When zoologist Max Terman came to the rescue of a great horned owlet in a Kansas town park, he embarked on an adventure that would test his scientific ingenuity and lead to unprecedented observations of an owl's hidden life in the wild. In "Messages from an Owl," Terman not only relates his experiences nursing the starving owlet, "Stripey," back to health and teaching it survival skills in his barn, but also describes the anxiety and elation of letting a companion loose into an uncertain world. Once Terman felt that Stripey knew how to dive after prey, he set the owl free. At this point his story could have ended, with no clue as to what the young bird's fate would be--had it not been for Terman's experimentation with radio tags. By strapping the tags to Stripey, he actually managed to follow the owl into the wild and observe for himself the behavior of a hand-reared individual reunited with its natural environment.

Through this unique use of telemetry, Terman tracked Stripey for over six years after the bird left the scientist's barn and took up residence in the surrounding countryside on the Kansas prairie. The radio beacon provided Terman with information on the owl's regular patterns of playing, hunting, exploring, and protecting. It enabled him to witness the moments when Stripey was bantered and mobbed by crows, when other owls launched fierce attacks, and when a prospective mate caught Stripey's eye. On occasional returns to the barn, the owl would follow Terman around as he performed chores, usually waiting for a handout.

Until now, scientists have generally believed that an owl nurtured by humans becomes ill-adapted for meeting the challenges of life in the wild. Terman's research proves otherwise. Stripey surpassed all expectations by becoming a totally independent wild creature. With Terman, however, Stripey remained tame, allowing the author to explore something one rarely sees in owls: a warm interest in humanity. Terman engagingly re-creates this dimension of Stripey as he describes with humor and compassion the daily challenges of probing the life of a "phantom winged tiger."

Originally published in 1997.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

This book is a comprehensive study of nest-building behavior in birds. A much-needed synthesis of the previously scattered literature on this central aspect of avian biology, it is organized by behavior problems and focuses on evolution as its unifying theme.

Originally published in 1984.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

With over 3,000 miles of freshwater coastline, Michigan boasts an impressive 129 lighthouses and 450 species of birds-nearly half the recorded species in the entire United States. The same lights that keep sailors safe have long been natural waystations for our avian friends, weary from long flights, to land for a quick rest and refueling. More than 100 close-up photos invite visitors to find and identify the colorful birds at 20 iconic lighthouses known to be birding hotspots. This handily organized guide also provides location coordinates and a brief history of each beacon, making it a valuable resource for birdwatchers and lighthouse lovers alike.

Birdwatching in Britain has grown increasingly dependent on burning fossil fuels. Regularly driving long distances to birding hotspots and frequent flying to see exotic species are seen as perfectly normal. In the face of the climate crisis, however, a growing number of birders are reassessing the way they enjoy and study birds. In this timely book, 30 contributors—from young birdwatchers to professional ornithologists—explain why and how they are shifting to climate-friendlier approaches. Low-carbon birding, they argue, is a legitimate and valuable way of enjoying birds. Furthermore, in itself this can bring many joys, some of them unexpected. From first encounters with hawfinches to focusing in on birdsong, from the Kalahari to the Hebrides, the stories told here are not about heroic efforts to save the planet. They are simply accounts of everyday humanity in unprecedented times—ordinary people with doubts and concerns about how to live a decent life and act responsibly in a rapidly warming world. The authenticity of their voices is a testament to the moment of awakening to the climate crisis in British ornithology. Above all, Low-Carbon Birding is an urgent call for birders to leave a better legacy in the skies and across the living world.

This spectacular new field guide is the ultimate reference to the birds of Argentina and the islands of the South-west Atlantic, essential for researchers, birders and conservationists alike. Covers Argentina and all Fuegian and Hornean islands south to the Diego Ramírez Islands and east to the Falklands. More than 2,300 images of original artwork illustrate 1,075 species, including all residents, migrants and most vagrants. 199 stunning colour plates depict every species and many distinct plumages and subspecies, including 28 endemics and 17 near-endemics. Concise text on key identification features and accurate, up-to-date colour distribution maps opposite the plates for ease of reference.

