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Secret Lives of British Birds

Secret Lives of British Birds PDF Author: Dominic Couzens
Publisher: Christopher Helm Publishers, Incorporated
ISBN: 9780713682809
Category : Birds
Languages : en
Pages : 160

Book Description
Britain's birds are among the best loved in the world, and also among the best studied. In recent times, these studies, rather like tabloid exclusives, have thrown up some surprising revelations and sullied a few reputations in the process. They have, above all, demonstrated that many of our birds lead much more complex lives than we previously thought. Following in the footsteps of the bestselling Secret Lives of Garden Birds, this trip around Britain's principal habitats looks beyond the confines of our gardens and parks to expose the extraordinary hidden world of some our most familiar birds. We learn the secrets of romance from Mute Swans, meet the perfect father in the Guillemot, the estranged couple (of Chiffchaffs) who share the same territory, and enter the bizarre, high-rise society of the Dotterel in which women rule. We also meet the ultimate killers, both by day (Peregrine) and by night (Barn Owl), and encounter the only true living monster in Scotland. At the same time, we find out how all these birds cope with living in seemingly inhospitable habitats such as muddy estuaries, lonely moorland or open ocean. Dominic Couzens is an acclaimed writer and bird tour leader, whose popular monthly columns in BBC Wildlife and Birdwatching magazines have brought a fresh and dynamic approach to writing about birds and birdwatching. His previous publications include Identifying Birds by Behaviour and Secret Lives of Garden Birds. Peter Partington's painting is widely admired for the uniquely vibrant and fluid style in which he captures the essence of bird behaviour. His previous publications include Learn to Draw Birds and Secret Lives of Garden Birds.

Secret Lives of British Birds

Secret Lives of British Birds PDF Author: Dominic Couzens
Publisher: Christopher Helm Publishers, Incorporated
ISBN: 9780713682809
Category : Birds
Languages : en
Pages : 160

Book Description
Britain's birds are among the best loved in the world, and also among the best studied. In recent times, these studies, rather like tabloid exclusives, have thrown up some surprising revelations and sullied a few reputations in the process. They have, above all, demonstrated that many of our birds lead much more complex lives than we previously thought. Following in the footsteps of the bestselling Secret Lives of Garden Birds, this trip around Britain's principal habitats looks beyond the confines of our gardens and parks to expose the extraordinary hidden world of some our most familiar birds. We learn the secrets of romance from Mute Swans, meet the perfect father in the Guillemot, the estranged couple (of Chiffchaffs) who share the same territory, and enter the bizarre, high-rise society of the Dotterel in which women rule. We also meet the ultimate killers, both by day (Peregrine) and by night (Barn Owl), and encounter the only true living monster in Scotland. At the same time, we find out how all these birds cope with living in seemingly inhospitable habitats such as muddy estuaries, lonely moorland or open ocean. Dominic Couzens is an acclaimed writer and bird tour leader, whose popular monthly columns in BBC Wildlife and Birdwatching magazines have brought a fresh and dynamic approach to writing about birds and birdwatching. His previous publications include Identifying Birds by Behaviour and Secret Lives of Garden Birds. Peter Partington's painting is widely admired for the uniquely vibrant and fluid style in which he captures the essence of bird behaviour. His previous publications include Learn to Draw Birds and Secret Lives of Garden Birds.

The Secret Lives of Puffins

The Secret Lives of Puffins PDF Author: Dominic Couzens
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 1408186691
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 178

Book Description
Puffins are among the most instantly recognisable, iconic and well loved of birds. For many they are a highlight of the UK's summer coastline and their colourful appearance, comedy antics and approachability just add to their popularity. Several 'hotspot' are attracting high levels of interest in visits to their colonies. In spite of the high level of interest in, and appeal of, these birds there has been a surprising lack of books focused on Puffins as a species. Award-winning wildlife photographer Mark Sisson has spent several years photographing Puffins and this new book combines images that beautifully encapsulate their charm and visual appeal with an accessible text written by leading wildlife writer Dominic Couzens. The book covers the birds' life cycle, behaviour, habitats and the current and future challenges that they face, along with many surprising facts and anecdotes.

