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Birder’s Conservation Handbook
100 North American Birds at Risk
by Jeffery V. Wells
Published by Princeton University Press
 Birds
are natural barometers to the health of
ecosystems and their conservation and
awareness of their status is vitally
important. North America has lost too many
species of birds this century and there are
many that sit on the brink of extinction,
critically endangered. Birder’s Conservation
Handbook - 100 North American Birds at Risk by
Jeffery V. Wells and published by Princeton
University Press is a fantastic effort in
chronically these species and highlighting the
steps needed to conserve and repair their
status.
This book is incredibly well researched and
filled with useful and important information
that well help raise awareness to the
conservation plight of these species as well
as help spread information regarding possible
solutions to these problems. . Birder’s
Conservation Handbook - 100 North American
Birds at Risk by Jeffery V. Wells and
published by Princeton University Press is an
important and timely book and should be in
every North American birders home library .
National Wildlife Federation
Field Guide to Birds of North America
By Edward S. Brinkley
Published by Sterling Publishing
Wow!
I’ve seen all the field guides produced today
and very few stop me cold with such a
breathless exultation. The National Wildlife
Federation - Field Guide to Birds of North
America by Edward S. Brinkley and published by
Sterling Publishing is the best North American
bird guide on the market today. What makes
this effort shine is the remarkable
photographs that illustrate identification of
each individual species of bird, with separate
photos for juveniles, non-breeding plumaged
birds and other distinctive variations that
need spotlighting for i.d. purposes. Each
photo includes a text layover of prominent
features and other identifying
characteristics. The species profile includes
the standard distribution map, size
particulars and call and voice descriptions as
well as a succinct and accurate paragraph that
summarizes the individual bird aptly. One of
the great features of The National Wildlife
Federation - Field Guide to Birds of North
America by Edward S. Brinkley is the section
on bird identification and how to become a
more successful and accurate birder. The
National Wildlife Federation - Field Guide to
Birds of North America by Edward S. Brinkley
and published by Sterling Publishing is a
tremendous field guide and a must have for any
birder or wildlife enthusiast. This is the
best bird guide available, pick up a copy
today.
Birds of Europe, Russia, China and Japan 
Passerines:
Tyrant Flycatchers to Buntings
Written and Illustrated Norman Arlott
Published by Princeton University Press
Naturalists and nature lovers are avid
travelers and one thing that they must tuck
into their travel bag is an accurate field
guide to the areas they are going to visit.
Birdwatchers can be insatiable when it comes
to finding no species throughout the world and
Princeton University Press’ Illustrated
Checklists are brilliant guides for the field
abroad. Birds of
Europe,
Russia, China and Japan - Passerines: Tyrant
Flycatchers to Buntings Written and
Illustrated Norman Arlott is an fantastic
guide to the eastern regions of the globe.
guide for trips to the far east. This guide
offers illustrated color plates covering 1800
species featuring Norman Arlott’s fantastic
artwork as well as distribution maps and
accurate and concise field descriptions.
Compact to easily fit into one’s pocket or
backpack. The only nit I can find with this
production is the omission of some of the
endemic species of
Taiwan,
which technically is part of China. Birds of
Europe, Russia, China and Japan - Passerines:
Tyrant Flycatchers to Buntings Written and
Illustrated Norman Arlott and published by
Princeton University Press is a excellent
reference to Palearctic birds and an essential
addition to your travel equipment.
Reef
Written by Scubazoo
Published by DK Publishing
Reefs
around the world are extremely vital yet
fragile habitats for thousands of species of
fish, invertebrates and reptiles. These giant
organisms offer protection, food and a home to
almost 25% of all marine fish. The brilliant,
bright and expansive book, Reef, written by
Scubazoo and published by DK Publishing is an
excellent journey through the seas amongst
these magnificent structures.
This incredible volume offers brilliant color
underwater photographs, many larger-than-life,
that take the reader down into these fragile
and beautiful systems. The photographic team
Scubazoo is a group of dedicated professionals
whose expertise and drive make Reef shine.
