Best of
Birds

2004

Handbook of Bird Biology


Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology - 2004
    This gloriously illustrated volume provides comprehensive college-level information about birds and their environments in a style accessible to nonscientists and teachers the world over.The "Handbook of Bird Biology" covers all major topics, from anatomy and physiology to ecology, behavior, and conservation biology. One full chapter addresses vocal communication and is accompanied by a CD of bird vocalizations. Produced by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology's world-renowned Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds, the CD illustrates key elements of bioacoustics.The book's text was written by 12 leading ornithologists and illustrated by respected photographers and acclaimed artist John Schmitt. It includes an extensive glossary and index, a list of the common and scientific names of all birds mentioned in the text, author profiles, suggested readings following each chapter, and a complete reference section.The "Handbook" serves as the backbone of the Lab's popular Home Study Course in Bird Biology, a self-paced course that can be taken from anywhere in the world, by anyone with a serious interest in birds who would like guidance from professional ornithologists. Comprehensive and readable guide covering all major topicsFree CD of bird vocalizations enclosedExtensive glossary and indexList of all common and scientific namesSuggested readingsComplete reference sectionCompanion to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology's popular Home Study Course in Bird Biology

Birds of the Carolinas Field Guide


Stan Tekiela - 2004
    There's no need to look through dozens of photos of birds that don't live in the Carolinas. This book features 140 species of Carolina birds, organized by color for ease of use. Do you see a yellow bird and don't know what it is? Go to the yellow section to find out. Fact-filled information, a compare feature, range maps and detailed photographs help to ensure that you positively identify the birds that you see.

The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon


Jacqueline Davies - 2004
     If there was one thing James loved to do more than anything else, it was to be in the great outdoors watching his beloved feathered friends. In the fall of 1804, he was determined to find out if the birds nesting near his Pennsylvania home would really return the following spring. Through careful observation, James laid the foundation for all that we know about migration patterns today. Capturing the early passion of this bird-obsessed young man as well as the meticulous study and scientific methods behind his research, this lively, gorgeously illustrated biography will leave young readers listening intently for the call of birds large and small near their own home.

National Wildlife Federation: Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife


David Mizejewski - 2004
    Colorful butterflies, uplifting songbirds, and lively toads can enhance the personal garden space, giving pleasure to nature lovers of all ages. National Wildlife Federation's® Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife provides over a dozen step-by-step projects for families to do together, making getting back to nature easy, educational, and fun.

John James Audubon


Richard Rhodes - 2004
    He had a talent for drawing and an interest in birds, and he would spend the next thirty-five years traveling to the remotest regions of his new country–often alone and on foot–to render his avian subjects on paper. The works of art he created gave the world its idea of America. They gave America its idea of itself. Here Richard Rhodes vividly depicts Audubon’s life and career: his epic wanderings; his quest to portray birds in a lifelike way; his long, anguished separations from his adored wife; his ambivalent witness to the vanishing of the wilderness. John James Audubon: The Making of an American is a magnificent achievement.

Birds of Texas Field Guide


Stan Tekiela - 2004
    There's no need to look through dozens of photos of birds that don't live in Texas. This book features 170 species of Texas birds, organized by color for ease of use. Do you see a yellow bird and don't know what it is? Go to the yellow section to find out. Fact-filled information, a compare feature, range maps and detailed photographs help to ensure that you positively identify the birds that you see.

The Race to Save the Lord God Bird


Phillip Hoose - 2004
    A powerful saga that sweeps through two hundred years of history, it introduces artists like John James Audubon, bird collectors like William Brewster, and finally a new breed of scientist in Cornell's Arthur A. "Doc" Allen and his young ornithology student, James Tanner, whose quest to save the Ivory-bill culminates in one of the first great conservation showdowns in U.S. history, an early round in what is now a worldwide effort to save species. As hope for the Ivory-bill fades in the United States, the bird is last spotted in Cuba in 1987, and Cuban scientists join in the race to save it.All this, plus Mr. Hoose's wonderful story-telling skills, comes together to give us what David Allen Sibley, author of The Sibley Guide to Birds calls "the most thorough and readable account to date of the personalities, fashions, economics, and politics that combined to bring about the demise of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker."The Race to Save the Lord God Bird is the winner of the 2005 Boston Globe - Horn Book Award for Nonfiction and the 2005 Bank Street - Flora Stieglitz Award.

