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Books > Sport & Leisure > Natural history, country life & pets > Wild animals > Birds & birdwatching
This is a book written by an expert with a lifetime of experience, designed to show disabled people the wonders of bird watching, with great tips and advice on the places to go, resources available and a detailed and enjoyable introduction to the subject. I became a Blue Badge holder a little while ago and my mobility levels were much reduced, walking 2/300 meters or so became a problem. I have been bird watching all my life, or so it seems. Since the death of my wife three years ago, it has become almost a way of life, giving me direction once again. How was I going to obtain maximum pleasure with minimum effort? I now had to call on all my past experience and knowledge to be channelled down what I will call the 'Easy route'. I needed birds to come to me, which is highly unlikely, or get to them as close as possible, a car can make a good hide as long as you stay in it. I started to set up a list of locations which fitted these criteria and used my map reading skills, such as they were, to locate others. It is amazing what you can discover by studying a Landranger map! At many of the lectures I provide I find many disabled people attend, and many of these tell me this is about as close as they get to nature now, especially the wheelchair bound. Surely these people are not banned from the countryside because they cannot walk or walk well? I had been wishing to write a book for years, and now a bench mark had been laid down, and my book was born. When you consider the RSPB boasts over 1,000,000 members and the Wildlife Trusts claim over 800,000 members, that is nearly 2,000,000 people. I think we can safely presume over a half of these will be retired, and a good percentage of these will be disabled to some degree or other. These people need to be told just what is available out there in the wild world, just how well many of our nature reserves cater for the disabled, many hire out wheelchairs at a nominal cost or even provide them free, I have found them useful at times. Most bird hides have ramps, and Blue Badge parking is usually available. Hopefully this book will point you in the right direction, open your eyes to a beautiful world, introduce you to many new friends who will be only too happy to share the wonders with you. One final thought. Although this book was primarily written with the disabled in mind, as an introduction to both the subject and the places to visit, it is there for all. For the experienced this book is a pleasant reminder of the wild world we love, for the novice, an introduction to a truly wonderful world which does not cost a lot. All you need is the inclination to go out and see it.
This book will take readers on a flying visit round the world, scouring the seven continents for the biggest, brightest and best birds on the planet. Urban Jungle creator Vicky Woodgate perfectly captures the brilliance of the bird world, each chapter taking us to a new continent and introducing birds from hummingbirds to hawks, and parrots to penguins. With a vintage travelogue feel, vibrant artwork and fascinating annotations, it is a book that will appeal to wildlife lovers from 7 to 70!
Morocco's proximity and the variety of its habitats and bird species make it a favoured destination for birders. It is home to rare and endangered species such as Bald Ibis, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Tawny Eagle, Eleonora's Falcon and African Marsh Owl. 454 species have been recorded, of which 209 breed in the country. As this statistic implies, millions of West European migrants pass seasonally through Morocco. Several wetlands spread along the Atlantic coast are famous for their migrant and wintering waders and gulls. The Atlas ranges are notable for their avifauna and desert species, including larks, wheatears and sandgrouses are found in the Saharan rim. This authoritative book describes over 50 birdwatching sites across Morocco. This book is not a field guide to species, rather it is a guide to the sites of key ornithological importance in Morocco. It contains information and detailed maps to enable you to plan a visit and provide guidance when you are on your trip. In addition, the book provides an overview of travel in Morocco, information about climate and habitats, when to go, and a full checklist of species. This book is a reprint of The Prion Birdwatchers' Guide to Morocco (2nd Edition, 2003, ISBN: 1871104092).
This book takes the reader to almost 200 parks, refuges, and hot spots for migratory and resident birds throughout Pennsylvania. Details on 7 geographical regions including 34 maps make this the most comprehensive, statewide guide available to Pennsylvania birding sites.
The isthmus of Panama - where North and South America meet - is the permanent or migratory home of more bird species than all of North America -- a total of 985 species! This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species and includes a map featuring prominent bird-viewing areas. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by visitors and residents alike.
A portable yet authoritative guide to more than 300 of the most commonly seen birds of the Lesser Antilles. The Lesser Antilles - incorporating the nations of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, along with numerous dependencies - are rich in birdlife. It is a magical region for a naturalist to explore, with endemic parrots, orioles, thrushes, warblers and more. The perfect companion for any wildlife-savvy visitor to the islands, Birds of the Lesser Antilles includes superb photography of more than 200 commonly encountered species across the islands, including all endemics and many subspecies. Concise text for each species includes information on identification, songs and calls, behaviour, distribution and habitat, with each photo having been carefully selected to guide identification. Portable yet authoritative, this is the ideal guide for birdwatchers visiting these spectacular and bird-rich islands.
