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Books > Science & Mathematics > Biology, life sciences > Zoology & animal sciences > Vertebrates > Birds (ornithology)

A World on the Wing - The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds (Paperback): Charles Scott Weidensaul A World on the Wing - The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds (Paperback)
Charles Scott Weidensaul
R387 Discovery Miles 3 870 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

'A vaulting triumph of a book' Isabella Tree, author of Wilding 'A master storyteller, Weidensaul communicates so much joy in the sheer act of witnessing and such exhilaration in the advances of the science behind what he sees that we are slow to grasp the extent of the ecological crisis that he outlines.' Observer Bird migration remains perhaps the most singularly compelling natural phenomenon in the world. Nothing else combines its global sweep with its inherent ability to engender wonder and excitement. The past two decades have seen an explosion in our understanding of the almost unfathomable feats of endurance and complexity involved in bird migration - yet the science that informs these majestic journeys is still in its infancy. Pulitzer Prize-shortlisted writer-ornithologist Scott Weidensaul is at the forefront of this research, and A World on the Wing sees him track some of the most remarkable flights undertaken by birds. His own voyage of discovery sees him sail through the storm-wracked waters of the Bering Sea; encounter gunners and trappers in the Mediterranean; and visit a forgotten corner of north-east India, where former headhunters have turned one of the grimmest stories of migratory crisis into an unprecedented conservation success. As our world comes increasingly under threat from the effects of climate change, these ecological miracles may provide an invaluable guide to a more sustainable future for all species, including us. This is the rousing and reverent story of the billions of birds that, despite the numerous obstacles we have placed in their path, continue to head with hope to the far horizon.

Tracks and Signs of the Animals and Birds of Britain and Europe (Paperback): Lars-Henrik Olsen Tracks and Signs of the Animals and Birds of Britain and Europe (Paperback)
Lars-Henrik Olsen
R627 R524 Discovery Miles 5 240 Save R103 (16%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

This beautifully illustrated field guide enables you to easily identify the tracks and signs left by a wide variety of mammal and bird species found in Britain and Europe, covering behaviors ranging from hunting, foraging, and feeding to courtship, breeding, and nesting. Introductory chapters offer detailed drawings of footprints and tracks of large and small mammals, which are followed by sections on mammal scat, bird droppings, and the feeding signs of animals on food sources such as nuts, cones, and rose hips. The book then describes specific mammal species, providing information on size, distribution, behavior, habitat, and similar species, as well as more specific detail on tracks and scat. Distribution maps are also included.

This indispensable field guide covers 175 species of mammals and birds, and features a wealth of stunning color photos and artwork throughout.Helps you easily identify the tracks and signs of a variety of mammals and birdsCovers 175 speciesIllustrated throughout with photos, drawings, and artworkncludes informative descriptions of mammal species along with distribution maps

Wading and Shore Birds: A Photographic Study (Paperback): Roger S. Everett Wading and Shore Birds: A Photographic Study (Paperback)
Roger S. Everett
R310 R284 Discovery Miles 2 840 Save R26 (8%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

One of England's foremost bird photographers presents here for the first time a study of wading and shore birds, with over a hundred full-color pictures. The pictures of these beautiful feathered creatures, favorites of birders and wood carvers alike will delight the eye while providing an important resource for naturalists, artists, carvers and taxidermists. Over 38 varieties of shore and wading birds are shown, most in several poses and from different perspectives. Along with the photographs, Roger Everett presents his observations about the birds and tips on viewing the yourself. Yet the key ingredient in his book is his naturally dynamic photography. Other of his photographs have long been seen on the pages of exclusive nature magazines and on the walls of collectors. Roger Everett's photographs, the results of his keen eye for beauty, his technical brilliance, and his appreciation of the wonder of these small creatures, are available in book form for all to share.

