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Chris Merkord

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  1. The Challenge Series is about… Discoveries in bird identification Tricky ID challenges made easier Sound files, videos and much more via QR codes Invitation to test new and emerging features and make your own discoveries An introductory section explain the genesis and concept of a series of books. The idea was to produce a series of books at the cutting edge of identification discoveries. Some of the material is new and relatively untested. A challenge is laid down to readers. Go out and test these ideas. Watch birds closely and more carefully and make your own discoveries. This is the first in the series focusing on the season of AUTUMN. Most birders go out into the field knowing roughly what might be encountered in a given season and not needing all the information on all species pertaining to the whole year. So the Challenge series begin with a number of AUTUMN ‘challenges’. Over 40 taxa are covered in 18 Chapters ranging from Hen and Northern Harriers, Wilson’s and Common Snipe, Pallid and Common Swift and Siberian and Common Chiffchaff, to potential vagrants like Sharp-shinned Hawk and Yellow -streaked Warbler. There are the new splits such as Cabot’s and Sandwich Tern, 3 Subalpine Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and 6 stonechat taxa. Each ID challenge is presented in a concise and accessible form with accompanying photos, illustrations and sonograms where appropriate.
  2. This is the second account of the birds of Ghana (ex-Gold Coast), the first having been published by Grimes in 1987. It presents detailed information on the some 750 species known (among which there are 150 migrants from Eurasia and North America, of which more than 100 winter locally). Extensive field-work by the authors, augmented by the contribution of visiting or resident naturalists, means that the maps (for all species except vagrants) present a clear picture of distribution in this country of nearly 240,000 km2. The text complements the maps, with a synthesis of what is known of ecology, status, movements, breeding seasons, taxonomy and conservation concerns. Some 600 published references are cited, and there are details of ringing recoveries and a gazetteer of more than 860 localities. In 116 pages, the introductory chapters review the vegetation and major bird habitats, biogeography, migration, conservation and the history of ornithological exploration in Ghana. The conservation chapter draws attention to the considerable pressure that human activities (including deforestation and over-fishing) are exerting on the environment and wildlife. Six species of birds have become extinct in Ghana in the last century, and several others are heavily threatened. Forty-nine species are considered to be of global or regional conservation concern, and the importance of the country s wildlife reserves is stressed, with forest reserves and other natural habitats being decimated at an alarming rate. Twenty-one pages of colour photos illustrate the habitats of Ghana as well as a selection of typical bird species. No bird is endemic to Ghana alone, but the country contains no fewer than 179 Guineo-Congolian forest species, including all but four of those endemic to Upper Guinea (Ghana westwards), Ghana is the one country where the striking Yellow-headed Picathartes (or Rockfowl) can be seen by all visiting birdwatchers.
  3. From cormorants to kittiwakes, and guillemots to gulls, this 8-panel laminated fold-out chart features 28 of the birds you can see around the coastline of the UK in the summer. Included are both cliff-nesting birds, like gannet and razorbill, and wading birds, such as oystercatcher and avocet, as well as all the common seagulls. Birds are shown in their adult summer (breeding) plumage. This chart is part of the FSC's range of fold-out charts, designed to help users identify of a wide range of plants and animals. Each chart is laminated to make it splashproof and robust for use outdoors. Clear colour illustrations and text by experts in the subject make these valuable resources for all age groups.
