Showing 1–12 of 34 results
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The Peregrine Returns: The Art and Architecture of an Urban Raptor
Artist/Author: Hennen, Mary (Author), Peggy Macnamara (Illustrator), Stephanie Ware (Illustrator), John Bates (Foreword By)$56.00 Add to cartPeregrine falcons have their share of claims to fame. With a diving speed of over two hundred miles per hour, these birds of prey are the fastest animals on earth or in the sky, and they are now well known for adapting from life on rocky cliffs to a different kind of mountain: modern skyscrapers. But adaptability only helps so much. In 1951, there were no peregrines left in Illinois, for instance, and it looked as if the species would be wiped out entirely in North America. Today, however, peregrines are flourishing.
In The Peregrine Returns, Mary Hennen gives wings to this extraordinary conservation success story. Drawing on the beautiful watercolours of Field Museum artist-in-residence Peggy Macnamara and photos by Field Museum research assistant Stephanie Ware, as well as her own decades of work with peregrines, Hennen uses a program in Chicago as a case study for the peregrines’ journey from their devastating decline to the discovery of its cause (a thinning of eggshells caused by a by-product of DDT), through to recovery, revealing how the urban landscape has played an essential role in enabling falcons to return to the wild – and how people are now learning to live in close proximity to these captivating raptors.
Both a model for conservation programs across the country and an eye-opening look at the many creatures with which we share our homes, this richly illustrated story is an inspiring example of how urban architecture can serve not only our cities’ human inhabitants, but also their wild ones.
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The Eagle Owl
Artist/Author: Penteriani, Vincenzo, María del Mar Delgado$115.00 Add to cartThe definitive work on Europe’s largest and most spectacular owl. The Eagle Owl – known rather more evocatively as the Uhu in German, in reference to its haunting, far-carrying nocturnal call – is a very large and impressive bird of prey. One of the largest owls in the world, it is a fierce hunter of large birds and mammals up to the size of foxes and small deer, and as an undisputed top predator, its ecology is fascinating. This Poyser monograph looks at distribution, foraging ecology, migration, breeding behaviour, conservation issues and population dynamics of this spectacular bird, across its vast Eurasian range. The authors, Vincenzo Penteriani and María del Mar Delgado, have undertaken many years of research on populations in and around the Coto Doñana in Spain. Other populations considered include the tiny, recently introduced one in England. This is the ultimate reference to what in many ways is Europe’s ultimate predator.
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Birds of Prey of Australia: A Field Guide (Third Edition)
Artist/Author: Debus, Stephen$45.00 Add to cartRaptors are popular and iconic birds, and are important ecologically, with some species listed as threatened. Yet they are among the most difficult birds to identify. This fully updated Third Edition of the popular and award-winning field guide Birds of Prey of Australia contains two sections: a field guide with distribution maps, detailed illustrations and information on identification; and a handbook which includes an overview of the current knowledge about raptors, including their biology, ecology and behaviour. An illustrated section on difficult-to-distinguish species pairs is also included, along with new photographs.
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A Parliament of Owls
Artist/Author: Unwin, Mike (Author), David Tipling (Illustrator), Tony Angell (Foreword By)$60.00 Add to cartOwls have always featured prominently in the mythology and folklore of a variety of cultures. These mysterious nocturnal creatures are thought to be symbols of wisdom, omens of death, and bringers of prophecy, and they have intrigued humankind since the earliest times.
To the ornithologist, of course, owls are simply birds of prey that are supremely adapted to hunting after dark. Equipped with extraordinary sensory perception that allows them to operate in complete darkness, they have evolved an impressive variety of forms. Common to all are the hooked bill and needle-sharp talons weapons every bit as lethal as those of eagles and other diurnal raptors. Among the owl’s unusual features are flight feathers with unzipped barbs that effectively silence its approach, and ears placed asymmetrically on the head, allowing it to calculate distance in the vertical as well as the horizontal plane and thus make pinpoint accurate strikes in pitch darkness by hearing alone.
A lavish celebration of these compelling birds, A Parliament of Owls looks at fifty of the most striking and interesting owl species around the world. It paints detailed portraits of characters as diverse as the Snowy Owl, which captures lemmings on the Arctic tundra, and the Burrowing Owl, which lives in dusty hollows beneath the South American pampas.