Reef includes a DVD of spectacular underwater
video footage, which is National
Geographic/Blue Planet quality; this is a
tremendously valuable bonus.
Reef, written by Scubazoo and published by DK
Publishing is a wonderful addition to any
marine enthusiasts or conservationist’s
library and draws a brilliant focus on these
very important yet extremely threatened
ecosystems.
Raptors of Western North America: The Wheeler Guides & Raptors of
Eastern North America:The Wheeler Guides
by Brian
K.Wheeler
Published by
Princeton University Press
Raptors
are incredible creatures and as a photographer
I will have to admit that they are probably my
favorite bird to photograph. They are regal
and wild, ferocious and beautiful. The one
point of trouble in watching or photography
raptors is that they can be incredibly
difficult to identify at times. The key to
solving this problem lies in acquiring a good
reference guide and now on available are a
pair of field guides that are by far the best
raptor guides on the market. Raptors of
Western North America & Raptors of Eastern
North America – The Wheeler Guides by Brian
K.Wheeler and published by Princeton
University Press are simply masterful. They
offer hundreds of brilliant, sharp and
descriptive photos, detailed status and
distribution, species traits, descriptions and
much, much more. The species accounts are
incredibly informative and exhaustedly
researched and compiled by Brian K.Wheeler who
is an incredibly talented photographer as
well. Raptors of Western North America &
Raptors of Eastern North America – The Wheeler
Guides by Brian K.Wheeler and published by
Princeton University Press are the best raptor
guides period and are a must have for any
nature lovers library.
DK Eyewitness
Books – Weather
DK Eyewitness
Books – Oil
Published By
DK Publishing, Inc
DK
Publishing continues its excellent Eyewitness
Books series which introduce children to adult
subjects with 2 new publications; Weather and
Oil. Weather is a well organized, interesting
and comprehensive look at the world’s weather.
Filled with exciting and descriptive color
photos it is a gem of a volume that will
strike a chord with young scientists,
stormchasers and children eager to learn. Oil
is another typical Eyewitness treasure, taking
the child reader on a unique journey on the
history and science behind oil, its many uses,
how vital it is in so many different ways and
more importantly how we can alternately do
without it. These DK volumes include clip-art
cds as well as large wall-charts that would be
perfect for a classroom or school library.
Oil and Weather would make great resources
for schools and they continue the excellent
standard of preventing science to children in
a clear and concise manner. DK Eyewitness
Books are simply fantastic.
In the Company of Crows and
Ravens
by John M.Marzluff and Tony
Angell
Published by
Yale University
Press
It
seems that there is no middle ground when it
comes to crows. Nearly everyone has a story to
tell. Crows make a habit of confronting us in
our daily lives around the city or the
country.
John Marzluff and Tony Angell in their book
In the Company of Crows and Ravens
describe the cultural connections between
crows and humans citing the latest scientific
information. This is an easy-to-read book with
over 100 original drawings. The book takes the
reader into the lives of crows around the
world and ponders how they have altered our
human lives. It is a thoroughly researched
compendium of crow biology, behaviour and
culture that surpasses all other books on the
topic in the market today.
Princeton
Field Guides - Albatrosses, Petrels &
Shearwaters of the World
By Derek Onley and Paul Scofield
Published by Princeton University Press
Many
species of seabirds can be difficult to find
and even harder to identify. They spend the
majority of their times far out at sea, on the
open ocean and rarely near land. Princeton
Field Guides - Albatrosses, Petrels &
Shearwaters of the World by Derek Onley and
Paul Scofield and published by Princeton
University Press is the premier book on these
seabirds. Every species is presented with full
color descriptive illustration plates as well
as detailed information on distribution,
behaviour, plumage and identification. This
informative book offers a comprehensive
overview on Albatrosses, Petrels & Shearwaters
covering the four families their
characteristics and taxonomic relationships,
how to identify these birds and conservation
issues they face. Princeton Field Guides -
Albatrosses, Petrels & Shearwaters of the
World by Derek Onley and Paul Scofield and
published by Princeton University Press is a
must have for any birders library.
