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Books > Sport & Leisure > Natural history, country life & pets > Wild animals
'A beautiful gift... Full of fascinating facts' Yorkshire Post 'We
all want to help the beleaguered bee and Sally Coulthard's latest
book is a great place to start' Amateur Gardening 'How to help bees
thrive and give your garden a real buzz' You Magazine We need bees.
These tiny, hardworking insects have transformed our lives with
their quiet diligence; fertilizing the wild plants we rely on, and
giving us thousands of years of sugary pleasure. But bees are in
danger; across the planet, their numbers are plummeting. Sally
Coulthard is here to share fifty ways we can all save bees. Whether
you garden for bees, campaign for bees, or just learn a bit of
bee-whispering, little things can make a big difference. Just ask a
bee.
Lawrence Anthony's South African game reserve is home to many animals he has saved, from a remarkable herd of elephants to a badly behaved bushbaby called George.
Described as 'the Indiana Jones of conservation', when one of his rhinos was brutally slaughtered for her horn, he didn't hesitate to lead an armed response against the poachers. Then he learned that there were only a handful of northern white rhinos left in the wild, living in an area of the Congo controlled by the infamous Lord's Resistance Army and soon to be hunted into extinction. Lawrence knew he had to take action.
What followed was an extraordinary adventure, as he headed into the jungle to negotiate with the rebels, while battling to save his own animals from terrible drought and to save the eyesight of his beloved elephant matriarch Nana. The Last Rhinos is peopled with unforgettable characters, both human and animal, and is a sometimes funny, sometimes moving, always exciting read.
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Moles
(Hardcover)
Rob Atkinson; Illustrated by Belinda Atkinson
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R487
Discovery Miles 4 870
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Ships in 10 - 15 working days
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This entirely new book takes us deep into the world of moles. In
the lonely darkness of their tunnels hunger forces moles on a cycle
of digging, patrolling and eating, broken in spring as males drive
themselves to exhaustion on mating forays, and females raise babies
in warm nests. When their time comes young moles make dangerous
journeys above ground-just the start of the perils that lie ahead.
Sadly, we humans add to their woes, holding moles' representatives
in literature in far more affection than we do the real animal.The
book is beautifully illustrated throughout by Belinda Atkinson.
Whether you are listening to a flock of geese communicate as they
fly overhead or watching a group of feeding waders on an estuary,
wetland birds are among the UK's most gregarious and charming
waterbirds. But do you know a Coot from a Moorhen? And can you tell
the difference between a Wigeon and a Pochard? The UK's
wildlife-rich freshwater habitats are home to a diverse collection
of our most beautiful wild bird species. RSPB ID Spotlight Wetland
Birds is a reliable fold-out chart that presents illustrations of
51 of our most widespread and familiar wetland birds by renowned
artist Stephen Message. - Species are grouped by family and
helpfully labelled to assist with identification - Artworks are
shown side by side for quick comparison and easy reference at home
or in the field - The reverse of the chart provides information on
the habitats, behaviour, life cycles and diets of our wetland
birds, as well as the conservation issues they are facing and how
the RSPB is working to support them - Practical tips on the most
suitable foods to feed ducks and other waterbirds are also included
The ID Spotlight charts help wildlife enthusiasts identify and
learn more about our most common species using accurate colour
illustrations and informative, accessible text.
Over 600 species of birds provide a unique window into California's
great outdoors. California Birds will help to identify over 140
familiar species with beautiful detailed illustrations. Created and
printed in the USA, this guide was updated in 2012 with a new cover
design and a back panel map highlighting the state's eco-regions
and prominent birding hotspots that will be appreciated by state
visitors or residents. Laminated for durability, this lightweight
guide will conveniently fold to fit into your pocket. Perfect for
observing your backyard feeder guests or those species out on the
trail.
For many hundreds of years Kazakh nomads have been grazing their
livestock near the Altai Mountains in western Mongolia. The Altai
Kazakhs are unique in their tradition of using golden eagles to
hunt on horseback. The lifestyle of these hunters, known in Kazakh
as burtkitshis, is changing rapidly, and over the last few years
the award-winning photographer Palani Mohan has spent time with
these men and their families, documenting a culture under threat.
The special bond between a hunter and his eagle begins when the
hunter takes an eagle pup from a nest high on the rock face. The
pups are usually about four years old (a golden eagle can live to
30 years of age). It's important that the pup has learned to hunt
and is not still dependent on her mother; but neither can she be
too old nor experienced, or she will not learn to live with humans.
The hunters take only female pups from the nest, as females are
larger and more powerful and aggressive than the males. Adult
female golden eagles can have a wingspan of up to 9 feet, and weigh
over 15 pounds. The eagle pup gradually learns to accept food from
the hunter, and once trust has been established, the hunter begins
to train the bird. The hunters describe the eagle as part of their
family. The eagle takes pride of place in the home most of the time
except during the day in the summer months or the warmest part of
the day in the winter months. While all the men in the family
handle the eagle, only the man who took her from the nest hunts
with her. Hunting takes place in winter, when temperatures can
plummet to minus 40 degrees Farenheit. The birds are carried in
swaddling, which the hunters claim keeps them both warm and calm.
The strong bond between hunter and eagle is strengthened by the
amount of time they spend together. Hunting trips can last many
days, as the hunter and eagle trek up to a mountain ridge to obtain
a good view across the landscape. Once the prey - usually a fox -
is spotted, the hunter charges towards it to flush it into the
open, then releases the eagle to make the kill. Hunters
traditionally wear fur coats made from the skins of the prey their
eagle has caught. The relationship between hunter and eagle
typically lasts six to eight years, then the eagle is released back
into the wild to breed. One hunter tells Mohan: 'You love them as
your own, even when you set them free at the end.' In his book,
which comprises an introductory essay and 90 dramatic duotone
images, Mohan explains how the burkitshis are slowing dying out.