This is the only comprehensive photographic field guide to the birds of the entire Indian subcontinent. Every distinct species and subspecies--some 1,375 in all--is covered with photographs, text, and maps. The guide features more than 4,000 stunning photographs, many never before published, which have been carefully selected to illustrate key identification features of each species. The up-to-date facing-page text includes concise descriptions of plumage, voice, range, habitat, and recent taxonomic changes. Each species has a detailed map reflecting the latest distribution information and containing notes on status and population density. The guide also features an introduction that provides an overview of birdlife and a brief history of ornithology in India and its neighbors. The result is an encyclopedic photographic guide that is essential for everyone birding anywhere in the subcontinent. * Covers all 1,375 subcontinental bird species* Features more than 4,000 stunning photographs to aid quick field identification* Includes up-to-date facing-page text and range maps* Contains concise descriptions of plumage, voice, habitat, and much more

This is the one compact, portable, and user-friendly field guide the novice or experienced birder needs to identify birds in the field in the diverse habitats found in Costa Rica. It features descriptions and illustrations of all 903 species definitely known from Costa Rica, including pelagics and species regular to Cocos Island. Fifty-six of these species are placed in a "Rarities" section that includes accidentals, rarer pelagics, and species that have not been reported in more than twenty years.

The detailed full-color illustrations show identifying features including plumage differences among males, females, and juveniles and views of birds in flight wherever pertinent.Robert Dean has supplied more than 360 new illustrations, including sixty-four species that are illustrated for the first time in this edition. These include recent additions to the country list, pelagic species, Cocos Island species, and all accidentals recorded from the Costa Rican mainland. Range maps and nomenclature have been updated for this edition, which also has a new user-friendly organizational scheme and alphabetical quick-find indexes of groups and families on the inside back cover."

Amazing as it might sound, ornithologists are still discovering an average of five or six bird species each year that are completely new to science. These aren't all obscure brown birds on tiny islands - witness the bizarre Bare-faced Bulbul from Laos (2009), spectacular Araripe Manakin from Brazil (1998), or gaudy Bugun Liocichla from north-east India (2006). Birds New to Science documents over half a century of these remarkable discoveries, covering round 300 species. Each account includes the story of discovery, a brief description of the bird (many with accompanying photographs), and details of what is known about its biology, range and conservation status. Written in an engaging style, this is a rich reference to an incredible era of adventure in ornithology.

"At length did cross an Albatross, / Through the fog it came; / As if it had been a Christian soul, / We hailed it in God's name." The introduction of the albatross in Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" remains one of the most well-known references to this majestic seabird in Western culture. In "Albatross," Graham Barwell goes beyond Coleridge to examine the role the bird plays in the lives of a wide variety of peoples and societies, from the early views of north Atlantic mariners to modern encounters by writers, artists, and filmmakers. Exploring how the bird has been celebrated in proverbs, folk stories, art, and ceremonies, Barwell shows how people marvel at the way the albatross soars through the air, covering awe-inspiring distances with little effort thanks to its impressive wingspan. He surveys the many approaches people have taken to thinking about the albatross over the past two hundred years--from those who devoted their lives to these birds to those who hunted them for food and sport--and discusses its place in the human imagination. Concluding with a reflection on the bird's changing significance in the modern world, Barwell considers threats to its continued existence and its prospects for the future. With one hundred illustrations from nature, film, and popular culture, "Albatross" is an absorbing look at these beautiful birds.

105 species of birds featured with 2 pages devoted to each species common and scientific names full-color illustrations w/ key identifiers size and voice illustrations of similar species range maps and map of best sites checklist

The fascination birds evoke in us continues unabated. Australian artist and photographer Christian Spencer, living in the vicinity of the Brazilian rainforest since 2001, has surrendered to it as well. "The camera is my brush," is how he describes his style. His photographs truly capture the poetry of nature, letting its beauty speak for itself - which is why he forgoes any image editing. He was the first to capture the breathtakingly fast beating of hummingbirds' wings in the sunlight, which forms a rainbow in the air. The world of birds unfolds before his lens in all its colourful glory and elegance: in reflections on the water, between blossoms and trees, and high above the treetops. Text in English and German.