Vertebrate Life (Paperback, 11th Revised edition): Harvey Pough, William E. Bemis, Betty Anne McGuire, Christine M. Janis Vertebrate Life (Paperback, 11th Revised edition)
Harvey Pough, William E. Bemis, Betty Anne McGuire, Christine M. Janis
R4,952 Discovery Miles 49 520 Ships in 9 - 17 working days

Vertebrate Life distills the necessary information from vertebrate anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behavioral studies and then helps students see important connections across levels of biological scale. The result is students come to understand how organisms function effectively in their environments and how lineages of organisms change through evolutionary time. Processing complex detailed information about expansive phylogenies and diverse anatomies can be difficult for even the most motivated students, and Vertebrate Life addresses this challenge by combining appropriately-detailed, clearly-written text with outstanding phylogenies and figures, making it a thorough and engaging reference for students and instructors alike. The text's impressive illustration program helps students visualize complex concepts, allowing them to parse difficult anatomical information. The 11th edition will have an upgraded illustration program with several new and revised figures, including layered figures presented in the new enhanced eBook.

The Neuroethology of Birdsong (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2020): Jon T. Sakata, Sarah C. Woolley, Richard R Fay, Arthur N. Popper The Neuroethology of Birdsong (Hardcover, 1st ed. 2020)
Jon T. Sakata, Sarah C. Woolley, Richard R Fay, Arthur N. Popper
R4,587 Discovery Miles 45 870 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Vocal signals are central for social communication across a wide range of vertebrate species; consequently, it is critical to understand the mechanisms underlying the learning, control, and evolution of vocal communication. Songbirds are at the forefront of research into such neural mechanisms. Indeed, songbirds provide a particularly important model system for this endeavor because of the many parallels between birdsong and human speech. Specifically, (1) songbirds are one of the few vertebrate species that, like humans, learn their vocal signals during development, (2) the processes of song learning and control in songbirds shares many parallels with the process of speech acquisition in humans, and (3) there exist deep homologies between the circuits for the learning, control, and processing of vocal signals across songbirds and humans. In addition, because of the diversity of songbirds and song learning strategies, songbirds offer a powerful model system to use the comparative method to reveal mechanisms underlying the evolution of song learning and production. Taken together, research on songbirds can not only reveal general principles underlying vertebrate vocal communication but can also provide insight into potential mechanisms underlying the learning, control, and processing of speech. This volume will cover a range of topics in birdsong spanning multiple level of analysis. Chapters will be authored by the world's leading experts on birdsong and will provide comprehensive reviews of the processes underlying song learning, of the neural circuits for song learning and control as well as for the extraction and processing of song information, of the selection pressures underlying song evolution, and of genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying the learning and evolution of song. The primary goals of this volume are to provide comprehensive, integrative, and comparative perspectives on birdsong and to underscore the importance of birdsong to biomedical research, evolutionary biology, and behavioral, systems, and computational neuroscience.The target audience of this volume will be graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and established academics and neuroscientists who are interested in mechanisms of communication from an integrative and comparative perspective. The volume is intended to function as a high-profile and contemporary reference on current work related to the learning, control, processing, and evolution of birdsong. This volume will have broad appeal to comparative and sensory biologists, neurophysiologists, and behavioral, systems, and cognitive neuroscientists who attend meetings such as the Society for Neuroscience, the International Society for Neuroethology, and the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Because of the relevance of birdsong research to understanding human speech, it is likely that the volume will also be of interest to speech researchers and clinicians researching communication, motor, and sensory processing disorders.