Plants of Alberta
By France Royer & Richard Dickinson
Published by Lone
Pine Publishing
Lone
Pine Publishing continues its high level of field guide excellence with
its latest publication, Plants of Alberta by France Royer & Richard
Dickinson. Alberta is a large, grand province that features many
distinct ecoregions and habitats, from the Northern boreal forests to
the high Rocky Mountains, from the sweeping grassland plains to the
bitter cold of the subarctic. A region this diverse offers a wide
variety of plant life which in turn requires expert skill and great
interest to catalogue. This fantastic effort offers 528 pages with
almost 1800 plant species covered comprehensively - featuring,
descriptions of flower, habitat, fruit, leaves and reproductive
structures regarding each particular species. Plants of Alberta boasts
over 1000 brilliant colour photos, an astounding number for any field
guide, each in sharp detail as well as provincial distribution maps for
native species and interesting notes regarding historical references,
Aboriginal and medicinal uses and much more. Plants of Alberta by France
Royer & Richard Dickinson and published by Lone Pine Publishing is an
excellent resource and a truly amazingly comprehensive field guide.
DK Oceans Atlas
Published By DK Publishing,
Inc
With
climate changes on the horizon and the subject
of global warming and it’s effects making
almost daily headlines, young readers are
taking an active interest in these subjects
and publishers like DK are there to provide
comprehensive and fun books covering these
themes for kids to easily enjoy. DK Oceans
Atlas takes an informative look at every
aspect of the planet’s oceans in a light yet
thorough manner. Filled with beautiful,
exciting color photos and graphics as well as
insightful acetate overlays, DK Oceans Atlas
is an excellent book. Included in this volume
is an interactive CD-ROM for the reader to
also explore. DK once again provides an
excellent resource for a young audience,
filled with great photos, comprehensive and
concise. DK Oceans Atlas is recommended for
all children to read, explore and enjoy.
DK Online
Insect
Published By
DK Publishing, Inc
Wow!
Wow, wow, wow! What a great experience for any
child interested insects! DK Online – Insect
is a fantastic new direction in children’s
reference that includes the power of the
internet to enhance the learning experience.
Insect is filled with the usual wonderful
photos, graphics and science that DK is
renowned for but offers added photos, video,
quizzes and more through a companion website.
Fantastically done, easy to navigate and an
incredibly helpful tool for reports and
homework, DK Online – Insect is a
revolutionary book. My only regret is that
this wasn’t available when I was a school kid.
A must have for any child.
DK Experience
Extreme Weather
Published By
DK Publishing, Inc
The
natural forces of our planet can be extremely
powerful and amazing. Hurricanes, monsoons and
tornados batter and terrify our coasts, plains
and cities with often catastrophic results.
Take a journey with the Earth’s violent
weather systems with the great new DK
experience – Extreme Weather. Extreme Weather
published by DK Publishing, Inc is an
informative, exciting and bold trip, filled
with excellent facts, colorful photos and
produced in an easy to follow manner that will
capture any child’s attention. The DK
experience – Extreme Weather is a superlative
resource and a book that scientifically
curious children will happily and readily
enjoy.
The Complete Wilderness Training Manual
By Hugh
McManners
Published by
Dk Publishing
We
all are almost preoccupied with getting the right outdoor gear
for our hikes, camping trips or journeys, but do we spend as
much time and energy making sure we have the fundamentals of
survival? The simple things that we all think we know or
should know, where to set up camp, starting fires, acquiring
water and treating injuries for instance. The Complete
Wilderness Training Manual by Hugh McManners and published by
Dk Publishing is a comprehensive guide to covering the basics
of any wild situation. A fantastic book for any outdoor
enthusiast, The Complete Wilderness Training Manual offers
techniques and training in a simple and clear manner. The
details are easily laid out with helpful, descriptive diagrams
and illustrations that cover all varieties of situations and
potential problems. This book is a incredibly valuable wealth
of information. The Complete Wilderness Training Manual by
Hugh McManners and published by Dk Publishing is a must read
for anyone who journeys into the wild for any length of time.