Collins Complete Guide to British Birds


Paul Sterry - 2004
    It is the most complete photographic guide to British birds ever published and the only one to be designed to give everything that you need on each spread in a simple-to-use format. Every text entry covers identification of adults and juveniles, songs and calls, and where they are most likely to be found.Illustrated with specially commissioned photography and maps to show where in Britain the birds are found and at what time of year, this accessible guide also features cross-references to similar-looking species, containing everything a birdwatcher needs to know in one, easy-to-use, portable volume. It is the perfect photographic field guide for the birdwatching beginner.

Australian Magpie [op]: Biology and Behaviour of an Unusual Songbird


Gisela Kaplan - 2004
    Its impressive vocal abilities, its propensity to play and clown, and its willingness to interact with people, make the magpie one of our most well-known birds.This insightful book presents a comprehensive account of the behavior of one of Australia's best-loved icons. It reveals the extraordinary capabilities of the magpie, including its complex social behavior, in a highly readable text. The author brings together much of what we know about the magpie's biology and behavior, including her latest research on magpie vocalization as well as aspects of anatomy, physiology, development and health not published previously.

Birds Of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi (Helm Field Guides)


Terry Stevenson - 2004
    Covering all the resident, migrant and vagrant birds of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, this book describes some 1388 species in total.

Australian Magpie: Biology and Behaviour of an Unusual Songbird (Australian Natural History)


Gisela T. Kaplan - 2004
    Its impressive vocal abilities, its propensity to play and clown, and its willingness to interact with people, make the magpie one of our most well-known birds.This insightful book presents a comprehensive account of the behaviour of one of Australia's best-loved icons. It reveals the extraordinary capabilities of the magpie, including its complex social behaviour, in a highly readable text. The author brings together much of what we know about the magpie’s biology and behaviour, including her latest research on magpie vocalisation as well as aspects of anatomy, physiology, development and health not published previously.

Arrowhawk


Lola M. Schaefer - 2004
    Hawk flapped his wings and skimmed the earth. Then he beat his wings harder, rose, and flew over the trees. And straight as an arrow, Hawk soared into the wild.The story of an injured red-tailed hawk's survival and freedomA hungry red-tailed hawk sits near a fence post and devours his catch. Out of nowhere a poacher's arrow pierces his body, seriously injuring him and leaving him to fend for himself.This is the courageous true story of Arrowhawk-an endangered bird of prey who, with sheer determination and will, survives eight weeks in the wild with a poacher's arrow through his thigh and tail. Stunning illustrations capture his remarkable journey from peril and rescue to eventual freedom.  Arrowhawk is a 2005 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Charlie Chick


Nick Denchfield - 2004
    He has BIG feet, a BIG mouth, and a BIG belly. In fact, there's only one thing bigger than Charlie Chick. . . . Join the fun in this great big book featuring enormous pop-ups on every spread, a sound chip, and a HUGE surprise at the end.

Birds in Your Backyard: A Bird Lover's Guide to Creating a Garden Sanctuary


Robert J. Dolezal - 2004
    Just pull up a chair and let BIRDS IN YOUR BACKYARD reveal its secrets for creating an irresistible garden and a welcoming landscape alive with birds and butterflies.

A Blessing of Toads


Sharon Lovejoy - 2004
    Through this collection of delightful essays and beautiful illustrations, she shares with her readers the boundless joys of a country garden. Lovejoy has chosen to focus on animal life in the garden, including hummingbirds, caterpillars, and dragonflies, but her informative and witty prose also covers traditional plant care. The very titles of her sketches convey pleasure in the vibrant country landscape and the life that teems within it: “The Bumble Bee Rumba,” “Faeries in the Fuschias (sphinx moths),” “Holiday Feasts for the Birds and the Beasts,” and “Conversations with Sunflowers.” This compilation truly is—to borrow another of her titles—“Something to Crow About.” • Advertising in Country Living Gardener

The Healthy Bird Cookbook: A Lifesaving Nutritional Guide and Recipe Collection


Robin Deutsch - 2004
    It provides 150 creative, healthy, and easy-to-make recipes that are appropriate for almost all species of pet birds. The book also offers a thorough, extensive section on avian nutrition that clearly explains the roles of pellets and seeds, the food groups, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in your bird's diet. Authored by an avian expert with consultation from veterinarians, you can take comfort in the quality and nutritional value of these original recipes.

Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America


Klaus Malling Olsen - 2004
    With comprehensive text and detailed illustrations, this guide includes some familiar seabirds as well as some little-known and globally threatened species.

