This is a book of true stories about birds and animals that my family and I have fostered or adopted over the years. We enjoyed these tempporary, and sometimes permanent, members of our family. All of the birds and animals had distinct personallities. Some were bossy and some were very easy to have as companions. A lot like people. We learned that there is a "something" that runs all through living beings, be they human, animal or fowl.We have been the foster parets, or adoptive parents, to blue jays, cardinals, piegeons, African gray geese, ducks, a Guinea pig, swamp rabbits, a mockingbird, gray foxes and assorted other birds and animals that have hopped, flown and walked through our life, including a cat that hunted with predator tapes.

For author M. Scotty Lamkin, a conventional lifestyle at a traditional job was a horribly mundane way to approach life. On January 16, 1979, he arrived in Alaska with fifty dollars in his pocket, two duffel bags, and a backpack. A long way from his Kentucky homeland, Lamkin journeyed to Alaska expecting adventure, and he was not disappointed. Chance Is the Providence of Adventurers narrates many of Lamkin's true-life escapades in Alaska's remote bush country.

In this half-travelogue, half-memoir, Lamkin tells the sometimes funny, sometimes deadly, stories of his experiences as a professional guide and adventurer-waking up a brown bear at close range, sinking a boat in frigid Alaska waters, crashing bush planes, throwing rocks at bears, and experiencing some of the most beautiful landscapes on Earth.

"Chance Is the Providence of Adventurers" offers a glimpse into the flavor of Alaskan life, provides a firsthand view of the wonders of untamed nature and wildlife, and demonstrates the results of taking a chance to change your life.

"A very well-written and informative book. Written in a way that the average person can understand and utilize in a practical manner."

-Marianne L. Rousseau...Cedarbay Labs

"Tom Dwyer has done it again. Once again he has written an informative book which has something for everyone from the novice breeder to the very experienced. This hands-on book is a must read for anyone breeding dogs."

-Pat Russell...Birdland GSP's

BANTAMS AND HOW TO KEEP THEM: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE HOUSING, BREEDING, FEEDING, SHOWING AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF BANTAMS. By C.A. House. This most commendable book on Bantams was first published in the early 1920s. The author was an expert poultry keeper with Fancy Bantams being his specialty. He was well known and respected on the show circuit with many important wins to his credit. The book was written as much for the benefit of the backyard poultry keeper as well as assisting the show bantam enthusiast. Although written primarily for the early 20th century reader, virtually all of the book's contents remain relevant today. The information on rarer Bantam breeds will be especially useful to modern breeders. READ COUNTRY BOOKS has now re-published this scarce book using the original text and vintage black and white photos. 128 pages contain 21 informative chapters: - Housing. - Breeding. - Rearing. - General Management. - Exhibiting. - Washing. - Game Bantams. - Breeding Game Bantams. - Old English Game. - Rosecombs. - Sebrights. - Malays. - Indian Game. - Minorcas, Leghorns, Andalusians and Spanish. - Nankins, Burmese, Sultans, Japanese, Rumpless and Polish. - Wyandottes. - Pekins. - Brahmas, Booted, Plymouth Rocks, Scots Greys, Anconas, Hamburghs, Sussex, Barnevelders. - The Rhode Island Red. - Frizzles. This book can be thoroughly recommended for inclusion in the library of all Bantam enthusiasts and fanciers. "There are few who can object to the music of a pen of Bantams."

This veritable marine treasure trove of a book is richly illustrated by the author, with fifty of the most beautiful, easily encountered, and sometimes astonishing marine organisms found on British coasts, from seemingly exotic seahorses and starfish, to peculiar sea-potatoes and sea lemons. Together, these characterful critters paint a colourful picture of life between the tides: starfish that, upon losing an arm, can grow a new one; baby sharks hatching from their fancifully named 'mermaid' purses'; ethereal moon jellyfish pulsating in the current and, on some seabeds, even coral. Beachcombing, overturning a boulder or simply parting the strands of seaweed in a rock pool offer a glimpse into a thriving underwater world of curious creatures. Inspired by the Oxford University of Natural History's exceptionally rich zoology collections, which contain millions of specimens amassed from centuries of expeditions, this book tells the story of life on the seashore.