Seabirds of the Farallon Islands - Ecology, Dynamics, and Structure of an Upwelling-System Community (Hardcover): David G... Seabirds of the Farallon Islands - Ecology, Dynamics, and Structure of an Upwelling-System Community (Hardcover)
David G Ainley, Robert J Boekelheide
R3,019 R2,380 Discovery Miles 23 800 Save R639 (21%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Summarizing a 15-year study of the seabird community on this small group of rocks about 20 miles offshore of San Francisco, this volume is both a detailed account of a seabird breeding ecology and a challenge to the prevailing conception of ecological stability as the typical seabird lifestyle. With

Sasol 300 Maklik Sigbare Voels van Suider-Afrika (Afrikaans, Paperback): Chevonne Reynolds Sasol 300 Maklik Sigbare Voels van Suider-Afrika (Afrikaans, Paperback)
Chevonne Reynolds
R340 R314 Discovery Miles 3 140 Save R26 (8%) Ships in 5 - 10 working days

Hierdie praktiese, eenvoudige gids tot van die voëls in Suider-Afrika wat die meeste gesien word, is gemik op beginner- en selfs juniorv oëlkykers. Dit is meer toeganklik as ’n volwaardige veldgids, en baie nuttig met eenvoudige teks, duidelike illustrasies en foto’s van 300 van die streeks se voëls wat die maklikste te sien is.

Vir elke voël bied die boek:

- Eenvoudige teks met onder meer ‘vind dit;’ ‘identifiseer dit’ en ‘verstaan dit’

- Illustrasies en foto’s in volkleur

- ’n Verspreidingskaart

- Die gewone Afrikaanse naam, wetenskaplike naam en gewone name in Engels en ander Afrika-tale

- Gemiddelde grootte en besonderhede oor die nes

- Omraamde teks met bykomende inligting vir sommige voëls.

Hierdie kleurryke, tersaaklike boek met bondige aanwysings vir identifisering behoort groot byval te vind by Suider-Afrikaanse voëlkykers en buitelewe-entoesiaste.

Birds of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia (Hardcover): Bruce M. Beehler Birds of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia (Hardcover)
Bruce M. Beehler; Photographs by Middleton Evans; Foreword by Chandler S. Robbins
R1,349 Discovery Miles 13 490 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

More than 600 lush, stunning photos grace this comprehensive handbook to the birdlife of the Mid-Atlantic region. A Great Blue Heron wades in the shallows of the Potomac River, scanning for unsuspecting prey. Sunlight turns the water translucent as a small school of fish rises to the water's surface. The heron strikes and moments later is swallowing its quarry-predation in action! This handsome Great Blue Heron is but one of the more than 400 bird species found in Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. It shares the mid-Atlantic with kingfishers, eagles, mergansers, wood warblers, and many more. Exploring backyard birds, birds of prey, and birds of the open ocean, Smithsonian ornithologist Bruce Beehler and premier nature photographer Middleton Evans have crafted a comprehensive volume unparalleled in its beauty and captivating storytelling. Birds of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia invites readers to experience the birds' lives as they live them: where they nest, how they forage, their various behaviors, and the natural environments they need to survive. Beehler offers practical advice on bird-watching, including how to find, attract, and even garden for birds, as well as the best places to see them in season. He also discusses the best birding apps, websites, and gear; provides advice on planning a birding field trip; and recommends ornithological institutions that will help you cultivate a lifelong birding hobby. Finally, Beehler challenges the reader to think about conservation efforts to preserve local bird populations. With striking color photographs of more than 400 species, this book is a bonanza for nature lovers. A wealth of images immerse the reader in the world of these wonderful creatures. Marvel at the majesty of Ospreys, navigate the ocean with storm-petrels, and nest with Mourning Doves, all while learning about the richness of the birds' lives, the complexities of their habits, and how we can help keep their populations vibrant and aloft for generations to come.

Birds of Coastal South Carolina (Hardcover): Roger S. Everett Birds of Coastal South Carolina (Hardcover)
Roger S. Everett
R870 R716 Discovery Miles 7 160 Save R154 (18%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

The coast of South Carolina is a spectacular place to observe our winged friends. Many species are to be found there, both resident and those that are passing through on their annual migrations. \nThis new book, by noted bird photographer Roger Everett, captures the birds found along South Carolina's shore in beautiful, full color images. Organized by habitats, the yard, garden, woodlands, beaches, and nature reserves, the species range from common House Wrens and Chickadees to the rarer Seaside Sparrows, Caspian Terns, and Golden-Crowned Kinglets . While not a field guide, it will aid dedicated birders and casual visitors to see the aviary that surrounds them. The photographs are amplified by the authors observations and concise, informative captions. \nEnjoy hours of pleasure viewing and reading about the birds in this special area.