Compost
by Ken
Thompson
Published By DK Publishing, Inc
I
always thought composting remains from the
garden and kitchen seemed simple enough - just
toss those leftovers into a box, cover with
soil, and some time later rich loamy soil
would present itself. Until it began to smell
and it took forever to decompose. Then along
came 'Compost - the natural way to make food
for your garden' by Ken Thompson (DK
Publishing, 2007) and I began to understand
that composting was an art form. A few
simple steps and my problem was solved. First
I had to understand how nature decomposes
waste and the essential ingredients required
to speed the process. Next I learned what to
feed the compost and how to tend it. Then I
learned about how to house the compost
and finally I was ready to serve up the
pleasures of my efforts. This book has it all
in easy to follow instructions, clear text and
colour illustrations. A thorough read of
Compost by Ken Thompson will get any would-be
gardener on his or her way enriching the soil
the way nature intended it.
Pitcher
Plants of the Americas
by Stewart McPherson
P ublished
by McDonald and Woodward Publishing Company
When
we think of carnivores in the wild we imagine
Tigers, Sharks and similar ferocious
creatures, But Plants as carnivores? Yes it is
very true, there are many species of plants
that rely on catching live prey for
sustenance. The Pitcher plant is one of the
many fascinating carnivorous plants that hunt
our forests, fields and water systems. Pitcher
Plants of the Americas by Stewart McPherson
and published by McDonald and Woodward
Publishing Company is an incredibly in depth
look at these fascinating plants. Filled with
amazingly beautiful color photographs, Pitcher
Plants of the Americas offers a complete and
comprehensive overview of the 5 genera of
Pitcher Plants found in the Americas. This
reference guide is clear, concise and very
fascinating. These plants are marvels of
evolution, hardy enough to survive in areas
that other plants are unable and so beautiful
that they generate serious greenhouse
attention. Stewart McPherson offers a very
clear picture on the health of the species as
a whole and the environmental concerns that
Pitcher plants like face today. Pitcher Plants
of the Americas by Stewart McPherson and
published by McDonald and Woodward Publishing
Company is a fantastic effort and a incredible
insight into an amazing plant. It is a
must-read for any natural history buff.
arched effort
sheds an overdue light on a fascinating
subject. s
great DK series for children.
The Rarest of the Rare – Stories Behind
the Treasures at the Harvard Museum of Natural
History
Text
by Nancy Pick , Photographs by Mark Sloan
Published by
HarperCollins
The
Harvard Museum of Natural History is a
fascinating warehouse of specimens. Thousands
upon thousands are offered for display,
preserved, stuffed and mounted for the many
visitors who stare in awe and wonder at these
encapsulated pieces of nature. Unfortunately
beyond the view the stories of these artifacts
are silently gathering dust. The Rarest of the
Rare – Stories Behind the Treasures at the
Harvard Museum of Natural History brings a
voice to these still specimens. Amazing
stories of daring, deceit and scientific
brilliance that are fascinating to read and
feature the cream of natural history’s finest
including Audubon, Aggasiz, Clark, Thoreau and
many more. The Rarest of the Rare – Stories
Behind the Treasures at the Harvard Museum of
Natural History
text by Nancy Pick
and featuring photographs by Mark Sloan
is a
treat to read, natural history painted with
vibrant colors as new life is breathed into
silent archives.
James Cameron’s
Aliens of the Deep
By Dr. Joseph
Macinnis
Published by
National Geographic
The
deepest parts of our planet’s oceans are among
the last unexplored frontiers of Earth. These
unexplored regions mirror the vast unexplored
areas of space in many ways and offer the same
challenges for exploration. Lately with the
further advent of underwater technology, these
mysterious frontiers are being opened by the
top scientists and explorers of today. These
openings offer promises of better space
exploration and tantalizing hints at the
possible existence of life among the seemingly
uninhabitable regions of our solar system.
