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Baby Birds: An Artist Looks into the Nest
by Julie Zickefoose

From Houghton Mifflin Harcourt:

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on in bird nests, or what happens after a fledgling leaves the nest, come along on Julie’s sensitive exploration of often-uncharted ornithological ground.

This beautiful book is as much an art book as it is a natural history, something readers have come to expect from Julie Zickefoose. More than 400 watercolor paintings show the breathtakingly swift development of seventeen different species of wild birds. Sixteen of those species nest on Julie’s wildlife sanctuary, so she knows the birds intimately, and writes about them with authority. To create the bulk of this extraordinary work, Julie would borrow a wild nestling, draw it, then return it to its nest every day until it fledged. Some were orphans she raised by hand, giving the ultimate insider’s glimpse into their lives. In sparkling prose, Julie shares a lifetime of insight about bird breeding biology, growth, and cognition.

As an artist and wildlife rehabilitator, Julie possesses a unique skill set that includes sketching and painting rapidly from life as well as handling delicate hatchlings. She is uniquely positioned to create such an opus, and in fact, nothing like it has ever been attempted. Julie has many fans, and she will gain many more with this unparalleled work.

This is a gorgeous book, both the art and the design. I’ve only read the introduction so far, but I’m hooked!

Baby Birds: An Artist Looks into the Nest
by Julie Zickefoose
Hardcover; 352 pages
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; April 12, 2016
ISBN: 9780544206700
$28.00

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Wildlife of the Galápagos, Second Edition
by Julian Fitter, Daniel Fitter, and David Hosking

From Princeton University Press:

Since its first publication more than a decade ago, Wildlife of the Galápagos has become the definitive, classic field guide to the natural splendors of this amazing part of the world. Now fully updated, this essential and comprehensive guide has been expanded to include the more than 400 commonly seen birds, mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, and plants, and other coastal and marine life of this wondrous archipelago. Over 650 stunning color photographs, maps, and drawings are accompanied by accessible, descriptive text. This new edition includes information about all the common fish of the region and Spanish names are featured for the first time. There is also a revised section that discusses the islands’ history, climate, geology, and conservation, with the most current details on visitor sites.

This is the perfect portable companion for all nature enthusiasts interested in the astounding Galápagos.

• Covers 400+ commonly seen species, including birds, mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, and plants, and other coastal and marine life
• Illustrated with over 650 color photographs, maps, and drawings
• Includes maps of visitor sites
• Written by wildlife experts with extensive knowledge of the area
• Includes information on the history, climate, geology, and conservation of the islands

When I finally get to the Galapagos, this guide will be with me. (Hopefully that will be before a third edition is necessary!)

Wildlife of the Galápagos, Second Edition
by Julian Fitter, Daniel Fitter, and David Hosking
Paperback; 272 pages
Princeton University Press; January 5, 2016
ISBN: 9780691170428
$19.95

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The Rarest Bird in the World: The Search for the Nechisar Nightjar
by Vernon R.L. Head

From Pegasus:

Part detective story, part love affair, and pure adventure storytelling at its best, a celebration of the thrill of exploration and the lure of wild places during the search for the elusive Nechisar Nightjar.

In 1990, a group of Cambridge scientists arrived at the Plains of Nechisar in Ethiopia. On that expedition, they collected more than two dozen specimens, saw more than three hundred species of birds, and a plethora of rare butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles, mammals, and plants. As they were gathering up their findings, a wing of an unidentified bird was packed into a brown paper bag. It was to become the most famous wing in the world.

This wing would set the world of science aflutter. Experts were mystified. The wing was entirely unique. It was like nothing they had ever seem before. Could a new species be named based on just one wing? After much discussion, a new species was announced: Nechisar Nightjar, or Camprimulgus Solala, which means “only wing.” And so birdwatchers like Vernon began to dream.

Twenty-two years later, he joins an expedition of four to find this rarest bird in the world. In this gem of nature writing, Vernon captivates and enchants as he recounts the searches by spotlight through the Ethiopian plains, and allows the reader to mediate on nature, exploration, our need for wild places, and the human compulsion to name things. Rarest Bird is a celebration of a certain way of seeing the world, and will bring out the explorer in in everyone who reads it.

