Niven Library - FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology Library Guide: New Books

Makgadikgadi, Botswana’s dusty wetlands Dust and water are perhaps not the most exciting ingredients for a tourist destination. But in the Makgadikgadi they constitute a mixture that allows life to flourish in an otherwise desolate landscape. Water is the major life-giver. Certainly at those times when it is plentiful as it was in the 2016/17 rainy season, when large-scale flooding saturated soils and recharged underground water stores. Add dust to water and there is mud, prompting a friend to coin the term ’Makgadimuddy’. Mud is home to shrimps and other aquatic life and this, in turn, sustains thousands of flamingo and other waterbirds. And dried mud turns into mineral rich ‘salt-licks’ for zebra and other animals. Water supports vegetation, including salt-tolerant grasses and majestic Baobab trees. Extensive nutrient rich grasslands support thousands of migrating zebra and wildebeest as well as people's livestock. Add rock into the picture and we have diamond to sustain the economy. Finally add people, who will use all resources, some to be consumed and others to be used renewably. Now we have the actors and the scene set for a dusty wetland called Makgadikgadi. This book explores the processes that support the functioning of the Makgadikgadi’s pan-landscapes and probes the ways and means by which people over the ages have made a living there. Challenges for the future are also looked into

In 1894, a lighthouse keeper named David Lyall arrived on Stephens Island off New Zealand with a cat named Tibbles. In just over a year, the Stephens Island Wren, a rare bird endemic to the island, was rendered extinct. Mounting scientific evidence confirms what many conservationists have suspected for some time―that in the United States alone, free-ranging cats are killing birds and other animals by the billions. Equally alarming are the little-known but potentially devastating public health consequences of rabies and parasitic Toxoplasma passing from cats to humans at rising rates. Cat Wars tells the story of the threats free-ranging cats pose to biodiversity and public health throughout the world, and sheds new light on the controversies surrounding the management of the explosion of these cat populations.

This compelling book traces the historical and cultural ties between humans and cats from early domestication to the current boom in pet ownership, along the way accessibly explaining the science of extinction, population modeling, and feline diseases. It charts the developments that have led to our present impasse―from Stan Temple's breakthrough studies on cat predation in Wisconsin to cat-eradication programs underway in Australia today. It describes how a small but vocal minority of cat advocates has campaigned successfully for no action in much the same way that special interest groups have stymied attempts to curtail smoking and climate change.

Cat Wars paints a revealing picture of a complex global problem―and proposes solutions that foresee a time when wildlife and humans are no longer vulnerable to the impacts of free-ranging cats.

This book describes in fascinating detail the wildlife, wild places and wild personalities that occupied Angola’s conservation landscape through four decades of war and a decade of peace. Intrigues, assassinations, corruption, greed and incompetence ‒ during the colonial era, through the horrific war and most especially throughout the crony-capitalist kleptocracy of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos ‒ have resulted in the extinction of most of its formerly abundant wildlife populations and the decay and erosion of a once endless Eden. This is the first book to integrate the political, economic and environmental threads that account for the postcolonial tragedy of one of Africa’s most biologically diverse countries. A corrupt government has robbed the country of its vast oil and diamond wealth, of its environmental health, of its morality and of its soul. It was not always so. The author was appointed ecologist to Angola’s National Parks in 1971. But the vast open spaces, peaceful stillness and tropical luxuriance that he found during the four years they spent exploring and developing the country’s wildlife reserves was not to last. The powder keg of anger against centuries of colonial exploitation ‒ of slavery, of forced labor and of an abusive system of penal settlement ‒ could not be contained. Bloody nationalist uprisings led to the abandonment of Angola by Portugal and the transition from random guerrilla skirmishes with a colonial army into a brutal civil war that cost over one million lives. Despite its scarred history, the author believes the country can still rebuild its national parks and save much of its wildlife and wilderness. But this can only happen if the current ageig autocracy makes space for a new generation of Angolan conservationists.

A rollicking true-crime adventure and a thought-provoking exploration of the human drive to possess natural beauty for readers of The Stranger in the Woods, The Lost City of Z, and The Orchid Thief.

On a cool June evening in 2009, after performing a concert at London’s Royal Academy of Music, twenty-year-old American flautist Edwin Rist boarded a train for a suburban outpost of the British Museum of Natural History. Home to one of the largest ornithological collections in the world, the Tring museum was full of rare bird specimens whose gorgeous feathers were worth staggering amounts of money to the men who shared Edwin’s obsession: the Victorian art of salmon fly-tying. Once inside the museum, the champion fly-tier grabbed hundreds of bird skins–some collected 150 years earlier by a contemporary of Darwin’s, Alfred Russel Wallace, who’d risked everything to gather them–and escaped into the darkness.

Two years later, Kirk Wallace Johnson was waist high in a river in northern New Mexico when his fly-fishing guide told him about the heist. He was soon consumed by the strange case of the feather thief. What would possess a person to steal dead birds? Had Edwin paid the price for his crime? What became of the missing skins? In his search for answers, Johnson was catapulted into a years-long, worldwide investigation. The gripping story of a bizarre and shocking crime, and one man’s relentless pursuit of justice, The Feather Thief is also a fascinating exploration of obsession, and man’s destructive instinct to harvest the beauty of nature

Nonpareil science writer David Quammen explains how recent discoveries in molecular biology can change our understanding of evolution and life’s history, with powerful implications for human health and even our own human nature.

In the mid-1970s, scientists began using DNA sequences to reexamine the history of all life. Perhaps the most startling discovery to come out of this new field—the study of life’s diversity and relatedness at the molecular level—is horizontal gene transfer (HGT), or the movement of genes across species lines. It turns out that HGT has been widespread and important. For instance, we now know that roughly eight percent of the human genome arrived not through traditional inheritance from directly ancestral forms, but sideways by viral infection—a type of HGT.

This book consists of a diverse collection of chapters that seeks to broaden our fundamental understanding of the ecological function and biological importance of the Earth’s lower atmosphere, which provides a huge living space for billions of animals moving within and across continents. Their migration, dispersal and foraging activities connect water and land habitats within and across continents. Drawing upon the wide-ranging experience of the authors, the book takes an inherently interdisciplinary approach that serves to introduce the reader to the topic of aeroecology, frame some of the basic biological questions that can be addressed within the context of aeroecology, and highlight several existing and emerging technologies that are being used to promote aeroecological studies. The book begins with several background chapters, that provide introduction into such topics as atmospheric science, the concept of the habitat, animal physiology, and methods of navigation. It then continues with a broad discussion of observational methods available to and used by aeroecologists. Finally, several targeted examples of aeroecological studies are presented. Following the development of the chapters, the reader is provided with a unifying framework for investigating how the dynamic properties of meteorological conditions at local, regional, and global scales affect the organisms that depend on the air for foraging and movement. Material presented in the book should be of interest to anyone wishing to gain a comprehensive understanding of the aerosphere itself and the myriad airborne organisms that inhabit and depend upon this environment for their existence. The material should be accessible to a diverse set of readers at all stages of training and across a range of research expertise.

Brood parasitism has become one of the most flourishing areas of research in evolutionary ecology and one of the best model systems for investigating coevolution. This subject has undergone remarkable advances during the last two decades, but has not been covered by any book in the 21st century.

This book offers a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the fascinating field of avian brood parasitism. The topics covered include conspecific brood parasitism; evolution and phylogenetic history of avian brood parasites; parasitic behaviour used by brood parasites; adaptations and counter-adaptations of brood parasites and their hosts at every stage of the breeding cycle (before laying, egg, chick and fledgling stages); factors affecting the evolution of host defences and parasitic attacks; the role of phenotypic plasticity in host defences; mechanisms driving egg recognition and rejection; evolution of nest sharing or nest killing by brood parasite chicks; begging behaviour in parasitized nests and food delivery by host adults; and recognition of conspecifics by juvenile brood parasites. This volume provides a comprehensive reference resource for readers and researchers with an interest in birds, behaviour and evolution, as well as a source of hypotheses and predictions for future investigations into this dynamic subject.

A highly technical guide for researchers, used for bird banding, which includes data for 395 species and 857 subspecies. The data includes plumage, molt patterns, measurements (wing, tail, bill, tarsus, mass), sexing, and ageing information.

Eagerly awaited second part of the identification guide to aid ornithologists in ageing and sexing of birds.

Provides beekeepers with information on the nectar and pollen value of South African beeplants, whether indigenous or exotic, grown in orchards or plantations, or whether ornamental or weeds. Additionally, flowering times are documented and the pollination needs of crop plants are addressed.

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.

African Raptors is the ultimate reference on these remarkable birds, and will be indispensable for all birders and ornithologists with an interest in birds of prey.

The original Birds of the West Midlands, produced for the West Midland Bird Club's 50th anniversary, was highly acclaimed at the time. Now, 25 years on, the long-awaited New Birds of the West Midlands, has been expanded to almost 500 pages.

Over 330 species have been recorded in the region and the bulk of The New Birds of the West Midlands is devoted to giving an updated account of every one. This analyses the number and frequency of occurrences, the distribution within the region, population trends and gives full details of those rare birds that have occurred less than twenty times. There is also information on the best sites to see many species, migration movements, ringing recoveries and much more. This comprehensive analysis has revealed some unexpected and fascinating facts that may well surprise both expert and novice alike.

In addition to the species accounts, there is a review of the habitat changes that have occurred. This is based on sub-regions that broadly correspond to English Nature's Natural Areas. There are also chapters covering birds, climate and weather; and ringing and migration – both of which provide a broad overview to complement the individual species accounts. For those with an interest in history and people as well as birds, there is a section on the West Midland Bird Club and some of its many well-known personalities, such as Horace Alexander and Tony Norris. The extensive foreword has been written by our president, Bill Oddie.

The informative text is liberally amplified with explanatory charts and maps and enlivened by 50 of Steve Cale's drawings. There are also around 70 colour photographs that illustrate the main habitats and their birds; some species that have declined and some that have increased; and a selection of those new to the region since 1979. This hardback book will also come with a wrap-around dust jacket depicting a stunning, specially commissioned painting by Mike Warren.

Dr Michael Jarvis's study of nature started when he was twelve years old, collecting butterflies in the forest of Kenya. He enjoyed a great variety of interactions with wildlife. This book is a summary of his personal journey of discovery.

This is the first book dedicated to birding in South Africa's national parks. The 19 featured national parks are grouped within the four biogeographic regions – northern, arid, frontier and Cape regions. Birding in South Africa's National Parks offers a concise introduction and summary of birding within each park. Pertinent and interesting facts about where to find birds, including the top 10 birds of each park and a description of general habitats, are presented in a readable fashion.

Over one hundred photographs illustrate some of the special birds found in the parks. Of the 700 regulary seen terrestrial species in South Africa, at least 640 can be found in the 19 national parks, with 13 of the 15 species endemic to South Africa and another 19 of the 20 species endemic to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Bird species commonly found in each park are listed at the back of the book.

Birding in South Africa's National Parks will be a worthy addition to the bookshelves of bird enthusiasts, particularly birders and ecotuourists visiting South Africa from across the world.

The Ascent of Birds is divided into self-contained chapters, or stories, that collectively encompass the evolution of modern birds from their origins in Gondwana, over 100 million years ago, to the present day. The stories are arranged in chronological order, from tinamous to tanagers, and describe the many dispersal and speciation events that underpin the world's 10,500-plus species. Although each chapter is spearheaded by a named bird and focuses on a specific evolutionary mechanism, the narrative will often explore the relevance of such events and processes to evolution in general.

A book for birdwatchers, ornithologists and anyone interested in evolution. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about how birds diversified and spread, or how a species or behaviour evolved, this is the book for you.

Climate Change at the City Scale presents a fresh contribution to climate change literature, which has largely neglected the role of cities in spite of their increasingly important role in the global economy. The book focuses on the impacts of climate change in the rapidly evolving city of Cape Town, and captures the experiences of the Cape Town Climate Change Think Tank, a hybrid knowledge partnership which has produced research on a range of urban governance, impacts, mitigation and adaptation challenges by the City.

Cape Town has long been acknowledged as an innovator in the area of urban environmental management, notwithstanding its limited resources to manage the demand for a more resilient and equitable future. By documenting the work and experiences of the City’s efforts to define its own climate future, the book provides a provocative case study of the way in which the science-policy interface can be managed to inform urban transformation.

