Birdbooker Report 67

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. Paulson, Dennis. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West. 2009. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 535 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S. [Amazon: $19.77]. SUMMARY: This book is the first fully illustrated field guide to all 348 species of dragonflies and damselflies of western North America. This guide is divided into two main parts: the introductory material and the species accounts. The species accounts contain information on the following: description, identification, natural history, habitat, flight season and distribution. Each species has a color range map and two or more color photos. Anyone with an interest in the dragonflies and damselflies of western North America will want this book! GrrlScientist comment: Because he was the instructor of my "Master Birder" class as well as being a fellow birder in the Seattle area, I know Dennis Paulson very well, so I cannot review this book due to the veil of impartiality that I should maintain for my reviews. I own others of his books and I can say without reservation that he writes wonderful books.

New and Recent Titles:

1. Clare, Horatio. A Single Swallow: Following an Epic Journey from South Africa to South Wales. 2009. Chatto & Windus. Hardbound: 327 pages. Price: £17.99 GBP (about $28.64 U.S.). [Amazon: £12.59]. SUMMARY: A journey of 6,000 miles across two continents and fourteen countries is nothing for (barn) swallows (Hirundo rustica): they do it twice a year. The author followed migrating swallows from reed beds outside Bloemfontein (South Africa), where millions roost in February, to a barn in Wales, where a pair nest in May -- and found much more than he was looking for. GrrlScientist comment: So, what did he find? Love? If this was just a bird story, I'd have to read it, but a "birdy" love story? Where's my review copy of this book?
2. Heinrich, Bernd. Summer World: A Season of Bounty. 2009. ECCO. Hardbound: 253 pages. Price: $26.99 U.S. [Amazon: $17.81]. SUMMARY: In a sequel to the author's Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival , he now focuses on Summer and the complex interactions of animals and plants during the extremes of these warmer months. This title is illustrated with dozens of the author's own drawings, including 8 color plates. Fans of Heinrich's works will want this book! GrrlScientist comment: I own and have read every book ever written by Heinrich (except "Winter World" and now, this book), but I love his writing for its clarity, humor and insight more than probably that of any other scientist.
3. Hutton, Ronald. Blood and Mistletoe: The History of the Druids in Britain. 2009. Yale University Press. Hardbound: 491 pages. Price: $45.00 U.S. [Amazon: $32.40]. SUMMARY: Crushed by the Romans in the first century AD, the ancient Druids of Britain left almost no reliable evidence behind. Hutton's book is the first to encompass two thousand years of Druid history and to explore the evolution of attitudes towards them. GrrlScientist comment: What's not to be fascinated by regarding this book? I've always been fascinated by the druids, and would love to read and review this book, too.
4. Lane, Nick. Life Ascending: The Ten Great Inventions of Evolution. 2009. W.W. Norton. Hardbound: 344 pages. Price: $26.95 U.S. [Amazon: $17.79]. SUMMARY: Biochemist Nick Lane identifies and explains the ten most important components of evolution. They are: the origin of life, DNA, photosynthesis, the complex cell, sex, movement, sight, hot blood, consciousness and death. Anyone interested in evolution will want to read this book. GrrlScientist comment: Since I am one class away from a BS in Biochemistry, I am extremely curious to read this book to learn more about this biochemist's view of evolution. Although I do think the title is rather .. peculiar and suggestive of something that is not true about evolution.
5. Snyder, Noel F.R., David E. Brown and Kevin B. Clark. The Travails of Two Woodpeckers: Ivory-Bills and Imperials. 2009. University of New Mexico Press. Hardbound: 170 pages. Price: $27.95 U.S. [Amazon: $24.51]. SUMMARY: The authors examine the decline and extinction of the ivory-billed and imperial woodpeckers. GrrlScientist comment: Yet another book I simply MUST read and review on my blog!