Ever since I first heard about the Nechisar Nightjar, I’ve been intrigued and wanted to know more. So I’m really looking forward to reading this. (Note: this book was first published in 2014, but this is the first time it has been published in the United States.)

The Rarest Bird in the World: The Search for the Nechisar Nightjar
by Vernon R.L. Head
Hardcover; 272 pages
Pegasus; March 7, 2016
ISBN: 9781605989631
$26.95

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(based in the U.K.)

Waterfowl of North America, Europe, and Asia: An Identification Guide
by Sébastien Reeber

From Princeton University Press:

This is the ultimate guide for anyone who wants to identify the ducks, geese, and swans of North America, Europe, and Asia. With 72 stunning color plates (that include more than 920 drawings), over 650 superb photos, and in-depth descriptions, this book brings together the most current information on 84 species of Eurasian and North American waterfowl, and on more than 100 hybrids. The guide delves into taxonomy, identification features, determination of age and sex, geographic variations, measurements, voice, molt, and hybridization. In addition, the status of each species is treated with up-to-date details on distribution, population size, habitats, and life cycle. Color plates and photos are accompanied by informative captions and 85 distribution maps are also provided. Taken together, this is an unrivaled, must-have reference for any birder with an interest in the world’s waterfowl.

• A guide to the 84 species of ducks, geese, and swans of Europe, Asia, and North America
• 72 color plates with more than 920 illustrations of most plumages and subspecies, both in flight and standing
• More than 650 color photos
• Details on taxonomy, identification features, determination of age and sex, geographic variations, measurements, voice, molt, hybridization, habitat and life cycle, range and populations, and status in captivity
• 85 distribution maps
• Descriptions and illustrations of more than 100 hybrids regularly encountered in the wild

Wow, these plates show just about everything! Each species by sex, with geographic variation and eclipse plumages; in flight; even a full page of nothing but swan heads! And all these hybrids…this book may be worth it for them alone. In short, this is the most comprehensive, up-to-date identification guide for these birds. It would pair nicely with Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America, which covers everything else about waterfowl.

Waterfowl of North America, Europe, and Asia: An Identification Guide
by Sébastien Reeber
Hardcover; 656 pages
Princeton University Press; February 16, 2016
ISBN: 9780691162669
$45.00

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American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Pennsylvania
by George L. Armistead and Brian E. Small

From Scott & Nix, Inc.:

Pennsylvania is one of the best places to go birding in North America. From the shores of Lake Erie in the northwest and the great river basins of the Ohio, Allegheny, and Monongahela to the central Allegheny Mountains and east along the Pocono Mountains and the rich farmlands and rolling hills of the south, the Keystone State has a great diversity of birds. The American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Pennsylvania includes more than 275 species birders are most likely to see in the commonwealth. Illustrated with hundreds of crisp, color photographs, it includes descriptions of each birds along with tips of when and where to see them, written by an expert Pennsylvanian birder. It’s the perfect companion for anyone interested in the amazing diversity and beauty of Pennsylvania’s birds.

I’m a fan of this series of field guides from the ABA (here are my thoughts on the first couple entries in the series). So while I’ve never birded Pennsylvania, I’m confident in recommending this guide to those who do, especially newer birders.

American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Pennsylvania
by George L. Armistead and Brian E. Small
Flexicover with dust jacket; 352 pages
Scott & Nix, Inc.; January 18, 2016
ISBN: 9781935622529
$24.95

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Flight Paths: A Field Journal of Hope, Heartbreak, and Miracles With New York’s Bird People
by Darryl Mcgrath

From State University of New York Press:

How a small group of New York biologists brought the peregrine falcon and bald eagle back from the brink of extinction.

In the late 1970s, the bald eagle and the peregrine falcon were heading toward extinction, victims of the combined threats of DDT, habitat loss, and lax regulation. Flight Paths tells the story of how a small group of New York biologists raced against nature’s clock to bring these two beloved birds back from the brink in record-setting numbers.