Raptors are an unusual success story of wildness thriving in the heart of our cities—they have developed substantial populations around the world in recent decades. But there are deeper issues around how these birds make their urban homes. New research provides insight into the role of raptors as vital members of the urban ecosystem and future opportunities for protection, management, and environmental education.

A cutting-edge synthesis of over two decades of scientific research, Urban 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 urban environments, 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 also 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.

Boal and Dykstra have compiled the go-to single source of information on urban birds of prey. 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.

The cognitive abilities of birds are remarkable: hummingbirds integrate spatial and temporal information about food sources, day-old chicks have a sense of numbers, parrots can make and use tools, and ravens have sophisticated insights in social relationships. This volume describes the full range of avian cognitive abilities, the mechanisms behind such abilities and how they relate to the ecology of the species. Synthesising the latest research in avian cognition, a range of experts in the field provide first-hand insights into experimental procedures, outcomes and theoretical advances, including a discussion of how the findings in birds relate to the cognitive abilities of other species, including humans. The authors cover a range of topics such as spatial cognition, social learning, tool use, perceptual categorization and concept learning, providing the broader context for students and researchers interested in the current state of avian cognition research, its key questions and appropriate experimental approaches.

Addresses the proximate mechanisms underlying avian cognition, their ecological and evolutionary context and the approaches that have been used to study this experimentally, providing a complete overview of the field
Fully illustrated with over one hundred figures, including detailed diagrams of experimental approaches
Leaders in the field demonstrate how avian cognitive abilities have the potential to shed light on the origins of sophisticated traits that are common in humans

Read more at http://www.cambridge.org/za/academic/subjects/life-sciences/animal-behaviour/avian-cognition#sWe32r25x1gpiJX1.99

Marian Cieślak (1950 – 2016) became one of the few researchers in Europe to commence with scientific study of bird feathers, and most especially – the feathers of birds of prey and owls. This resulted in the first guide to feathers published in Polish (in 1999). Presented there were baseline details on how to identify the feathers of selected bird species enjoying legal protection (mainly birds of prey and owls). In his publications, Marian Cieślak noted repeatedly how the identification of bird feathers was one of the least-developed areas of applied ornithology – and all the more so when set against, for example, flight identification, or the identification of calls, nests and eggs. This was therefore the inspiration for further research into feathers resulting in the release of another book – Feathers: Identification for Bird Conservation (Cieślak and Dul 2006); which was published in both Polish and English. In the years that followed, the research focus homed in on the ecology of owls, and in particular the relationship between biology, plumage and the moulting process.

Feathers of European Owls fills many gaps in current knowledge of owl feathers. The author not only describes the identification of feathers of the European owl species, but also presents relationships between feather morphology and the behaviour and ecology of this group of birds. These findings are largely based on the Author's original research, and his extensive collection of feathers.

Paleobiology of Giant Flightless Birds reviews what is known of the palaeobiology of various groups of giant flightless birds that lived at different periods of the geological past, from a few hundred years ago to the late Cretaceous, some 70 million years ago. They include the moas of New Zealand and the elephant birds of Madagascar, the dromornithids of Australia, the terror birds of South America, the gastornithids of Laurasia, and Gargantuavis from Europe.

Their biology, ecology, and extinction are reconstructed on the basis of evidence from sources, ranging from palaeontology to functional morphology, geochemistry, and ancient DNA. The giant flightless birds of the past have attracted the attention of both palaeontologists and the general public since the 19th century, and recent investigations have resulted in considerable advances in our understanding of the biology and ecological of these unusual birds.

The authors summarize what is currently known about the various ways in which these flightless birds adapted to terrestrial environments in different parts of the world at different periods of geological time.

The first concise and affordable overview of desert ecology, providing a complete coverage of the field, now thoroughly revised and updated with the latest research
Discusses a range of ecological issues including morphological and physiological adaptations of desert plants and animals, species interactions, the importance of predation and parasitism, food webs, biodiversity and conservation
Examines human impacts and the sensitivity of deserts to perturbation

Given the underlying topography, the scenery over most of Britain has been created largely by human activities. Over the centuries, landscapes have been continually modified as human needs and desires have changed. Each major change in land use has brought changes to the native plants and animals, continually altering the distribution and abundance of species. This is apparent from the changes in vegetation and animal populations that were documented in historical times, but even more so in those that have occurred since the Second World War.

More than seventy per cent of Britain's land surface is currently used for crop or livestock production, and in recent decades farming has experienced a major revolution. Not only has it become more thoroughly mechanised, it has also become heavily dependent on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, and increasingly large-scale in its operation. These changes have brought crop yields and livestock production to levels previously considered unattainable. However, such high yields have been achieved only at huge financial and environmental costs. One of the most conspicuous, and best documented, consequences of modern agriculture has been a massive loss of wildlife, including birds.

In this timely addition to the New Naturalist Series, Ian Newton discusses the changes that have occurred in British agriculture over the past seventy years, and the effects they have had on bird populations. He explains how different farming procedures have affected birds and other wildlife, and how an understanding of the processes involved could help in future conservation.

Please note that this book was originally announced with the title Farmland Birds.

In An Uncertain Future, Geoffrey Maslen takes us into the fascinating lives of Australian birds, showing us how intelligent they are, the significant threats they face due to disappearing habitats and climate change and how essential these angels of the air are to our own survival. Soaring through the skies, light as the air itself, birds are the closest creatures we have to angels on the planet. They bring song and beauty to our lives, and they play a significant role in sustaining Earth’s ecosystems. But birds are also facing the threat of extinction. Drawing on numerous interviews with researchers and biologists studying birdlife in Australia and dozens of scientific reports from around the world, Maslen reveals a dire picture of what plummeting bird populations means for humanity.

R is a powerful open source computing tool that supports geographical analysis and mapping for the many geography and ‘non-geography’ students and researchers interested in spatial analysis and mapping.

This book provides an introduction to the use of R for spatial statistical analysis, geocomputation and the analysis of geographical information for researchers collecting and using data with location attached, largely through increased GPS functionality.

Brunsdon and Comber take readers from ‘zero to hero’ in spatial analysis and mapping through functions they have developed and compiled into R packages. This enables practical R applications in GIS, spatial analyses, spatial statistics, mapping, and web-scraping. Each chapter includes:

Example data and commands for exploring it
Scripts and coding to exemplify specific functionality
Advice for developing greater understanding - through functions such as locator(), View(), and alternative coding to achieve the same ends
Self-contained exercises for students to work through
Embedded code within the descriptive text.
This is a definitive ′how to′ that takes students - of any discipline - from coding to actual applications and uses of R.

The southernmost tip of Africa is home to a vast and shifting population of birds whose soaring movements and flocks are closely followed by a human flock: the entranced and captivated ornithologists, birdwatchers and seekers of wilderness.

If the bird writings of Le Vaillant turned a generation of young European readers into ornithologists this remarkable collection of birding curiosities written by some of our most intrepid bird observers will convert a new generation of readers.

They write of being enthralled: tales of a trip on the wild side of Borneo, the stories behind feathers in a glass vase, mysteries of owls hidden in caves, they journey across the mesas and buttes of the Karoo and the rolling red dunes of the Kalahari, through vast swathes of broad-leafed woodland to the Upper Guinea Rainforests and on to the Kitugala Forest Reserve.

Birds and their names sing from the pages; owls, shoebills, sandgrouse, hooded pittas, rhinoceros hornbills, brown kiwis, rock doves, Cape eagle owls, greater flameback woodpeckers, inaccessible island rail, superb and beautiful sunbird, violet turaco and the African crowned eagle.

Enter gently and quietly into this world of birds, absorb these stories told by those who have been watching and listening, who can tell their bishops from their butchers. There is a story here for everyone.

Contributors include Vernon Head, Mel Tripp, Peter Sullivan, Morne du Plessis, Claire Spottiswood, Raymond Rampolokeng, John Maytham, Ross Wanless, David Letsoalo, Alan Kemp, Mark Brown, Peter Sullivan, Peter Steyn, Rob Little, Peter Ryan, Richard Dean, Warwick Tarbortan, Mark Anderson, Susie Cunningham, Dave Allen, Callum Cohen and Adam Riley.

The Birder's Guide to Africa presents the first comprehensive and detailed summary of bird watching in the African region, covering all mainland territories and associated islands. It gives an overview of the birding in the region in the introduction, highlighting key destinations for different kinds of travellers. This is followed by country accounts for all 68 territories that comprise the region, in which details on travel and birding are provided for each territory, including a comprehensive list of important bird taxa to be targeted on a visit. In the family accounts, 142 bird families are recorded from the region, described briefly, and illustrated with spectacular photographs. Finally, the species accounts for all 2,792 bird species detail information on ease of seeing, distribution, status, habitat, subspecies, taxonomic issues and best places to see.

Any serious world lister or keen African eco-traveller will find an abundance of relevant and interesting information.

Avian incubation is a critical part of reproduction. This new book covers four key areas: nest, eggs, incubation, and the study of avian reproduction. After an initial introduction about incubation research and a chapter reviewing the fossil record of avian reproduction, Chapters 3–6 focus on nest biology, including construction behaviour, functional properties, nest ecology, and the potential effects of climate change. Chapters 7–11 deal with egg biology with chapters addressing microbiology, allometry, energetics, and eggs as signals. Behaviour, energetics of incubation, and the effects of incubation on post-hatching phenotype are reviewed in Chapters 12–14. The study of avian reproduction is a new topic that was not covered in the previous book published 13 years earlier. Chapters 15–17 deal with techniques for studying nests and the processes of incubation, the application of incubation science to conservation, and the contribution of citizen science to the study of reproduction of wild birds. The final chapter looks forward to new areas of study. Overall, this book collates and describes a range of recent developments in avian reproduction and complements the previous book in bringing the field right up to date.

We all know Cuckoos as the harbingers of spring – whose haunting calls proclaim the birds own name across fields and reedbeds. A bird much more often heard than actually seen, and often mistaken for a hawk or falcon when briefly glimpsed in flight. Cuckoos are also well known, perhaps even infamous, for their habit of laying their own eggs into the nests of much smaller species, such as reed warblers, who are then doomed to raise the enormous cuckoo chick rather than their own young, and whose eggs are ruthlessly thrown from the nest by the cuckoo hatchling.
But how does this complex behaviour act out in nature, and how did it evolve? What are the cuckoo’s special tricks and what counter-measures have the host birds developed to resist the depredations of cuckoos? In this book the authors delve into the stories behind what we see, and into the complex and ever evolving evolutionary arms race by which the nest parasite and its hosts constantly try to leapfrog each other into prime position. The natural history of the cuckoo-host struggle is illuminated with detailed explanations of the results of behavioural and ecological research to provide a comprehensive, but highly readable, account in which an insight into one puzzle constantly reveals a new question begging an answer.
The whole story is brought vividly to life through the astonishing photographs of Oldřich Mikulica, who has watched cuckoos and their various hosts from hides for almost four decades. The result is a unique and beautiful book which both informs and delights.

The lanner falcons (Falco biarmicus) has always been viewed as an "oddity", and even the name has a contorted history, with both common and scientific names being subject to debate. Its very existence as a separate Species has also been called into question and even today, as has been the case in the past, much has been written with regard to the identification of the species, its elusive behaviour, and its relationship with its main competitor, the Peregrine falcon.

Although a first edition of this book was written in 1992, and a subsequent full review written in 2001, the author realized that many aspects of the biology of this falcon still remain virtually unknown. Even today this remains the biggest challenge for future research. Nevertheless, there is an enormous amount of information scattered across a myriad of publications which can add a great deal to our current knowledge of the species.

The author therefore decided to collect together all of the available information in the hope of creating an overview of all that is currently known about the Lanner falcon. In compiling this information he has also referred to numerous sources originally published in the nineteenth century, as well those published more recentiy in the twentieth century. This has proven to be very helpful in understanding many of the anomalies that have been inherited from the past, many of which remain with us today.

