The Pacific Ocean covers one-third of Earth's surface--more than all of the planet's landmasses combined. It contains half of the world's water, hides its deepest places, and is home to some of the most dazzling creatures known to science. The companion book to the spectacular five-part series on PBS produced by Natural History New Zealand, Big Pacific breaks the boundaries between land and sea to present the Pacific Ocean and its inhabitants as you have never seen them before. Illustrated in full color throughout, Big Pacific blends a wealth of stunning Ultra HD images with spellbinding storytelling to take you into a realm teeming with exotic life rarely witnessed up close--until now. The book is divided into four sections, each one focusing on an aspect of the Pacific. "Passionate Pacific" looks at the private lives of sea creatures, with topics ranging from the mating behaviors of great white sharks to the monogamy of wolf eels, while "Voracious Pacific" covers hunting and feeding. In "Mysterious Pacific," you will be introduced to the Pacific's more extraordinary creatures, like the pufferfish and firefly squid, and explore some of the region's eerier locales, like the turtle tombs of Borneo and the skull caves of Papua New Guinea. "Violent Pacific" examines the effects of events like natural disasters on the development of the Pacific Ocean's geography and the evolution of its marine life. Providing an unparalleled look at a diverse range of species, locations, and natural phenomena, Big Pacific is truly an epic excursion to one of the world's last great frontiers. Five-part series on PBS: *Big Pacific will air Wednesdays on PBS, June 21-July 19, 2017

LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE 2016 Charles Foster wanted to know what it was like to be a beast: a badger, an otter, a deer, a fox, a swift. What it was really like. And through knowing what it was like he wanted to get down and grapple with the beast in us all. So he tried it out; he lived life as a badger for six weeks, sleeping in a dirt hole and eating earthworms, he came face to face with shrimps as he lived like an otter and he spent hours curled up in a back garden in East London and rooting in bins like an urban fox. A passionate naturalist, Foster realises that every creature creates a different world in its brain and lives in that world. As humans, we share sensory outputs, lights, smells and sound, but trying to explore what it is actually like to live in another of these worlds, belonging to another species, is a fascinating and unique neuro-scientific challenge. For Foster it is also a literary challenge. Looking at what science can tell us about what happens in a fox's or badger's brain when it picks up a scent, he then uses this to imagine their world for us, to write it through their eyes or rather through the eyes of Charles the beast. An intimate look at the life of animals, neuroscience, psychology, nature writing, memoir and more, it is a journey of extraordinary thrills and surprises, containing wonderful moments of humour and joy, but also providing important lessons for all of us who share life on this precious planet.

Enthralling tales of the sea, rivers and lakes from around the globe.

Folklore of the seas and rivers has a resonance in cultures all over the world. Watery hopes, fears and dreams are shared by all peoples where rivers flow and waves crash. This fascinating book covers English sailor superstitions and shape-shifting pink dolphins of the Amazon, Scylla and Charybdis, the many guises of Mami Wata, the tale of the Yoruba River spirit, the water horses of the Scottish lochs, the infamous mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, and much more.

Accompanied by stunning woodcut illustrations, popular authors Dee Dee Chainey and Willow Winsham explore the deep history and enduring significance of water folklore the world over, from mermaids, selkies and sirens to ghostly ships and the fountains of youth.

With this book, Folklore Thursday aims to encourage a sense of belonging across all cultures by showing how much we all have in common.