In a narrative that reads like a suspense tale, Darryl McGrath documents both rescue projects in never-before-published detail. At Cornell University, a team of scientists worked to crack the problem of how to breed peregrine falcons in captivity and then restore them to the wild. Meanwhile, two young, untested biologists tackled the overwhelming assignment of rebuilding the bald eagle population from the state’s last nesting pair, one of whom (the female) was sterile.

McGrath interweaves this dramatic retelling with contemporary accounts of four at-risk species: the short-eared owl, the common loon, the Bicknell’s thrush, and the piping plover. She worked alongside biologists as they studied these elusive subjects in the Northeast’s most remote regions, and the result is a story that combines vivid narrative with accessible science and is as much a tribute to these experts as it is a call to action for threatened birds.

Readers are taken to a snow-covered meadow as an owl hunts her prey, a loon family’s secluded pond, an eagle nest above the Hudson River, and a mountaintop at dusk in search of the Bicknell’s thrush, one of the planet’s rarest birds. Combining a little-known chapter of New York’s natural history with a deeply personal account of a lifelong devotion to birds, Flight Paths is not only a story of our rapidly changing environment and a tribute to some of New York’s most heroic biologists, but also a captivating read for anyone who has ever thrilled to the sight of a rare bird.

It’s widely known that the Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, and other species were saved from the ravages of DDT. This book provides a behind-the-scenes look into how they were saved.

Flight Paths: A Field Journal of Hope, Heartbreak, and Miracles With New York’s Bird People
by Darryl Mcgrath
Paperback; 378 pages
State University of New York Press; February, 2016
ISBN: 9781438459264
$24.99

Bird Families of the World: An Invitation to the Spectacular Diversity of Birds
by David W. Winkler, Shawn M. Billerman, and Irby J. Lovette

From Lynx Edicions and Cornell Lab of Ornithology:

Here in one volume is a synopsis of the diversity of all birds. Published between the two volumes of the HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World, Bird Families of the World distills the voluminous detail of the 17-volume Handbook of Birds of the World into a single book. Based on the latest systematic research and summarizing what is known about the life history and biology of each group, this volume will be the best single-volume entry to avian diversity available. Whether you are a birder with an interest in global bird diversity, or a professional ornithologist wishing to update and fill-in your comprehensive knowledge of avian diversity, this volume will be a valuable addition to your library.

An interest in birds is a life-enriching pursuit; the sheer diversity of birds means there are always stunning new species to see and novel facets of their lives to explore. Yet the grand diversity of birds is also a challenge, as it is easy to become disoriented amidst a group that contains more than 10,000 species that vary in nearly all of their most conspicuous attributes. Learning avian diversity requires a mental map to help us organize our experiences and observations. The scientific classification of birds provides exactly this framework, grouping together into Orders and Families birds that are most closely related to one another, and thereby linking species that share distinguishing traits. For those interested in learning about the tremendous diversity of birds world-wide, the best way to start is to learn the families, and Bird Families of the World is a guide and invitation to do so.

This book has been designed to serve both as a text for ornithology courses and as a resource for serious bird enthusiasts of all levels. Technical terminology is much reduced, and all scientific terms used are defined in a glossary. Introductory material describes the scope and concepts behind the classification used and gives suggestions about how best to use the book. The bulk of Bird Families of the World is a family-by-family account of the birds of the world. Each family is represented by at least a two-page spread, including a distributional map with the breeding, non-breeding and year-round ranges of each family, a short text “teaser” to invite the reader to learn more, standardized descriptions of the appearance, relationships and similar species to each family’s members, their life history and conservation status. Each account includes a review of recent ideas about the relationships of the family to other families and relationships within it. The work is liberally illustrated by photographs from bird enthusiasts around the globe as well as paintings of one species from each of the genera in each family. It will be a beautiful and serviceable guide.

