A Walk on the Wild Side charts the authors journey from Hampshire to the Scottish Highlands and eventually to one of the largest districts in Scotland and the least densely populated area of the British Isles. The book tells the stories surrounding the wildlife encountered in and around his home and throughout the beautiful and remote area of Sutherland in the northern Highlands of Scotland. Discover its unique landscape containing every conceivable habitat and the associated wildlife that abounds within. From the estuaries and mixed woodland along the narrow eastern seaboard to the wild and rugged interior of mountain and moor. From the secret coves and stunning sea cliffs of the north to Handa Island off the west coast with its sea stacks full of nesting birds and marauding skuas patrolling the skies above the hill lochans. Each chapter captures these diverse habitats and the birds, mammals and wild flowers that live within their confines. The magnificent golden eagle, the spectacular osprey, the haunting red and black throated divers, the secretive pine marten and otter - all of these are brought to life through the exploits of one man and his intimate knowledge of the area.

A vivid, up-to-date tour of the Earth's last frontier, a remote and mysterious realm that nonetheless lies close to the heart of even the most land-locked reader. The sea covers seven-tenths of the Earth, but we have mapped only a small percentage of it. The sea contains millions of species of animals and plants, but we have identified only a few thousand of them. The sea controls our planet's climate, but we do not really understand how. The sea is still the frontier, and yet it seems so familiar that we sometimes forget how little we know about it. Just as we are poised on the verge of exploiting the sea on an unprecedented scale-mining it, fertilizing it, fishing it out-this book reminds us of how much we have yet to learn. More than that, it chronicles the knowledge explosion that has transformed our view of the sea in just the past few decades, and made it a far more interesting and accessible place. From the Big Bang to that far-off future time, two billion years from now, when our planet will be a waterless rock; from the lush crowds of life at seafloor hot springs to the invisible, jewel-like plants that float at the sea surface; from the restless shifting of the tectonic plates to the majestic sweep of the ocean currents, Kunzig's clear and lyrical prose transports us to the ends of the Earth.

Polly Pullar has had a passion for red squirrels since childhood. As a wildlife rehabilitator, she knows the squirrel on a profoundly personal level and has hand-reared numerous litters of orphan kits, eventually returning them to the wild. In this book she shares her experiences and love for the squirrel and explores how our perceptions have changed. Heavily persecuted until the 1960s, it has since become one of the nation's most adored mammals. But we are now racing against time to ensure its long-term survival in an ever-changing world. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Polly's Perthshire farm, where she works continuously to encourage wildlife great and small, she highlights how nature can, and indeed will, recover if only we give it a chance. In just two decades, her efforts have brought spectacular results, and numerous squirrels and other animals visit her wild farm every day.

One of the Guardian's Best Paperbacks of November 'Astonishing ... If by chance you can't meet these 6,042 species yourself, this book is a close second' Jennifer Ackerman, author of The Genius of Birds 'Even readers who wouldn't know a marvellous spatuletail from a southern ground hornbill will be awed' Publishers Weekly Noah Strycker set himself a goal: to become the first person to see half the world's 10,000 species of bird in one year. With an itinerary covering 41 countries, spanning all seven continents, and armed with a backpack, binoculars and a series of one-way tickets, he sets out on the greatest adventure in the birding world. Along the way he meets a colourful cast of fellow birders - and discovers a world of blood-sucking leeches, chronic sleep deprivation, floods, war zones, ecologic devastation and conservation triumphs. Vivid, charming and full of wonder, Birding Without Borders is a celebration of passion, exploration and the birders' ethos that, if you keep your eyes and mind open, you never know what you might see.

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.

This is the ideal guide for anyone wanting to start beekeeping and a revered reference book for experienced beekeepers. It includes information on all you need to know, including how to avoid swarms, plan requeening, or provide the colony with winter stores. It features key information on Varroa. It is copiously illustrated throughout. Fully revised and updated, this new edition of "Guide to Bees and Honey" also presents expert advice for readers who plan to maintain a few hives for personal recreational use, as well as those who want to expand an existing colony into a commercial venture.