For these reasons, this monograph is not simply review of Lanner falcon biology from the many studies that have been published. It is also an attempt to create a new overview of the species that can hopefully serve as a starting point for future research.With this book, at last, everything that is known about the Lanner falcon has been assembled in one place. The ten chapters cover the History, taxonomy and genetics; Structure and functions; Distribution and population estimates; Territory and breeding densities; Breeding seasons; Diet and hunting techniques; Movements; Conservation; and finally, a landscape-scale approach to the habitat associations of tiie members of the large-falcon (or Hierofalco) complex. The coverage ranges back in time to prehistoric fossils that occur outside the presentiy known range of the species, and forward to the possible options and plans for conservation of the species into the future. In between, in information-packed chapters, images and diagrams, every known detail about the species is presented in as much detail as space allows, supported by as many extracts of published and personal communications as the author could discover. The bibliography alone will make this compendium a standard reference for decades to come.

This book provides syntheses of ecological theories and overarching patterns of urban bird ecology that have only recently become available. The numerous habitats represented in this book ranges from rows of trees in wooded alleys, to wastelands and remnants of natural habitats encapsulated in the urban matrix. Authored by leading scientists in this emergent field, the chapters explore how the characteristics of the habitat in urban environments influence bird communities and populations at multiple levels of ecological organization and at different spatial and temporal scales, and how this information should be incorporated in urban planning to achieve an effective conservation of bird fauna in urban environments.
Birds are among the most conspicuous and fascinating residents of urban neighborhoods and provide urban citizens with everyday wildlife contact all over the world. However, present urbanization trends are rapidly depleting their habitats, and thus knowledge of urban bird ecology is urgently needed if birds are to thrive in cities.
The book is unique in its inclusion of examples from all continents (except Antarctica) in an effort to arrive at a more holistic perspective. Among other issues, the individual chapters address the censusing of birds in urban green spaces; the relationship between bird communities and the structure of urban green spaces; the role of exotic plant species as food sources for urban bird fauna; the influence of artificial light and pollutants on bird fauna; trends in long-term urban bird research, and transdisciplinary studies on bird sounds and their effects on humans. Several chapters investigate how our current knowledge of the ecology of urban bird fauna should be applied in order to achieve better management of urban habitats so as to achieve conservation of species or even increase species diversity. The book also provides a forward-looking summary on potential research directions. As such, it provides a valuable resource for urban ecologists, urban ecology students, landscape architects, city planners, decision makers and anyone with an interest in urban ornithology and bird conservation. Moreover, it provides a comprehensive overview for researchers in the fields of ecology and conservation of urban bird fauna.

• The first integrated synthesis of avian sensory ecology• Explains the broad principles and takes the reader into the sensory world of birds from an evolutionary and ecological perspective• Challenges people’s assumptions about the sensory worlds of birds and shows how these are tuned to the many perceptual challenges that birds face in their natural environments• Presents insights into the reasons why birds are often victims of collisions with static structures, vehicles and nets, and suggests mitigations

Each year about 12.5 million Americans ages 16 and older take to the nation’s forests and fields
to hunt. Maintaining and preserving America’s hunting heritage is important for many reasons
including benefits to wildlife management and habitat conservation, economic benefits,
especially in rural communities, and Americans’ enjoyment of their natural resources.
Lead was originally the metal of choice for ammunition because of its mass, malleability, and
other physical characteristics. Its chemical properties, however, have long been known to be
harmful to health, and research in the last 25 years has increasingly led wildlife researchers and
health professionals to urge hunters to choose lead-free ammunition. This Fact Sheet is intended
to explain their case (the most essential facts are highlighted), and contains a sample of science
citations supporting it.

Mixed-Species Groups of Animals: Behavior, Community Structure, and Conservation presents a comprehensive discussion on the mixed-species groups of animals, a spectacular and accessible example of the complexity of species interactions.

They are found in a wide range of animals, including invertebrates, fish, mammals and birds, and in different habitats, both terrestrial and aquatic, throughout the world.

While there are more than 500 articles on this subject scattered in separate categories of journals, there has yet to be a general, cross-taxa book-length introduction to this subject that summarizes the behavior and community structure of these groups.

The authors first survey the diversity of spatial associations among animals and then concentrate on moving groups. They review the major classes of theories that have been developed to explain their presence, particularly in how groups increase foraging efficiency and decrease predation. Finally, they explore the intricacies of species interactions, such as communication, that explain species roles in groups and discuss what implications these social systems have for conservation.

This is the ultimate flight-identification guide to Western Palearctic raptors. It covers 60+ species, and goes to subspecific level wherever needed. The geographical area covered is Europe, North Africa, the Middle East including the Arabian Peninsula, and east to Central Asia.

Based on this stunning photographic coverage, most of which has never been published before, this book represents a landmark in bird identification books and a major work for all raptor enthusiasts.

This book is about a lifetime spent observing and photographing birds in Africa and internationally. The evocative text encapsulates a wide range of birdwatching experiences over a period of seventy years as the reader is taken along with the author on his fascinating quest for birds. The account is enhanced by a wide selection of his photographs.
These memories span a period of seventy years, initially in Cape Town, prior to living in Zimbabwe for seventeen years, before returning to settle in the shadow of my beloved Table Mountain. My time in Zimbabwe was the most productive period of my life in terms of ornithological research, especially on diurnal birds of prey and owls. Seven chapters are devoted to these Zimbabwe years.

Once back in Cape Town, there were opportunities for overseas travel, including several voyages on cruise ships as a guest lecturer. The remaining twelve chapters of the book encapsulate these birdwatching and other experiences ranging from the Arctic to the Antarctic, remote Southern Ocean islands, several Indian Ocean islands, St Helena, USA, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Ethiopia.

This book focuses on the activities of all the people who collected bird specimens in southern Africa, and their contribution to the science of southern African ornithology. In addition to the collectors, it covers some of the history and the development of ornithology as a science in southern Africa. Dr Richard Dean draws particular attention to the fact that the southern African region is blessed with an exceptionally rich bird fauna involving over 900 taxa. It is often difficult to identify closely related species in the field and this is why it has been so important to build up extensive collections of preserved bird skins and of eggs in natural history museums in various parts of the country and elsewhere in the world. The book explains how the collectors of these specimens were active in selling or donating them to museums or they were collected by dedicated people with a passionate interest in the birds themselves. Particular attention was given to the period between 1850 and 1950 when museum collections were growing intensively, and were being used. These bird collections have been used by several authors to provide material for books on birds during this period – E.L. Layard, A.C. Stark and W.L. Sclater, V. FitzSimons and E.L. Gill, to name a few. A major user of bird collections in southern Africa was Austin Roberts, who compiled the first edition of the Birds of South Africa (First Edition 1940), extracting much of the original information for the descriptions from bird material that he had personally collected for the Transvaal Museum collection (now Ditsong National Museum of Natural History). Another major user of the bird collections was Dr P.A. Clancey, who used the collection at the Durban Natural Science Museum to describe and name a large number of subspecies of birds, as well as publishing books on birds. The writing of this book on the collectors of South African birds was made possible by the author’s life-long preoccupation with the natural history of birds.

A field guide to the seabirds that occur around the southern African coastline. Written by a specialist in the field of seabirds, the book focuses on the ID and behaviour of 135 species of seabird commonly seen around the coast and in the seas of the region. The text is supported with photographs (multiple images per bird where available) and distribution maps for all species.

The back cover pretty much says it all – over 270 pages of detailed and original text. Over 200 colour photographs. Over 180 stunning and accurate illustrations. Large format colour range maps based on latest geolocator and observational studies. Two DVDs with over 120 minutes of highly informative footage with narration.

There are 41 pages dedicated to topography and ‘workshops’ on how to begin to identify the eleven species described, six albatrosses, two giant petrels, two fulmars and Cape Petrel, before we even get to the species accounts in which they are all given a thorough grilling. To top this off there is a section after the species accounts that deals with confusion species and the features to concentrate on to sort them out. I love the way the albatrosses are approached in this section: so you’ve seen an albatross. ‘What species is it?’, ‘It’s an immature Black-browed’, ‘Are you sure?’, ‘Well it’s got dark underwings’, ‘So has Grey-headed’, ‘You don’t get Grey-headed in the North Atlantic’, ‘Seems so, but we’ll never know if we don’t check’. This is followed by four pages on how to separate the two should you be lucky enough to be called upon to do so. The book is rounded off with a thirty-eight page ID jogger, which is a great way to test how much attention you were paying whilst reading the various sections of the book.

It doesn’t end here. Two DVDs accompany the guide and are in handy cases fixed to the inside front and back covers. Disc 1 covers the species accounts of all of the birds in the book, with videos and narration of the key features needed to tell them apart. This greatly helps to cement what is discussed in the accounts in the book but also gives the opportunity to test id features under ‘field’ conditions, and it works very well indeed. Disc two looks at the families more broadly but also includes an identification quiz, to really make sure you have been taking notice. Altogether a brilliant guide with a great approach to explaining how to make it a little easier to identify what can be very difficult birds indeed. If you are into seabirds you can’t live without this book.

The Princeton Guide to Ecology is a concise, authoritative one-volume reference to the field's major subjects and key concepts. Edited by eminent ecologist Simon Levin, with contributions from an international team of leading ecologists, the book contains more than ninety clear, accurate, and up-to-date articles on the most important topics within seven major areas: autecology, population ecology, communities and ecosystems, landscapes and the biosphere, conservation biology, ecosystem services, and biosphere management. Complete with more than 200 illustrations (including sixteen pages in color), a glossary of key terms, a chronology of milestones in the field, suggestions for further reading on each topic, and an index, this is an essential volume for undergraduate and graduate students, research ecologists, scientists in related fields, policymakers, and anyone else with a serious interest in ecology.

The first ever Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World is really two works in one. It is a complete checklist whose taxonomy incorporates the most up-to-date information and an exhaustive methodology (Tobias et al. 2010) in an entirely systematic and consistent way. At the same time, it contains illustrations and distribution maps for every bird species in the world. This includes the original artwork from the HBW series, as well as hundreds of new illustrations, all in two compact volumes (Volume 1: Non-passerines & Volume 2: Passerines).

1 order, 138 families, 1,358 genera, 6,592 extanct species, 57 extinct species.

1,013 pages, 446 plates, 12,629 bird illustrations (including 642 new and 1.208 improved) and 6,649 distribution maps.

The world’s six flamingo species are among the most beautiful and iconic animals on Earth. Indeed, the much beloved flamingo is a popular attraction at zoos around the globe, and has become a cultural phenomenon as well, being displayed proudly on the lawns of many suburban homes as well as being featured prominently in works of literature and art. While their physical characteristics have likely led to their iconic status, when one takes a moment to look beyond their long neck and legs and beautiful plumage, they will soon discover that the flamingo’s behavioral patterns are equally as impressive and as fascinating as their appearance. Indeed, whether it be their highly gregarious and colonial nature, filter-feeding habits, ritualized group displays, the crèches of flamingo chicks, the construction of mud nests, or the answer to the age-old question, “Why do flamingos stand on one leg?”, flamingo behavior/biology is thoroughly interesting, and at times peculiar. Moreover, our unique relationship with and fascination for the charismatic flamingos are an interesting phenomena in their own rights. This edited volume is devoted to flamingo behavior, biology and their relationships with humans. By thoroughly exploring and considering each of these topics together in one volume, this work is designed to encourage in the reader a greater understanding of and appreciation for these fascinating and iconic birds.

For over one hundred years, ornithologists and amateur birders have jointly campaigned for the conservation of bird species, documenting not only birds’ beauty and extraordinary diversity, but also their importance to ecosystems worldwide. But while these avian enthusiasts have noted that birds eat fruit, carrion, and pests; spread seed and fertilizer; and pollinate plants, among other services, they have rarely asked what birds are worth in economic terms. In Why Birds Matter, an international collection of ornithologists, botanists, ecologists, conservation biologists, and environmental economists seeks to quantify avian ecosystem services—the myriad benefits that birds provide to humans.

The first book to approach ecosystem services from an ornithological perspective, Why Birds Matter asks what economic value we can ascribe to those services, if any, and how this value should inform conservation. Chapters explore the role of birds in such important ecological dynamics as scavenging, nutrient cycling, food chains, and plant-animal interactions—all seen through the lens of human well-being—to show that quantifying avian ecosystem services is crucial when formulating contemporary conservation strategies. Both elucidating challenges and providing examples of specific ecosystem valuations and guidance for calculation, the contributors propose that in order to advance avian conservation, we need to appeal not only to hearts and minds, but also to wallets.

