A&C Black competition

                                                                                  

For those that live in the United Kingdom, you might be interested in this competition: WIN one of these recently published titles. Simply email your name and address to: competition@bloomsbury.com with the title of the book you'd like to win in the subject line before 15th November 2011.

NEW TITLES:


AVIAN SURVIVORS

http://bloomsburynews.com/go.asp?/bBLM001/qVMHWG1F/x19R6G1F

The History and Biogeography of Palearctic Birds

Clive Finlayson
     History and chance events play a central role in a story that has its origins before the asteroid impact that finished off the dinosaurs. In this book, Finlayson shows that the avifauna of the Palearctic long predates the glaciations of the last two million years, and had established itself gradually during the turbulent times of the Miocene and Pliocene, the lifting of Tibet and the drying of the continents having a major influence on these birds.
     Packed with figures and with a rich colour section, Avian Survivors tells the definitive story of the birds of the Palearctic, across space and time.

BIRDS OF SEYCHELLES

http://bloomsburynews.com/go.asp?/bBLM001/qDM85G1F/x19R6G1F

Adrian Skerrett & Tony Disley
     The only field guide to cover every species recorded in Seychelles, covering more than 250 species, including all residents, migrants and vagrants. Concise text on facing pages highlights key identification features, including habitat, distribution, status and voice. The plates are based on the authors' previous work, but with the addition of many new images.

THE KITTIWAKE

http://bloomsburynews.com/go.asp?/bBLM001/qVMHNG1F/x19R6G1F

John Coulson
    The Kittiwake has been the subject of behavioural research since the late 1950s - one of the longest running studies in the world. In this Poyser Monograph, John Coulson summarises these decades of research, revealing amazing insights into the life of these gulls, with wider implications for the behavioural ecology of all colonial birds. This book is essential for academics working on colonial species, and is also of great interest to birders who want to learn more about these elegant cliff-dwelling birds.

*** BACK IN PRINT ***

FINCHES AND SPARROWS

http://bloomsburynews.com/go.asp?/bBLM001/q4D8WG1F/x19R6G1F

Peter Clement
     This is a guide to true finches and sparrows illustrating all the species, many races and most sex and age variations, with almost 950 portraits. The maps accompanying the illustrations show breeding and wintering ranges for all species.

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New Titles

                                                                              
1) Altringham, John D.. Bats: From Evolution to Conservation (2nd edition). 2011. Oxford University Press. Paperback: 324 pages. Price: $58.50 U.S.

SUMMARY: Bats are highly charismatic and popular animals that are not only fascinating in their own right, but illustrate most of the topical and important concepts and issues in mammalian biology. This book covers the key aspects of bat biology, including evolution, flight, echolocation, hibernation, reproduction, feeding and roosting ecology, social behaviour, migration, population and community ecology, biogeography, and conservation.
     This new edition is fully updated and greatly expanded throughout, maintaining the depth and scientific rigour of the first edition. It is written with infectious enthusiasm, and beautifully illustrated with drawings and colour photographs. This book features:

*Written in an accessible style by an authority in the field
*Builds on the reputation of the first edition, providing a fully revised, comprehensive, and affordable successor
*Incorporates recent advances in the application of molecular research in ecology, behaviour, evolution, and population genetics
*Includes a major new chapter on conservation
*Puts bat studies into the wider context of mammalian evolution, diversity, ecology, and conservation
*Includes a set of stunning colour plates of photographs of bats from around the world, and numerous   attractive and detailed drawings
*Updated throughout - 60% of the text is new and 35% of the illustrations
*New chapters reflect major developments in the use of genetics, and major advances in our understanding of social behaviour, community ecology, macroecology, biogeography, and conservation
*Includes a new 8 page colour plate section, with stunning photographs of bat species from around the world

RECOMMENDATION: A must have for bat biologists!

                                                                               
2) Arlott, Norman. Birds of North America and Greenland. 2011. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 239 pages. Price: 15.95 U.S.

SUMMARY: The Nearctic region, which spans most of North America, including Canada and Greenland, is home to an incredibly rich diversity of birdlife. This illustrated guide covers more than 900 bird species yet is succinct, compact, and easy to use, making it the essential companion for birders and travelers alike.

     Birds of North America and Greenland features 102 stunning color plates that depict every species and every type of plumage in males, females, and juveniles. Concise species accounts describe key identification features, with information on habitat, songs, and calls. This field-ready guide also includes color distribution maps. This book features:

*Covers more than 900 bird species found in the Nearctic region
*Features 102 stunning color plates that depict every species
*Includes concise species accounts and color distribution maps
*Succinct, compact, and easy to use

RECOMMENDATION: Best for casual birders.

British Birds magazine archives on-line

                                                                                                                                                  
     The full text archives of the first 100 volumes of British Birds (1907-2007) are now available free online. You can view the archives here:  http://www.britishbirds.co.uk/search?scope=articles
You need to register to get full pdfs. All articles are fully searchable.

The Weekly Birdbooker Report

                                                      Photo: Joe Fuhrman


               My WEEKLY Birdbooker Report can be found here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/punctuated-equilibrium/2011/oct/02/3

New Title

                                                                              
1) Finlayson, Clive. Avian Survivors: The History and Biogeography of Palearctic Birds. 2011. T & A D Poyser. Hardbound: 304 pages. Price: GBP 50.00 (about $78.04 U.S.).

SUMMARY: Using a fresh approach that classifies birds according to their bioclimatic characteristics, Clive Finlayson views the history and distribution of Palearctic birds from a radical new angle.
     History and chance events play a central role in a story that has its origins before the asteroid impact that finished off the dinosaurs. In this book, Finlayson shows that the avifauna of the Palearctic long predates the glaciations of the last two million years, and had established itself gradually during the turbulent times of the Miocene and Pliocene, the lifting of Tibet and the drying of the continents having a major influence on these birds.
     Those that made it to the start of the glaciations were equipped to deal with whatever the climate could throw at them. They were the avian survivors, and they are still here with us today.
      Packed with figures and with a rich colour section, Avian Survivors tells the definitive story of the birds of the Palearctic, across space and time.
RECOMMENDATION: For those with a technical interest in Palearctic avian biogeography and/or paleontology.

Field Guide Article

Laura Erickson wrote about the history of the North American field guide at her blog here:

http://lauraerickson.blogspot.com/2011/09/closer-look-at-field-guides.html

For those interested in learning more about the history of the bird guide you might want this book when it comes out:

In the Field, Among the Feathered: A History of Birders and Their Guides by Thomas R. Dunlap. Oxford University Press. Hardbound: 256 pages. Price: $34.95 U.S. DUE out in November/December 2011.

    

 
                                                                              
   

Clips from "The Big Year" movie

                                                                              
Here are clips from the "The Big Year" movie:

"Anacortes, WA" scene:


Texas Fallout scene:

From the beginning of the movie:

Note John Cleese doing his David Attenborough imitation. Can you catch the three North American birding mistakes at the 0:29 mark in the second video? Hint: two are written and the other is the illustration.