New Title

1) Pickrell, John. Flying Dinosaurs: How Fearsome Reptiles Became Birds. 2014. Columbia University Press. Hardbound: 215 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: The discovery of stunning, feathered dinosaur fossils coming out of China since 2006 suggest that these creatures were much more bird-like than paleontologists previously imagined. Further evidence—bones, genetics, eggs, behavior, and more—has shown a seamless transition from fleet-footed carnivores to the ancestors of modern birds.
     Mixing colorful portraits with news on the latest fossil findings and interviews with leading paleontologists in the United States, China, Europe, and Australia, John Pickrell explains and details dinosaurs’ development of flight. This special capacity introduced a whole new range of abilities for the animals and helped them survive a mass extinction, when thousands of other dinosaur species that once populated the Earth did not. Pickrell also turns his journalistic eye toward the stories behind the latest discoveries, investigating the role of the Chinese black market in trading fossils, the controversies among various dinosaur hunters, the interference of national governments intent on protecting scientific information, and the race to publish findings first that make this research such a dynamic area of science. 
RECOMMENDATION: A readable introduction to the subject.

New Title

1) McMullan, Miles and Lelis Navarrete. Fieldbook of the Birds of Ecuador: Including the Galápagos Islands. 2013. Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco. Paperback: 207 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: Fieldbook of the Birds of Ecuador is the first book to cover both Ecuador and the Galápagos islands, and includes 50 mainland species not included in previous guides for Ecuador.
     Plates are arranged to show illustrations, maps, text, fieldnotes as well as information on endemism and threat status in a single information cell. Emphasis is placed on quick comparison of species in the field, with notes focusing on those features most useful in identification. The format is designed with outdoor use in mind. The maps show the distribution in Ecuador, while information on the Galápagos is given as a birdlist in an appendix at the end of the book.
     Fieldbook of the Birds of Ecuador is designed to have a broad appeal among both serious birders and beginners and dabblers, and so increase awareness of the birds of this accessible country. A percentage of the proceeds from the sales of this book will go toward conservation efforts in Ecuador.
RECOMMENDATION: For birders that don't want to lug around the larger The Birds of Ecuador by Ridgely et al.. This title is available in the U.K. from NHBS here: http://www.nhbs.com/fieldbook_of_the_birds_of_ecuador_tefno_194879.html

New Title

1) Marzluff, John M.. Welcome to Subirdia: Sharing Our Neighborhoods with Wrens, Robins, Woodpeckers, and Other Wildlife. 2014. Yale University Press. Hardbound: 303 pages. Price: $30.00 U.S.
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: Welcome to Subirdia presents a surprising discovery: the suburbs of many large cities support incredible biological diversity. Populations and communities of a great variety of birds, as well as other creatures, are adapting to the conditions of our increasingly developed world. In this fascinating and optimistic book, John Marzluff reveals how our own actions affect the birds and animals that live in our cities and towns, and he provides ten specific strategies everyone can use to make human environments friendlier for our natural neighbors.
     Over many years of research and fieldwork, Marzluff and student assistants have closely followed the lives of thousands of tagged birds seeking food, mates, and shelter in cities and surrounding areas. From tiny Pacific wrens to grand pileated woodpeckers, diverse species now compatibly share human surroundings. By practicing careful stewardship with the biological riches in our cities and towns, Marzluff explains, we can foster a new relationship between humans and other living creatures—one that honors and enhances our mutual destiny. 
RECOMMENDATION: Fans of Marzluff's writings should enjoy this book.

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

                                           Photo copyright: Joe Fuhrman


My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here: http://www.scilogs.com/maniraptora/birdbooker-report-336/

New Title

1) Ackerman, Diane. The Human Age: The World Shaped By Us. 2014. W.W. Norton. Hardbound: 344 pages. Price: $27.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: As Diane Ackerman writes in her brilliant new book, The Human Age, "our relationship with nature has changed…radically, irreversibly, but by no means all for the bad. Our new epoch is laced with invention. Our mistakes are legion, but our talent is immeasurable."
     Ackerman is justly celebrated for her unique insight into the natural world and our place in it. In this landmark book, she confronts the unprecedented reality that one prodigiously intelligent and meddlesome creature, Homo sapiens, is now the dominant force shaping the future of planet Earth. 
     Humans have "subdued 75 percent of the land surface, concocted a wizardry of industrial and medical marvels, strung lights all across the darkness." We tinker with nature at every opportunity; we garden the planet with our preferred species of plants and animals, many of them invasive; and we have even altered the climate, threatening our own extinction. Yet we reckon with our own destructive capabilities in extraordinary acts of hope-filled creativity: we collect the DNA of vanishing species in a "frozen ark," equip orangutans with iPads, and create wearable technologies and synthetic species that might one day outsmart us. With her distinctive gift for making scientific discovery intelligible to the layperson, Ackerman takes us on an exhilarating journey through our new reality, introducing us to many of the people and ideas now creating—perhaps saving—our future and that of our fellow creatures.
     A beguiling, optimistic engagement with the changes affecting every part of our lives, The Human Age is a wise and beautiful book that will astound, delight, and inform intelligent life for a long time to come. 
RECOMMENDATION: Fans of Ackerman's other books should enjoy this one!

New Title

1) Wilson-Rich, Noah. The Bee: A Natural History. 2014. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 224 pages. Price: $27.95 U.S.   
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: Bees pollinate more than 130 fruit, vegetable, and seed crops that we rely on to survive. Bees are crucial to the reproduction and diversity of flowering plants, and the economic contributions of these irreplaceable insects measure in the tens of billions of dollars each year. Yet bees are dying at an alarming rate, threatening food supplies and ecosystems around the world. In this richly illustrated natural history of the bee, Noah Wilson-Rich and his team of bee experts provide a window into the vitally important role that bees play in the life of our planet.
     Earth is home to more than 20,000 bee species, from fluorescent-colored orchid bees and sweat bees to flower-nesting squash bees and leaf-cutter bees. This book takes an incomparable look at this astounding diversity, blending an engaging narrative with practical, hands-on discussions of such topics as beekeeping and bee health. It explores our relationship with the bee over evolutionary time, delving into how it came to be, where it stands today, and what the future holds for humanity and bees alike. 
RECOMMENDATION: A well illustrated introduction to the biology of bees.

New Title

1) Kohn, Alan J.. Conus of the Southeastern United States and Caribbean. 2014. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 457 pages. Price: $99.50 U.S.
PUBLISHER'S SUMMARY: Conus is the largest genus of animals in the sea, occurring throughout the world’s tropical and subtropical oceans and contributing significantly to marine biodiversity. The shells of these marine mollusks are prized for their amazing variety and extraordinary beauty. The neurotoxic venoms they produce—injected by a hollow, harpoon-like tooth into prey animals that are then paralyzed and swallowed whole—have a range of pharmaceutical applications, from painkillers to antidepressants. This beautifully illustrated book identifies 53 valid species of the southeastern United States and the Caribbean, a region that supports a diverse but taxonomically challenging group of Conus. Introductory chapters cover the evolution and phylogeny of the genus, and notes on methodology are provided. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, taxonomy, distribution, ecology, toxicology, life history, and evolutionary relationships. The book includes more than 2,100 photos of shells on 109 splendid color plates; more than 100 additional photos, many depicting live animals in color; and 35 color distribution maps.
RECOMMENDATION: A must have for those with a serious interest in these species.