Framed by the magnificent and internationally important coastline from the Dyfi round Anglesey to the Dee, North Wales, which includes the mountains of the Snowdonia National Park, is a very special place for birds. In excess of 700 contributors submitted more than 200,000 records over five summers to produce this fascinating atlas of the area's breeding birds. Lavishly illustrated with stunning photographs this beautiful full colour book includes fully bilingual introductory chapters, a Welsh language precis alongside each English language species account and a wealth of recording data, maps and tables.
Record all your field notes and bird sightings in this handy and helpful birdwatching companion. The RHS Birdwatching Journal has plenty of space for recording what you've spotted and when, decorated with beautiful archive illustrations. This practical notebook is filled with useful reference information on how to identify birds, checklists and tips on how to make the most of birdwatching at home or away. Also included is an undated Year Planner for planning bird-watching trips and outings to make the most of seasonal migrations.
Lying just south of the equator, New Guinea’s is one of the top birding destinations on Earth. Its diverse habitats are home to over 800 species of permanent or migratory species of birds including the spectacular birds of paradise, many of which are endemic to the region. This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species and includes a map featuring prominent bird-viewing areas. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by visitors and residents alike. Made in the USA.
This is a book about what it's like being a birder in an age of natural decline. It is part autobiographical - tales of spell-binding birding encounters that left indelible memories - and it is part reflective. The travellers' tales of birding adventures are about places and events that were variously entertaining, amusing, captivating, inspiring, exciting and awesome, literally. They also feature the amazing, eccentric, dedicated, inspiring people in the birding community. Travels to Madagascar, Cambodia, India and many other places are recalled. There is birding in the Himalayas, in the Australian outback, on the Southern Oceans and in hotel gardens and city parks and there are tales of the 'big listers', 'big-lensers', professional guides, and local conservation workers who try to keep their habitats safe for us. There are lots of images to accompany these stories. Martin's experiences in becoming a birder late in life revealed some strange behaviour which he soon learnt to take for granted as a member of the birding community. Why tear off chasing the next tick when we were having such a good time in the forest we were already exploring? Why was seeing a rare parrot in a cage less significant than seeing a 'wild' one that was being hand-fed in a nature reserve? Why was he visiting all those rubbish tips and sewerage farms in search of birds when birding excursions to a forest or a natural wetland were so much more pleasing? There are chapters about all of these puzzles and oddities, and more - their origins and, in some cases, how they shape our behaviour in somewhat perverse ways - on 'authentic' birding, the origins and importance of the life list, on rarities and trophy birds, and why the idea of a 'species' is elusive yet so important. All these tales and reflections are shaped by birding during an extinction crisis and the growing biodiversity crisis. As he observed trashed habitats and vanishing bird populations during his travels, Martin's growing dismay and alarm about these issues coloured everything. So he came to ponder what birders are doing in response, whether it is for good or harm. There is the paradox of 'extinction birding' - it is not difficult today to see some vanishingly rare birds, because they are hanging on in reserved, fenced spaces, kept alive by artifices such as captive breeding. Because our visits to these places provide funds, we are also among these species' last hopes for survival. Is this the best we can do? More self-reflection among all birders is necessary. Faced with the growing crisis, we can all do better.
This is the most comprehensive account of Gloucestershire's birds ever produced, covering all the species recorded in the county in modern times. There are detailed maps showing the distribution and abundance of over 130 regular species, based on four years of fieldwork carried out by hundreds of volunteers. Graphs, tables and statistics illustrate the patterns of occurrence of many species, including passage migrants and rarities. Also included are descriptions of the bird habitats and the history of bird watching and conservation in the county. Some of Britain's most prominent bird artists, past and present, including Jackie Garner, Robert Gillmor, Terence Lambert, Peter Partington, Peter Scott and Keith Shackleton, have provided beautiful illustrations, which sit alongside sumptuous photographs of many of the birds and the county's landscapes. The volume includes a Foreword by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.