Understanding The Bird Of Prey is probably the most comprehensive gathering of data on birds of prey ever assembled.

The text is masterfully written in language that is easy to follow by Nick Fox, a leading professional raptor biologist, breeder and falconer. The text covers the biology of birds of prey, their captive management, breeding, training and rehabilitation. All sections have been critically reviewed by top international specialists for scientific accuracy.

Over 290 technical drawings and 150 colour photographs aid the reader in the pursuit of understanding birds of prey.

Victor Emanuel is widely considered one of America’s leading birders. He has observed more than six thousand species during travels that have taken him to every continent. He founded the largest company in the world specializing in birding tours and one of the most respected ones in ecotourism. Emanuel has received some of birding’s highest honors, including the Roger Tory Peterson Award from the American Birding Association and the Arthur A. Allen Award from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. He also started the first birding camps for young people, which he considers one of his greatest achievements. In One More Warbler, Emanuel recalls a lifetime of birding adventures—from his childhood sighting of a male Cardinal that ignited his passion for birds to a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Asia to observe all eight species of cranes of that continent. He tells fascinating stories of meeting his mentors who taught him about birds, nature, and conservation, and later, his close circle of friends—Ted Parker, Peter Matthiessen, George Plimpton, Roger Tory Peterson, and others—who he frequently birded and traveled with around the world. Emanuel writes about the sighting of an Eskimo Curlew, thought to be extinct, on Galveston Island; setting an all-time national record during the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count; attempting to see the Imperial Woodpecker in northwestern Mexico; and birding on the far-flung island of Attu on the Aleutian chain. Over the years, Emanuel became a dedicated mentor himself, teaching hundreds of young people the joys and enrichment of birding. “Birds changed my life,� says Emanuel, and his stories make clear how a deep connection to the natural world can change everyone’s life.

A comprehensive update of the classic from the state's foremost expert In the nearly half-century since the first publication of the landmark Birds in Minnesota, the state and its bird populations have undergone dramatic changes. This newly revised, expanded edition reflects those changes as well as the most recent advances in birding, making it the indispensable resource for birdwatchers in Minnesota, both passionate amateur and professional. Featuring full-color photographs and more than one thousand distribution maps, the updated Birds in Minnesota describes where and during which season the 443 species of birds in the state can be found. Introductory comments by Carrol L. Henderson of the Minnesota DNR and Kim R. Eckert, author of A Birder's Guide to Minnesota, along with the expert contributions of David Cahlander of the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union, further enhance this new edition for today's Minnesota birders. This edition of Birds in Minnesota is the essential birding reference-at once authoritative and user-friendly, comprehensive and concise, eminently practical and a delight to peruse.

This unique illustrated handbook provides all the essential tools you need to become a better birder. Here Derek Lovitch offers a more effective way to go about identification--he calls it the "Whole Bird and More" approach--that will enable you to identify more birds, more quickly, more of the time. He demonstrates how to use geography and an understanding of habitats, ecology, and even the weather to enrich your birding experience and help you find something out of the ordinary. Lovitch shows how to track nocturnal migrants using radar, collect data for bird conservation, discover exciting rarities, develop patch lists--and much more.

This is the ideal resource for intermediate and advanced birders. Whether you want to build a bigger list or simply learn more about birds, "How to Be a Better Birder" will take your birding skills to the next level.Explains the "Whole Bird and More" approach to bird identification Demonstrates how to use geography, habitats, ecology, and the weather to be a better birder Shows how to bird at night using radar, collect conservation data, develop patch lists--and more Offers essential tools for intermediate and advanced birders

Harriers are a world-wide group of birds of prey whose mating systems, population dynamics, and evolution are well-studied. This is the first book to synthesise and analyse the masses of data on the behavioural ecology of harriers. It offers an intriguing comparison of breeding systems among harriers in the northern and southern hemispheres, and includes a new phylogeny of the harriers, based on the most recent DNA findings. It is illustrated throughout with original line drawings of these impressive birds.