Rather than endure the brutal winters, their children choose to
move to the capital, Ulan Bator, for a better way of life. There
are also fewer golden eagles in the Altai Mountains. Although the
'Golden Eagle Festival' takes place every October to showcase the
ancient art of hunting with eagles, attracting tourists from across
the world, there are only between 50 and 60 'true' hunters left.
This book is therefore a timely, important record of these proud
men and their magnificent eagles in a remote, unforgiving part of
the planet.
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Birds of Peru
(Paperback)
Thomas S. Schulenberg, Daniel F. Lane, Douglas F. Stotz, John P. O'Neill, Theodore A. Parker III; Illustrated by …
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R991
Discovery Miles 9 910
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Ships in 10 - 15 working days
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With over 1800 species, Peru has the second richest avifauna of any
country in the world. As a consequence it is one of the most
popular birding destinations in South America. This will be the
first comprehensive and fully illustrated field guide to the birds
of Peru. Text is arranged opposite the plates, in conventional
field guide manner. The combination of authoritative text and
superb artwork will set new standards for South American field
guides.
This handy new field guide provides a simplified introduction to
common safe practices and procedures for field dressing various
species of game and fish. including rabbits, squirrels, deer and
large mammals, ducks & geese, pheasant, turkeys, small game
birds. Also includes sections on hunting etiquette, safe cooking of
wild game and the edibility of reptiles, amphibians, insects and
road kill. This practically indestructible guide is the perfect
companion to have in your pocket whenever you head out during
hunting season.
The John Voelcker Bird Book Fund (JVBBF) is proud to publish Roberts Geographic Variation of Southern African Birds, an illustrated version of aspects dealt with under the subject of Geographic Variation in the large handbook tome Roberts Birds of Southern Africa 7th Edition.
Worldwide, this is the first field guide to attempt to comprehensively illustrate the varied plumages that are exhibited by the region's birds. Although sometimes a camouflage and defence mechanism against predation, many other factors contribute to plumage variation and it is hoped that this guide will stimulate the reader's interest in this complex subject so that we can further our knowledge on various subspecies, a concept that was brought to the fore a little over 100 years ago.
The colour maps (courtesy of Guy Upfold), are a guide to the distribution of the subspecies; included too are the meaning of scientific names (Etymology).
This information, together with 105 annotated plates illustrated by the exceptional talent of Ingrid Weiersbye, makes this guide essential for both beginner and expert birders.
Reissue of J. A. Baker's extraordinary classic of British nature
writing, with an exclusive new afterword by Robert Macfarlane. J.
A. Baker's extraordinary classic of British nature writing was
first published in 1967. Greeted with acclaim, it went on to win
the Duff Cooper Prize, the pre-eminent literary prize of the time.
Luminaries such as Ted Hughes, Barry Lopez and Andrew Motion have
cited it as one of the most important books in twentieth-century
nature writing. Despite the association of peregrines with the
wild, outer reaches of the British Isles, The Peregrine is set on
the flat marshes of the Essex coast, where J. A. Baker spent long
winters looking and writing about the visitors from the uplands -
peregrines that spend the winter hunting the huge flocks of pigeons
and waders that share the desolate landscape with them. This new
edition of the timeless classic, published to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of its first publication, features an afterword by one
of the book's greatest admirers, Robert Macfarlane.
Raptors are notoriously hard to identify, even if seen well, and
represent perhaps the toughest of all ID challenges for birders.
This book is the ultimate flight-identification guide for the
raptors of the Western Palaearctic, covering Europe, North Africa,
the Middle East (including Arabia) to Central Asia. It provides
identification information for all 60 species that regularly occur
in the region, to subspecific level. The text covers every plumage
and age in detail, with each species account accompanied by a range
of photographs covering all the principal plumages. Based on this
stunning photographic coverage, most of which has never been
published before, this book represents a landmark in bird
identification books and a major work for all raptor enthusiasts.
What better setting for colouring than a bright and breezy tropical
vacation? Step away from from your daily cares with this lush
colouring book from breakthrough colouring artist Angelea Van Dam.
Escape to a hideaway of luxuriant orchids, friendly toucans,
powerful jaguars and shy spider monkeys, all waiting to be filled
with every colour of the rainbow.Hello Angel Tropical Escape
Coloring Collection includes handy guides to colouring techniques
like patterning, combinations and shading. Guided Coloring Pages
make colouring easy for beginners, with beautifully coloured
examples and ready-to-use colour palettes.Perfect for decorating
with all of your favorite colouring implements, each design is
printed on one side only of archival-grade, acid-free, 200- year
paper. Perforated pages detach easily for gifting or display. This
book has earned the DO Magazine Artist Fair Trade Seal of Approval.
Nature Unpacked is the ultimate travelling companion for those
visiting the southern African bush – whether for the first time or
for the tenth. Much more than a field guide to the wildlife of the
region, it provides insight into the behaviour and adaptation of
the more common mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, spiders
and scorpions that are found here.
Identification of common trees and shrubs is made simple by way of
easily accessible descriptions and close-up representative images.
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Skylark
(Hardcover)
Jim Crumley
1
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R282
R232
Discovery Miles 2 320
Save R50 (18%)
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Ships in 10 - 15 working days
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"An utter delight" - Jennifer Tetlow. In the Encounters in the Wild
series, renowned nature writer Jim Crumley gets up close and
personal with British wildlife - here, the skylark. With his
inimitable passion and vision, Jim relives memorable encounters
with some of our best-loved native species, offering intimate
insights into their extraordinary lives.
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