The perfect guide to the birds of the southeastern United States, from the #1 birding website AllAboutBirds.org The All About Birds Regional Field-Guide Series brings birding enthusiasts the best information from the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology's website, AllAboutBirds.org, used by more than 21 million people each year. These definitive books provide the most up-to-date resources and expert coverage on bird species throughout North America. This dynamic guide is the perfect companion for anyone interested in the birds of the southeastern United States. The guide offers fascinating details about the birds around you, useful bird ID tips, and handy bird-watching information. It presents full accounts of the 210 species most commonly seen in the Southeast; beautiful photographs of male, female, and immature birds, as well as morphs, and breeding and nonbreeding plumage (so you can ID birds all year long); current range maps; and so much more. The southeastern USA edition of All About Birds is easy to use and easy to share. This volume features the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, as well as Washington, DC. Descriptions of 210 bird species, including four photos for each bird chosen specifically for better ID and sourced from the Macaulay Library (a collection of bird photos from citizen scientists) Quick and easy index with illustrations on cover flaps, with complete index at the back Information on Cornell Lab citizen-science programs and how to participate Bonus content includes identification best practices and tips on bird photography, birdscaping, food and feeding, and more Free MERLIN Bird ID app (downloaded more than 5 million times) for quick ID in the wild using photos and birdsong
This field guide is an abridged edition of the very successful Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania written by the same authors. It covers all 1089 bird species known from the region, including vagrants. This book combines the format and detailed treatment of the larger version with the convenience of a field guide. All the species are illustrated with full details of all the plumages and major races likely to be encountered. Concise text describes identification, status, range, habits and voice with range maps for nearly every species. This authoritative book will not only be an indispensable guide to the visiting birder, but also a vital tool for those engaged in work to conserve and study the avifauna of these countries.
Volume III in our In Arcadia Series is a beautiful bird book - elegant descriptions of our best-loved birds alongside simple, yet stunning woodcuts. From Meadow Pipits to Jays via the Sedge Warbler, this is a treasure trove of illustrations.
Bird Planet presents the best work of Tim Laman, the world's most celebrated bird photographerBirder extraordinaire Tim Laman is a superstar in one of photography's most challenging pursuits: The quest to portray birds in the wild. A naturalist and explorer as well as a brilliant image maker, he has spent thousands of hours over more than 30 years wedged precariously in the tops of trees, often in remote jungles, in the hope that careful planning and good fortune will align to produce the perfect picture. His is a passion shared by all birders, carried to the level of art. Bird Planet takes the reader on a journey to the world of birds. Laman shares his best images of spectacular birds on all continents, from the scarlet ibis of the Orinoco River in Venezuela to rhinoceros hornbills in the rainforests of Borneo; his familiar backyard American birds are as memorable as his poetic red-crowned cranes in snowy Japan. His signature achievement-to photograph all the known species of birds of paradise, spending 18 months in New Guinea over eight years-gets a chapter, as does his visits to the penguins of Antarctica. Immensely knowledgeable about both nature and photography, Laman is the perfect guide to the kingdom of the birds.
A BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week Longlisted for the Wainwright Golden Beer Book Prize 2018 A Guardian Book of the Year 2018 The owl has captivated the human imagination for millennia; as a predator, messenger, emblem of wisdom or portent of doom. Owl Sense tells a new story. On ‘owl walks’ with her teenage son, Benji, Miriam Darlington begins a quest to identify every European species of this elusive bird. From Britain she travels to Spain, France, Serbia and Finland, and to the frosted borders of the Arctic. Along the way, however, Benji succumbs to a mysterious and disabling illness, and Miriam’s endeavour soon becomes entangled with the search for his cure. Bringing the strangeness and magnificence of owls to life, Owl Sense is a book about wildness in nature but also in the unpredictable course of our human lives.
For better adventures, use the best map. Mallorca Super-Durable Map and Bird Watching Guide combines the latest island map with a full colour Bird Watching Guide. Navigate to your destination then turn over your map to identify the birds you see there.Mallorca Super-Durable Map is a large (125k) scale topographical map of the island detailing all the major, secondary and minor tarmacked roads plus walking trails suitable for bird watching. Printed on a 840mm by 640mm Super-Durable map sheet which folds to a pocketable 220mm by 120mm using a specialist 'concertina map' fold which ensures easy opening, and more importantly easy refolding. Super-Durable Maps come with a 2 year adventurous use wear and tear guarantee, see Discovery Walking Guides website for details. Altitude background colouring clearly shows the altitude range when travelling around the island. 100 metre contours compliment the altitude colouring along with a large number of individual height points. Our useful symbol range includes miradors, picnic areas, petrol stations, bar/restaurants and parking areas where you can pull off the road safely; plus all of Mallorca's golf courses.All of the suggested Bird Watching Sites are clearly highlighted along with the top beaches from Tripadvisor. Mallorca Bird Watching Guide is on the reverse of the map sheet detailing 51 bird species complete with full colour picture, ID Guide, characteristics and location, for all of the species featured. Suggested Bird Watching Sites are detailed and these are highlighted on the map sheet. Simply use the map to arrive at your bird watching site of choice, then turn the map over to start identifying the birds you see at that location. Mallorca Bird Watching Records Sheets are available as a free pdf download from the Discovery Walking Guides website along with gps waypoint files for all of the Suggested Bird Watching Sites in a range of file formats including Points of Interest (POIs) for SatNav users. In use maps have a very tough life so you will appreciate our specialist concertina map fold that allows you to quickly open the map, and more importantly fold it back up to its pocket size after use.Our Super-Durable Maps are printed with 100% oxygenation inks on Polyart by the UK's leading map printer, which produces a map that feels like silk but will stand up to the roughest treatment of outdoor adventuring and yet fold up like new at the end of your adventure.Polyart is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and is therefore 100% recyclable in category 2 HDPE. For more information see the Polyart website. A digital Custom Map edition of Mallorca Super-Durable Map is available as a free download from the Discovery Walking Guides website. This is a medium resolution (200dpi) kmz file of the printed map for use on Garmin gps units and in Garmin Basecamp and Google Earth software.
