One hundred entertaining and informative essays from the popular public radio feature program, BirdNote, accompanied by original illustrations throughout--an illuminating volume for bird and nature lovers across North America.Here are the best stories about our avian friends from the public radio show BirdNote, each brief essay illuminating the life, habits, or songs of a particular bird. Why do geese fly in a V-formation? Why are worms so good fo...

An NPR Best Book of the Year: "A heady hybrid of science, history, how-to and memoir" about a great composer, a common bird, and our bond with nature ( Los Angeles Times).On May 27, 1784, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart met a flirtatious little starling in a Viennese shop who sang an improvised version of the theme from his Piano Concerto no. 17 in G major. Sensing a kindred spirit in the plucky young bird, Mozart bought him and took him home to be...

Stephen Moss answers in detail over 450 questions, submitted by birdwatchers of all levels, and in doing so he conveys a veritable feast of bird-related information in a friendly and accessible style.This RSPB-endorsed book answers all those burning questions about birds that beginners and experts alike may ask themselves as they go about their birding. How do ducks keep their feet from freezing in winter? Why don't swallows stay in Africa? Are birds really dinosau...

This practical field guide, published in association with the Wildlife Trusts, is packed with information on 250 species of bird from Britain and the near Continent.Each species account contains accurate artworks that show details of variations in plumage for male, female, juvenile birds, and breeding and non-breeding birds. A concise written account outlines further essential information, such as size, description, voice, habitat, distribution and habits appears o...

With the original introduction by C.J. Dennis and a new foreword by Sean Dooley.Ninety years on, A.H. Chisholm’s classic Mateship with Birds is still as fresh and inspirational as an early-morning walk in the bush, the air resounding with birdsong. His account of the secret lives of birds — their seasonal doings and their complex relationships — reflects his patient and detailed observations, and his deep enjoyment of the Australian bush and all its inhabi...

Winner of the 2017 Wainwright Golden Beer Book Prize for nature writingThe natural history of the Western Front during the First World War'If it weren't for the birds, what a hell it would be.'During the Great War, soldiers lived inside the ground, closer to nature than many humans had lived for centuries. Animals provided comfort and interest to fill the blank hours in the trenches - bird-watching, for instance, w...

There are many reasons a child would enjoy a Most Popular Birds in the USA themed book. Firstly, birds have colorful feathers that offer a wide range of beauty and intrigue. Second is the fascinating stories about the locations where the flying wonders can be found. Of course, brief descriptions of their habits, including migration patterns, nesting, and food sources, can inspire the desire to learn more about a particular species. All of these reasons together can produce a book that kids...

How and why did our most acclaimed birdwatchers take up birding? What were their early experiences of nature? How have their professional birding careers developed? What motivates them and drives their passion for wildlife? How many birds have they seen?Mark Avery and Keith Betton, passionate birdwatchers and conservationists, interview members of the birdwatching community to answer these and many other questions about the lives of famous birdwatchers. They take you behind the sce...

'A CLASSIC OF WILDLIFE WRITING' – THE FIELDListed as one of its five best nature books - 2010 Country LifeWhen Jonathan Franklin takes two baby tawny owls back to Eton, he has no idea how chaotic the following months will be. The birds show no respect for Etonian routine and tradition. They trash his room and rule his daily life, and are known throughout the school as 'Dum' and 'Dee'. Although a keen naturalist, Jonathan struggles to understand his charges and to find the rig...

An essential companion for bird lovers and gardeners alike since it was first published, this highly successful guide to identifying garden birds has now been fully updated with the latest information and statistics. Highlighting a range of plants and planting schemes that support wildlife, it provides expert advice on making your garden a haven for birds. Learn everything you need to know about all the birds you're most likely to see from your window, how to attract them into your garden ...

A lavish celebration of the seabirds of the British Isles.Seabirds are the living links between land, air and sea. They enjoy a freedom that even humans, with all our technological assistance, can barely imagine. Many species travel mind-boggling distances across the length and breadth of our planet before returning to land to breed in large, deafening and confusingly crowded colonies. Yet within this commotion each mated pair forms a bond of extreme closeness and ...

A naturalist's journey to explore and understand the birds that fill the air with their music.The dawn chorus: a single voice cutting through the darkness heralds a breaking wave of sound at the very beginning of the day. It is an iconic natural phenomenon with many familiar performers, yet it is a mysterious event for which there is no complete explanation.A mass of starlings gathers at the end of the midwinter day. As the sun sets, wave upon wave of bodie...