This unique, lavishly illustrated book will help you not only to identify waders with confidence, but also to understand and enjoy these inspirational birds. More than two years in the making, this eagerly anticipated new book is the ultimate resource on the identification and biology of Southern Africa’s wader species. However, because of waders’ incredible worldwide migrations, most of the species in the book will also be familiar with readers from other regions of the world (only 30 of our 80 waders are NOT migratory). What makes this book different from any other titles on waders? Firstly, it is written from a Southern Hemisphere perspective, unlike most European and American books. This shift of focus completely changes the picture! Secondly, it explains wader identification based on a background of biology and ecology – instead of just listing all the tedious identification details. Thirdly, it is so much more than just a field guide. Some paragraphs really read like a love letter written to waders – in celebration of their beauty, adaptability and triumph over seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Knowledge of the evolutionary history of birds has much improved in recent decades. Fossils from critical time periods are being described at unprecedented rates and modern phylogenetic analyses have provided a framework for the interrelationships of the extant groups. This book gives an overview of the avian fossil record and its paleobiological significance, and it is the only up-to-date textbook that covers both Mesozoic and more modern-type Cenozoic birds in some detail. The reader is introduced to key features of basal avians and the morphological transformations that have occurred in the evolution towards modern birds. An account of the Cenozoic fossil record sheds light on the biogeographic history of the extant avian groups and discusses fossils in the context of current phylogenetic hypotheses. This review of the evolutionary history of birds not only addresses students and established researchers, but it may also be a useful source of information for anyone else with an interest in the evolution of birds and a moderate background in biology and geology.

Donated by Lutendo Mabata

Covering nearly 1,000 species found in southern Africa (south of the Cunene and Zambezi rivers), this 570 page revised edition of Roberts Bird Guide features stunning new artwork detailing seasonal, age and sexual differences in approximately 240 annotated colour plates, updated distribution maps based on current SABAP data, breeding and seasonality bars and concise but informative texts dealing not only with identification but aspects of biology such as food and voice.

Biologically interesting photos have been placed where there is space, a first for illustrated bird guides in the region. New additions to the southern African list (post-2005) have been placed on separate plates at the back of the guide, as well as 20 illustrated species that could potentially be recorded as vagrants to the region, all recorded just north of the Zambezi and Kunene rivers.

Donated by Peter Ryan

The Kruger National Park, one of the largest and best-known conservation areas in the world, supports a remarkable diversity of birds. This attractive and handy field guide lists more than 500 species that have been recorded here, and provides full-colour photographs, detailed distribution maps and succinct information on 400 of these – all the species that a visitor is likely to encounter in the park. An informative introduction describes the park’s underlying geology, vegetation types, climate and rainfall, and how these dictate bird distributions within the area.

The Global Atlas of Marine Fisheries is the first and only book to provide accurate, country-by-country fishery data. This groundbreaking information has been gathered from independent sources by the world’s foremost fisheries experts, and edited by Daniel Pauly and Dirk Zeller of the Sea Around Us Project. The Atlas includes one-page reports on 273 countries and their territories, plus fourteen topical global chapters. National reports describe the state of the country's fishery, by sector; the policies, politics, and social factors affecting it; and potential solutions. The global chapters address cross-cutting issues, from the economics of fisheries to the impacts of mariculture. Extensive maps and graphics offer attractive and accessible visual representations.
While it has long been clear that the world’s oceans are in trouble, the lack of reliable data on fishery catches has obscured the scale, and nuances, of the crisis. The atlas shows that, globally, catches have declined rapidly since the 1980s, signaling an even more critical situation than previously understood. The Global Atlas of Marine Fisheries provides a comprehensive picture of our current predicament and steps that can be taken to ease it. For researchers, students, fishery managers, professionals in the fishing industry, and all others concerned with the status of the world’s fisheries, the Atlas will be an indispensable resource.

Donated by Rob Little

This definitive, full-colour monograph on the gamebirds and snipes of Africa includes everything needed to better understand the 74 species that fall into six groups: guineafowls and Congo peafowl, francolins and partridges, spurfowls, quails, sandgrouse and the snipes and Eurasian woodcock. Terrestrial Gamebirds & Snipes of Africa offers a concise summary of the large but scattered body of accumulated scientific research and field-guide literature on these birds.
Pertinent and interesting facts about the description, distribution, habits, feeding, breeding and conservation of each species are presented in a readable fashion. Illustrative photographic plates convey the appearance, characteristic features, behavioural activities, and in many cases the habitat environment of each bird.

Terrestrial Gamebirds & Snipes of Africa will be a worthy addition to the ornithological literature and to the bookshelves of bird enthusiasts, particularly birders, wing-shooters, land owners and anyone with an interest in nature and conservation, throughout Africa and across the rest of the world.

Donated by Paul Isenmann

Birds of Libya / Oiseaux de Libye is written in English and French and is an annotated checklist of the 350 bird species (of which 100 are currently breeding) recorded in Libya. This North African country is mostly a Saharan country and its avifauna belongs to the Palearctic. It gives information on the geography and climate, a comprehensive list of all the recorded bird species of wild origin, a biogeographical analysis of the breeding species and the place of Libya in the Mediterranean and Palearctic–Afrotropical migration systems. The annotated checklist provides data on the species' status, phenology, distribution, habitat, nesting and the origin of migrants and winter visitors. A list of references and a gazetteer close the book. Birds of Libya / Oiseaux de Libye is the result of cooperation between ornithologists from Libya, France, Germany and Tunisia.

The Handbook of Bird Biology is an essential reference for birdwatchers, college students, and educators. Since its first publication by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in 1972, tens of thousands of students and bird enthusiasts have transformed their understanding of the avian world using this comprehensive text. The fully revised 3rd edition provides expanded and updated coverage written by world-renowned ornithologists from Cornell and beyond. Now with full color illustrations and a companion media library.

Donated by BirdLife South Africa

The Important Bird and Biodiversity Area Programme aims to identify, document, monitor and protect a network of sites for the conservation of birds, other biodiversity and wider ecosystems and their services. BirdLife Partners take responsibility for the IBA Programme nationally, with the BirdLife Africa Secretariat taking the lead on regional aspects and in some priority non-Partner countries. Over 1,250 sites have been identified as IBAs in 59 countries and territories.

Donated by anonymous donor

Birds form an very important section of all animals which inhabits our earth. In fact, of the 40,000 different species of animals with a back-bone known to science 8.580, or more than one fifth, are birds.

Ringers have always relied on guides that provide specific biometric and ageing criteria to ensure that they correctly identify, age and sex any bird they capture. In this new guide, Laurent Demongin has brought together a wealth of information on the 301 species most frequently caught in western Europe (154 non-passerines, 147 passerines). In addition, a further 249 infrequently captured species (including vagrants from Siberia and North America) are included in less detail for comparison with similar but more regularly encountered species. Originally published in French, this English version has been updated and expanded to include detailed treatment of an extra 51 species, along with additional information including schematic figures of moult sequence, BTO and Euring codes and a short list of references, although the full bibliography consulted is available only online.

In a unique new collaboration, Collins have paired up with the respected British Trust for Ornithology, bringing together the most authoritative and up-to-date information in this new field guide to the rare birds of Britain and Ireland.

This book is the companion volume to the Collins BTO Guide to British Birds. It covers all the rare and scarce birds that have occurred in Britain and Ireland five times or more, as of February 2015. ‘The Rarest of the Rare’ section lists all the species that have occurred fewer than five times; taken in combination, this means that every species of wild bird that has ever occurred in Britain is mentioned.

A vibrant and exciting discipline, with practical implications for conservation
Uses the concept of adaptation throughout the book to integrate the chapters and set it aside from other books in the area, which tend to describe challenges without discussing the implications
Includes contributions from an international team of leading experts
Ideal graduate course material

This comprehensive monograph is a second edition of one of the most popular Poyser monographs; it covers all aspects of this spectacular eagle's biology and ecology, including a full review of the literature and incorporating the considerable body of research on the species since the publication of the first edition in 1997. The late Jeff Watson was one of Scotland's foremost eagle experts, with more than 20 years of research on the birds; following Jeff's untimely death, the book is being completed by his colleagues Des Thompson and Helen Riley. Scottish studies provide the foundation for a treatment that also includes up-to-date information from work in North America, continental Europe and elsewhere. This global view allows fascinating insights into the species' relationships with a variety of different habitats and leads to many new and important conclusions regarding its ecology. This highly readable and authoritative account is destined to become the standard reference on the species, both in Scotland and elsewhere in the world. The text is enriched with many superb pictures of this majestic bird and additional wash landscapes capture the very special atmosphere of Scotland's Golden Eagle country.

The Princeton Guide to Evolution is a comprehensive, concise, and authoritative reference to the major subjects and key concepts in evolutionary biology, from genes to mass extinctions. Edited by a distinguished team of evolutionary biologists, with contributions from leading researchers, the guide contains more than 100 clear, accurate, and up-to-date articles on the most important topics in evolution. Complete with more than one hundred illustrations, glossaries of key terms, suggestions for further reading on each topic, and an index, this is an essential volume for students, scientists in related fields, and anyone else with a serious interest in evolution.

Donated by John Cooper

Since South Africa annexed the Prince Edward Islands in 1948, South African researchers have been making regular expeditions to the Antarctic Continent, the Prince Edward Islands and Gough Island, as well as elsewhere in the Southern Ocean. The Antarctic Legacy of South Africa Project (ALSA) is preserving the rich human history of these expeditions and South Africa’s presence in the Southern Ocean over the last 70 years. Aside from the results of biological and physical research, these expeditions have produced a wealth of photographs, videos, written and oral records. This historical record also includes maps, journals, logbooks, newspaper articles, and artworks. The Antarctic Legacy of South Africa is collating, digitising and archiving all of these records, along with out-of-print South African research articles and unpublished papers residing in governmental archives, departments and museums, and making them accessible to the public.

Donated by Nancy J. Jacobs

In this unique and unprecedented study of birding in Africa, historian Nancy Jacobs reconstructs the collaborations between well-known ornithologists and the largely forgotten guides, hunters, and taxidermists who worked with them. Drawing on ethnography, scientific publications, private archives, and interviews, Jacobs asks: How did white ornithologists both depend on and operate distinctively from African birders? What investment did African birders have in collaborating with ornithologists? By distilling the interactions between European science and African vernacular knowledge, this stunningly illustrated work offers a fascinating examination of the colonial and postcolonial politics of expertise about nature.

Conflicts over the conservation of biodiversity are increasing and are serious obstacles to wildlife conservation efforts worldwide. Changing patterns in land use, over-exploitation, pollution, climate change and the threat posed by invasive species all challenge the way we currently maintain and protect biodiversity - from the local management of single species to the international management of resources. Integrating approaches from different academic disciplines, policy makers and practitioners, this volume offers a radically new, cross-disciplinary, multi-scale approach to deal with conflicts. Groundbreaking strategies for conservation are analysed and a large section of the book is devoted to exploring case studies of conflict from around the world. Aimed primarily at academics, researchers and students from disciplines relating to conservation, ecology, natural resources management and environmental governance, this book will be equally valuable to conservation NGOs and practitioners, and the policy community at national and international levels.

The first synthesis of current knowledge of forest and wetland birds in the world’s southernmost forests, this book contains both original work by Rozzi and Jiménez and the results of a decade of research conducted by the scientists associated with the Omora Park.

In this book the ecologist meets the meteorologist: it is about the biological aspects of microclimate and its variation in horizontal and vertical directions. The great diversity found in the various habitats is stressed, also as far as the microclimate is concerned.

The publication of Reintroduction Biology of Australian and New Zealand Fauna nearly 20 years ago introduced the new science of ‘reintroduction biology’. Since then, there have been vast changes in our understanding of the process of reintroductions and other conservation-driven translocations, and corresponding changes in regulatory frameworks governing translocations. + Full description Advances in Reintroduction Biology of Australian and New Zealand Fauna is a timely review of our understanding of translocation from an Australasian perspective, ensuring translocation becomes an increasingly effective conservation management strategy in the future. Written by experts, including reintroduction practitioners, researchers and policy makers, the book includes extensive practical advice and example case studies, identifies emerging themes and suggests future directions. Conservation practitioners and researchers, as well as conservation management agencies and NGOs will find the book a valuable resource. Although it is based on Australasian examples, it will be of interest globally due to synergies with reintroduction programs throughout the world.