  4. The Princeton Encyclopedia of Birds is a comprehensive and lavishly illustrated reference to the world's birds. Accessibly written by renowned biologists and conservationists, and illustrated in color throughout, the book provides authoritative and systematic accounts of every bird family, covering form and function, distribution, diet, social behavior, breeding biology, and conservation and status. More than 1,000 superb color photos reveal the enormous diversity of birds in their natural habitats, from arctic tundra to tropical rain forest, and a wealth of beautifully detailed color and line illustrations depict representative species from each family and highlight characteristic behaviors. The main articles are complemented by detailed coverage of special topics, such as how ibises and spoonbills feed by touch, how pigeons find their way home, and how crows store food. And throughout the book, numerous "Factfile" panels with color distribution maps and scale drawings provide at-a-glance overviews of key data. The Princeton Encyclopedia of Birds is the definitive one-volume reference--an essential guide for amateur bird enthusiasts and professional ornithologists alike. Covers all the bird families of the world Describes form and function, distribution, diet, social behavior, breeding biology, and conservation and status Features more than 1,000 spectacular color photos and illustrations Includes "Factfile" panels with color distribution maps and scale drawings for at-a-glance reference Explores special topics in depth Written by leading biologists and conservationists
  5. Experts from around the world have contributed to this absorbing and authoritative new guide for bird enthusiasts everywhere--the essential, comprehensive reference on all aspects of birds. Highly illustrated chapters take the reader from the anatomy of birds, through flight, daily activities, distribution, migration, breeding, mating and more. 150 color illustrations; 200 line drawings.
  6. A Dictionary of Birds enlists contributions from over 280 ornithologists and other specialists from around the world. Major, authoritative articles cover the field of modern ornithology and related subjects, many of them running to several thousand words. In addition there are articles on all the bird families, almost all of which are illustrated by a representative species. There are also numerous short entries defining special terms, application of names, etc. The total gives a text of over 800,000 words, supported by more than 500 photographs, drawings and diagrams. The photographs have been selected under the guidance of Eric Hosking to illustrate different activities of birds, and Robert Gillmor has assembled a collection of over 200 drawings of birds, almost all of which were specially drawn for the Dictionary. Compiled for the British Ornithologists' Union, this new work is in line of succession from Newton's A Dictionary of Birds of 1896 and Landsborough Thomson's A New Dictionary of Birds published in 1964 (2nd impression 1965) and now long out of print. This new dictionary, encyclopaedic in treatment, is destined to be a major reference in any ornithologist's library; and its editors and contributors, most of whom gave their time and knowledge freely, have earned the thanks and acclaim of users for many years to come. Frances James, President of the American Ornithologists' Union, writes in her preface of "the role the dictionary will play in fostering communications among nations. For students it will serve as an entrance to the present status of the field. For scientists it will serve as a research tool and a bridge between disciplines." - See more at: http://bloomsbury.com/au/a-dictionary-of-birds-9781408138403/#sthash.qqyVqdyw.dpuf
  7. Book Features Over 8,000 names for the 500+ species of birds that breed in and regularly visit North America Each folkname and name is fully indexed 75-page long detailed comprehensive etymology of the three hundred most common bird names six pages of References 294 page paperback, perfect bound color picture of Two Sparrow Hawks featured on the front cover of the book is from a 1903 pen, ink and watercolor drawing
  8. Part detective trail, part love affair and pure story telling at its best. In 1990 an expedition of Cambridge scientists arrived at the Plains of Nechisar, tucked between the hills of the Great Rift Valley in the Gamo Gofa province in the country of Ethiopia. On that expedition, 315 species of birds were seen; 61 species of mammal and 69 species of butterfly were identified; 20 species of dragonflies and damselflies; 17 reptile species were recorded; three frog species were filed; plants were listed. And the wing of a road-killed bird was packed into a brown paper bag. It was to become the most famous wing in the world. When the specimens finally arrived at the British Natural History Museum in Tring it set the world of science aflutter. It seemed that the wing was unique, but they questioned, can you name a species for the first time based only on the description of a wing, based on just one wing? After much to and fro, confirmation was unanimous, and the new species was announced, Nechisar Nightjar, Caprimulgus solala, (solus:only and ala:wing). And birdwatchers like Vernon began to dream. Twenty-two years later an expedition of four led by Ian Sinclair set off to try to find this rarest bird in the world. Vernon R.L. Head captivates and enchants as he tells of the adventures of Ian, Dennis, Gerry and himself as they navigate the wilderness of the plains, searching by spotlight for the elusive Nechisar Nightjar.