Birds of the Willamette Valley Region


Harry Nehls - 2004
    Covers over 200 birds located in the 9 counties of the valley but also covers the birds of Southwest Washington. Includes the basics of bird watching, attracting birds to your yard, selecting binoculars, and a regional checklist. Written by local birding experts ? perfect for beginning and intermediate birders.

Birds of Ohio


James S. McCormac - 2004
    Each account includes an accurate, full-color illustration and a range map, as well as detailed information on habitat, nesting, feeding, voice, similar species and best viewing locations. A Quick Reference Guide, organized into color-coded groupings, helps the birder in the field find a specific bird quickly and easily. The book also includes a map of the best birding sites in the state and describes a number of Ohio's most notable viewing locations. You'll also find a glossary of terms, birder's checklist and separate indexes for scientific and common names.

How to Read a North Carolina Beach: Bubble Holes, Barking Sands, and Rippled Runnels


Orrin H. Pilkey - 2004
    What makes sea foam? What are those tiny sand volcanoes along the waterline? You'll find the answers to these questions and dozens more in this comprehensive field guide to the state's beaches, which shows visitors how to decipher the mysteries of the beach and interpret clues to an ever-changing geological story.Orrin Pilkey, Tracy Monegan Rice, and William Neal explore large-scale processes, such as the composition and interaction of wind, waves, and sand, as well as smaller features, such as bubble holes, drift lines, and black sands. In addition, coastal life forms large and small--from crabs and turtles to microscopic animals--are all discussed here. The concluding chapter contemplates the future of North Carolina beaches, considering the threats to their survival and assessing strategies for conservation. This indispensable beach book offers vacationers and naturalists a single source for learning to appreciate and preserve the natural features of a genuine state treasure.Southern Gateways Guide is a registered trademark of the University of North Carolina PressWhat North Carolina island migrates sixteen feet toward the mainland every year?What forms the tiny volcanoes of sand that ooze bubbles of water?What is barking sand?Why do you sometimes sink ankle-deep in beach sand?What type of wave is not formed by wind? Why are clamshells usually found open-side-down in the sand?You'll find the answers to these questions and dozens more in this comprehensive field guide to the state's beaches, which shows visitors how to decipher the mysteries of the beach and interpret clues to an ever-changing geological story. Take a walk on the beach with three coastal experts who reveal the secrets and the science of the North Carolina shoreline.Southern Gateways Guide is a registered trademark of the University of North Carolina Press

Sam and Gus Light Up the Night!


P.D. Eastman - 2004
    D. Eastmanâ��s classic, Sam and the Firefly, Sam and his mischievous friend, the firefly, come to life with a little help from toddlers. With a turn of a wheel, a lift of a flap, and a slide of a tab, the firefly lights up the night, jumps in his jar, and saves the day!

The Secret Lives of Garden Birds


Dominic Couzens - 2004
    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.

Stokes Field Guide to Warblers


Donald Stokes - 2004
    Hailed on the cover of the Birding magazine (winter 2003) as "birding's first family," the Stokeses are increasingly recognized as America's leading writers on birds and the natural world.- The guide is organized according to the Stokeses' ingenious color-tab identification system and features a handy list of warbler "hot spots." The "Stokes Select" brand of bird feeders, houses, and seed is sold at Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouses (600 stores nationwide).

Audubon's Masterpieces


John James Audubon - 2004
    He realized his ambition with the publication of Birds of America. This pioneering work has become an undisputed classic. The 150 prints compiled here in Audubon's Masterpieces from the first Royal Octavo edition conclusively establish the breadth and depth of Audubon's Achievement. The son of a French naval officer and a Creole woman, Audubon was born in Haiti in 1785, educated in France and moved to his family's estate near Philadelphia in 1803. It was there that his love of birds and his desire to draw them became the driving force and consuming passion of his life. Audubon devoted his life to the single pursuit of accurately yet artistically capturing the intricate details and individual splendor of the birds of North America. The enduring popularity and relevance of his work attests to his success both as a scientist and an artist. Today, Audubon's name is synonymous with wildlife preservation, and he is recognized as one of the greatest artists of his time. The 150 prints in this book are known as being among the very best examples of Audubon artistry. From the Carolina Parrot, now sadly extinct, to the rare Whooping Crane and the more common blue birds and woodpeckers, Audubon's portrayals are among the finest examples of wildlife art in existence. This exquisite collection of plates represents Audubon's genius at its very height. Audubon's Masterpieces is without a doubt one of the most magnificent collections of bird prints every published.