Bringing together long-term studies of cooperatively breeding birds, mammals, and fishes, this volume provides a synthesis of current studies in the field. The chapters are organised by individual studies of particular species or (in the case of mole-rats) two closely related cooperatively breeding species. Each focuses not only on describing behavior and ecology but also on testing evolutionary hypotheses for the form and function of the diverse and extraordinary cooperative breeding lifestyles that have been discovered. This unique and comprehensive text will be of interest to graduate students and researchers of behavioral ecology and the evolution of cooperation.

Donated by Roelof van der Merwe

This book offers fresh insight and practical tips that will broaden horizons for nature and bird photographers.

Donated by Michael Sweatman

Published under the authority of the Egyptian Government. Two volumes. Illustrated with 31 color plates and line drawings by G.E. Lodge, Roland Green, and H. Gronvold. Three folding maps in color. A work undertaken by Meinertzhagen based on specimens collected by his friend and companion, Michael J. Nicoll. Nicoll held the post of Assistant Director at the Zoolgical Gardens at Giza in Egypt from 1906 until 1924. It had been Nicoll's intention to publish a comprehensive work on the birds of Egypt, but failing health and an early death precluded such an outcome.

Donated by John Grainger

3+170 pages + 180 distribution sketch maps, references, 4 page printed Addenda sheet, full list of place names : mammal habits, conservation, Systematic List, annotated gazetteer, a thorough study of all the Malawi mammals.

Donated by Dr Michael Jarvis

A comprehensive manual on Ostrich farming.

A new book promoting gamebird management and utilisation in South Africa. . The book is available in English and Afrikaans.

Donated by Pete Hancock

Here is the ultimate field guide to Botswana’s stunningly diverse birdlife. Covering all 597 species recorded to date, Birds of Botswana features more than 1,200 superb color illustrations, detailed species accounts, seasonality and breeding bars, and a color distribution map for each species. Drawing on the latest regional and national data, the book highlights the best birding areas in Botswana, provides helpful tips on where and when to see key species, and depicts special races and morphs specific to Botswana. This is the first birding guide written by a Botswana-based ornithologist and the only one dedicated specifically to Botswana.

Donated by Ross Wanless (BirdLife South Africa)

The 2015 Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland is a review of the conservation status of the region’s 855 bird species. Representing the expertise of some of South Africa’s foremost researchers and conservationists, the publication is an essential tool for ornithologists, conservation planners and environmental practitioners.

Donated by Michael Sumner

The Birds of Southern Africa is the showcase for 176 paintings by the late Claude Gibney Finch-Davies,whose life and the tragic circumstances surrounding his death is described in a brief biography contained in the book. A magnificent presentation of pictures of South African Birds.

Donated by Rob Simmons

This is the first book detailing all of Namibia’s threatened, endemic and rare species of birds. It is divided into four chapters: 1) an introduction that explains our approach and puts Namibia’s birds into a global conservation context; 2) species accounts of all threatened birds currently recognised in Namibia (“Red Data” species); 3) species accounts of all endemic and near-endemic birds to Namibia that do not qualify as Red Data species (“Amber” species); and 4) summary accounts of all rare and peripheral species that are not threatened according to IUCN Red Data criteria, but occur in small numbers within Namibia’s borders and should, therefore, be monitored (“Rare andPeripheral” species).

Donated by Chevonne Reynolds

This practical, straightforward guide to some of the most commonly seen birds in southern Africa is aimed at beginner birders, or even juniors. Less daunting than a full-blown field guide, it’s handy and accessible, combining simple text with clear artwork and photographs to introduce 300 of the region’s easy-to-see birds.

Donated by Grzegorz Kopij

The bibliography includes all papers published on vertebrates in Namibia. It is divided into four parts: Author Index (2492 articles and books), Subject Index, Taxonomic Index and Geographic Index. Within each of these parts further subdivision is made based on class affinity of species included in the particular articles.

Donated by Jerzy Przybojewski

A good partner to take into the field with LBJs made simple, this assists you to discriminate between birds of a similar size with similar plumage. Ideal for identification of swifts and swallows which are so difficult to follow with binoculars, this book helps the birder differentiate, for example, between the Greater and the Lesser Striped Swallow. The book is designed to compliment a field guide.

Donated by Jerzy Przybojewski

LBJs (Little Brown Jobs) are every new birder's Achilles' Heel. This is a field guide designed specifically to assist with the small cryptic birds which are so difficult to identify. Essential information such as geographic location, habitat, habits and distinctive individual features give the birder a much better chance of making the identification. The book is accompanied by a CD of bird calls to further assist with identification.

Donated by Jerzy Przybojewski

This popular field guide needs no introduction. Fully revised and updated with maps and key features to look for, this is a southern African birder's bible.

Donated by Jerzy Przybojewski

Pigeons and doves are ubiquitous in cities and urban areas. This is a comprehensive revision of the second edition which includes additional observations and illustrations of the geographic variation in rock pigeons (now called the Speckled Pigeon in South Africa). Pigeons and doves come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, such as the White-bellied Plumed Pigeon which you can find if you visit Australia, or the Pheasant Pigeon which is about as big as a domestic chicken and can be found in the mountainous forests of New Guinea.

Donated by Jerzy Przybojewski

Birding is a multi-million rand business with many fringe industries such as camera's, binoculars and scopes, books and guiding to name a few. According to the dust jacked of this book, over 30 million United States citizens go birding, not just at home but increasingly in search of the birds which do not occur in the USA. This beautifully illustrated and informative publication is not what you would take into the field, but it is ideal to examine in your armchair at home when you get back from an exotic birding trip.

Donated by Jerzy Przybojewski

The third edition of Frank B. Gill's Ornithology is an essential text for any serious ornithologist. The wide-ranging contents - The diversity of birds - The history of birds - Systematics, Feathers, Flight, Physiology - Behavior and communication of birds - How they interact with their environment - Avian life histories - Population dynamics - demonstrate the encyclopedic nature of the text.

Donated by Jerzy Przybojewski

Each year, an estimated 6 million birds are shot, limed or trapped on the Maltese islands. Written by a member of the Malta Ornithological Society, this is a disturbing and graphic exposé of this annual massacre. Required reading.
Fenech's book is a major achievement, lifting the mask to reveal the face of contemporary Maltese life that the tourist guides would rather ignore - Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Donated by Jerzy Przybojewski

The inside story of southern African birds offers insight into the lives of birds including the mechanisms of flight, courtship rituals, nests and nest building, survival strategies, migration mysteries and more. A beautifully illustrated book that goes beyond a field guide.

Donated by Rejzy Przybojewski

The Beat about the Bush series answers all those everyday questions that are prompted by visits to the bush. It fills the gap in exisiting literature and field guides alike, complemented by more than 900 full-colour photographs.

Although details are given on bird identification and all the bird groups of southern Africa are covered in a very informative 'Did you know' section, this work can more appropriately be described as a behavioural guide. It delves into the fascinating lives of birds - discussing in detail thier myriad forms, survival strategies, breeding and feeding behaviours, movements, migration,s and vocalisations.

The result is a comprehensive reference work in a style that appeals to novices, birders, twitchers, tourists, bush enthusiast and field guides alike.

Donated by Jerzy Przybojewski

The first modern history of ornithology, tracing its development from the 17th century, concentrating on those figures who have been most influential in the development of this science as well as other lesser-known figures. The book begins by surveying writings on birds by the ancient Chinese, Greeks, and Romans and by individuals writing during the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Age of Exploration. It then assesses such ornithological pioneers as Linnaeus, Brisson, and Buffon. Subsequent chapters discuss the expeditions of the eighteenth century; the work of the Germans and the Dutch; the beginnings of ornithology in America; the development of nineteenth-century systems of classification; the new theories that emerged from the Far East; and the great advances made in the twentieth century.

Donated by Jerzy Przybojewski

A useful book that will enable the enthusiast or casual reader to identify a bird from whatever common name in English it may have or be described by around the world. Although not a complete world checklist, it includes all birds which have one or more alternative names in common usage (except for local or dialect names).

Donated by Jerzy Przybojewski

With remarkable insight, impeccable research, and captivating writing, controversial psychoanalyst Jeffrey Masson, a new father himself, introduces us to the world's best dads. He takes us to such places as Antarctica, as he explores how Emperor penguin fathers incubate the eggs of their young by carrying them around on their feet for two months, nestled beneath a special brood pouch. He also showcases the extraordinary behavior of other outstanding fathers, heroes among animals, including the wolf, the beaver, the sea horse, and the marmoset. Masson points out that when a father does care for his young, we Immediately look for a biological and not an emotional explanation. But he demonstrates that for these animals, as with humans, fatherhood is a profound, all-encompassing experience.Groundbreaking, compelling, and inspirational, Masson's unique look at one of nature's most venerable Institutions takes us to animal habitats around the world, yet always returns to the heart. For animal lovers, fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters everywhere, The Emperor's Embrace is a book that will forever change perceptions of parenthood and family love. (Good Reads)

Donated by Jerzy Przybojewski

A total of 120 species of crows, jays and their allies exist in the world today. Many are exceedingly beautiful in colour, grace and form, whereas others are black and somewhat sinister in appearance. In no other group of perching birds has evolution produced such a degree of variation, from the tiny Hume's ground-jay of the steppe-highlands of Tibet to the huge thick-billed raven of the mountains of Ethiopia. Some have had a long association with people and appear in tales of mythology and superstition, while others have been regarded as agricultural pests. The great majority, however, remain largely unknown, their only contact with humanity being the destruction of their specialised habitats. As a consequence, more than 20 species are now regarded as internationally endangered, some of which are very poorly known.

Crows and Jays is a combination of scientifically accurate information and an identification guide, planned to give anyone, whether a birdwatcher or biologist, a greater understanding of the lives of these beautiful, yet very complex, group of birds. It will surely be a standard work of reference for many years to come.

Donated by Jerzy Przybojewski

Birds are the most obvious wild things we have around us. They are much watched and much loved, not least by poets. Bird poetry is as old as British poetry itself, and a remarkable number of poets have written poems about birds. Indeed some of the most famous poems in the language concern birds, from Keats's nightingale and Shelley's skylark to Yeats's swans and Hardy's thrush. In this wonderful anthology poet Simon Armitage and birdwatching enthusiast Tim Dee gather together the best of the past and the present, including those famous poems but also many overlooked gems. And in a fascinating divergence from standard anthology practice, the poems are organized according to ornithological classification, beginning with poems by Marianne Moore and David Wright on the ostrich and the emperor penguin and ending with Emily Dickinson and Wallace Stevens on the oriole and the blackbird.

The problems of birds and powerlines in Brazil is investigated in this beautifully illustrated book edited by Marcos Raposo who is the curator of birds at the Museu Nacional in Rio de Janeiro.

The objective of the study was the implementation of a broad analysis of the relationship between birds and transmission lines in Brazil. Case studies were conducted in relation to two transmission lines in the area of Taesa. In addition to gaining precious information related directly to the subject of birds and transmission lines, a research center was established, funds and materials were identified and the project developed specialists through providing fieldwork opportunities for undergraduate, masters and doctorate researchers.

Donated by the Animal Demography Unit

This publication is a record of the variety of bird species identified on the Pretoria Boys High School Estate over a three and a half year period from 1997 to June 2000. It started as a Form III Science project entitled 'The winter birds of Pretoria Boys High School' by two birding enthusiasts, Bruce Home and Dane Hartley. They received a distinction for their project but they also succeeded in sparking the idea of producing a book for the school's centenary, which would record the over 90 species of birds found from time to time on the school's grounds.

Donated by Dieter Oschadleus

A bird survey was carried out from January to March 2007 of the coastal wetlands of Cameroon and the lower Sanaga River. Cameroon is situated on the East Atlantic and Mediterranean flyways, migration routes for Palearctic waders, terns and other bird species.

This WIWO report describes the results of this study. The coastal wetlands are described, and for all 66 species of waterbirds present, numbers and estimates for the total coast are presented.

Donated by Dieter Oschadleus

Coastal wetlands in Sierra Leone were censused for bird numbers during the period January/February 2005: Scarcies Estuary, Sierra Leone River Estuary, Yawri Bay, Turtle Islands and Sherbo Island.

In total 94,000 waterbirds were counted and more than 115,000 were estimated to be present in coastal brackish and marine wetlands. Based on the results, all areas met the ornithological criteria to be listed as Important Bird Areas (IBA's) or as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention).