  9. A journey through the history, biology, and culture of the misunderstood cormorant Behold the cormorant: silent, still, cruciform, and brooding; flashing, soaring, quick as a snake. Evolution has crafted the only creature on Earth that can migrate the length of a continent, dive and hunt deep underwater, perch comfortably on a branch or a wire, walk on land, climb up cliff faces, feed on thousands of different species, and live beside both fresh and salt water in a vast global range of temperatures and altitudes, often in close proximity to man. Long a symbol of gluttony, greed, bad luck, and evil, the cormorant has led a troubled existence in human history, myth, and literature. The birds have been prized as a source of mineral wealth in Peru, hunted to extinction in the Arctic, trained by the Japanese to catch fish, demonized by Milton in Paradise Lost, and reviled, despised, and exterminated by sport and commercial fishermen from Israel to Indianapolis, Toronto to Tierra del Fuego. In The Devil’s Cormorant, Richard King takes us back in time and around the world to show us the history, nature, ecology, and economy of the world’s most misunderstood waterfowl.
  10. This easy-to-use identification guide to the 280 bird species most representative of Southeast China covers Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, and Shanghai. High quality photographs from the region’s top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions which include nomenclature, size, distribution, habits and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers geography and climate, vegetation, opportunities for naturalists and the main sites for viewing the listed species. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the birds of Southeast China encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific name, IUCN status as at 2011.
  11. Originally published in 1952 as part of the Cambridge Biological Studies series, this book presents contemporary theories on embryology using the example of the bird embryo. Waddington reviews the modern experimental embryology of birds, and touches on topics such as plumage development and the developmental actions of mutant genes. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in embryology or the history of epigenetics.
  12. Colorés, gracieux, fins chanteurs, facilement observables, les oiseaux ont de tout temps constitué un objet d’étude privilégié pour les naturalistes et un objet d’émerveillement pour l’humanité entière. L’ornithologie est donc une science ancienne. Mais c’est aussi une science éminemment actuelle : les préoccupations environnementales – marées noires, espèces menacées, grippe aviaire… - la placent souvent au cœur de notre quotidien. Des mythes du Moyen Age à l’avènement de l’écologie – qui puise ses origines dans l’ornithologie – en passant par les fameux « pinsons de Darwin » ou par l’engouement pour le birdwatching, cet ouvrage conte le développement d’une science qui n’a pas fini de nous inspirer. Une approche chronologique claire, enrichie d'une réflexion sur la discipline. Un récit vivant et haut en couleurs grâce à 250 illustrations et des encadrés. En annexe, une frise détaillée pour repérer les personnages et les événements clefs.
  13. Delhi, with its graceful old gardens and sprawling parks, unexpected patches of scrub forest and elegant avenues of old trees, has an amazing range of bird habitats … All you have to do is find a good spot with flowering shrubs or old trees and then sit down to be entertained. The birds will come to you one by one and they do not care if you greet them or not… In a lifetime spent exploring the gardens, monuments, parks and forest areas in and around Delhi, Bulbul Sharma has observed and written about numerous bird, animal and plant species. From the Grey Hornbills and Rose-ringed parakeets at Lodi Garden to the handsome resident Indian Eagle-owl at Tughlakabad Fort, she observes and records all manner of bird and animal behaviour through the changing seasons of the city in this delightful book. She describes how the different seasons bring about changes to Delhi’s flora and fauna. During fog -shrouded winter days she makes her way to Sultanpur Lake to watch the migratory birds, sometimes dragging reluctant family members along—groggy and demanding tea and samosas. During the brief Delhi spring the flowers at every roundabout and every garden burst into life and colour while the birds busily start building nests. In the cruel summer months, when the calls of the Coppersmith and the Green Barbet resound from every leafy tree, everyone flees indoors to escape the heat of the sun. And then the monsoon arrives, heralded by the Pied-crested Cuckoo, which has never failed in its prediction of the rains. Stray cats and howling jackals, startled nilgais and crafty koels inhabit the pages of this book as the author takes us on an unforgettable nature ramble around Delhi.