On Ancient Wings: The Sandhill Cranes of North America


Michael Forsberg - 2004
    Elegant, noble, and spiritual, the sandhill crane is one of the most ancient of all birds. More than a half-million strong, flying in squadrons, these majestic creatures point northward to their Arctic and sub-Arctic breeding ranges. Theirs is an epic story of endurance through the ages. With 153 stunning color photographs, On Ancient Wings presents sandhill cranes in their wild but increasingly compromised habitats today. Over the course of five years, Michael Forsberg documented the tall gray birds in habitats ranging from the Alaskan tundra, to the arid High Plains, from Cuban nature preserves to suburban backyards. With an eye for beauty and an uncommon persistence, the author documents the cranes’ challenges to adapt and survive in a rapidly changing natural world. Forsberg argues that humankind, for its own sake, should secure the cranes’ place in the future. On Ancient Wings intertwines the lives of cranes, people, and their common places to tell an ancient story at a time when sandhill cranes and their wetland and grassland habitats face daunting prospects.

The TOS Handbook of Texas Birds


Mark W. Lockwood - 2004
    The most reliable one-stop source for the latest information on Texas birds, The TOS Handbook for Texas Birds is an indispensable companion for anyone who seriously birds or wants to learn more about the birds of Texas.

The Music of Wild Birds: An Illustrated, Annotated, and Opinionated Guide to Fifty Birds and Their Songs


Judy Pelikan - 2004
    Schuyler Mathews, an erudite naturalist and birder, theorized that birds sing first for love of music, and second for love of the lady. To expand on his theory, he actually scored the songs of birds in the wild. His charming text and bird-by-bird annotations were compiled into a guide called Field Book of Wild Birds and Their Music. This extraordinary work has now been lavishly illustrated and adapted for a new audience. Each bird is meticulously rendered by artist Judy Pelikan in full-color illustrations that feature not only the birds, but also their nests, eggs, and feathers. And every song is represented by its written musical score, which Mathews expertly explains in a way that both musicians and non-musicians can enjoy. As Mathews points out, the music of wild birds is everywhere--in poems, children's nursery songs, as well as in the works of the great composers: the Black-billed Cuckoo's call appears near the close of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony; the Nashville Warbler's song is found in the opening bars of Rossini's Carovale, and the Meadowlark's song is remarkably like the first two bars of Alfredo's song in La Traviata. He reveals how a bird's character is reflected in its song: the Baltimore Oriole is a sharp-billed, sharp-witted character, and his remarks are as incisive and crisp as the toots of a steam whistle. And he reminds us of the words of our great poets--Wordsworth, Emerson, Sir Walter Scott--and their descriptions of the very same birds and their music. This classic, useful, and completely original guide will put a song into the heart of novice and experienced birder alike.

Robins: Songbirds of Spring


Mia Posada - 2004
    Discover how these cheerful little birds with red feathers and gray fluttering wings live and grow. Rhyming verse and vivid illustrations reveal the song-filled world of this beloved bird. Activities and fun facts also included.

Hummingbird Nest: A Journal of Poems


Kristine O'Connell George - 2004
    Nest building, egg hatching, flying lessons--the family sees it all unfold on the back patio. Share the experience through this poignant journal of poems filled with funny observations, fascinating hummingbird facts, and unforgettable moments. "Includes an author's note, a fact list, and suggestions for further reading."

Blue Sky Bluebird


Rick Chrustowski - 2004
    Inside their nest box the female weaves layers of coarse grass into a circle. Then she presses her body into the middle to make a cup.A season in the life of a bluebird family In a cozy nest of grass a female bluebird lays her eggs, blue as the summer sky. When they hatch, there are four tiny chicks to feed. From morning to night, the parent birds hunt for tasty insects to give to their hungry brood. The chicks grow quickly, and within a few weeks they have enough feathers to learn to fly. At first their wings are shaky and unsure, but soon the fledglings are fast enough to catch their own meals. Now the nearly grown chicks can help their parents raise a new brood of hungry babies-before the cold winter drives the family south.