Roger Tory Peterson--the Renaissance man who taught Americans the joy of watching birds--also invented the modern field guide. His 1934 landmark Field Guide to the Birds was the first book designed to go outdoors and help people identify the elements of nature. This self-proclaimed student of nature combined spectacular writing with detailed illustrations to ultimately publish many other books, winning every possible award and medal for natural science, ornithology, and conservation. Peterson also traveled the world, giving lectures on behalf of the National Audubon Society and, despite his self-effacing demeanor, becoming recognized as the key force to alerting the public to the importance of preserving nature. There are now an estimated 70 million birdwatchers in the United States. For this meticulously detailed biography, Rosenthal has interviewed more than a hundred of Peterson's family, friends, and associates to create a fully rounded portrait of this hero of the conservation movement. Never-before-seen photographs enhance this intimate portrayal. The book will be timed for his 100th birthday celebration in August, 2008.

'This beautiful book is one to treasure forever' David Walliams, comedian and children's author WINNER of The Margaret Mallett Award for Children's Non-Fiction 2022 Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly? Or to live high in the tree tops? Or perhaps you've wondered what birds do when no one is looking? Birds have some of the most extraordinary - and peculiar - behaviours on the planet. Ravens love PLAYING games. In winter, they sledge down snow-covered rooftops on their bellies, getting faster and faster. Partridges are SNEAKY and know just how to trick hungry foxes. And honeyguides are HELPFUL. They help humans to find the sweetest treat in the forest - honey. These are just some of the incredible stories you'll read in this book. With fascinating factual detail and playful storytelling from ornithologist Tim Birkhead and vibrant, personality-filled illustrations from Cat Rayner, this book captures what it's really like to be a bird.

"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

"This is, indeed, an "Alaskan adventure." For two years this resourceful couple experienced intense and dangerous situations, yet they persevered and learned a tremendous amount about sea otters."
-Ancel M. Johnson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sea Otter Biologist, retired

A white-headed male sea otter paddles on his back, patrolling his territory, while he rubs his round fuzzy face with his dexterous forepaws. Suddenly, he notices a young couple on shore and pops straight up in the water to have a better look. As two people stare back at him through a high-powered telescope, these three have one thing in common-curiosity.

"The Otter Spotters" chronicles the incredible journey of Minnesotans Dave and Judy Garshelis, who spent over a year in the wilderness of Prince William Sound, Alaska, studying sea otters. While working from remote field locations and traveling by open skiff, they faced relentless rain, rough seas, bears, mechanical failures, and perilous mishaps, all while completing one of the most comprehensive studies of this fascinating species. This captivating story includes unforgettable adventures, as well as detailed documentation of the otters' social relationships, feeding, activity patterns, and breeding behaviors. Here is a rare insider's view of the true essence of wildlife research: from the day-to-day drudgery of checking capture nets at 4:00 AM to evening brainstorming sessions under the warm glow of a Coleman lantern, interspersed with the occasional "Eureka " moments that make it all worthwhile.

The art of needle felting can produce endless possibilities of hyper-realistic, almost taxidermic results. With a little know-how, some needles, wool and a few inexpensive accessories, you can learn to needle felt like a professional. Take your needle felting to a whole new level to create a range of lifelike British wildlife. World class felting master Cindy-Lou Thompson of Chicktin Creations will take you through the steps. Covering four different British wild animals, with illustrated step-by-step instructions, Cindy guides you through the process of creating different body shapes, proportions, armatures, coats, and blending, as well as realistic finishing touches such as eyes, nails, ears and detailing. Learn how to achieve a professional finish you will be proud of with different textured coats, blending, clipping, and adding shape and giving a realistic finishing touch with a variety of mediums and methods, some of which Cindy has designed and developed herself. From the author of the best-selling book A Masterclass in Needle Felting Dogs, this follow-up book will teach you new techniques, and inspire you to try new and exciting creations of your own!

This is the authorized guide to the Maine Birding Trail, which opens in 2009. The book features more than 260 sites in Maine and includes bonus material on Campobello and Grand Manan islands. Unlike most guides, which emphasize species identification, this book highlights the sites themselves. Bird enthusiasts will count on it to lead them to the best birding locations in Maine and to list the species they will most likely find at each destination.

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."