Gulls Simplified - A Comparative Approach to Identification (Paperback): Pete Dunne, Kevin T Karlson Gulls Simplified - A Comparative Approach to Identification (Paperback)
Pete Dunne, Kevin T Karlson
R688 R636 Discovery Miles 6 360 Save R52 (8%) Ships in 12 - 19 working days

A simpler and more user-friendly visual approach to gull identification This unique photographic field guide to North America's gulls provides a comparative approach to identification that concentrates on the size, structure, and basic plumage features of gulls-gone are the often-confusing array of plumage details found in traditional guides. Featuring hundreds of color photos throughout, Gulls Simplified illustrates the variations of gull plumages for a variety of ages, giving readers strong visual reference points for each species. Extensive captions accompany the photos, which include comparative photo arrays, digitized photo arrays for each age group, and numerous images of each species-a wealth of visual information at your fingertips. This one-of-a-kind guide includes detailed species accounts and a distribution map for each gull. An essential field companion for North American birders, Gulls Simplified reduces the confusion commonly associated with gull identification, offering a more user-friendly way of observing these marvelous birds. Provides a simpler approach to gull identification Features a wealth of color photos for easy comparison among species Includes detailed captions that explain identification criteria and aging, with direct visual reinforcement above the captions Combines plumage details with a focus on size, body shape, and structural features for easy identification in the field Highlights important field marks and physical features for each gull

Birds of Bali, Sumatra and Java (Paperback): Tony Tilford Birds of Bali, Sumatra and Java (Paperback)
Tony Tilford
R483 Discovery Miles 4 830 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

The definitive photographic guide to the avifauna of Bail, Sumatra and Java. The islands of Bali, Sumatra and Java, covering some 613,000 square kilometres, are home to an extensive and varied list of recorded avifauna of roughly 700 species. They are a haven for birdwatchers and a frontrunning biodiversity hotspot. Birds of Bali, Sumatra and Java is a concise and easy-to-use guide to more than 300 of these islands' most interesting and spectacular birds, with each species illustrated in full colour alongside key information on identification, habitat and distribution. Portable yet authoritative, this book is the ideal guide - perfect for nature-loving travellers and birdwatchers alike.

Behind the Binoculars - Interviews with acclaimed birdwatchers (Paperback): Mark Avery, Keith Betton Behind the Binoculars - Interviews with acclaimed birdwatchers (Paperback)
Mark Avery, Keith Betton
R377 Discovery Miles 3 770 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

How and why did our most acclaimed birdwatchers take up birding? What were their early experiences of nature? How have their professional birding careers developed? What motivates them and drives their passion for wildlife? How many birds have they seen? Mark Avery and Keith Betton, passionate birdwatchers and conservationists, interview members of the birdwatching community to answer these and many other questions about the lives of famous birdwatchers. They take you behind the scenes, and behind the binoculars, of a diverse range of birding and wildlife personalities. Behind the Binoculars includes interviews with: Chris Packham, Phil Hollom, Stuart Winter, Lee Evans, Steve Gantlett, Mark Cocker, Ian Wallace, Andy Clements, Mike Clarke, Debbie Pain, Keith Betton, Roger Riddington, Ian Newton, Stephanie Tyler, Mark Avery, Stephen Moss, Alan Davies and Ruth Miller, Rebecca Nason and Robert Gillmor.

