Birdbooker Report 57

tags: Birdbooker Report, bird books, animal books, natural history books, ecology books

The Birdbooker Report is a special weekly report of a wide variety of science, nature and behavior books that currently are, or soon will be available for purchase. This report is written by one of my Seattle birding pals and book collector, Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen, and is edited by me and published here for your information and enjoyment. Below the fold is this week's issue of The Birdbooker Report which lists ecology, environment, natural history and bird books that are (or will soon be) available for purchase.

FEATURED TITLE:

1. Meyer, David L. and Richard Arnold Davis. A Sea Without Fish: Life in the Ordovician Sea of the Cincinnati Region. 2009. Indiana University Press. Hardbound: 347 pages. Price: $44.95 U.S. [Amazon: $29.67]. SUMMARY: During the Ordovician Period, about 450 million years ago, a shallow sea covered most of what is now North America. The Cincinnati (Ohio) region has produced an abundance of invertebrate fossils from this time period. This well illustrated book, which includes 14 color plates, discusses these fossil finds. Anyone with an interest in the life found during the Ordovician Period will want this book!

New and Recent Titles:

1. Arlott, Norman. Birds of Europe, Russia, China, and Japan (Non-passerines: Loons to Woodpeckers). 2009. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 240 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S.[Amazon: $19.77]. SUMMARY: This illustrated checklist covers the non-passerines of the Palearctic. The companion volume covering the passerines was published in 2007. Birders traveling to regions of the Palearctic not covered by more detailed field guides should find these guides useful. GrrlScientist comment: This is a book I need to add to my collection of field guides since I travel to Finland frequently -- although, not frequently enough! Hopefully, there will be more field guides appearing soon in this series.
2. Ponomarenko, Elena and Ian Dyck. Ancient Nomands of the Eurasian and North American Grasslands. 2007. Canadian Museum of Civilization. Paperback: 168 pages. Prices: $34.95 U.S. [Amazon: $28.59]. SUMMARY: Nomadic lifestyles dependent on herd animals developed independently on the grasslands of Eurasia and North America about 5,000 years ago. This book explores the similarities and differences between these two cultures. GrrlScientist comment: This book looks fascinating!
3. Hansell, Mike. Built by Animals: The natural history of animal architecture. 2009. Oxford University Press. Paperback: 268 pages. Price: $18.95 U.S. [Amazon: $14.78]. SUMMARY: The author introduces the subject of animal architecture to the general public. Anyone with an interest in animal behavior will like this book.