James Cameron’s Aliens of The Deep is an
amazing IMAX film that ponders this question
and documents as Cameron and a team of
biologists and NASA researchers travel the
depths exploring hydrothermal vents and
encountering the strange and unique creatures
that abide there. The companion guide to this
film, James Cameron’s Aliens of The Deep by
Dr. Joseph Macinnis and published by National
Geographic is an in-depth profile of the
triumphs and struggles of this incredible
journey. Dr. Macinnis has chronicled this
expedition from its beginning, following the
exploration in great detail, from the
preparations on deck through the miles of
ocean depth and back to the film editing and
post production. But James Cameron’s Aliens of
The Deep is not just a behind the movie book,
it is a scientific guide to the area
encountered as well. Dr. Joseph Macinnis
offers with colourful graphics well described
and helpful scientific explanations of ocean
geology that enhance the documentary
tremendously. This book also offers a treasure
of descriptive color photos captured from the
film, as well as many terrific on ship photos.
James Cameron’s Aliens of The Deep by Dr.
Joseph Macinnis and published by National
Geographic is not just a companion to the film
but a stand alone effort regarding an
incredibly significant scientific phenomenon.
Read the book, see the film or see the film,
read the book.
Vernal Pools:
Natural History and Conservation
by Elizabeth A.
Colburn
McDonald and
Woodward Publishing Company
Vernal
Pools: Natural History and Conservation by
Elizabeth A. Colburn McDonald is a
comprehensive and extremely interesting look
at these unique biological hotspots. When the
great glacial ice sheets departed North
America, they left a land pock marked with
hollows that fill with water seasonally. The
temporary nature of these vernal pools
precludes fish from residing in the ponds and
requires all of its inhabitants to cope
with periods of no water. Vernal Pools:
Natural History and Conservation provides a
summary of the ecology of vernal pools
including detailed species accounts on the
myriad invertebrates and invertebrates found
in these water systems as well as the life
strategies involved with an ecosystem that
dries out annually. One of the most important
chapters in this book deals with the
conservation issues and threats to the vernal
pool. In the world today one hears continually
of the plight of the oceans, wetlands and
various endangered species but the loss of any
ecosystem is just as important and Elizabeth
Colburn brings a voice to the current threats
to vernal pools. Vernal Pools: Natural History
and Conservation by Elizabeth A. Colburn will
not only appeal to wetland ecologists but to
anyone interested in the ecology of wetlands.
It is a well written and thoroughly researched
gem.
Wolves: Behaviour,
Ecology and Conservation
by L. David
Mech and Luigi Boitani
Published by
University of Chicago Press
So many
books have been written on the wolf that there
seemed little more that could be written.
However, Wolves is an extraordinary
treatise of up-to-date information that
reveals that so much more has been learned
about these creatures. Twenty-two specialists
with a combined 350 person years of
experience, set the task of compiling much of
what is now known about wolves into one book.
They review topics of social ecology,
behaviour, communication, carnivory,
predation, population dynamics, physiology,
genetics, evolution, restoration and
conservation, among other topics. Especially
interesting was the debate on whether the red
wolf in eastern USA should be considered a
full species or a hybrid cross between gray
wolf and coyote. Coyote genes are present in
many of the recent red wolves but none prior
to 1944. There were 100 wild-born red wolves
in 20 packs by 2002. The story reveals how
much has been learned from this experience
into the logistics and politics of returning
animals to the wild. Although this is a
scholarly text, the passion held by each of
the scientists for this creature of wilderness
emerges in each chapter.
There are scores of books on
the biology of bears but Where the
Grizzly Walks is the only book entirely
devoted to bear preservation. The reader
meets the characters known as the 'bear
people' who have devoted their
lives preserving and restoring bears in the
USA. Originally published in 1977, Schneider
has updated this book with new information.