The Eagle Owl (Hardcover): Vincenzo Penteriani, Maria del Mar Delgado The Eagle Owl (Hardcover)
Vincenzo Penteriani, Maria del Mar Delgado
R2,089 Discovery Miles 20 890 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

The Eagle Owl is one of the biggest owls in the world and is considered the most eclectic in terms of habitat, nest site and diet. An undisputed top predator, it can prey on a range of mammals up to the size of foxes, and almost every species of bird, reptile, amphibian and fish, as well as a large spectrum of invertebrates. Surprisingly, it can also breed almost anywhere, laying its eggs on a variety of natural and artificial structures over an array of altitudes. Yet, despite being so adaptable, it is still a vulnerable species and has suffered widely from persecution as well as other threats including electrocution on power lines, decreasing prey availability, the effects of pesticides and pollutants, and habitat alteration.

Vincenzo Penteriani and María del Mar Delgado have studied this fascinating bird extensively across its vast Eurasian range. In this book, they detail its remarkable ecology: distribution, breeding behaviour, foraging ecology, interspecific interactions, dispersal and conservation issues are all addressed, while the final two chapters provide a remarkable insight into vocal and visual communication. Scientists have long believed that owls and other crepuscular and nocturnal birds forgo the visual signals found in other avian species, but research on the Eagle Owl has indicated otherwise.

Collins Bird Guide (Hardcover, 3rd Revised edition): Lars Svensson, Killian Mullarney, Dan Zetterstroem Collins Bird Guide (Hardcover, 3rd Revised edition)
Lars Svensson, Killian Mullarney, Dan Zetterstroem
R938 R795 Discovery Miles 7 950 Save R143 (15%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

The ultimate reference book for bird enthusiasts - now in its third edition. With expanded text and additional colour illustrations, the third edition of the hugely successful Collins Bird Guide is a must for every birdwatcher. The new edition has an extra 32 pages allowing several groups more space and completely or partly new plates with more detailed text: grouse, loons, several groups of raptors, terns, owls, swifts, woodpeckers, swallows, redstarts and some other relatives to the flycatchers (formerly often called 'small thrushes'), tits and a few finches and buntings are some of these. More than 50 plates are either new or have been repainted, completely or partly. Apart from this, a few new vignettes have been added. The section with vagrants has been expanded to accommodate more images and longer texts for several species. The entire text and all maps have of course also been revised. The book provides all the information needed to identify any species at any time of the year, covering size, habitat, range, identification and voice. Accompanying every species entry is a distribution map and illustrations showing the species in all the major plumages (male, female, immature, in flight, at rest, feeding: whatever is important). In addition, each group of birds includes an introduction which covers the major problems involved in identifying or observing them: how to organise a sea watching trip, how to separate birds of prey in flight, which duck hybrids can be confused with which main species. These and many other common birdwatching questions are answered. The combination of definitive text, up-to-date distribution maps and superb illustrations, all in a single volume, makes this book the ultimate field guide, essential on every bookshelf and birdwatching trip.

Sasol Southern African Birdfinder - Where to Find 1400 Bird Species in Southern Africa and Madagascar (Paperback): Callan... Sasol Southern African Birdfinder - Where to Find 1400 Bird Species in Southern Africa and Madagascar (Paperback)
Callan Cohen, Claire Spottiswoode
R457 Discovery Miles 4 570 Ships in 2 - 4 working days

Southern African birdfinder - where to find over 1400 bird species from South Africa to Zambia, is the essential companion to all local bird field guides.

It fills a gap in the market for a guide to the region's top birding spots and to finding southern Africa and Madagascar's most desirable birds. After an introduction to birding in the region, the authors outline and describe 39 key bird routes and more than 330 birding sites across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Madagascar and the little-documented but increasingly popular areas of Angola, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi.

Sites include practical details of access, best times to visit, habitat diversity and the birds that occur in it, and general natural history; the more important sites feature a detailed map.

