This volume features:
-
An introductory section that includes a history of ornithology in Rhode
Island, descriptions of the state's most important bird habitats and
biogeographical regions, and an overview of factors affecting species
populations
- Species accounts with information on changes in abundance and distribution as well as conservation and management methods
-
An eighty-year history of banding and migration watching at Block
Island, seventy years of seabird migration quantification at Point
Judith, a detailed history of the state's seabird colonies, and multiple
surveys of the state's breeding birds
- Color photographs taken in the field of recent rarities discovered in Rhode Island
Offering a chronicle of changing avian population dynamics, Birds of Rhode Island
is an indispensable resource for ornithologists and bird enthusiasts
interested in the avifauna of Rhode Island and beyond. Copublished with
the Nuttall Ornithological Club, No. 27 in the series Memoirs of the
Nuttall Ornithological Club.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-have for anyone birding Rhode Island!
4) Pfannmuller, Lee A. et al.. University Of Minnesota Press. hardbound: 685 pages. Price: $
Unique among North American states, Minnesota sits squarely at
the convergence of four major ecological regions, or biomes: aspen
parklands, prairie grasslands, deciduous forest, and boreal forest.
Consequently, the state hosts remarkably diverse avifauna. The Breeding Birds of Minnesota,
the first comprehensive and in-depth assessment of Minnesota’s breeding
birds in nearly a century, offers an unprecedented, extraordinarily
detailed, finely illustrated account of 250 of those birds, including
their historical and present breeding distribution, habitat, population
abundance, and prospects for the future.
For each species, The Breeding Birds of Minnesota
gives a brief life history, providing Minnesota seasonal status,
migration, foods consumed, nest structure, and name origin; a summary of
identification hints, primary vocalizations, and specific features of
distribution or behavior; and descriptions of breeding habitat,
population abundance and trend, and conservation status and threats. The
heart of each account focuses on the species’ statewide distribution
and abundance, beginning with a wealth of historical information from
ornithological records dating from the 1800s to the early twenty-first
century. An assessment of the species’ current status draws on data
collected by hundreds of participants over the course of five breeding
seasons, from 2009 through 2013, which was published online in 2017 in
the first Minnesota Breeding Bird Atlas.
Along with
permanent and complete documentation of Minnesota’s breeding birds from
years past to present, this volume also identifies critical issues bird
populations—and those who would protect them—will confront in coming
years, including predictions of how each species will respond to climate
change. Reference to T. S. Roberts’s foundational two-volume Birds of Minnesota
(1936) also reveals the remarkable recovery of birds once consigned to
extinction in the state (such as the American White Pelican, Sandhill
Crane, and Common Raven) and the serious decline of others, like the
Black Tern and Eastern Meadowlark.
In The Breeding Birds of Minnesota,
three of Minnesota’s premier ornithologists present an authoritative
history of the state’s avifauna, from waterfowl and waterbirds to
flycatchers, thrushes, sparrows, and warblers.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for anyone with a serious interest in the birds of Minnesota!
5) Mackrill, Tim. T & AD Poyser. Paperback: 304 pages. Price: $
The Osprey is a large, fish-eating bird of prey. Distinctively
marked in deep brown and white, with a piercing yellow eye and powerful
hooked bill, the Osprey snatches its prey in spectacular swoops above
lakes and wetlands around the world – it is one of the most widespread
of all birds. Persecuted mercilessly in Britain, it became extinct in
the 1890s before returning to the famous Loch Garten in Scotland in the
1950s. The return of the bird has been slow, but reintroduction
programmes elsewhere – notably at Rutland Water – have been successful,
and this remarkable raptor is an increasingly common sight in our skies.
This Poyser monograph is dedicated to this fine species and includes more than 150 colour photographs. The Osprey looks
at the distribution, foraging ecology, migration, breeding behaviour
and population dynamics of this spectacular bird, with emphasis placed
on conservation efforts both in Britain and in the species' African
haunts, which have been discovered only very recently thanks to advances
in satellite tagging technology.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for anyone with an interest in Ospreys, mostly from a British perspective.
6) Reedman, Ray. Pelagic Publishing. Hardbound: 374 pages. Price: $92.00 U.S.