There is some good news in the pages of bear
preservation. The view of bears has changed
over the years from eliminating a ferocious
beast to saving the remnants of a symbol of
wilderness. But bear preservation is not out
of the woods. Anyone interested in bear
conservation and its history in the USA will
find this book a good read.
True Nature
An Illustrated Journal of Four Seasons in
Solitude
By Barbara Bash
A beautifully colored journey taken with the
author, True Nature - An Illustrated Journal
of Four Seasons in Solitude by Barbara Bash,
is a journal of encounters and experiences
and interactive musings and reflections
among the flora and fauna of backcountry
trails in the Catskill Mountains. The pages
of this book leap with color and the images
seem to dance about the page brilliantly and
the handwritten text helps to convey a sense
of poetic solitude. This book is a special
look into a journey of self discovery,
painted with emotion and the spirit of the
wild. Join Barbara bash on her delightful
journey. True Nature - An Illustrated
Journal of Four Seasons in Solitude by
Barbara Bash is a warm and enchanting read
and a welcome addition to any nature lover’s
library.
Smithsonian Earth
Editor in Chief - James F.
Luhr
Published by
Dorling
Kindersley
A
wonderful reference work, Smithsonian Earth
is a tremendously stunning book. You will
pick up this work and exclaim ‘Wow!’. When
one tries to describe this book you feel as
though you couldn’t possibly adequately
describe its intensity. It is how reference
books should be, an ideal that clearly
breaks new ground. Smithsonian Earth which
is packed with amazing, detailed photos and
easy to follow text ,takes the reader
smoothly and comprehensively through our
planets history, anatomy and future. Over
the oceans, across the land and through the
sky we are taken, no subject of our planet
left unexamined and unexplained. Smithsonian
Earth is as brilliant a book as you are to
ever enjoy.
Going Wild: Adventures with
birds in the suburban wilderness
By Robert Winkler
Published by National
Geographic
When
we think of wild life we think wilderness.
But there is a surprising number of wild
creatures right under our noses. Robert
Winkler's Going Wild: Adventures with
birds in the suburban wilderness (National
Geographic, 2003) is a lovely book about
wild birds in our neighbourhood. This book
reminds us how easy it is to watch birds
wherever we live. This book would make fine
gift for someone who is just beginning to
enjoy birdwatching.
Alaska to Nunavut – The Great Rivers
By Neil Hartling
With photographs by Terry
Parker
Published By Key Porter
Rivers
are powerful veins that careen across the
heart of a magnificent land. The world’s
great rivers are known and revered near and
far for their power and lifeforce and the
brilliant territory of the Canadian North is
pumped alive with many fantastic rivers that
spill their magic across a beautiful
landscape, rushing scalpels that carve and
create. Alaska to Nunavut – The Great Rivers
By Neil Hartling tells the tale of these
fantastic torrents and how they shape the
history and beauty of a wild land.
Complemented with Terry Parker’s brilliant
and vivid photographs, Alaska to Nunavut –
The Great Rivers takes you to the heart of
the world’s largest bio preserve, the Alsek
River, the dramatic Stikine River, the
pristine Snake River, the spectacular South
Nahanni River and more. Expertly written
from sound experience Alaska to Nunavut –
The Great Rivers By Neil Hartling is a
journey of information along some of natures
magical northern rivers.
Smithsonian Book of National
Wildlife Refuges
by Eric Jay
Dolin and Karen and John Hollingsworth
Published by Smithsonian
Institute Press
In
the early part of the 20th century American
President Theodore Roosevelt set aside lands
for the preservation of native birds. This
simple act was the beginning of a turning
point regarding attitudes towards wildlife
in the U.S. The Smithsonian Book of
National Wildlife Refuges documents with
incredible accuracy the history of great
persecution that was unleashed in the 1800’s
upon such animals as the wild duck, American
buffalo and the passenger pigeon. Through
the actions of many environmental heroes
from Roosevelt to author Rachel Carson, and
the advent of the remarkable National
Wildlife Refuge system this rate of carnage
was slowly halted. The Smithsonian Book of
National Wildlife Refuges by Eric Jay Dolin,
with brilliantly colorful and poignant
photos by Karen and John Hollingsworth is a
fountain of information, meticulously
detailed and intensely researched, a
beautiful book that displays the remarkable
history of The United States National
Wildlife Refuges from their beginnings to
today. It is a comprehensive view of
American conservation history that is a
wonderful addition to any wildlife
enthusiast’s library.