The Birds of Washtenaw County, Michigan (Paperback): Michael Kielb, John M. Swales, Richard Wolinski The Birds of Washtenaw County, Michigan (Paperback)
Michael Kielb, John M. Swales, Richard Wolinski
R620 Discovery Miles 6 200 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

The Birds of Washtenaw County, Michigan provides a comprehensive account of the birdlife in Washtenaw County. Situated to the west of Detroit in southeast Michigan, the county has an exceptionally rich history of ornithological study, fueled by the activists of numerous amateur birdwatchers and by the interests of two major universities.Frequency accounts of the 267 species recorded in the county during the last 15 years are framed by a discussion of the topographical history of the county. In addition, the authors present notes on another 30 species not seen in the county since 1976. A comprehensive site guide offers suggestions of the optimal locals and times to try to find the birds.

Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Birds of the World (Hardcover): Alderton David Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Birds of the World (Hardcover)
Alderton David
R761 R692 Discovery Miles 6 920 Save R69 (9%) Ships in 9 - 17 working days

This comprehensive encyclopedia of the world's birds presents a fantastic visual guide to the major avian species and families, from America's tiniest insect-catchers to the giant, flightless species still living on the African plains. A 420-page directory features fully illustrated entries for hundreds of birds, as well as detailing many other related species. The activities of birds are explored in a natural history section, detailing anatomy, flight, feeding, pairing and nesting. There are also tips on birdwatching for those who want to get a closer look at these fascinating creatures. This is an authoritative and sumptuous guide to the diversity of bird life across the globe.

Solid Air - Invisible Killer- Saving Birds from Windows (Paperback): Daniel Klem Jr Solid Air - Invisible Killer- Saving Birds from Windows (Paperback)
Daniel Klem Jr
R670 Discovery Miles 6 700 Ships in 12 - 19 working days
Birds of Chile (Paperback): David Beadle Birds of Chile (Paperback)
David Beadle; Alvaro Jaramillo; Illustrated by Peter Burke
R881 Discovery Miles 8 810 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

This is a field guide covering all species occurring in the country of Chile. Chile holds a great diversity of habitat types, from the Andes in the north down to the tundra and sub-Antarctic rainforest of Tierra del Fuego in the far south. Chile supports an interesting range of breeding and visiting birds, including nine species found nowhere else in the world. This guide features concise, identification-focused text positioned opposite the colour plates to allow quick and easy reference. Detailed distribution maps are provided for every species, completing the essential field guide to the birds of this spectacular and tourist-friendly country. 'This is the best field guide published thus far to the birds of southern South America.' www.worldtwitch.com (June 2004)

The Rise of Birds - 225 Million Years of Evolution (Hardcover, second edition): Sankar Chatterjee The Rise of Birds - 225 Million Years of Evolution (Hardcover, second edition)
Sankar Chatterjee
R1,510 Discovery Miles 15 100 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

A small set of fossilized bones discovered almost thirty years ago led paleontologist Sankar Chatterjee on a lifelong quest to understand their place in our understanding of the history of life. They were clearly the bones of something unusual, a bird-like creature that lived long, long ago in the age of dinosaurs. He called it Protoavis, and the animal that owned these bones quickly became a contender for the title of "oldest known bird." In 1997, Chatterjee published his findings in the first edition of The Rise of Birds. Since then Chatterjee and his colleagues have searched the world for more transitional bird fossils. And they have found them. This second edition of The Rise of Birds brings together a treasure trove of fossils that tell us far more about the evolution of birds than we once dreamed possible. With no blind allegiance to what he once thought he knew, Chatterjee devours the new evidence and lays out the most compelling version of the birth and evolution of the avian form ever attempted. He takes us from Texas to Spain, China, Mongolia, Madagascar, Australia, Antarctica, and Argentina. He shows how, in the "Cretaceous Pompeii" of China, he was able to reconstruct the origin and evolution of flight of early birds from the feathered dinosaurs that lay among thousands of other amazing fossils. Chatterjee takes us to where long-hidden bird fossils dwell. His compelling, occasionally controversial, revelations - accompanied by spectacular illustrations - are a must-read for anyone with a serious interest in the evolution of "the feathered dinosaurs," from vertebrate paleontologists and ornithologists to naturalists and birders.

