity and language, but it's an interesting story!

Featured Title

                                                 
1) Rasmussen, Pamela C. and John C. Anderton. Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (2 volumes, Second Edition). 2012. Lynx Edicions/MSU/Smithsonian. Paperbacks: Volume 1: 378 pages, Volume 2: 684 pages. Price: 55 EUR, 49.99 GBP, $71.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: The most complete and up-to-date guide to the birds of the region. Revised and updated with the newest findings on vocalizations and taxonomy, including several taxa newly recorded for the region, species whose voice was previously unknown, and additional newly recognised species. Species lists follow familiar Peters order except where changes are well-corroborated by recent research.

Vol. 1 (Field Guide):
*Now more user-friendly than ever, including vocalization descriptions for almost every species
*Covers all South Asian birds (including Afghanistan and Chagos).
*Over 3400 illustrations appear in 180 plates painted especially for this book by expert artists. These depict all known regional species and most distinctive subspecies and plumages.
*Over 1450 colour maps, based primarily on verified records, represent the ranges of each regularly occurring species and many distinctive races, and distinguish migratory routes from winter ranges.
*Maps are annotated as to geographic variation, status and habitat.
*Concise texts give key identification features of each species.
*To assist in locating groups within the text, illustrated plate keys are provided in the endpapers

Vol. 2 (Attributes and Status):
*Contains much new information and many revised taxonomic treatments.
*Alternative names are listed and taxonomic issues are summarized.
*Specimen measurements specially taken for this book are presented for each species.
*Complete data about identification, variation, status and distribution, voice, and habits are provided for each species.
*Problematic records are discussed.
*Vocalizations are described from recordings, and there are over 1000 sonograms, now with English name labels.
*Appendices include the region's first hypothetical species list, a gazetteer, brief ornithological histories, and lists of taxonomic changes, regional specimen holdings, and threatened species.
*A comprehensive index allows users to find whatever names are most familiar to them.
*Maps indicate geopolitical names, topography, habitats, and bird species diversity and endemism.

RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for those with an interest in the birds of the region! This title is available in the USA from BUTEO BOOKS here.

Featured Title

                                                 
1) Dunne, Pete, David Sibley, and Clay Sutton. Hawks in Flight (Second Edition). 2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Hardbound: 335 pages. Price: $26.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: Among the world's most popular birds, hawks can be some of the most difficult birds to identify. They're most often seen flying high above and at a distance.
     In the first edition of Hawks in Flight, Pete Dunne, David Sibley, and Clay Sutton presented a holistic method of hawk identification, using general body shape, the way they move, and the places they are most likely to be seen.
     The new edition of the book that Roger Tory Peterson called a "landmark" integrates an array of carefully selected photographs, David Sibley's superb illustrations, and a clear, information-packed text and takes raptor identification to a higher level. This edition covers all of the raptors that breed in North America, including those with limited ranges in Florida, the Southwest, and Texas.
     Picking up where its predecessor ended by including two decades of raptor identification refinement, Hawks in Flight summarizes and places in users’ hands an identification skill set that used to take years to master. The unique alchemy of Dunne, Sibley, and Sutton—including their collective experience of more than one hundred years watching hawks—make this book a singular achievement and a must-have for anyone interested in hawks.
RECOMMENDATION: A MUST have for raptor people, even if you own the first edition!

New Titles

                                                 
1) Haag, Wendell R.. North American Freshwater Mussels: Natural History, Ecology, and Conservation. 2012. Cambridge University Press. Hardbound: 505 pages. Price: $140.00 U.S./ £85.00.