An Obsession with Butterflies: Our Long Love
Affair with a Singular Insect
by Sharman Apt Russell
Published by Perseus
Publishing
Butterflies
hold a fascination upon many a person. Most
regard them with quiet fascination as they
dance about our gardens and yards, while
many chase those flights with abandon, a
strong connection binding them to these
wondrous creatures. An Obsession with
Butterflies by Sharman Apt Russell is an
amazing peek into the lives of both
butterflies and the collectors and
scientists that adore them. In her book,
Russell provides equal parts biology,
history and social comment, blending them
smoothly to create a charmingly, brilliant
effort. As you read on a metamorphosis will
overcome you and the next butterflies you
see will appear different to you, seen
through new eyes, more magical, beautiful
and amazing than they were before. Elegant
and informative, An Obsession with
Butterflies by Sharman Apt Russell is a soft
journey upon swiftly beating wings, one that
will leave you exhilarated with its beauty
and spirit.
Forests in Peril
by Hazel R. Delcourt
Published by McDonald and
Woodward Publishing Company
Forests
in Peril by Hazel
R. Delcourt offers a rare look into the
history of North America’s forests. Through
the eyes of a paleobotanist the author
describes the changing pattern of tree
distribution in the United States over the
last 100,000 years. This book reads like
both a memoir of the author’s career and a
history lesson. The author takes the unique
approach of revealing the knowledge of her
field by taking us step by step through the
process of discovering each piece of
information. By describing the process by
which the scientific community learned from
their discoveries, the reader is able to
more fully understand the mechanisms driving
the present distribution of plants. By
describing the process of collecting samples
in the field, analyzing samples in the lab,
interpreting data and borrowing from mentors
and pioneers in her field the reader is
taken on a journey of discovery. By looking
into the past, the author foretells the
future of plant distribution given the
adaptability of various plant species to
present rates of human expansion and global
climate change. Appealing to any reader
interested in paleobotany, natural history
and conservation of natural resources,
Forests in Peril is a fascinating read.
The Ghost with Trembling
Wings: Science, Wishful Thinking, and The
Search for Lost Species
by Scott Weidensaul
North Point Press
Every year, thousands of
species go extinct. Or at least, scientists
think they have gone extinct. A few species
seem to hang on unnoticed living in
anonymity until someone stumbles on them.
Scott Weidensaul in The Ghost with Trembling
Wings (North Point Press, NY, 2002) takes
the reader on a fascinating voyage into
remote and not so remote corners of the
planet to seek out the bizarre, the
mythical, out-of-place creatures and species
reported missing.
Glimpses of Paradise: The
Marvel of Massed Animals
By Fred Bruemmer
Published by Key Porter Books
Animals
amaze us in many ways. The natural world has
many facets that that are as odd as they are
beautiful. When species aggregate to breed,
feed or rest they create spectacular scenes
that are becoming increasingly rare.
‘Glimpses of Paradise - The Marvel of Massed
Animals’ by Fred Bruemmer and published by
Key Porter Books is a beautiful look at
these captivating moments. Packed with Fred
Bruemmer’s beautiful photographs and
informative and insightful text, ‘Glimpses
of Paradise’ takes the reader into these
phenomena. From Monarch Butterflies in
Mexico to Chinstrap Penguins in Antarctica,
‘The Marvel of Massed Animals’ offers
insights into the habits of a wealth of
species from all corners and climates of the
planet. Fred Bruemmer is careful to remind
us that as immense and strong as these
species appear nothing is certain during a
time when the world’s ecology is so fragile
and that all species, regardless of their
numbers, should be thought of as vulnerable
to decline and endangerment. We have lost a
great deal of nature in a short time such as
the Passenger Pigeon and we must respect and
preserve what we still have. With Fred
Bruemmer’s fantastic photos and personal and
informative text, ‘Glimpses of Paradise’ is
a colorful celebration of the vibrancy of
animal life.