During the trip 11 villages were visited for extensive discussions with local authorities about conservation topics. From these interviews information was collected about the occurrence of other species (groups) e.g. marine turtles, manatees. Also interviews were taken on hunting pressure and willingness to conserve threatened species.

Donated by Juan Millan (CB 2013/14)

This field guide is pocket-sized fit-for-purpose - to take into the field. Plates are arranged to show illustrations, maps, text, field notes and notes on endemism and threat status. Emphasis is placed on features that will be most useful in the field.

Donated by Vernon Head

Part detective trail, part love affair and pure story telling at its best.

In 1990 an expedition of Cambridge scientists arrived at the Plains of Nechisar, tucked between the hills of the Great Rift Valley in the Gamo Gofa province in the country of Ethiopia. On that expedition, 315 species of birds were seen; 61 species of mammal and 69 species of butterfly were identified; 20 species of dragonflies and damselflies; 17 reptile species were recorded; three frog species were filed; plants were listed. And the wing of a road-killed bird was packed into a brown paper bag.

It was to become the most famous wing in the world.When the specimens finally arrived at the British Natural History Museum in Tring it set the world of science aflutter. It seemed that the wing was unique, but they questioned, can you name a species for the first time based only on the description of a wing, based on just one wing? After much to and fro, confirmation was unanimous, and the new species was announced, Nechisar Nightjar, Caprimulgus solala, (solus:only and ala:wing).

And birdwatchers like Vernon began to dream. Twenty-two years later an expedition of four led by Ian Sinclair set off to try to find this rarest bird in the world. Vernon R.L. Head captivates and enchants as he tells of the adventures of Ian, Dennis, Gerry and himself as they navigate the wilderness of the plains, searching by spotlight for the elusive Nechisar Nightjar.

Donated by Andrea Angel

One of the biggest constraints pertaining to coastal management in KwaZulu-Natal is access to information about the coast, its functioning and resources. In response to this need, the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) has developed a first-of-its-kind resource covering the KwaZulu-Natal coast in the form of a book called Ugu Lwethu – Our Coast.

The book was developed in association with the then KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs (DAEA), now known as the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DETEA). It is aimed at authorities tasked with the day-to-day management of our coast, but will be of value to anyone interested in or active along the KZN coast.

It provides background information on the coastal environment and its value with the aim of informing and improving decision-making. It provides an overview of the natural coastal environment, key coastal ecosystems and species, coastal resources and their immense social and economic value, highlighting their diverse uses. The book also discusses the pressures and threats faced along the KZN coast and the management of the coast, highlighting legislative requirements and best practice.

Donated by Françoise Dowsett-Lemaire and Robert J. Dowsett

This is the second account of the birds of Ghana (ex-Gold Coast), the first having been published by Grimes in 1987. It presents detailed information on the some 750 species known (among which there are 150 migrants from Eurasia and North America, of which more than 100 winter locally). Extensive field-work by the authors, augmented by the contribution of visiting or resident naturalists, means that the maps (for all species except vagrants) present a clear picture of distribution in this country of nearly 240,000 km2. The text complements the maps, with a synthesis of what is known of ecology, status, movements, breeding seasons, taxonomy and conservation concerns. Some 600 published references are cited, and there are details of ringing recoveries and a gazetteer of more than 860 localities. In 116 pages, the introductory chapters review the vegetation and major bird habitats, biogeography, migration, conservation and the history of ornithological exploration in Ghana. The conservation chapter draws attention to the considerable pressure that human activities (including deforestation, danis and over-fishing) are exerting on the environment and wildlife. Six species of birds have become extinct in Ghana in the last century, and several others are heavily threatened. Forty-nine species are considered to be of global or regional conservation concem, and the importance of the country’s wildlife reserves is stressed, with forest reserves and other natural habitats being decimated at an alarming rate. Twenty-one pages of colour photos illustrate the habitats of Ghana as well as a selection of typical bird species. No bird is endemic to Ghana alone, but the country contains no fewer than 179 Guineo-Congolian forest species, including all but four of those endemic to Upper Guinea (Ghana westwards), Ghana is the one country where the striking Yellow-headed Picathartes (or Rockfowl) can be seen by all visiting birdwatchers.

Donated by the British Trust for Ornithology

Bird Atlas 2007-11 is the most complete and comprehensive overview of bird distribution and change in Britain and Ireland, and contains over 1300 maps describing patterns of distribution, abundance and change for nearly 300 species. The Bird Atlas 2007-11 has been compiled from data collected by over 40,000 volunteer surveyors through timed visits, roving records and other sources, over four summers and winters.

Donated by Tatiana Neves on behalf of Projeto Albatroz, Brazil.

Tatiana Neves, General Co-ordinator (Coordenação Geral) of Projeto Albatroz (the Albatross Project) in Brazil has written a captivating coffee-table book in Portuguese (English translation: ‘Albatross a Project for Life’) packed with striking double-page images showing off these magnificent birds, both albatrosses and petrels, on land and at sea, coupled with images of the people with whom they share the oceans and fate. Although the imagery is biased towards the Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris, the most commonly encountered albatross species off the Brazilian coast, other species are also beautifully depicted.

The book is divided into four main chapters. Although each chapter is presented in the same way their subsequent layouts vary significantly in style and length, with the second chapter making up close to half the book. The initial pages contain the dedication, prefaces and a table of contents. The Acknowledgements are to be found at the back of the book together with a list of all recognized albatross species, highlighting those that occur in Brazilian waters. The main petrel species occurring in Brazil are also listed highlighting the ones that interact with fishing operations. A list of photographic credits and publishing information end the book. (Review by John Cooper, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels)

Donated by the British Natural History Museum at Tring

The Marples spent many years observing and photographing a range of Terns resulting in this early volume which at the time contributed a great deal to the ecological knowledge of the Sterna sp. Most of their research was conducted at Blakeney Point, Norfolk in the 1930s. The book is richly illustrated with black & white photos recording breeding behaviour, nests and relative egg sizes of the various terns.

Donated by Les Underhill
Atlas of Breeding Waders in the Russian Arctic presents a summary and analysis of distribution of breeding waders (shorebirds, suborder Limicolae, order Charadriiformes) in the Russian Arctrctic, the region where begin almost all migration flyways of waders over-wintering on most continents. Atlas of Breeding Waders in the Russian Arctic has as its foundation an electronic Access database that contains and analyses breeding and abundance records of waders from 2859 locations collected over 150 years of research. These data come from 1360 published and unpublished sources including the mass of information accrued by the authors themselves.

Comprehensive accounts for each of the 51 wader species regularly breeding in the Russian Arctic are supplied with three maps generated in ArcView: map of breeding records, map of abundance and an extrapolated breeding distribution map. For the first time, we identify core (optimum) breeding areas for most wader species. The introductory chapters address the question of geographic boundaries of Atlas of Breeding Waders in the Russian Arctic region, discuss approaches to mapping breeding distribution, describe the methodology for surveying breeding waders and compare their results. The concluding chapter evaluates the historic trends in distribution and abundance of Arctic waders over the past 150 years. Atlas of Breeding Waders in the Russian Arctic aims at a broad readership including researchers – biologists and geographers, birdwatchers, and employees of wildlife and game management, conservation and protection agencies.

Donated by Saloma︣o Bandeira

Maputo Bay comprises the most studied piece of marine water in Mozambique. It harbours extensive critical habitats, such as mangove forests, seagrass meadows and some of the southernmost reef building corals. The Bay is also an important fishing ground, second only to Sofala Bank, especially when it comes to shallow-water shrimp in Mozambique.

Maputo Bay is home to high marine biodiversity including several species of special concern such as dugongs, dolphins, turtles, sharks, whales, seahorses, endangered bivalves and vulnerable seagrass Zostera.

The book is aimed at decision-makers and managers and is a compilation of research undertaken by numerous researchers from institutions in Mozambique, South Africa, Portugal, Norway, Sweden and the USA.

Increased political stability in the Balkans and the Caucasus has allowed data to be collected from all European countries for the first time. For each species, national data has been gathered on breeding population size (In or around the year 2000) and trend (over the period 1990-2000). With the existing trend and range data from 1970-1990, this new population data has been used to reassess each species' conservation status in Europe.

Donated by Phil Hockey
This is the first ornithological field guide to this group of tropical islands situated between the Oriental and Australian regions. The publication treats all 697 species reliably recorded in Wallacea up to July 1996, and contains an identification section comprising the plates and their captions, and a family and species accounts section with detailed data on distribution, abundance, ecology, habits, and voice. There are 535 pages includes index, bibliography, glossary, 64 color plates.

Donated by Phil Hockey

This compact field guide, published by Conservation International in their Tropical Field Guide Series, illustrates 55 of the parrots found in Columbia. The field guide includes 54 maps and text on the taxonomy, etymology, general characteristics and distribution of each species. The book also has chapters on the origin of the Sitaciformes, the customary use of their vivid plumage and their conservation status.

Donated by Phil Hockey
This is the first edition of this classic field guide, which is the definitive volume on the region's birdlife. This award-winning book, was published in 2000. This comprehensive field guide to the birds of South-East Asia covers all of the 1,327 species recorded in the region and each has been fully illustrated.

Covering Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, this unique and indispensable guide covers in detail the identification, voice, breeding, status, habitat and distribution of all the species and distinctive subspecies of the region.

This is the long-awaited revision and expansion of Avian Hematology and Cytology, 2nd Edition. This new book builds on the avian foundation of Campbell's earlier work and has grown to include coverage of several other important exotic animal groups including small mammals, reptiles, fish, and amphibians. This is the must-have hematologic and cytologic reference for all veterinarians and researchers working with avian and exotic animals.

Britain is home to fifteen species of breeding birds of prey, from the hedgerow-hopping Sparrowhawk to the breathtaking White-tailed Eagle. In this handsomely illustrated book, acclaimed British filmmaker and naturalist David Cobham offers unique and deeply personal insights into Britain's birds of prey and how they are faring today. He delves into the history of these marvelous birds and talks in depth with the scientists and conservationists who are striving to safeguard them. In doing so, he profiles the writers, poets, and filmmakers who have done so much to change the public's perception of birds of prey. Thanks to popular television programs, the Victorian myth that any bird with a hooked beak is evil has been dispelled. However, although there are success stories – five birds of prey that were extinct have become reestablished with viable populations – persecution is still rife: so much so that one bird of prey, the Hen Harrier, became extinct in England as a breeding bird in 2013.

Featuring drawings by famed wildlife artist Bruce Pearson, A Sparrowhawk's Lament reveals why we must cherish and celebrate our birds of prey, and why we neglect them at our peril. In A Sparrowhawk's Lament, you will learn how the perfection of the double-barreled shotgun sounded a death knell for British birds of prey in the nineteenth century, how the conscription of gamekeepers during two world wars gave them a temporary reprieve, how their fortunes changed yet again with the introduction of agricultural pesticides in the 1950s, why birds of prey are vital to Britain's ecosystems and cultural heritage – and much more.

24 years after the record-breaking success of his last big book, The Complete Book of Southern African Birds, Peter Ginn has compiled and edited The Ultimate Companion which was four years in the making. Peter Ginn is an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society and the Photographic Society of Southern Africa, who pioneered the use of photographs to illustrate bird books in the 1970s. He has already put together more than 10 iconic bird books for the southern African region, each one building on the success of the previous one. The book is lavishly illustrated with outstanding photographs, the descriptions are divided into 2 volumes, presented in a cardboard sleeve.

The Beat about the Bush series answers all those everyday questions that are prompted by visits to the bush. It fills the gap in exisiting literature and field guides alike, complemented by more than 900 full-colour photographs.

Although details are given on bird identification and all the bird groups of southern Africa are covered in a very informative 'Did you know' section, this work can more appropriately be described as a behavioural guide. It delves into the fascinating lives of birds - discussing in detail thier myriad forms, survival strategies, breeding and feeding behaviours, movements, migration,s and vocalisations.

The result is a comprehensive reference work in a style that appeals to novices, birders, twitchers, tourists, bush enthusiast and field guides alike.

Subtitled "Successes and failures of integrated coastal zone management in Eastern Africa and Island states, 1996-2001" these two volumes represent an exhaustive study of 11,000 km of shoreline including Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, the Comoros, Mauritius, Madagascar, Réunion and Seychelles.

The area contains some of the world's richest ecosystems which include extensive coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove forests, extensive sand beaches, estuaries and rich and deep coastal waters. This geographical area with remarkable ecological diversity shares unique coastal habitats, high biodiversity and large human settlements.