This (large) book’s subtitle reveals its purpose: to introduce the reader to the amazing diversity found within birds. It treats the family as the basic unit of this diversity. The authors present a brief account of each family, focusing on relationships. While this book is lavishly illustrated and useful to anyone interested in birds, if you’re looking for a general purpose overview of birds you’d be better off with something like The World of Birds. But if you have any interest at all in taxonomy (basically, how birds are related to each other), then this is the book for you. I, for one, have found it full of fascinating revelations.

Bird Families of the World: An Invitation to the Spectacular Diversity of Birds
by David W. Winkler, Shawn M. Billerman, and Irby J. Lovette
Hardcover; 600 pages
Lynx Edicions and Cornell Lab of Ornithology; December, 2015
ISBN: 9788494189203
$99.95

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(based in the U.K.)

The new novel Fee, by Kelly John, seeks “to introduce the substantial body of non-birders to the exhilarating, crazy mixed-up world of birding”. Well, it’s not quite that simple. See, the novel isn’t published yet. And that’s not the author’s actual name. I could try to explain more fully, but it’s better that you just visit the book’s website. As an added incentive, the majority of the book will be posted on the site for free. Three chapters will be put up every week. I’ve read the first three, and I’m eager for more. I’m also very curious who the author is. But whoever it is, they need help from the birding community to make publishing the novel a reality. And based on what I’ve seen so far, they deserve it.

Parrots of the Wild: A Natural History of the World’s Most Captivating Birds
by Catherine A. Toft and Timothy F. Wright

From University of California Press:

Parrots of the Wild explores recent scientific discoveries and what they reveal about the lives of wild parrots, which are among the most intelligent and rarest of birds. Catherine A. Toft and Tim Wright discuss the evolutionary history of parrots and how this history affects perceptual and cognitive abilities, diet and foraging patterns, and mating and social behavior. The authors also discuss conservation status and the various ways different populations are adapting to a world that is rapidly changing. The book focuses on general patterns across the 350-odd species of parrots, as well as what can be learned from interesting exceptions to these generalities.

A synthetic account of the diversity and ecology of wild parrots, this book distills knowledge from the authors’ own research and from their review of more than 2,400 published scientific studies. The book is enhanced by an array of illustrations, including nearly ninety color photos of wild parrots represented in their natural habitats. Parrots of the Wild melds scientific exploration with features directed at the parrot enthusiast to inform and delight a broad audience.

Parrots are beautiful, intelligent, fascinating, and, in just about every way, awesome. And this book is pretty good, too! It’s the place you should go if you want to learn all about these birds.

Parrots of the Wild: A Natural History of the World’s Most Captivating Birds
by Catherine A. Toft and Timothy F. Wright
Hardcover; 346 pages
University of California Press; November 16, 2015
ISBN: 9780520239258
$39.95

Stories for Birders and Other Observers
by Andrea Vojtko

From WingSpan Press:

Birders are among the keenest observers and five of the eleven short stories in this collection are inspired by imagination while birding or connecting with nature. Ida Pilcher is inexplicably followed wherever she goes by a dozen turkey vultures; Garland Duckett sees God in the golden eye of a Great Blue Heron; Nelson Mayfield, driven by an Internet report, searches frantically for life on Mars before his anticipated early demise; Nathanael Early’s dioramas of Civil War battlefields have taken over his basement; he barely has space for Vicksburg; Brian Feeney observes his neighbor, an Iraq war veteran, refurbishing a corroded four-foot bronze cross on his deck but why. Andrea Vojtko believes that even so-called normal people are eccentric in their own way, if you observe them long enough. In I Stop for Falcons, Thomas scoffs at a group of birders who hold up traffic while they scope out a falcon, labeling them weird. But his dialogue is itself eccentric. A woman searching for her mother’s lost year in Beverly Hills encounters her mother’s strange acquaintances and gets more than she bargained for. Five of these stories were published previously in literary journals with one, Jubilant Voices, nominated for a 2003 Pushcart prize.

This collection of 11 short stories would be great to have with you while you’re waiting for that stakeout bird to show!

Stories for Birders and Other Observers
by Andrea Vojtko
Paperback; 162 pages
WingSpan Press; November 12, 2015
ISBN: 9781595945747
$13.95