Mike Unwin, who has watched and admired owls all over the world, captures the essence of each species, while explaining the unique natural history that has made these silent assassins the most effective feathered predators of darkness. Along the way he describes a fascinating range of breeding and hunting behaviour, the unusual calls that have given rise to so much superstition, and the cultural impact of owls around the world.
A stunning range of photographs, taken and compiled by David Tipling, one of Britain’s foremost bird photographers, captures the beauty of each species and the drama of the landscapes they inhabit.
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Ospreys: The Revival of a Global Raptor
Artist/Author: Poole, Alan F.$78.00 Add to cartOspreys are one of the few bird species that are found throughout the world. From forests in Hokkaido to rivers in Oregon and islands off Australia, ospreys steal the show as nature lovers easily watch them build their massive nests and tend to their young. The fact that the osprey is one of the few large birds that can hover adds to its mystique, and to watch it plunge into the water, emerging with a fish clutched in its talons, is truly a sight one will remember.
As widespread as Ospreys are, not long ago they were under threat of extinction. During the 1950s and ’60s, scientists tied the decline of osprey populations to the heavy use of DDT and other human pollutants. In the 1980s, ospreys began a slow recovery due to the efforts of conservationists and through the resilience of the adaptable raptors themselves. Today they are again considered common in most parts of the world, although some populations remain threatened.
In this gorgeously illustrated book, Alan F. Poole, one of America’s premier osprey experts, has written a lyrical exposé of these majestic creatures, describing their daily habits and exploring their relationship with the environment. Ospreys: The Revival of a Global Raptor celebrates the species’ miraculous recovery from contaminants and hunters, chronicles their spectacular long-distance migrations, and unveils their vital role in bringing life to coastal habitats. Few other birds have such a hold on the human imagination. This book shows us why.
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Birds of Prey: Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, and Vultures of North America
Artist/Author: Dunne, Pete, Kevin T Karlson$38.00 Add to cartA visually stunning, comprehensive resource on North America’s birds of prey.
Always a popular group of birds, raptors symbolize freedom and fierceness, and in Pete Dunne’s definitive guide, these traits are portrayed in hundreds of stunning color photographs showing raptors up close, in flight, and in action fighting, hunting, and nesting. These gorgeous photographs enhance the comprehensive, authoritative text, which goes far beyond identification to cover raptor ecology, behavior, conservation, and much more. In returning to his forte and his first love, Pete Dunne has crafted a benchmark book on raptors: the first place to turn for any question about these highly popular birds, whether it’s what they eat, where they live, or how they behave. Pete Dunne forged a bond with nature as a child and has been studying hawks for more than forty years. He has written fifteen books and countless magazine and newspaper columns. He was the founding director of the Cape May Bird Observatory and now serves as New Jersey Audubon’s Birding Ambassador. He lives in Mauricetown, New Jersey. Kevin Karlson is an accomplished birder, tour leader, and wildlife photographer.
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Australian Birds of Prey in Flight: A Photographic Guide
Artist/Author: Seaton, Richard, Mat Gilfedder, Stephen Debus$40.00 Add to cartIdentify the eagles, hawks, kites and falcons flying high above you with this photographic guide.
Birds of prey spend most of their time in flight and, when viewed from the ground, they are notoriously hard to identify. Australian Birds of Prey in Flight is a photographic guide to the eagles, hawks, kites and falcons flying high above you. Individual species profiles describe distinguishing features and the text is supported by detailed images showing the birds at six different angles and poses, using photographs from many of Australia’s leading bird photographers. Annotated multi-species comparison plates highlight key features that can help differentiate birds of prey in flight.
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The Empire of the Eagle: An Illustrated Natural History
Artist/Author: Unwin, Mike (Author), David Tipling (Illustrator)$85.00 Add to cartEagles hold a unique allure among birds for their combination of power, grace, and predatory prowess. Captivating the human imagination, these raptors have symbolized pride, freedom, and independence of spirit since humankind’s earliest times. This book, unlike any previous volume, encompasses each of the world’s sixty-eight currently recognized eagle species, from the huge Steller’s Sea Eagle that soars above Japan’s winter ice floes to the diminutive Little Eagle that hunts over the Australian outback. Mike Unwin’s vivid and authoritative descriptions combined with stunning photographs taken or curated by David Tipling deliver a fascinating and awe-inspiring volume. Featuring chapters organized by habitat, the book investigates the lifestyle and unique adaptations of each eagle species, as well as the significance of eagles in world cultures and the threats they face from humans. A gorgeous appreciation of eagles, this book will dazzle both eye and imagination.