Predictably, human population increase, inappropriate and poorly planned development, pressures from emerging economic development and the rise in the number of job-seekers and coastal dwellers are increasingly threatening the functional integrity of the natural coastal systems.

From the red grouse to the Ethiopian bush-crow, bird populations around the world can provide us with vital insights into the effects of climate change on species and ecosystems. They are among the best studied and monitored of organisms, yet many are already under threat of extinction as a result of habitat loss, overexploitation and pollution. Providing a single source of information for students, scientists, practitioners and policy-makers, Birds and Climate Change begins with a critical review of the existing impacts of climate change on birds, including changes in the timing of migration and breeding and effects on bird populations around the world. The second part considers how conservationists can assess potential future impacts, quantifying how extinction risk is linked to the magnitude of global change and synthesising the evidence in support of likely conservation responses. The final chapters assess the threats posed by efforts to reduce the magnitude of climate change.

Donated by Phil Hockey

David Allen Sibley, America's most gifted contemporary painter of birds, is the author and illustrator of this comprehensive guide. His beautifully detailed illustrations – more than 6,600 in all – and descriptions of 810 species and 350 regional populations will enrich every birder's experience.

The Sibley Guide's innovative design makes it entirely user friendly. The illustrations are arranged to facilitate comparison, yet still capture the unique character of each species.

Donated by Adrian Craig

Synthesis of more than half a century of zoological research at Mt Nimba, now a biosphere reserve and world heritage site. The history of scientific African expeditions is discussed, setting the scene for an ecological description of the biota. More than 500 new species have been described from Nimba, 56 of which are published for the first time in this book. It also provides ecological data for several hundreds of invertebrate and vertebrate species.

Donated by Peter Ryan

Penguins, among the most delightful creatures in the world, are also among the most vulnerable. The fragile status of most penguin populations today mirrors the troubled condition of the southern oceans, as well as larger marine conservation problems: climate change, pollution, and fisheries mismanagement. This timely book presents the most current knowledge on each of the eighteen penguin species-from the majestic emperor penguins of the Antarctic to the tiny blue penguins of New Zealand and Australia, from the northern rockhopper penguins of the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans to the Galapagos penguins of the equator – written by the leading experts in the field.

Included for each species:
- Life history
- Distribution, population sizes and trends
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status
- Threats to survival
- Legal protection

Donated by Peter Ryan

The 5th volume of the Nature Conservation series, this volume looks at the integration of nature conservation in production land and seascapes. The content is based on an international conference held in Taupo, New Zealand in 1997.

The Nature Conservation Series has developed along the lines that the emerging discipline of Conservation Biology has followed. Each volume examines a range of issues that are aimed at relating ecology and conservation biology to the practical applications necessary for reconstructing our rapidly degrading world. - Denis A. Suanders, Executive Editor.

The other 4 volumes - The role of remnants of native vegetation (1); The role of corridors (2); Reconstruction of fragmented ecosystems (3); The role of networks (4) are also in the Niven Library collection.

Donated by Phil Hockey

Henry Seebohm, a Sheffield steel manufacturer, was also an ornithologist of great repute. In March 1875 he and a single companion set out for the valley of the Petchora to search for the hitherto unknown breeding grounds of many species which migrated to the British Isles in spring and autumn. There were then half a dozen well-known British birds whose summer and winter whereabouts were wrapped in mystery. They were the Grey Plover, the Little Stint, the Sanderling, the Curlew, Sandpiper, Knot and Bewick's Swan.

The only bird they failed to find in the Petchora was the Knot.

Phil Hockey

Following his successful expedition to the Petchora Valley, Henry Seebohm decided on a much more arduous and lengthy journey to the Yenesei river. The details of how he and his companion, Captain Wiggins, travelled six thousand miles to meet their ship for the return, how they lost her, and had to travel home again by land are the subject of this book. He also describes a little-known people and their way of life and brilliantly recounts the successes, the frustrations and the failures in his search for birds.

These were not just collecting trips, however. The observations on nesting habits and behaviour are still of interest coming as they do from a region that is hardly better known to the ornithologist today than it was a hundred years ago.

This is the eleventh part of Type specimens of birds in the American Museum of Natural history that includes taxa in the passerine families included in volume 14 of Peters' Check-list of birds of the world. The original description of each name has been consulted and the currently accepted name of the taxon has been listed with reference to recent publications. The coordinates and modern names of type localities are given when found and comments on taxonomic history are provided.

Donated by Martim Melo

Butterflies are relevant in the study of biodiversity and the analysis of global climate change. This study of Angolan butterflies was considered a priority by the partners of this endeavour, who funded two research fellowships to support the project.

This is the first of three scientific volumes which will be published to increase international visibility and contribute towards the species' conservation.

The publication is bilingual - English/Portuguese - and includes 169 colour plates, and a wide range of information on their taxonomy, ecology and geographic distribution.

Donated by Charles Griffiths

The intense human pressures to which beaches and dunes were subjected to is recorded in this 1988 report from the Institute for Coastal Research at the University of Port Elizabeth, now the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The report examines the impact of off-road vehicles on beaches, dunes and estuaries as well as the social effects of off-road vehicles.

Donated by Phil Hockey

In this unique book Ricardo Rozzi and his collaborators present a cultural ethnography and an illustrated guide to the forest birds of southern Chile and Argentina. Included are entries on fifty bird species, among them the Magellanic Woodpecker, Rufous-Legged Owl, Ringed Kingfisher, Buff-Necked Ibis, Giant Hummingbird, and Andean Condor. Each bird is named in Yahgan, Mapudungun, Spanish, English, and scientific nomenclature, followed by a description, full color photographs, the bird's distribution map, habitat and lifestyle, and its history in the region. Each entry is augmented further with indigenous accounts of the bird in history and folklore. The book includes two CDs with recordings of birdcalls and their names in four languages, followed by numerous narratives of Yahgan and Mapuche stories about the birds translated directly from interviews with elders of both communities.

Donated by Phil Hockey

This is the first identification guide to all birds known to occur in the West Indies, a total of 563 species (including five species now widely considered extinct but with the potential, perhaps, for 're-discovery'). As with other guides in the series detailed introductory sections are followed by the plates and then the species texts. Each text covers all aspects of identification and includes the full range of local names for the bird. Accompanying each species account is a distribution map showing the bird's range within the West Indies. Each species is illustrated in the plates, and many island 'forms', where relevant, are also depicted. There is also a 'locality checklist' at the end of the book, providing an at-a-glance, island-by-island guide to the distribution and status of all species.

Donated by Phil Hockey

A complete checklist to the birds of the region covered by the Oriental Bird Club, from Pakistan to the west of China in the north, and Wallacea in the East. It lists 2586 species, including all alternative English names and full discussion of all taxonomic changes.

Donated by Carter T. Atkinson

Hawaii's bird communities are the most insular and most endangered in the world and are often cited as a bellwether of what can go wrong when isolated populations of highly evolved species come into contact with humans. Ten species have disappeared in the past thirty years, nine are critically endangered, and even common species are currently in decline.

Donated by Phil Hockey

Now Out of Print, this compact set of guides to the birds of Brazil is ideal for the field. The species accounts are arranged in Portuguese on one side and English on the other. The Plates and maps can be taken into the field and the species accounts consulted in camp in the evening. 1822 species are illustrated, an attempt to combine previous identification guides into one volume. The plates are arranged in an order that gathers birds by their morphological identity, in order to make identification more simple for the layman and beginners.

Donated by Phil Hockey

Vanuatu is a volcanic island archipelago in the southwest Pacific. The book consists of a checklist and detailed notes on identification, behaviour, habitat, breeding and distribution of the 121 species which occur in the archipelago. The author was trained at the Museum of Natural Sciences in Berlin, and spent 20 years in the area collecting from a range of islands in the area.

Donated by Estate Late Patrick Niven

Birds of Nepal describes 741 species of birds, in colour, illustrated by Hem Poudyal and Hira Lal Dangol. The Flemings, father and son, who published the book, have seen 98% of the birds illustrated in the book. The unusual diversity of species in Nepal is due to the great altitudinal range from the lowlands up to 915 m, the midlands up to 2745 m and the highlands which includes all areas over 2745 m. Nepal is at the biogeographic center of Asia which adds to this diversity.

Donated by Patrick Morant

In 2001 oil was discovered off the coast of Mauritania with a reserve of approximately 310 million barrels and 84 billion cubic meters of gas. Numerous and diverse nationalities are in the exploration process within the EEZ of Mauritania.

The marine environment of Mauritania has in the past been dominated by local fishermen, and the area is considered one of the most important fisheries in the world. The arrival of the petroleum industry in the area has naturally resulted in anxiety on the part of fishermen who do not want to see the pristine environment polluted and their livelihood compromised.

This book is a summation of an inquiry about the natural and social environment of the area in order to establish baseline information before the petroleum industry becomes entrenched. All aspects of the marine environment are examined, including the seabirds dependent on the marine and coastal environment.

Donated by Charles Griffiths

The historically renowned Argentine coast south of the Rio Negro is also world famous for the annual spring residency of the Southern Right Whales, and the occurrence of Orca, the killer whale. The right whales congregate around Península Valdés during winter and spring, and provide the Province of Chubut with one of its major tourist attractions.

The Patagonian coast is washed by the north-flowing cold currents which emanate from Antarctic waters. The coast is host to a variety of large whales which pass through en route from the deep south to spend the winter in the tropics. There are also a number of smaller species of beaked whales, dolphins and seals in those coastal waters, some of which are permanent residents in Patagonian waters.

The world-wide development of whale and dolphin watching as a tourist activity has already reached the largely pristine coastal waters of southern South America. The publication of this guide book is extremely timely. Research workers and lay persons alike will derive much from this guidebook which promotes public awareness of the nature of the cetacean fauna of Patagonia and the threats they face.
Alan N. Baker, former Director of the National Museum of New Zealand.

The Birds of Africa series, volumes I–VII, covered the avifauna of continental Africa. This volume fulfils the aspiration, expressed in that series, of a single volume that treats the birds of Madagascar, Seychelles, the Comoros, the Mascarenes and their associated smaller outlying islands – the Malagasy region. It follows The Birds of Africa series in treating each of the 352 regularly occurring species known from the region in detail, through the assembly of a wealth of information, much of it very recent. Distribution, description, identification, general behaviour, feeding and breeding habits are comprehensively covered, by a roster of the key experts on the birds of the region. All 135 vagrant species are also treated, more briefly, and for the first time the distribution of species across the region is presented in a series of detailed and informative maps. Each species is also extensively illustrated, showing variation in plumage across ages, sexes and geographic regions. One plate illustrates species that have recently become extinct in the
region, and a separate plate section covers vagrants.

The region’s avifauna is characterised by a very high level of endemism, both at the species level and higher – at genus and family levels. Many species, such as the enigmatic Cuckoo-roller, are of abiding interest for comparative or taxonomic studies, and the relationships of the birds of the region to those of Africa and Asia are only now becoming clear. A detailed analysis of the biogeography and evolutionary history of the region is a fascinating and new contribution to this debate, and a thorough overview of the geography, climate and vegetation is also presented within the introductory chapters. This is a major work of reference on the birds of the region and will remain the standard text for many years to come.

Ten Thousand Birds provides a thoroughly engaging and authoritative history of modern ornithology, tracing how the study of birds has been shaped by a succession of visionary and often-controversial personalities, and by the unique social and scientific contexts in which these extraordinary individuals worked. This beautifully illustrated book opens in the middle of the nineteenth century when ornithology was a museum-based discipline focused almost exclusively on the anatomy, taxonomy, and classification of dead birds.

Ten Thousand Birds describes how in the early 1900s pioneering individuals such as Erwin Stresemann, Ernst Mayr, and Julian Huxley recognized the importance of studying live birds in the field, and how this shift thrust ornithology into the mainstream of the biological sciences. Ten Thousand Birds tells the stories of eccentrics like Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen, a pathological liar who stole specimens from museums and quite likely murdered his wife, and describes the breathtaking insights and discoveries of ambitious and influential figures such as David Lack, Niko Tinbergen, Robert MacArthur, and others who through their studies of birds transformed entire fields of biology.