Modern
taxonomic studies have created a revolution in the genetic sequencing
of bird families and have resulted in confusing changes to the names of
many species, particularly in the scientific nomenclature. This book
presents all the birds of the Western Palaearctic under the latest
taxonomic scheme followed by the International Ornithological Congress.
The geographic scope embraces about 10% of the world's bird species,
covering almost 1,100 in total. Each species is considered in order,
discussing aspects of both vernacular and scientific names, as well as
supplementary information such as status, appearance and history. An
introduction elucidates the history of the linguistic elements
concerned, taking into account the major languages of Europe, and offers
a condensed analysis of the ‘authority' for any bird names.
Good
dictionaries of avian names are thin on the ground: most are only
partial in coverage, and the majority are word-centric. Hence, British
and European birds have long lacked a work that truly wraps the names –
both vernacular and scientific – around the birds themselves.
This
reference will be appeal to any bird enthusiast, but also to those
seeking out the background on particular species or simply trying to
make some sense of what can seem like a somewhat confused scenario.
Filling a critical gap, it will be a useful tool for any student of
ornithology, whatever their level of experience.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for anyone with a serious interest in ornithological etymology!
7) Paul, Gregory S.. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 384 pages. Price: $39.95 U.S.
The bestselling Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs
remains the must-have book for anyone who loves dinosaurs, from amateur
enthusiasts to professional paleontologists. Now extensively revised
and expanded, this dazzlingly illustrated large-format edition features
nearly 100 new dinosaur species and hundreds of new and updated
illustrations, bringing readers up to the minute on the latest
discoveries and research that are radically transforming what we know
about dinosaurs and their world.
Written and illustrated by
acclaimed dinosaur expert Gregory Paul, this stunningly beautiful book
includes detailed species accounts of all the major dinosaur groups as
well as a wealth of breathtaking images—skeletal drawings, “life”
studies, scenic views, and other illustrations that depict the full
range of dinosaurs, from small feathered creatures to whale-sized
supersauropods. Paul’s extensive introduction delves into dinosaur
history and biology, the extinction of nonavian dinosaurs, the origin of
birds, and the history of dinosaur paleontology, and also gives a taste
of what it might be like to travel back in time to the era when
dinosaurs roamed the earth.
- Now covers more than 800 dinosaur species, including scores of newly discovered ones
- Provides startling perspectives on the famed Brontosaurus and Tyrannosaurus
- Reveals that the largest dinosaurs weighed as much as the biggest whales, and shows why that happened
- Features
hundreds of color and black-and-white drawings and figures, including
life studies, scenic views, and skull and muscle drawings
- Includes color paleo-distribution maps and a color time line
- Describes
anatomy, physiology, locomotion, reproduction, and growth of dinosaurs,
as well as the origin of birds and the extinction of nonavian dinosaurs
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-have for anyone with an interest in dinosaurs!
8) Tan, Amy. 35.00 U.S.
Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles
maps the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions,
and beautiful original sketches. With boundless charm and wit, author
Amy Tan charts her foray into birding and the natural wonders of the
world.
In 2016, Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the state of the
world: Hatred and misinformation became a daily presence on social
media, and the country felt more divisive than ever. In search of peace,
Tan turned toward the natural world just beyond her window and,
specifically, the birds visiting her yard. But what began as an attempt
to find solace turned into something far greater—an opportunity to savor
quiet moments during a volatile time, connect to nature in a meaningful
way, and imagine the intricate lives of the birds she admired.
RECOMMENDATION: The author's annotated artwork highlights this book!
9) Ollerton, Jeff. Pelagic Publishing. Hardbound: 321 pages. Price: $32.00 U.S.
Most
people are familiar with hummingbirds and the balletic ways in which
they feed on flowers. But did you know that these kinds of relationships
first evolved at least 50 million years ago? And that nowadays at least
64 families of birds include species that act as pollinators, for tens
of thousands of different plants? Not only of great ecological
significance, such interactions have been the inspiration for art and
literature, for stories about gods and warriors, and for branding
guitars and even cheese.