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African Raptors (Helm Identification Guide)
Artist/Author: Clark, William S (Author), Rob Davies (Illustrator), Peter Steyn (Foreword By)$100.00 Add to cartThe most comprehensive guide to African raptors ever published.
Due to its large land mass and impressive variety of habitats, Africa has the most diverse range of raptors of any continent – with almost a third of the world’s species occurring in the region. These diurnal birds of prey are well known for their hooked bill and powerful talons, as well as their keen vision that enables them to accurately detect their prey during flight.
This authoritative guide, part of the Helm Identification series, features all 106 species found in Africa, with particular emphasis on their field identification. Encompassing falcons, eagles, ospreys, kites, vultures and more, African Raptors discusses the identification of both perched and flying birds, bringing together the very latest research with accurate distribution maps, more than 300 colour photographs and 52 superb plates that illustrate a broad range of ages and racial plumage differences.
This book is the ultimate reference on these remarkable birds, and will be indispensable for all birders and ornithologists with an interest in birds of prey.
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Urban Raptors: Ecology and Conservation of Birds of Prey in Cities
Artist/Author: Boal, Clint W (Editor), Cheryl R Dykstra (Editor)$55.00 Add to cartThe go-to single source of information on urban birds of preyUrban Raptors is the first book to offer a complete overview of urban ecosystems in the context of bird-of-prey ecology and conservation. This comprehensive volume examines the urban environment, explains why some species adapt to urban areas but others do not, and introduces modern research tools to help in the study of urban raptors. It delves into climate change adaptation, human-wildlife conflict, and the unique risks birds of prey face in urban areas before concluding with real-world wildlife management case studies and suggestions for future research and conservation efforts.
Among researchers, urban green space planners, wildlife management agencies, birders, and informed citizens alike, Urban Raptors will foster a greater understanding of birds of prey and an increased willingness to accommodate them as important members, not intruders, of our cities.
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Hawks at a Distance: Identification of Migrant Raptors
Artist/Author: Liguori, Jerry$45.00 Add to cartThe ultimate must-have guide for identifying migrant raptors, Hawks at a Distance is the first volume to focus on distant raptors as they are truly seen in the field. Jerry Liguori, a leading expert on North American raptors, factors in new information and approaches for identifying twenty-nine species of raptor in various lighting situations and settings. The field guide’s nineteen full-color portraits, 558 color photos, and 896 black-and-white images portray shapes and plumages for each species from all angles. Useful flight identification criteria are provided and the accompanying text discusses all aspects of in-flight hawk identification, including flight style and behavior. Concentrating on features that are genuinely observable at a distance, this concise and practical field guide is ideal for any aspiring or experienced hawk enthusiast.
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Birds of Prey of the West: A Field Guide
Artist/Author: Wheeler, Brian K.$65.00 Add to cartBirds of Prey of the West and its companion volume, Birds of Prey of the East, (see stock id 16915) are the most comprehensive and authoritative field guides to North American birds of prey ever published. Written and lavishly illustrated with stunning, life-like paintings by leading field-guide illustrator, photographer, and author Brian Wheeler, Birds of Prey of the West depicts an enormous range of variations of age, sex, colour, and plumage, and feature a significant amount of plumage data that has never been published before.
The painted figures illustrate plumage and species comparisons in a classic field-guide layout. Each species is shown in the same posture and from the same viewpoint, which further assists comparisons. Facing-page text includes quick-reference identification points and brief natural history accounts that incorporate the latest information. The range maps are exceptionally accurate and much larger than those in other guides. They plot the most up-to-date distribution information for each species and include the location of cities for more accurate reference. Finally, Birds of Prey of the West features colour habitat photographs next to the maps. The result sets a new standard for guides to North America’s birds of prey.