  14. The "Wings of Dwarka" offers a concise description of the birds which frequent GGSIP University campus and its surroundings. The book is enriching with beautiful photographs and entertaining knowledge. This book aims to encourage people in the campus to open their eyes and ears to experience the living, breathing, beautiful world around them.
  15. Birder, naturalist and writer, Zafar Futehally was born in 1920 into a business family of Bombay. He grew up in Andheri, then one of the greenest areas of the city, and went on to join the family trade. However, it was with Salim Ali, the famed ornithologist also known as the ‘Birdman of India’, that Zafar found his true calling. Zafar accompanied Salim Ali on his expeditions and helped him ring birds, collect specimens and take notes. On these field trips, he came in contact with some of the world’s foremost naturalists and conservationists—Dillon Ripley, Loke Wan Tho, Richard Fitter and Sir Peter Scott amongst others. These associations helped Zafar develop a nuanced, far-ranging understanding of ornithology as well as of the natural world. This, together with his diplomatic skills, made him a vital consensus-builder on matters relating to conservation. Zafar Futehally was one of the pioneers of the conservation movement in India and played a key role in transforming it from a fringe concern of the middle-class to a matter of national importance. Zafar held key posts in all the important conservation organizations and initiatives in India and abroad—BNHS, IUCN, WWF–India and Project Tiger. Witty, humble and deeply thoughtful, The Song of the Magpie Robin is a vibrant portrait of a man of principle, who spent his entire life striving to find a balance between development and nature conservation.
  16. This monograph is the first attempt to summarize and critically review the vast literature on stopover ecology and behaviour of songbirds. Most birds cannot cover the distance between their breeding and winter quarters in one hop. They have to make multiple flights alternated with stopovers. Which factors govern the birds’ decisions to stop, to stop for how long, when to resume flight? What is better – to accumulate much fuel and to make long flights for many hundreds of kilometres, or to travel in small steps? Is it necessary to find habitats similar to the breeding ones or other habitats would do? Are long migratory flights indeed so costly energetically as usually assumed? This monograph summarizes our current knowledge on the ecology of songbird migrants during migratory stopovers and on their behaviour.​
  17. In the Encounters in the Wild series, renowned nature writer Jim Crumley gets up close and personal with British wildlife. With his inimitable passion and vision, he relives memorable encounters with some of our best-loved native species, offering astonishing insights into their extraordinary lives.
  18. A comprehensive natural history of nature's smallest bird species. The tiny hummingbird has long been a source of fascination for birdwatchers and naturalists alike. They number 300 species and Ronald Orenstein has a passion for all of them. Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world. A hummingbird egg is the size of a pea, barely, and the chick that emerges will be smaller than a penny, if that. But these tiny birds pack a powerful engine: a hummingbird's heart beats more than 1,200 times per minute. Nicknamed the "avian helicopter", a hummingbird's wings beat from 70 times per second in direct flight, to more than 200 times per second when diving. Not surprisingly, that whirlwind of wing power creates a humming sound. To fuel such energy, hummingbirds must eat as much as eight times their body weight on a daily basis, which means visiting an average of 1,000 flowers -- every day -- to get enough nectar. Hummingbirds are found in North and South America, with the greatest number in Ecuador, although some species breed as far north as Canada. Most species migrate from Mexico to Alaska, a distance of more than 5,000 miles. In this book Orenstein covers all aspects of hummingbird natural history, their relationship with the plants on which they feed, the miracle of their flight, their elaborate social life and nesting behavior, and their renowned feats of migration. More than 170 color photographs of these magnificent creatures, taken in the wild, adorn the pages of Hummingbirds. Birders and natural history readers alike will gain new insight into the tiny bird and revel in the stunning images.
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