'A rewarding glimpse of another world' THE GUARDIAN Seashells are the sculpted homes of a remarkable group of animals: the molluscs. These are some of the most ancient and successful animals on the planet, and they have fascinating tales to tell. Spirals in Time charts the course of shells through history, from the first jewelry and the oldest currencies through to their use as potent symbols of sex and death, prestige and war, not to mention a nutritious (and tasty) source of food. In this book, Helen Scales leads us on a journey into the realm of these undersea marvels. She goes in search of everything from snails that 'fly' underwater to octopuses accused of stealing shells and giant mussels with golden beards. Shells are also bellwethers of our impact on the natural world. The effects of overfishing and pollution are, of course, serious concerns, but perhaps more worrying is ocean acidification, which causes shells to simply melt away. Spirals in Time urges you to ponder how seashells can reconnect us with nature, and heal the rift between ourselves and the living world. One of the books of the year - Nature, Guardian, The Economist, The Times

The definitive handbook on Scottish bird species The RSPB Handbook of Scottish Birds is the ideal reference for keen birdwatchers and visitors to Scotland alike, and this fully updated second edition is richer and more comprehensive than ever. Over 250 species are covered in detail with each account including information on identification, voice, habits, habitat, food, breeding, ecology, seasonal movements, population and conservation. More than 1,000 superb colour illustrations by some of the world's leading bird artists are integrated into the text for easy reference. This second edition features newly added Gaelic names, updated distribution maps, and also incorporates the latest information on the conservation status of each species. - Concise text offers a 'biography' of each species in simple, non-technical language - Practical, easy-to-use format - Updated distribution maps show resident species, summer and winter visitors, and passage migrants

Many species of birds will nest in boxes or other structures that meet each species? requirements for a safe place to nurture eggs and nestlings. This guide provides the tools for launching a successful nesting structure project, starting with an overview of general types of nest structures, desirable design features of a nest box, and the best construction materials for purchased or build-your-own structures. Other sections survey common pests and predators and deterrence strategies, as well as best practices for nest structure placement. Included are profiles of 24 species native to North America.

Rocky Mountain Birds, An Introduction to Familiar Species, is a must-have, reference guide for beginners and experts alike. Whether you're on a nature hike or in your own backyard, you'll want to take along a copy of this indispensable guide. The Pocket Naturalist(tm) series is an introduction to common plants and animals and natural phenomena. Each pocket-sized, folding guide highlights up to 150 species and most feature a map highlighting prominent sanctuaries and outstanding natural attractions. Each is laminated for durability. (31/2 X 81/4 folded, opens to 22 X 81/4, color illustrations, map)

'Important and empowering' - BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH 'Get this great guide and be inspired' - STEPHEN FRY 'A handbook of hope ... Buy it, read it, start changing things right now' - JOANNA LUMLEY _______________ The enormity of climate change and biodiversity loss can leave us feeling overwhelmed. How can an individual ever make a difference? Isabella Tree and Charlie Burrell know firsthand how spectacularly nature can bounce back if you give it the chance. And what comes is not just wildlife in super-abundance, but solutions to the other environmental crises we face. The Book of Wilding is a handbook for how we can all help restore nature. It is ambitious, visionary and pragmatic. The book has grown out of Isabella and Charlie’s mission to help rewild Britain, Europe and the rest of the world by sharing knowledge from their pioneering project at Knepp in Sussex. It is inspired by the requests they receive from people wanting to learn how to rewild everything from unprofitable farms, landed estates and rivers, to ponds, allotments, churchyards, urban parks, gardens, window boxes and public spaces.. The Book of Wilding has the answers. _______________ 'Brilliantly readable and incredibly hard-working' - HUGH FEARNLEY-WHITTINGSTALL 'A deep, dazzling and indispensable guide to the most important task of all: the restoration of the living planet' - GEORGE MONBIOT

This book is all about hunting wild turkey throughout the central Pennsylvania counties of Mifflin, Centre and Huntingdon. It's a collection of the many hunts experienced by the author and his turkey hunting companions from the fall of 1943 until the present. Each and every story is true. Not only are they entertaining, but they teach the do's and don'ts of turkey hunting. As the stories unfold, we'll be sneaking, setting up, calling, listening and watching. Sometimes we're successful; sometimes we're not. We soon learn, however, that some of our best memories are about the turkeys that got away.