Secret Lives Garden Birds

Secret Lives Garden Birds PDF Author: Dominic Couzens
Publisher: A & C Black
ISBN: 9780713692860
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 160

Book Description
Have you ever wondered what the birds in your garden get up to when they're not tucking into peanuts and seeds on the birdtable? This book takes us, month by month, into the secret lives of our most familiar garden birds, revealing inspiring, intriguing and scandalous real-life dramas.

The Secret Life of Birds

The Secret Life of Birds PDF Author: Colin Tudge
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 0141962100
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 672

Book Description
All animals are equal - but some, as George Orwell said, are more equal than others, and birds, most people would surely agree, are in the very first rank. They can do almost everything that mammals can do - and more. By mastering flight, they have a way of living that encompasses the whole world. In The Secret Life of Birds, Colin Tudge explores the life of birds, all around the globe. From the secrets of migration to their complicated family lives, their differing habitats and survival techniques to the secrets of flight, this is a fascinating account of how birds live, why they matter, and whether they really are dinosaurs. Colin Tudge shows how birds - who are like us in the general sense but very different in the particulars - live and think. For birds have minds: they feel, they are aware, they work things out. And so, by considering the birds, asking how and why it is possible for them to be so different, we gain insight into ourselves. Birds are beautiful, lively, intriguing - and all around us. This rich and endlessly absorbing book opens up their lives to everyone.

The Secret Lives of Garden Birds

The Secret Lives of Garden Birds PDF Author: Dominic Couzens
Publisher: Christopher Helm Publishers, Incorporated
ISBN: 9780713666168
Category : Birds
Languages : en
Pages : 160

Book Description
Have you ever wondered what the birds in your garden get up to when they're not tucking into peanuts and seeds on the birdtable?This book takes us, month by month, into the secret lives of our mostfamiliar garden birds, revealing inspiring, intriguing and scandalousreal-life dramas such as the ferocious turf battles of Robins, the profound family ties of Long-tailed Tits and the remarkable sex-life of the Dunnock.The amazing facts that it reveals will help you to understand,encourage and enjoy your garden birds more than ever before. Writtenwith engaging humourand enlivened throughout with dazzling colour paintings and photographs, this wonderful book will appeal to anyone who enjoys watching birds in their gardens.

The Secret Perfume of Birds

The Secret Perfume of Birds PDF Author: Danielle J. Whittaker
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 1421443481
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 195

Book Description
The untold story of a stunning discovery: not only can birds smell, but their scents may be the secret to understanding their world. The puzzling lack of evidence for the peculiar but widespread belief that birds have no sense of smell irked evolutionary biologist Danielle Whittaker. Exploring the science behind the myth led her on an unexpected quest investigating mysteries from how juncos win a fight to why cowbirds smell like cookies. In The Secret Perfume of Birds—part science, part intellectual history, and part memoir—Whittaker blends humor, clear writing, and a compelling narrative to describe how scent is important not just for birds but for all animals, including humans. Whittaker engagingly describes how emerging research has uncovered birds' ability to produce complex chemical signals that influence their behavior, including where they build nests, when they pick a fight, and why they fly away. Mate choice, or sexual selection—a still enigmatic aspect of many animals' lives—appears to be particularly influenced by smell. Whittaker's pioneering studies suggest that birds' sexy (and scary) signals are produced by symbiotic bacteria that manufacture scents in the oil that birds stroke on their feathers when preening. From tangerine-scented auklets to her beloved juncos, redolent of moss, birds from across the world feature in Whittaker's stories, but she also examines the smelly chemicals of all kinds of creatures, from iguanas and bees to monkeys and humans. Readers will enjoy a rare opportunity to witness the twisting roads scientific research can take, especially the challenging, hilarious, and occasionally dangerous realities of ornithology in the wild. The Secret Perfume of Birds will interest anyone looking to learn more about birds, about how animals and humans use our senses, and about why it can sometimes take a rebel scientist to change what we think we know for sure about the world—and ourselves.

