Book News

For a limited time, the Kindle version of A Bobwhite Killing: A Bob White Birder Murder Mystery is free on Amazon.com. This is one of Jan Dunlap’s birding mysteries (here’s a review of another one). This offer is good through Sunday July 14, 2013.

The Warbler Guide
by Tom Stephenson and Scott Whittle

From Princeton University Press:

Warblers are among the most challenging birds to identify. They exhibit an array of seasonal plumages and have distinctive yet oft-confused calls and songs. The Warbler Guide enables you to quickly identify any of the 56 species of warblers in the United States and Canada. This groundbreaking guide features more than 1,000 stunning color photos, extensive species accounts with multiple viewing angles, and an entirely new system of vocalization analysis that helps you effectively learn songs and calls.

• Covers all 56 species of warblers in the United States and Canada
• Visual quick finders help you identify warblers from any angle
• Song and call finders make identification easy using a few simple questions
• Uses sonograms to teach a new system of song identification that makes it easier to understand and hear differences between similar species
• Detailed species accounts show multiple views with diagnostic points, direct comparisons of plumage and vocalizations with similar species, and complete aging and sexing descriptions
• New aids to identification include song mnemonics and icons for undertail pattern, color impression, habitat, and behavior
• Includes field exercises, flight shots, general identification strategies, and quizzes

Amazing book. It has a ton of information, photos, and, yes, even sonograms. I’ve only had it for a day, so I’m still a bit overwhelmed. If you want to check it out for yourself, here’s a sample species account (American Redstart) and a great series of videos from the authors going over all the guide’s features.

The Warbler Guide
by Tom Stephenson and Scott Whittle
Flexicover; 560 pages
Princeton University Press; July 7, 2013
ISBN: 978-0691154824
$29.95

Imperial Dreams: Tracking the Imperial Woodpecker Through the Wild Sierra Madre
by Tim Gallagher

From Atria Books:

Explorer and naturalist Tim Gallagher is obsessed with rare birds. A decade ago, Gallagher was one of the rediscoverers of the legendary ivory-billed woodpecker, which most scientists believed had been extinct for more than half a century—an event that caused an international stir. Now, in Imperial Dreams, Gallagher once again hits the trail, journeying deep into Mexico’s savagely beautiful Sierra Madre Occidental, home to rich wildlife, as well as to Mexican drug cartels, in a perilous quest to locate the most elusive bird in the world—the imperial woodpecker, a giant among its clan.

The imperial woodpecker’s trumpetlike calls and distinctive hammering on massive pines once echoed through the high forests. Two feet tall, with deep black plumage, a brilliant snow-white shield on its back, and a crimson crest, the imperial woodpecker had largely disappeared fifty years ago, though reports persist of the bird still flying through remote mountain stands. In an attempt to find and protect the imperial woodpecker in its last habitat, Gallagher is guided by a map of sightings of this natural treasure of the Sierra Madre, bestowed on him by a friend on his deathbed. Charged with continuing the quest of a line of distinguished naturalists, including the great Aldo Leopold, Gallagher treks through this mysterious, historically untamed and untamable territory. Here, where an ancient petroglyph of the imperial can still be found, Geronimo led Apaches in their last stand, William Randolph Hearst held a storied million-acre ranch, and Pancho Villa once roamed, today ruthless drug lords terrorize residents and steal and strip the land.

Gallagher’s passionate quest takes a harrowing turn as he encounters armed drug traffickers, burning houses, and fleeing villagers. His mission becomes a life-and-death drama that will keep armchair adventurers enthralled as he chases truth in the most dangerous of habitats.

After his search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (recounted in The Grail Bird), Tim Gallagher sets his sights on its cousin, the Imperial Woodpecker. I’m reading it now and have found it very interesting so far – part natural history, part investigation, and part adventure travel.

Imperial Dreams: Tracking the Imperial Woodpecker Through the Wild Sierra Madre
by Tim Gallagher
Hardcover; 302 pages
Atria Books; April 16, 2013
ISBN: 978-1439191521
$26.00

The World’s Rarest Birds
by Erik Hirschfeld, Andy Swash, and Robert Still

From Princeton University Press:

This beautifully illustrated book vividly depicts the most threatened birds on Earth. It provides up-to-date information from BirdLife International on the threats each species faces, and the measures being taken to save them. Today, 590 bird species are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered, or now only exist in captivity. This landmark publication features stunning photographs of 515 species-including the results of a prestigious international photographic competition organized specifically for this book. This is the first time that images of many of these birds have been published. It also showcases meticulously accurate illustrations by acclaimed wildlife artist Tomasz Cofta for the 75 species of which no photographs are known to exist.