Caring for orphaned animals at her own zoo in the tropical country of Belize, Sharon Matola became one of Central America's greatest wildlife defenders. And when powerful outside forces conspired with the local government to build a dam that would flood the nesting ground of the only scarlet macaws in Belize, Matola was drawn into the fight of her life.
In "The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw," award-winning author Bruce Barcott chronicles Sharon Matola's inspiring crusade to stop a multinational corporation in its tracks. Ferocious in her passion, Matila and her confederates-a ragtag army of courageous locals and eccentric expatriates-endure slander and reprisals and take the fight to the courtroom and the boardroom, from local village streets to protests around the globe. Barcott explores the tension between environmental conservation and human development, puts a human face on the battle over globalization, and ultimately shows us how one unwavering woman risked her life to save the most beautiful bird in the world.

One of the New York Times Book Review's 10 Best Books of the Year One of Slate's 50 Best Nonfiction Books of the Last 25 Years ON MORE THAN 25 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR LISTS: including TIME (#1 Nonfiction Book), NPR, O, The Oprah Magazine (10 Favorite Books), Vogue (Top 10), Vanity Fair, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Seattle Times, San Francisco Chronicle (Top 10), Miami Herald, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Minneapolis Star Tribune (Top 10), Library Journal (Top 10), Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Slate, Shelf Awareness, Book Riot, Amazon (Top 20) The instant New York Times bestseller and award-winning sensation, Helen Macdonald's story of adopting and raising one of nature's most vicious predators has soared into the hearts of millions of readers worldwide. Fierce and feral, her goshawk Mabel's temperament mirrors Helen's own state of grief after her father's death, and together raptor and human "discover the pain and beauty of being alive" (People). H Is for Hawk is a genre-defying debut from one of our most unique and transcendent voices.

Acknowledging the requirements of modern society, longtime environmental expert DiSilvestro explains our interdependent ecosystems, explores the ways we have tried to protect our resources in the past, and discusses our present policies. 100 full-color photographs. Companion to the two-hour TBS/Audubon 10th anniversary special.

'The Last Snake Man' is a roller-coaster ride into the extremes of nature as experienced by wildlife photographer Austin J. Stevens. He not only provides a fascinating insight into the world of dangerous reptiles and wild animals, but also a history of his own diverse and dramatic life experiences.

This long awaited Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of the Horn of Africa depicts some of the world's rarest mammals. All of the larger mammals of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia are described together with identification notes. In full colour, all of the endemic species, and distinctive sub-species, are covered by up to two pages of text with a distribution map and four images, showing the main characters of the mammal and its habitat. Almost all of the other species each occupy a full page with two images and a distribution map. Each species carries details of its distribution, IUCN status, typical localities, local or alternative name, size, description, habitat, similar species and behaviour. The descriptions of the specialties and endemic mammals, including many endangered and little known species, carry additional information including history, threats, status, future outlook and more behavioural details. Experts around the world, who are specialists in their field, have contributed data to ensure a wide and up to date coverage. 366 illustrations including distribution maps and high quality images, designed to show aspects of the mammal's character and habitat, are presented in a pleasing format which has been designed to be easy to use and to enable quick reference to each species. The book is designed for nature lovers, animal lovers, researchers and broadcasters associated with the natural world. Travellers, tourists, naturalists, mammal watchers, animal scientists and tour guides, travelling to or resident in the countries of the Horn of Africa, will find the field guide of help in locating and identifying the larger mammals. Other topics covered include: Country information, additional information about the endemic mammals, where to find mammals, use of local names, spelling, place names; Topographical regions, biospheres, vegetation, habitats, climate, altitudes, Taxonomy - subspecies, geographical and individual variations; Sources of data, how to use the book, acronyms, abbreviations, map key; National Parks, nature reserves, Great Rift Valley, conservation, mammal lists by Horn of Africa and by country; Bibliography, acknowledgements, four indexes: general, English names, local names and scientific.