Part detective trail, part love affair and pure story telling at its best. In 1990 an expedition of Cambridge scientists arrived at the Plains of Nechisar, tucked between the hills of the Great Rift Valley in the Gamo Gofa province in the country of Ethiopia. On that expedition they collected twenty three species of small mammals, a rodent, a bat; three hundred and fifteen species of birds were seen, sixty nine species of butterfly were identified; twenty species of dragonflies and damselflies; seventeen reptile species were recorded; three frog species were filed; plants were listed. And the wing of a bird was packed into a brown paper bag. It was to become the most famous wing in the world. When the specimens finally arrived at the British Natural History Museum in Tring it set the world of science aflutter. It seemed that the wing was unique, but they questioned, can you name a species for the first time based only on the description of a wing, based on just one wing? After much to and fro confirmation was unanimous, and the new species was announced, Nechisar Nightjar, Caprimulgus solala, (solus:only and ala:wing). And birdwatchers like Vernon began to dream. Twenty two years later an expedition of four led by Ian Sinclair set off to try to find this rarest bird in the world. Vernon R.L. Head captivates and enchants as he tells of the adventures of Ian, Dennis, Gerry and himself as they navigate the wilderness of the plains, searching by spotlight for the elusive Nechisar Nightjar. But this book is more than a boy's own adventure in search of the rarest bird in the world. It is a meditation on nature, on ways of seeing, on the naming of things and why we feel so compelled to label. It is a story of friendships and camaraderie. But most of all it embraces and enfolds one into the curious and eye-opening world of the birdwatcher. For birdwatchers, twitchers, bird lovers, and about-to-become birdwatchers everywhere. For those who enjoy the natural world, the outdoors, the untamed places. Reminiscent of Nathaniel's Nutmeg and Longitude, this true story of incredible adventure will bring out the explorer in everyone who reads it.

Raising children, nursing them when ill, and teaching them to respect nature falls right into a parallel category of nursing injured animals that are brought home for a parent to help them recover. Sewing skills, honesty, and creative problem-solving are also a plus when tackling unchartered waters. It also helps to have a tender heart

A comprehensive photographic field guide to the mammals of Great Britain and Ireland Britain's Mammals is a comprehensive and beautifully designed photographic field guide to all the mammals recorded in the wild in Great Britain and Ireland in recent times-including marine mammals, bats and introduced species that have bred. The book features 500 stunning photographs and incorporates invaluable tips and suggestions to help you track down and identify even the most difficult species. This easy-to-use book provides an introduction to the different types of mammal. Concise species accounts focus on identification, and include up-to-date information on sounds, habitat, food, habits, breeding behaviour, and population and status, as well as descriptions of key field signs-including tracks, droppings and nests-that give away the presence of mammals even when they are out of sight. Guidance is also provided on ways of studying and observing mammals-including small-mammal trapping, bat detecting and whale watching. In addition, the book contains sections on mammal conservation, legislation and further sources of useful information. Handy and informative, this guide is the ideal companion for anyone interested in watching mammals in Great Britain and Ireland. Comprehensive coverage of all 126 mammal species recorded 500 superb colour photographs carefully selected to show key identification features Up-to-date distribution maps Detailed illustrations of tracks, dentition and other identification features Helpful tips for identifying tracks and other signs you may encounter Latest information on status, population, distribution and conservation designations Advice on finding and watching mammals

This is the definitive monograph on the gamebirds of Africa. This detailed full-colour handbook includes everything needed to identify and get to know the 89 species that fall into six groups: guineafowls and Congo Peafowl (7 species) francolins and partridges (33 species), spurfowls (26 species), quails (3 species), sandgrouse (13 species) and snipes and Eurasian Woodcock (7 species).

Gamebirds of Africa offers a concise and updated summary of the large but scattered body of accumulated scientific research and field-guide literature. Pertinent and interesting facts about the distribution, habits, breeding, and conservation status of each species are presented in a readable fashion. Numerous photographs convey the appearance, characteristic features, behavioural activities and, in many cases, the habitats frequented by each bird.

Gamebirds of Africa will be a worthy addition to the ornithological literature and to the bookshelves of bird enthusiasts, particularly birders, wing-shooters, land owners and anyone with an interest in nature and conservation, throughout Africa and across the rest of the world.

The publication of this book was made possible through the generous funding of the Wild Bird Trust and the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town.

This top-selling series introduces the wild creatures of the world and examines the natural world. Good general introductions for ages 10+, these volumes contain the knowledge, personal experiences, and research of leading naturalists and scientists, accompanied by stunning photography. Unless otherwise noted (*), all volumes are sturdy paperback.