The World’s Rarest Birds has introductory chapters that explain the threats birds face in a rapidly changing world, how their threat status is assessed, and how this information is used to set conservation priorities. The book is divided into seven regional sections-Europe and the Middle East; Africa and Madagascar; Asia; Australasia; Oceanic Islands; North America, Central America, and the Caribbean; and South America. Each section highlights particular conservation challenges and threatened bird hotspots, and includes a comprehensive illustrated directory of the most endangered birds, giving a concise description of their distribution, status, population, key threats, and conservation needs. This one-of-a-kind book also covers the 60 Data Deficient species. QR codes are included for every species, linked directly to the relevant species factsheet on BirdLife International’s website, where detailed, up-to-date information is freely available.

Wow. I was, and continue to be, blown away by how good this book looks (check out some samples). The photographs and overall design are amazing. But it’s the content that really makes this book worthwhile. Do yourself a favor and just get it. I can’t recommend it enough.

The World’s Rarest Birds
by Erik Hirschfeld, Andy Swash, and Robert Still
Hardcover; 360 pages
Princeton University Press; April 14, 2013
ISBN: 978-0691155968
$45.00

National Geographic Pocket Guide to the Birds of North America
by Laura Erickson and Jonathan Alderfer

From National Geographic:

This fun, affordable, beautifully illustrated introduction to birding is like taking a walk with National Geographic’s birding experts. Of this book’s 192 pages, 160 are devoted to North America’s top species, one per page, from the lowly House Wren to the majestic Bald Eagle. Carefully chosen illustrations and photographs capture the key details and typical behavior of each bird, paired with a short list of essential facts and a fun, fascinating, colloquially written “bird-ography” of each bird. (The latter feature is unique to this beginning field guide). Pictures plus facts plus story: a winning combination. With a small trim size and colorful illustrations, this pocket guide is easy on the eyes and easy to stash. A useful color index aids identification; tips throughout show how to observe, track, and identify birds in nature.

A great book for someone with a new or casual interest in birds, and even older children.

National Geographic Pocket Guide to the Birds of North America
by Laura Erickson and Jonathan Alderfer
Paperback; 192 pages
National Geographic; April 2, 2013
ISBN: 978-1426210440
$12.95

A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago: Third Edition
by Richard ffrench and John P. O’Neill

From Cornell University Press:

Members of nearly all the families of South American birds can be found on the two beautiful West Indian islands of Trinidad and Tobago, where the pleasant climate, varied habitat, and avian diversity create a “birder’s paradise.” This easy-to-use book is the third edition of a comprehensive yet compact field guide to all 477 species of the islands’ birds, including 35 new species accounts added to the country’s bird list since the last edition. Richard ffrench’s work has been a “bible” to birders since the appearance of the first edition in 1973. This new edition incorporates five decades of his notes and records of the island’s birds to present in a handy and readable form detailed and comprehensive information about the birds of Trinidad and Tobago.

Showcasing 40 all-new color plates by the very best bird artists working under the direction of John P. O’Neill, the third edition now includes illustrations of not only the islands’ endemic and resident species, but also the many migratory species that visit the islands from both the north and the south. The taxonomic arrangement and treatment of families and species has also been brought in line with the most recent determinations of the A.O.U. Committee on Nomenclature for a thoroughly up-to-date presentation. In his introduction, Richard ffrench offers a full treatment of the history of ornithology in Trinidad and Tobago and sets the scene by describing the islands’ physiography, climate, and vegetation. Individual species accounts, arranged by family, make up the core of this identification guide. The accounts cover habitat and status, range and subspecies, field description and basic measurements, voice, food, nesting, and behavior. Richard ffrench’s summary of the distribution of species and their breeding and migration, as well as local conservation and protection measures, makes this volume much more than a typical field-guide treatment, and invites visitors to this premier ecotourism destination.

This third edition is clearly an improvement over the previous one when it comes to the artwork and number of species illustrated. But the format, unfortunately, hasn’t changed – it’s still the dated format of isolated plates in the middle, segregated from the species accounts. While that impairs its effectiveness as a field guide, it should still prove useful. Sorry to say I don’t have the other field guide to these islands – Field Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago – so I can’t compare them.

A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago: Third Edition
by Richard ffrench and John P. O’Neill
Paperback; 435 pages
Comstock Publishing Associates; December 4, 2012
ISBN: 978-0801473647
$39.95

Deerland: America’s Hunt for Ecological Balance and the Essence of Wildness
by Al Cambronne

From Lyons Press:

In 1942 America fell in love with Bambi. But now, that love-affair has turned sour. Behind the unassuming grace and majesty of America’s whitetail deer is the laundry list of human health, social, and ecological problems that they cause. They destroy crops, threaten motorists, and spread Lyme disease all across the United States. In Deerland, Al Cambronne travels across the country, speaking to everybody from frustrated farmers, to camo-clad hunters, to humble deer-enthusiasts in order to get a better grasp of the whitetail situation. He discovers that the politics surrounding deer run surprisingly deep, with a burgeoning hunting infrastructure supported by state government and community businesses. Cambronne examines our history with the whitetail, pinpoints where our ecological problems began, and outlines the environmental disasters we can expect if our deer population continues to go unchecked.