The ideal portable companion, the world-renowned Collins Gem series returns with a fresh new look and updated material. This is the perfect pocket guide for keen birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to identify the diverse range of birds that inhabit their gardens. Authoritative text and beautiful photographs show the distinguishing features of each bird, including information on each species' feeding, behavioural habits, breeding, voice and population. An extensive introduction provides information on nesting sites, water, pests and predators. This new edition builds on the strengths of the unrivalled original, covering all birds most likely to be found in our gardens.

Reissue of J. A. Baker’s extraordinary classic of British 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 a long winter 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. Including original diaries from which The Peregrine was written and its companion volume The Hill of Summer, this is a beautiful compendium of lyrical nature writing at its absolute best. Such luminaries as Richard Mabey, Robert Macfarlane, Ted Hughes and Andrew Motion have cited this as one of the most important books in 20th Century nature writing, and the bestselling author Mark Cocker has provided an introduction on the importance of Baker, his writings and the diaries – creating the essential volume of Baker's writings. Papers, maps, and letters have recently come to light which in turn provide a little more background into J A Baker’s history. Contemporaries – particularly from his time at school in Chelmsford – have provided insights, remembering a school friend who clearly made an impact on his generation. Among fragments of letters to Baker was one from a reader who praised a piece that Baker had written in RSPB Birds magazine in 1971. Apart from a paper on peregrines which Baker wrote for the Essex Bird Report, this article – entitled On the Essex Coast – appears to be his only other published piece of writing, and, with the agreement of the RSPB, it has been included in this updated new paperback edition of Baker’s astounding work.

When tracking animals in Africa, guides rely on spoor (tracks and dung) to let them know where and when animals are present. African Animal Tracks is the perfect pocket-sized, folding guide for nature enthusiasts wanting to learn more about the science of tracking many of these nocturnal species. Beautiful illustrations highlight more than 80 species and their signs. Laminated for durability, this lightweight guide is a great source of portable information and ideal for field use by novices and experts alike. Made in the USA.

The heartbreaking and true story of a lonely orca named Luna who befriended humans in Nootka Sound, off the coast of Vancouver Island by Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisholm.
One summer in Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, a young killer whale called Luna got separated from his pod. Like humans, orcas are highly social and depend on their families, but Luna found himself desperately alone. So he tried to make contact with people. He begged for attention at boats and docks. He looked soulfully into people's eyes. He wanted to have his tongue rubbed. When someone whistled at him, he squeaked and whistled back. People fell in love with him, but the government decided that being friendly with Luna was bad for him, and tried to keep him away from humans. Policemen arrested people for rubbing Luna's nose. Fines were levied. Undaunted, Luna refused to give up his search for connection and people went out to meet him, like smugglers carrying friendship through the dark. But does friendship work between species? People who loved Luna couldn't agree on how to help him. Conflict came to Nootka Sound. The government built a huge net. The First Nations' members brought out their canoes. Nothing went as planned, and the ensuing events caught everyone by surprise and challenged the very nature of that special and mysterious bond we humans call friendship. "The Lost Whale" celebrates the life of a smart, friendly, determined, transcendent being from the sea who appeared among us like a promise out of the blue: that the greatest secrets in life are still to be discovered.

Contents Include: The Situation Considered The Materials Described Details of Construction On Various styles of Aviaries Mainly Details Methods of Feeding Entering and Cleaning Stocking the Aviary Bird Rooms and Bird Houses Points about the Bird Room The Out Door Bird House Method of Construction Fitting up the Staging How to fit up the Bird Room Concerning cages Cages and their Making Hints on Cage Making, by W.Laskey Foreign Bird Keeping in Aviaries by Wesley. T. Page Keywords: Bird Room Aviaries Bird Houses Aviary Staging Stocking

This new edition of Sasol First Field Guide to Butterflies & Moths of Southern Africa has been fully updated and revised, bringing it in line with the most recent developments in field. It also features new images of all the species and families covered, facilitating quick, easy and accurate identification.

With the help of the full-colour photo graphs and easy-to-read text, the young adult and budding naturalist will be able to identify the more common butterfl ies and moth groups found in southern Africa, discover where they live, and learn about their unique behaviour and unusual features.