This is the first book that
deals with bird pollination in all of its diversity. It looks beyond the
iconic hummingbirds, sunbirds and honeyeaters, to assess the real
breadth and significance of avian involvement with flowers. Pollinating
birds have intricate lives that are often highly dependent on flowers,
and the plants themselves are at the whim of birds for their
reproduction. This makes them crucial players within many ecosystems,
but these relationships are threatened by disease, habitat destruction
and climate change. Yet there are also optimistic stories to be told
about conservation and restoration projects that reveal the commitment
of scientists, conservationists and the public to preserving these
ecologically vital connections.
This groundbreaking
study reclaims birds as pollinators. It rescues them from being mere
novelties of (especially Neotropical) natural history, and explores
their interaction with flowers in all its significance. These
associations carry huge importance in the world’s ecosystems, and are
the drivers and objects of evolution. In addition, as a source of
cultural inspiration, with a history stretching back millennia, they are
part of the ongoing relationship between humanity and the rest of
nature.
RECOMMENDATION: A detailed treatment on the subject of bird pollination.
10) Olson, Roberta J. M.. Reaktion Books. Hardbound: 383 pages. Price: $
Exquisitely illustrated and innovative, an investigation of the artistic evolution of John James Audubon.
John James Audubon (1785–1851), artist, naturalist, and creator of the celebrated The Birds of America,
is widely regarded as America’s first exceptional watercolorist. This
book offers a unique exploration of Audubon’s artistic journey
intertwined with the drama of his life, unveiling how he studied both
past and contemporary artists to forge something entirely innovative.
Through this book, readers are invited to rediscover Audubon’s
groundbreaking watercolors as exemplary works of fine art. Moreover, the
book delves into the controversies surrounding this legendary figure,
who, for the first time in history, accurately represented all avian
species life-size. Beautifully illustrated, it chronicles how Audubon
infused ornithological illustration with a sense of exhilaration,
breathing new life into once-conventional formulas and transforming them
into awe-inspiring masterpieces.
RECOMMENDATION: A well illustrated and detailed overview of Audubon's artwork by an art historian.
11) McNeur, Catherine. Basic Books. Hardbound: 418 pages. Price: $32.50 U.S.
In Mischievous Creatures,
historian Catherine McNeur uncovers the lives and work of Margaretta
Hare Morris and Elizabeth Carrington Morris, sisters and scientists in
early America. Margaretta, an entomologist, was famous among her peers
and the public for her research on seventeen-year cicadas and other
troublesome insects. Elizabeth, a botanist, was a prolific illustrator
and a trusted supplier of specimens to the country’s leading experts.
Together, their discoveries helped fuel the growth and
professionalization of science in antebellum America. But these very
developments confined women in science to underpaid and underappreciated
roles for generations to follow, erasing the Morris sisters’
contributions along the way.
Mischievous Creatures is an indelible portrait of two unsung pioneers, one that places women firmly at the center of the birth of American science.
RECOMMENDATION: A readable narrative of these pioneering women in United States biological sciences.
12) Turvey, Samuel. Bloomsbury Sigma28.00 U.S.
A fossil expedition becomes a thrilling search
for a mythical beast deep in the Indonesian forest – and a fascinating
look at how fossils, folklore, and biodiversity converge.
A tale of exciting scientific discovery, The Tomb of the Mili Mongga
tells the story of Samuel Turvey's expeditions to the island of Sumba
in eastern Indonesia. While there, he discovers an entire recently
extinct mammal fauna from the island's fossil record, revealing how
islands support some of the world's most remarkable biodiversity, and
why many of these unique endemic species are threatened with extinction
or have already been lost.
But as the story unfolds, an
unexpected narrative emerges – Sumba's Indigenous communities tell of a
mysterious wildman called the 'mili mongga', a giant yeti-like beast
that supposedly lives in the island's remote forests. What is behind the
stories of the mili mongga? Is there a link between this enigmatic
entity and the fossils that Sam is looking for? And what did he discover
when he finally found the tomb of a mili mongga?
Combining evolution, anthropology, travel writing and cryptozoology, The Tomb of the Mili Mongga
explores the relationship between biodiversity and culture, what
reality means from different cultural perspectives, and how folklore,
fossils and conservation can be linked together in surprising ways.
RECOMMENDATION: If you enjoyed Gregory Forth's Between Ape and Human, you should like this book.