SUMMARY: This well-illustrated book highlights freshwater mussels' fabulous diversity, amazing array of often bizarre ecological adaptations and their dire conservation plight. Summarizing and synthesizing historical and contemporary information as well as original research and analysis, the book describes the diverse array of mussel life history strategies and builds a cohesive narrative culminating in the development of explicit frameworks to explain pervasive patterns in mussel ecology. The fascinating and colorful role of mussels in human society is also described in detail, including the little-known pearl button industry of the early 1900s and the wild and often violent shell harvest of the 1990s. The final chapter details humans' efforts to save these fascinating animals and gives a prognosis for the future of the North American fauna. The book provides the first comprehensive review of mussel ecology and conservation for scientists, natural resource professionals, students and natural history enthusiasts.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those with a technical interest in North American freshwater mussels.

2) Pizzey, Graham and Frank Knight. The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia (Ninth Edition, edited by Sarah Pizzey). 2012. Harper Collins. Flexibound: 608 pages. Price: $45.00 AUD/ £56.99 / $95.00 U.S.
SUMMARY: The definitive and most respected guide to Australian bird identification, this book is a must for both experts and amateurs.
     First published in 1980, Graham Pizzey′s Field Guide to the Birds of Australia combines a depth and breadth of knowledge with beautiful, full-colour illustrations by Frank Knight.
     Comprehensive and fully updated, this 9th edition of the Guide is more user-friendly than ever before. Species entries have been re-ordered and updated to reflect the new taxonomy, and the book has been expanded to include eighteen new species as well as a new section on vagrant species. It also features new information on bird family groups, more than 750 distribution maps based on the most recent bird atlas data, as well as a new Quick Find Index, to assist with quick identification of birds in the field.
     This is the essential reference for every bird enthusiast.
RECOMMENDATION: The page count has increased from 580 (8th edition) to 608 (9th edition). A must have for those with an interest in the birds of Australia! This title is available from BUTEO BOOKS here.

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman

My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/grrlscientist/2012/sep/09/1

New Titles

                                                 
1) Lewis, Celia. The Illustrated Guide to Ducks and Geese and Other Domestic Fowl. 2012. Bloomsbury. Hardbound: 160 pages. Price: GBP 16.99/$20.00 U.S.

SUMMARY: With just a little land and available water, you can raise a variety of domestic fowl, from friendly ducks and characterful geese to guineafowl, dainty quail, placid turkeys or even peafowl. Illustrated with the author's charming watercolour paintings, this book is packed with practical tips on keeping domestic fowl and selecting the right breed for your circumstances.
     Covering 65 domestic breeds of ducks, geese, guineafowl, quail, turkeys and peafowl, the book gives an insight into the individual personalities and attributes of each kind of bird. The breed profiles are written in engaging text and include the history and place of origin, colour combinations, differences between male and female birds, the appearance of hatchlings and the numbers of eggs to expect.
     As well as selecting an appropriate breed, you need to consider your neighbours, the kinds of bird you can and should keep, whether you want them for eggs or as pets, and whether you want to breed them. The book offers helpful advice on all these issues and also on housing, the provision of water, feeding and the noise and impact your birds will have, as well as preventing and treating common ailments.
     Whether you are starting out as a smallholder, are interested in raising a few ducks or geese in a suburban or rural setting, or are simply a devotee of domestic fowl there is plenty to captivate you in this book.
RECOMMENDATION: Bird keepers will enjoy this book!

                                                 
2) Taylor, Marianne. RSPB British Birdfinder. 2012. Bloomsbury. Paperback: 288 pages. Price: GBP12.99/about $20.82 U.S. SUMMARY: Most bird books are designed to help you identify the birds that you've seen. This book is different. It is a species-by-species guide that shows you how to find and watch more than 250 species of birds that can be seen in Britain. Some are common; others are rare migrants or scarce breeding birds, but this book will tell you the best places to see and watch all of them. Readers will be able to see their most coveted species but also enjoy rewarding watching experiences that will enhance their understanding of the species, of bird behaviour and of key fieldcraft techniques.
     Sections include:
- How to find including the best time of day, how to search the habitat and behavioural signs
- Watching tips including ways to get close to the bird without disturbing it and how to attract it to your garden.
- Super sites includes a short list of some of the best places to see the species.
RECOMMENDATION: Best for casual or beginning birders.