Know Your Bird Sounds, Volume 1: Yard, Garden, and City Birds


Lang Elliott - 2004
    Each book and CD provides an introduction to the sound repertoire of species living in eastern and central North America--a variety of calls from each species are included, along with an in-depth description and explanation of their significance. In addition to color photographs of the most common species, the text offers a fascinating look at the science of avian and amphibian calls, making these guides indispensable aids for the outdoor enthusiast. / Author: Lang Elliott / ISBN: 9780811729635

Birds of Illinois


Sheryl DeVore - 2004
    Quick refernece guide, organized into color-coded family groupoings

Hawks & Owls Of The Great Lakes Region & Eastern North America


Chris G. Earley - 2004
    With crisp, clean photographs and precise identification notes, this guide makes quick and accurate classifications easier.The families of birds includes:New world vultures Osprey, kites, eagles, hawks and allies Caracara and falcons Barn and bay owls Typical owls The information on each species is concisely organized and includes the differences between male and female, seasonal and immature plumage, morphs and distinctive markings. Color pictures and range maps accompany the text. The 180 photographs from award-winning photographers show these birds in their natural environments through the seasons. Comparison pages group similar-looking birds on a single page for quick reference.Hawks and Owls is a sturdy, pocket-sized field guide that will be indispensable to naturalists, students and birders at all levels of experience, from Florida to Ontario.

Irish birds (Collins Gem)


David Cabot - 2004
    Specially designed for people with a general interest in birds, the species have been carefully selected to include those that the non-specialist birdwatcher is most likely to see.Birds are grouped together according to where they are most likely to be seen: in gardens, parks and buildings; farmland and hedgerows; woodland and scrubland; moorland and upland; freshwater or coastal areas. In addition:• Sections start with background information about each of the major habitats• Essential identification characteristics are given for each species, along with clear illustrations• There are notes on distribution, numbers and migration for each species• General pages for thrushes, tits, sparrows, finches etc help you to distinguish similar speciesFinally, a 'places to visit' section details 74 of the best sites in Ireland for birdwatching, including when to visit, how to get there, and what you will see. Irish Birds is perfect for travelling in Ireland, is an ideal introduction to birdwatching, and makes the perfect gift for all nature lovers.

Why Do Birds Sing?


Joan Holub - 2004
    There is so much to know about birds. Why do they have feathers? Can parrots really talk? Why do birds build nests? Do birds like toys? Beginning readers will find the answers to these questions?and many more?in this lively, fact-filled book. Filled with colorful illustrations and photographs of wild and domestic birds, this is a perfect selection for any young bird-watcher or bird lover.

Birds: The Art of Ornithology


Jonathan Elphick - 2004
    Birds tells the remarkable story of the development of ornithological art through the ages, from the earliest images of birds in the Renaissance, through the Age of Exploration, to the present day. Brilliantly reproduced original artworks by such renowned artists as Audubon, Gould, MacGillivray, Thorburn, and Wolfe are included.The lively accompanying text tells the story of how ornithological art grew out of the naturalistic tradition of European painting to become a genre on its own, where the artist’s focus on aesthetic appeal was married to the scientist’s need for precision and detail. Many of the works reproduced in this volume have never before been published. The detailed text interweaves science, art history, biography, exploration, and travel to paint a vast and wondrous picture of the bygone world of artist-scientists, exotic birds, and faraway lands. It makes a perfect gift for anyone who loves fine prints and drawings or has an interest in nature or birding.

Birds of Montana Field Guide


Stan Tekiela - 2004
    There's no need to look through dozens of photos of birds that don't live in Montana. This book features 136 species of Montana birds, organized by color for ease of use. Do you see a yellow bird and don't know what it is? Go to the yellow section to find out. Fact-filled information, a compare feature, range maps and detailed photographs help to ensure that you positively identify the birds that you see.

The New Birdhouse Book: Inspiration and Instruction for Building 50 Birdhouses


Leslie Garisto - 2004
    For years, birdhouses were used to attract songbirds and protect vanishing species. Today, they are prized as folk art and desired because of the aesthetic qualities they bring to the home and garden.From fanciful houses that resemble animal figures to more traditional designs, such as dovecote and martin houses, this exquisite book features gorgeous birdhouses and tells the stories behind them.Author Leslie Garisto provides suggestions for using birdhouses as design accents in the garden or home and provides advice on what to look for, where to shop, and how much to pay for authentic birdhouses.

Jayson: The True Story of a 20 Year Old Bluejay


Vicki Formato - 2004
    It is similar in many ways to Margaret Stanger's book "That Quail, Robert". Jayson was rescued by Vicki after hopping into her life in August, 1984. The bird has lived with Vicki and her family ever since, and is still alive, now residing on Cape Cod. Jayson's story includes how the bird came into Vicki's life, rehabilitation efforts, why the bird was not "put down", its unusual personality and strange behaviors, medical problems and surgeries, and the little bird's influence on Vicki and her family.