The birds of Maine are as fascinating as the landscapes they inhabit. This clear, concise guide provides maps to the best birding spots, as well as information on where and when certain species are likely to be seen.
Do you know a tanager from a towhee? A goatsucker from a grosbeak?
Here, after much demand, is a portable 8-fold guide featuring 112
photos of the common birds found in coastal areas of Oregon,
Washington, British Columbia and Alaska. Each species is labelled
with common name, size, distribution range and favoured habitat.
This full-colour pamphlet is useful to anyone who has an interest
in taking up birdwatching, or just wants to figure out what's
flitting about the birdfeeder.
This edition of Newman's birds of Southern Africa at once updates a classic and pays tribute to one of the region's birding authors, the late Kenneth Newman. With the support of Faansie Peacock, the author's daughter, Vanessa Newman, has thoroughly revised, updated and expanded this new edition to reflect the latest research, both in terms of text and illustrations. Covering all the birds recorded from the Antarctic to the Zambezi River, its range includes the birds from the southern seas as well as those of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique. The format of Newman's birds has been preserved and subtly modernized. Colour coding of major bird groups and the characteristically bold cross-referencing between text and images have been retained. As always, large, accurate paintings of each species reflect the bird as it is seen in the field, and are now labeled with diagnostic features, in line with top guides round the world. A revised introductory section takes readers step-by-step through how to use this latest edition of Newman's Birds of Southern Africa in the field.
This latest collaboration of Carolyn V. Platt and Gary Meszaros is a beautifully photographed book that explores Lake Erie and its effects on the birds that make this region their home. Birds of the Lake Erie Region observes a year of weather changes and avian migrations--from the wintertime convergence of ducks and other waterbirds on the lake's last ice-free areas to the excitement of the raptor and shorebird migrations in the fall. Expert or novice, birders and nature lovers will be moved by Platt's celebration of these birds and their habitat and by Meszaros's impressive photographs of the delicate beauty of these exquisite creatures.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR NATURE WRITING 'I loved this book' Raynor Winn, author of The Salt Path 'Utterly absorbing' Lucy Jones, author of Losing Eden Wishing to leave behind the quiet isolation of her Orkney island life, Amy Liptrot books a one-way flight to Berlin. Searching for new experiences, inspiration and love, she rents a loftbed in a shared flat and looks for work. She explores the streets, nightclubs and parks and seeks out the city's wildlife - goshawks, raccoons and hooded crows. She looks for love through the screen of her laptop. Over the course of a year Amy makes space hoping for the unexpected. And it comes with an erotic jolt, in the form of a love affair that obsesses her. The Instant is an unapologetic look at the addictive power of love and lust. It is also an exploration of the cycles of the moon, the flight paths of migratory birds, the mesmerising power of Neolithic stonework and the trails followed by a generation who exist online.
The paths of different birds look like double helixes, flowing strands of hair, and migrating serpents, and they beckon with calls that have definite meanings. These mysterious creatures inspire growing numbers of birders in their passionate pursuit of new species, and writer John R. Nelson is no exception. In Flight Calls, he takes readers on explorations to watch, hear, and know MassachuSetts's hummingbirds, hawks, and herons along the coasts and in the woodlands, meadows, and marshes of Cape Ann, Cape Cod, the Great Marsh, Mount Auburn Cemetery, the Quabbin wilderness, Mount WachuSett, and elsewhere.With style, humor, and a sense of wonder, Nelson blends his field adventures with a history of the birding community; natural and cultural history; bird stories from authors such as Henry David Thoreau, Emily Dickinson, and Mary Oliver; current scientific research; and observations about the fascinating habits of birds and their admirers. These essays are capped off with a plea for bird conservation, in MassachuSetts and beyond. |
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