Pocket Guide Birds Of Zambia (Paperback): Derek Solomon, Rory McDougall Pocket Guide Birds Of Zambia (Paperback)
Derek Solomon, Rory McDougall
R270 R249 Discovery Miles 2 490 Save R21 (8%) Ships in 5 - 10 working days

This pocket-sized, easy-to-use guide to the birds of Zambia features 425 birds likely to be seen in the region, plus a few ‘specials’ sought after by birders. It is an invaluable introduction and guide for visitors to Zambia with its 20 national parks and 42 Important Bird Areas.

Features include:

  • An informative introduction to birding in the region, including habitat descriptions and a glossary
  • Full-colour photographs illustrating diagnostic features and plumage differences
  • Concise identification text, including key ID pointers, call description and favoured habitat of each species
  • Up-to-date distribution maps.

Lightweight and handy for use in the field, this will be an excellent guide for anyone interested in the birds of Africa.
Fragile: Birds, Eggs & Habitats (Hardcover): Colin Prior Fragile: Birds, Eggs & Habitats (Hardcover)
Colin Prior
R1,125 Discovery Miles 11 250 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Birds' eggs are true wonders of the natural world: they are strong enough to protect the embryo as it grows and to withstand incubation by the parent, yet sufficiently fragile to allow the chick to hatch. Little wonder that the enormous diversity of avian eggs - the amazing range of shapes, sizes, colours, textures and patterns - has long fascinated us. Since boyhood, the renowned landscape photographer Colin Prior has had a passion for wild birds. For him, birds are the embodiment of nature, and fundamentally enrich the experience of being outdoors. This stunning new book presents Prior's remarkable images of birds' eggs side by side with his dramatic photographs of the birds' natural habitats. At a time when many human influences are having an adverse impact on the environment, these habitats are equally fragile and vulnerable to change. Loss of habitat is, in turn, a major factor in the decline of wild bird populations. It has been illegal to take any birds' eggs from the wild in Great Britain since 1954, and since 1982 it has been against the law to possess the egg of any wild bird. The eggs featured in this book belong to the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, which holds one of the world's largest collections of birds' eggs. The eggs were collected legally during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and bequeathed to the museum by private collectors. Prior set up a studio at the museum and spent five weeks photographing more than 300 eggs using the latest digital technology. Each photograph is a compilation of between 40 and 80 separate exposures that were then blended into a single image using specialist software. The final image is an exquisite, almost three-dimensional rendition of the egg, pin-sharp from the front to the back. The eggs vary in size from that of the tiny goldcrest, the UK's smallest bird, to that of the mute swan. In his introduction, Prior describes how his love of the natural world was nurtured by the endless hours he spent in the countryside around the Glasgow suburb where he grew up; how he overcame the technical challenges of photographing the eggs; how the featured eggs were selected from the museum's collection; and how the photography of each bird's habitat was completed. In his essay, the Scottish environmentalist Professor Des Thompson reflects on the state of nature and the relationship between nesting and habitats. In the main part of the book, the birds' eggs are arranged into chapters according to the species found in a particular habitat, such as 'Mountain and Moorland' and 'Seashore and Estuary'. The caption beneath each egg details the common and scientific name of the bird, the date the egg was collected, the size of the clutch, and the egg's dimensions. Each egg is presented in a diptych with a photograph of the bird's habitat, painstakingly captured at a time of year when the dominant colours of the landscape most closely resemble those of the egg. Fragile - the culmination of ten years' work - not only showcases the inherent beauty of birds' eggs, but also serves as a powerful reminder to protect the birds' natural habitats and thereby the birds themselves.