The
Octopus And The Orangutan
More True Tales of Animal Intrigue,
Intelligence and Ingenuity
By Eugene Linden
Published by Dutton
It is of no dispute that
animals display varying levels of
intelligence. Occasionally, many creatures
seem to display human-like emotions and
temperaments. Our pets’ eyes sometimes seem
to sparkle with an attentive knowledge and
other animals, such as dolphins and apes,
display a level of intelligence that leaves
us in a state of wonderment. ‘The Octopus
and the Orangutan - More True Tales of
Animal Intrigue, Intelligence and Ingenuity’
by Eugene Linden offers glimpses into these
telling displays and actions which
occasionally bridge the gap between human
and animal. It is an eye-opening and
touching read, sprinkled with humour and
amazing insights into the brains of not only
octopus and orangutan but elephants, bonobos,
cats, orcas and many more. ‘The Octopus and
the Orangutan’ is creatively researched and
warmly written. Eugene Linden has taken his
wonderful book ‘The Parrots Lament’ and
taken it further with new reports and
insights into animal activities that will
amaze and astound you. ‘The Octopus and the
Orangutan - More True Tales of Animal
Intrigue, Intelligence and Ingenuity’ by
Eugene Linden explores the activity inside
the not so simple minds of creatures that
often don’t behave like animals at all.
The Wolf in the Southwest
: The Making of
an Endangered Species
New
Edition
By David E. Brown
Published by High Lonesome
Books
The distant howl of the wolf
seems at home alongside campfires under a
brilliant moon. The echoes of those cries
ring with loneliness and pain. They are
forever linked with the wildest of the wild,
nature untouched and pure. The Southwestern
U.S. to Mexico is a wild and natural area,
but far from untouched and pristine
wilderness areas. Moon-filled nights are no
longer punctuated by the wolf’s plaintive
calls due to a century of persecution that
eliminated all species of wolf from the
South West. With the attempts to reintroduce
wild packs and the subsequent controversy
regarding this issue a new edition of the
David E. Brown’s brilliant ‘The Wolf in the
Southwest - The Making of an Endangered
Species’ has been released by High Lonesome
Books. Originally published in 1983, ‘The
Wolf in the Southwest’ documents the fervor
to rid the wolf from the wilds of Arizona,
New Mexico and Texas from the late 19th
century until the late 1970’s. David E.
Brown has painstakingly researched his book
from decades of archival records documenting
the plight of the southwest cattlemen. These
ranchers whose heavy losses to cattle
depredation lead to a government sanctioned
declaration of war on all predators. It is a
grimly fascinating tale of the sad history
of the wolf in the southwest. David E.
Brown’s ‘The Wolf in the Southwest’ is the
definitive resource on the various species
of southwestern wolf, covering their
biology, territory and first hand
descriptive accounts of their place within
their historical environment. These coincide
with various trapper reports, techniques and
encounters. Thorough and complete with many
historical photos and documents, David E.
Brown brings this shortsighted era to life.
‘The Wolf in the Southwest - The Making of
an Endangered Species’ is a bitter read for
it eulogizes, not celebrates the wolf. A
dramatic reminder of how destructive the
world was and still is and how once we set
foot in pristine natural areas we slowly
begin to lose them.
The Extinction Club
By Robert Twigger
Published by William Morrow
& Co.
The legendary deer known
as the Milu, was thought to be extinct
until a Basque missionary, Pere David
stumbled upon them in the Chinese
emperor's private park in the second half
of the 19th century. Pere David smuggled
a specimen to Europe igniting in the
process, a clamour among several European
nations to acquire a live animal.
Eventually the Boxer rebellion led to the
deer's extirpation from China but a herd
survived in England on the private estate
of the 11th Duke of Bedford |