A Bird A Day

A Bird A Day PDF Author: Dominic Couzens
Publisher: Batsford Books
ISBN: 1849946825
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 743

Book Description
'Perfect for dipping into, beautifully written, and great to look at.' – Birdwatching 'An ideal reference book for fledgling ornithologists.' – The Field The beauty and fascination of birds is unrivalled. Every day of the year, immerse yourself in their world with an entry from A Bird of Day, where Dominic Couzens offers an insight into everything from the humble Robin to Emperor Penguins, who are in the midst of Arctic storms protecting their young on 1 July. Or discover the fate of the Passenger Pigeon which became extinct through overhunting on 1 September 2014. If you ever visit the Himalayan uplands, go in late November when you can see a flock of the cobalt blue Grandala birds, which is one of the wonders of the natural world. The author is a world expert on birds and particularly bird behaviour and he reveals endless fascinating stories of birds from all over the globe to give a rich tapestry of avian life with stunning photography, illustration and arresting art. All of bird life is covered, from nesting, migration, and courting to birdsong and curious bird behaviour. From the promiscuous Fairywren of Australia, who gives petals to his mistresses, to the singing instructions of the female Northern Cardinal in North America, this is a delightful dip-in-and-out book for any nature lover.

Tales of Remarkable Birds

Tales of Remarkable Birds PDF Author: Dominic Couzens
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1408190257
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 331

Book Description
Throughout the bird world, examples of strange and seemingly inexplicable behaviours abound. For example: Why do Male Fairywrens bring flowers to females as a nuptial gift in the pre-dawn darkness? Especially when the gift-givers are not the official mates of the females concerned, but visitors, and furthermore they may give these gifts in full view of the official mate. Why do gangs of White-winged Choughs 'kidnap' their neighbours' fledglings and then keep them in their 'gang'. Which bird is so big, strong and fierce that stories abound of it killing humans? This book looks at accounts of murderous Cassowaries and explains just what might have happened. What happens in an albatross 'divorce'? This book divides the world by continent and takes a series of extraordinary stories from each to illustrate a great diversity of bird behaviour. Each continent will have around five or six stories, each described in 1500 to 2000 words and examining the truths and the mythology behind each example. An intriguiguing book from an author with an ability to engage with his audience.

Vesper Flights

Vesper Flights PDF Author: Helen Macdonald
Publisher: Grove Press
ISBN: 0802146694
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 282

Book Description
The New York Times–bestselling author of H is for Hawk explores the human relationship to the natural world in this “dazzling” essay collection (Wall Street Journal). In Vesper Flights, Helen Macdonald brings together a collection of her best loved essays, along with new pieces on topics ranging from nostalgia for a vanishing countryside to the tribulations of farming ostriches to her own private vespers while trying to fall asleep. Meditating on notions of captivity and freedom, immigration and flight, Helen invites us into her most intimate experiences: observing the massive migration of songbirds from the top of the Empire State Building, watching tens of thousands of cranes in Hungary, seeking the last golden orioles in Suffolk’s poplar forests. She writes with heart-tugging clarity about wild boar, swifts, mushroom hunting, migraines, the strangeness of birds’ nests, and the unexpected guidance and comfort we find when watching wildlife.

The Secret Life of Birds of Prey

The Secret Life of Birds of Prey PDF Author: Chloé Valerie Harmsworth
Publisher: White Owl
ISBN: 1399093258
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 234

Book Description
Enter the fascinating world of the UK’s birds of prey. These noble hunters, with their remarkable flying skills, good looks and mysterious ways, are amongst our most attractive and interesting wildlife. They are some of the most enigmatic and rare species too, and this book will reveal them to you. Learn about the falcons, hawks, kites, osprey and eagles that grace our skies and landscape – from their impact on our culture in past and recent times, their value and uses in falconry, the history of their persecution and decline at the hands of humans, to their return to the UK through our reintroduction and conservation efforts. Admire their beauty up close with gorgeous photography and take an extraordinary peek into their secretive world. Be inspired by the moving words of people across the UK, who have described their thrilling, first-hand encounters, and discover where you can ethically experience these birds for yourself, to form an enduring connection with nature and make memories that will last a lifetime. This accessible and inspiring guide will help you to uncover the details of the habits, habitat, behaviour and diet (and much more) of our UK birds of prey, and show you how they bring delight and magic into our lives.