With over 30 million whitetail in the US, Deerland is a timely and insightful look at the ecological destruction being wrecked by this innocent and adored species. Cambronne asks tough questions about our enviroment’s future and the impact this invasion has on our own backyards.

While not directly about birds, deer are certainly playing a big role in our ecosystems, even at the expense of birds.

Deerland: America’s Hunt for Ecological Balance and the Essence of Wildness
by Al Cambronne
Paperback; 272 pages
Lyons Press; April 2, 2013
ISBN: 978-0762780273
$18.95

The Crossley ID Guide: Raptors comes out in less than a month, and its publisher – Princeton University Press – is making a big deal of it. And after spending just a little time with the guide, I can say the hoopla is warranted. So what kind of hoopla? First, today begins a two-week long “blog tour”, in which bird bloggers celebrate raptors in various ways. Here’s the blog tour schedule (watch for my contribution on March 22!). This will culminate in a live chat with Crossley and Brian Sullivan on the 22nd. Info and preregister here – http://shindig.com/event/raptorid.

In addition, there is a ginormous giveaway. We’re talking binoculars, signed Crossley guides, an app, DVD’s, and more (and they’re adding prizes all the time!). You can enter once a day until March 22.

Would you like to see for yourself if this guide is worth all of this? Check out this extensive sampler:

The Natural Communities of Georgia
by Leslie Edwards, Jonathan Ambrose, and L. Katherine Kirkman

From The University of Georgia Press:

The Natural Communities of Georgia presents a comprehensive overview of the state’s natural landscapes, providing an ecological context to enhance understanding of this region’s natural history.

Georgia boasts an impressive range of natural communities, assemblages of interacting species that have either been minimally impacted by modern human activities or have successfully recovered from them. This guide makes the case that identifying these distinctive communities and the factors that determine their distribution are central to understanding Georgia’s ecological diversity and the steps necessary for its conservation.

Within Georgia’s five major ecoregions the editors identify and describe a total of sixty-six natural communities, such as the expansive salt marshes of the barrier islands in the Maritime ecoregion, the fire-driven longleaf pine woodlands of the Coastal Plain, the beautiful granite outcrops of the Piedmont, the rare prairies of the Ridge and Valley, and the diverse coves of the Blue Ridge.

The description of each natural community includes

• Traits that make it interesting and significant
• Physical factors and ecological processes that determine the distribution and characteristics of each community
• Typical plant communities
• Representative or noteworthy animals
• Sidebars that discuss particularly interesting features

With contributions from scientists who have managed, researched, and written about Georgia landscapes for decades, the guide features more than four hundred color photographs that reveal the stunning natural beauty and diversity of the state. The book also explores conservation issues, including rare or declining species, current and future threats to specific areas, and research needs, and provides land management strategies for preserving, restoring, and maintaining biotic communities.

The Natural Communities of Georgia is an essential reference for ecologists and other scientists, as well as a rich resource for Georgians interested in the region’s natural heritage.

Wow, is this an amazing book. I’ve lived in Georgia my entire life, and this makes me want to get out and explore the state like I’ve never been here before.

The Natural Communities of Georgia
by Leslie Edwards, Jonathan Ambrose, and L. Katherine Kirkman
Hardcover; 702 pages
The University of Georgia Press; February 25, 2013
ISBN: 978-0820330211
$59.95

The New Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region
The New Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Western Region
by Donald and Lillian Stokes
March 26, 2013

From Little, Brown and Company:

The culmination of many years of research, observation, and study, the THE NEW STOKES FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS: Eastern and Western Region is factually, visually, and organizationally superior to any other photographic field guide available.

These easy-to-use guides feature 545 (Eastern) and 636 (Western) North American bird species and more than 2,000 stunning color photographs. And yet they’re portable enough to fit in your pocket! The photographs cover all significant plumages, including male, female, summer, winter, immature, morphs, important subspecies, and birds in flight. The guide includes:

• the newest scientific and common names and phylogenetic order
• special help for identifying birds in flight through important clues of behavior, plumage, and shape
• detailed descriptions of songs and calls
• important behavioral information and key habitat preferences
• the newest range maps, detailing species’ winter, summer, year-round ranges, and migration routes

Whether you are a novice or experienced birder, these new Stokes guides will take your birding to the next level.

Love the Stokes field guide but wish it were more portable? Rejoice, for your wish will soon be granted. These new regional guides are basically the same as the “big” Stokes but with out-of-region and extreme vagrant species removed, making them much thinner.

A more detailed look at these new editions is coming soon.

The New Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region and
The New Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Western Region
by Donald and Lillian Stokes
Paperback; 512 and 591 pages
Little, Brown and Company; March 26, 2013
ISBN: 978-0316213936 (Eastern); 978-0316213929 (Western)
$19.99 each