The Sensory Ecology of Birds (Hardcover): Graham R. Martin The Sensory Ecology of Birds (Hardcover)
Graham R. Martin
R3,297 Discovery Miles 32 970 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

Birds are renowned for their exceptional vision and the way that this enables them to survive and navigate the world in such a unique way. However, it is now recognised that avian behaviour is guided by information drawn from many different senses which are then used in integrated and complementary ways to answer the many different sensory challenges posed by specific environments and particular tasks. Understanding how sensory information is used by birds has important applications in conservation, such as providing vital insights into why birds are prone to collisions with structures like power lines and wind turbines, and why so many diving birds become entrapped in nets. A sensory ecology approach suggests how these problems can be mitigated. The Sensory Ecology of Birds ranges widely across species, environments, and behaviours to present a synthesis that challenges previous assumptions about the information that controls the behaviour of birds. A bird may use a wide range and combination of sensory information that comes from sight, hearing, smell, mechanoreception, taste, and magnetoreception. It may also include specific refinements of senses, such as echolocation and remote touch from the bill. The book recognises that there are many complex and subtle trade-offs and complementarities of information between different types of sensory information. This accessible text will be of interest to a wide ornithological readership, from undergraduates to researchers as well as a broader audience of behavioural ecologists and evolutionary biologists.

Birds of Bhutan and the Eastern Himalayas (Paperback): Carol Inskipp, Richard Grimmett, Tim Inskipp, Sherub Birds of Bhutan and the Eastern Himalayas (Paperback)
Carol Inskipp, Richard Grimmett, Tim Inskipp, Sherub 1
R905 Discovery Miles 9 050 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

The definitive guide to the birds of Bhutan, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh The nation of Bhutan and the Indian states of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh together form the eastern arm of the Himalayas. This book is the definitive field guide to the birds of this magical corner of Asia. This field guide covers all 809 species that regularly occur in the region, including most vagrants. There are 152 superb colour illustrations, with concise text on facing pages for quick and easy reference covering essential identification information such as voice, habits, habitats, distribution and status. The introduction further includes information on popular birding sites and conservation.

A Fieldworker's Guide to the Golden Eagle (Paperback): Dave Walker A Fieldworker's Guide to the Golden Eagle (Paperback)
Dave Walker
R609 Discovery Miles 6 090 Ships in 12 - 19 working days

The Golden Eagle is generally thought to be a well-known and well-documented species. However, much of the available literature is not necessarily in a form that can readily be used in the field. In fact, although much existing information about Golden Eagles has little supporting evidence it is still largely accepted without question. This book addresses this important issue and in doing so the author queries numerous long-held beliefs about Golden Eagles. He suggests that failure to recognize the limitations of the available evidence is not only detrimental to understanding eagle ecology but that it can undermine conservation efforts. The Fieldworker's Guide questions the reliability of existing knowledge and promotes a better understanding of the species through improved fieldwork. With 37 years of active, year-round investigative fieldwork experience of the Golden Eagle, the author has vast knowledge enabling him to shed light on these matters. He has a history of undertaking novel research on post-fledging studies, territories and the impact of changes in land use.In this context he discusses how best to undertake fieldwork to produce objective results, avoiding the influence of expectations and recognizing the many pitfalls into which an unwary observer might stumble. The book objectively reviews all aspects of Golden Eagle ecology, taking examples from many different locations and from site-specific studies in Scotland to compare and contrast the reliability and relevance of the evidence, highlighting the differences between casual and intensive fieldwork. It reviews all the elements of Golden Eagle ecology, from the species status, through the activities and roles of eagles of different gender, age and status, via territories, food and breeding, to habitat preferences, usage and even the influence of weather and observer activity on behavior and observations. It also gives due consideration to the failed and non-breeding elements of the population, topics that are widely ignored despite such eagles forming the bulk of the population for most of the year.To provide a better understanding of what fieldworkers and birdwatchers are likely to encounter, the author reviews the month-by-month activity of all classes of Golden Eagle and the influences that affect how their ecology is understood.

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