Ten Thousand Birds brings this history vividly to life through the work and achievements of those who advanced the field. Drawing on a wealth of archival material and in-depth interviews, this fascinating book reveals how research on birds has contributed more to our understanding of animal biology than the study of just about any other group of organisms.

This book relates the history of field guides for American birding from the Victorian era to the present. Changes in guides, shifts in science, field identification methods, and new technologies for the mass production of images are discussed.

The first generation of American birders used opera glasses in the field and their bird identifications were sketchy. Roger Tory Peterson's 1934 guide was the first of its kind which popularised birding in America.

Donated by Estate Late E.H. Ashton

This delightful book is a product of its time. In Turnbull's words: "For there is only one way of learning bird music - if we exclude as unworthy of consideration such mechanical devices as gramophone records, a luxury for the lazy. That way of course is the woodland way. First the birds themselves must be recognized by sight, and then their songs related to the singers."

Rockhopper Copper is the story of the Tristan da Cunha islanders who live on what is arguably the World's most remote inhabited island, situated in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. The story is told by the former Chief Islander and Conservation Officer, Conrad Glass, using his police notebooks and personal anecdotes. Tristan da Cunha is a UK Overseas Territory, and Conrad Glass is the direct descendant of the first settler and governor, William Glass who came to the island in 1816 with a garrison sent to prevent any rescue of Napoleon from St Helena.

The full text of this archival catalogue has been made available by the British Museum and the Biodiversity Heritage Library for the benefit of ornithological research. Each record contains a detailed description of the bird, when, where and who collected the type, which museum holds the specimen, nomenclature changes and published accounts by early ornithologists.

Ernest Middlemiss was the first curator-warden of the Rondevlei Bird Sanctuary, a popular bird-watching destination in Cape Town, retiring from this position in 1976. The book deals with the birds, fish, small animals, trees and flowers of the Peninsula which is illustrated by Katrine Harries.

Middlemiss worked tirelessly to preserve the Rondevlei Bird Sanctuary for the enjoyment of future generations, and there is now a bird hide at the sanctuary which bears his name.

Number 78 of the Ornithological Monograph series, the topic of this book is survival of juvenile birds in the period between parental care and adulthood. The study subject is the Nazca Booby, a seabird found on the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador.

This is the first book to trace the history and development of this singular pastime, on both sides of the Atlantic, all the way from Gilbert White, author of The Natural History of Selborne in the eighteenth century, through the British servicemen who studied black redstarts from their POW camp, to today's driven twitchers who will go to great lengths to see a single species.

Now that so many ecosystems face rapid and major environmental change, the ability of species to respond to these changes by dispersing or moving between different patches of habitat can be crucial to ensuring their survival. Understanding dispersal has become key to understanding how populations may persist.

Dispersal Ecology and Evolution provides a timely and wide-ranging overview of the fast expanding field of dispersal ecology, incorporating the very latest research. The causes, mechanisms, and consequences of dispersal at the individual, population, species, and community levels are considered. Perspectives and insights are offered from the fields of evolution, behavioural ecology, conservation biology, and genetics. Throughout Dispersal Ecology and Evolution theoretical approaches are combined with empirical data, and care has been taken to include examples from as wide a range of species as possible – both plant and animal.

Analyzing Animal Societies presents a conceptual framework for analyzing social behavior and demonstrates how to put this framework into practice by collecting suitable data on the interactions and associations of individuals so that relationships can be described, and, from these, models can be derived. In addition to presenting the tools, Hal Whitehead illustrates their applicability using a wide range of real data on a variety of animal species-from bats and chimps to dolphins and birds. The techniques that Whitehead describes will be profitably adopted by scientists working with primates, cetaceans, birds, and ungulates, but the tools can be used to study societies of invertebrates, amphibians, and even humans.

Donated by Penguin Books (South Africa)

Taken Captive by Birds is a collection of acclaimed author Marguerite Poland's 'discovery' of birds as a child and the role they have played in her and her family's life. Interwoven with the personal story are the myths, traditions and meanings behind birds and their names within Zulu and Xhosa culture. Taken Captive by Birds is divided into 18 chapters, each of which loosely deals with one particular bird or, sometimes, a grouping of birds. Taken Captive by Birds is beautifully illustrated by Craig Ivor.

Donated by Bloomsbury Press

Looking for the Goshawk traces Conor Jameson's travels in search of the Goshawk, a magnificent yet rarely seen (in Britain at least) raptor. Each episode of the narrative arises from personal experience, investigation, and the unearthing of information from research, exploration and conversations. The journey takes him from an encounter with a stuffed Goshawk in a glass case, through travels into supposed Goshawk territories in Britain, to Berlin – where he finds the bird at ease in the city. Why, he wants to know, is the bird so rarely seen in Britain? He explores the politics of birdwatching, the sport of falconry and the impact of persecution on the recent history of the bird in Britain and travels the length of Britain, through central Europe and the USA in search of answers to the goshawk mystery. Throughout his journey he is inspired by the writings of T H White who told of his attempts to tame a Goshawk in his much-loved book. It's a gripping tale on the trail of a most mysterious and charismatic bird.

Donated by Princeton University Press

Birds of the Masai Mara is a remarkably beautiful photographic guide featuring the bird species likely to be encountered by visitors to the popular Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. With an eye-catching layout, easy-to-use format, and no-jargon approach, Birds of the Masai Mara contains more than 300 stunning photographs covering over 200 species of birds and is accessible and informative, rather than purely identification-based. A handy, brief introduction provides visitors with background on the habitats of the national park, and Birds of the Masai Mara's habitat-based approach makes it simple to identify any bird species according to where it is found. Based on the firsthand experiences of the author, Birds of the Masai Mara is an ideal companion to all those visiting the national reserve and to bird aficionados interested in learning more about the region.

Donated by Princeton University Press

One of the greatest attractions of a trip to Kenya is the chance to see animals such as lions, cheetah, leopards, zebra, and giraffe up close and in their natural habitats. Animals of the Masai Mara is a lavish photographic guide that explores the charismatic wildlife most likely to be encountered by a safari visitor to the Masai Mara National Reserve in southwest Kenya. More than 140 stunning photographs showcase 65 mammals and 17 reptile species, including 6 snakes. Designed to be informative and locally accurate, rather than purely identification-based, this easy-to-use book pays particular attention to wildlife behavior and is written from the firsthand experiences of the authors and the knowledge of local safari guides. Numerous "Top Tips" throughout show readers how and where to locate specific species. The only field guide to focus solely on the wildlife of the Masai Mara National Reserve, Animals of the Masai Mara will be indispensable to visitors to this famous park and all nature enthusiasts with an interest in this area of the world.

Donated by the Animal Demography Unit

This publication is a compilation of status reports for 102 important marine linefish species in southern African waters. Where available, information and the relevant references for each species are presented on distribution, habitat preference, migration, fishery, biology, population dynamics, biological reference points, current status, current regulations, research priorities and management considerations. It is intended to be an up to date summary of what is currently known about each species in order to inform users, managers and scientists in determining effective management plans for each species. It is also intended to highlight research requirements in relation to the management of southern Africa's marine linefish resources.

Donated by Estate Late Jim Enticott

This list of bird species occurring in the Channel Islands is an update of the list published in 1976 and includes species recorded on Guernsey, Lihou, Herm, Jethou and the associated islets, rocks and waters of the Channel Islands geographical area. The list is compiled from the records of the Ornithological Section of La Societe Guernesiaise and includes 282 bird species, 86 of which breed in the Channel Islands, 79 vagrants and many migrant species which visit the islands during spring and autumn.

Donated by Estate Late Jim Enticott

This field guide was compiled as a service to bird-watchers, experienced or beginner, visitor or local island resident. Guernsey is a stop-over for birds migrating from North Western Europe. The mild climate of Guernsey ensures that birds avoiding icy weather in other regions, "fill the islands to bursting point".

Donated by John Wiley & Sons

The purpose of migration, regardless of the distance involved, is to exploit two or more environments suitable for survival or reproduction over time, usually on a seasonal basis. Yet individual organisms can practice the phenomenon differently, and birds deploy unique patterns of movement over particular segments of time. Incorporating the latest research on bird migration, this concise, critical assessment offers contemporary readers a firm grasp of what defines an avian migrant, how the organism came to be, what is known about its behaviour, and how we can resolve its enduring mysteries.

John H. Rappole's sophisticated survey of field data clarifies key ecological, biological, physiological, navigational, and evolutionary concerns. He begins with the very first migrants, who traded a home environment of greater stability for one of greater seasonality, and uses the structure of the annual cycle to examine the difference between migratory birds and their resident counterparts. He ultimately connects these differences to evolutionary milestones that have shaped a migrant lifestyle through natural selection. Rather than catalogue and describe various aspects of bird migration, Rappole considers how the avian migrant fits within a larger ecological frame, enabling a richer understanding of the phenomenon and its critical role in sustaining a hospitable and productive environment. Rappole concludes with a focus on population biology and conservation across time periods, considering the link between bird migration and the spread of disease among birds and humans, and the effects of global warming on migrant breeding ranges, reaction norms, and macroecology.

Although the diversity of Malagasy birds is relatively low compared to that of other tropical countries, there is a remarkable level of endemism, including five families and two sub-families. Birds are the most studied animal groups in Madagascar but the life history of most species remains to be discovered. Malagasy birds, like the other groups of animals, are fundamentally dependent on the forest ecosystem and the gradual loss of their natural habitat due to various anthropogenic pressures contributes to their demise. If no action is taken to conserve their natural habitat immediately, their future hangs in the balance.

Based on the knowledge gained so far of the natural history of endemic birds at family and subfamily level, this book examines systematics, biology, ecology, biogeography, evolution, paleontology, and even the history of geological time of Madagascar. We hope that through this book students and educators can discover the reality of the amazing, unique biodiversity of Madagascar.

When Jean-Marc Thiollay planned to repeat his road transects in West Afria in the early 2000s, after a time lapse of some 30 years, he was in for a surprise: numbers of eagles and vultures had dropped by 86-98%. Declines in other species were smaller, or even absent. Whereas declines outside protected areas were much larger than in National Parks, the most likely trigger for these changes seemed to be anthropogenic. Ralph Buij spent four years in semi-arid norther Cameroon where several National Parks (Bénoué, Boubandjidda, Faro) and the Waza Logone floodplains are surrounded by degraded savannah and cropland.

This region is home to a wide variety of sedentary African raptor species and hosts important numbers of Palearctic and Afrotropical migrants. How are the various raptor species coping with changes in the landscape wrought about by man? (from a review by Rob G. Bijlsma published in Ardea 101:81-83)

Bird Conservation: Evidence for the Effects of Interventions brings together scientific evidence and experience relevant to the practical conservation of wild birds.

The authors worked with an international group of bird experts and conservationists to develop a global list of interventions that could benefit wild birds.

For each intervention, Bird Conservation: Evidence for the Effects of Interventions summarises studies captured by the Conservation Evidence project, where that intervention has been tested and its effects on birds quantified. The result is a thorough guide to what is known, or not known, about the effectiveness of bird conservation actions throughout the world.

Donated by David Ellis

With over 400 images by 21 photographers and 15 artists, and more than 100 accounts by 48 authors representing 20 nations, Enter the Realm of the Golden Eagle will appeal to both the generalist and the academic. Focusing on teaching everyone to value the eagle and the vast open habitats it needs to survive, and the creatures that share its world, this unique work both celebrates the eagle and attunes readers to the challenges facing this species in the modern world.

Along with legendary stories from antiquity are chapters on trained eagles hunting large quarry such as gazelle, deer, foxes, wolves, and even man; eagle research and intelligence; and the eagle in the legend and lore of native peoples worldwide, including the acts by North American First Nations people to obtain coup feathers. An additional chapter outlines ways and means of capturing eagles, including the use of helicopters. Enter the Realm of the Golden Eagle concludes with chapters on three special trained eagles.

Donated by Timothy Crowe

This compilation on CD contains the characteristic songs and calls of 175 species of more frequently found British birds. It is produced as a two-CD set, with non-Passerine species on one, and passerines on the other. Spoken introductions precede each species, and index marks allow rapid access. A booklet gives extensive recording notes. Approximately 152 mins.

Donated by Peter Ryan

This identification guide on the Pterodroma petrels of the North Atlantic is the culmination of many years of at-sea observations by the authors. It is the second in what is planned to be a four-part series on regular and vagrant bird species of the North Atlantic. Amongst the species and taxa covered are the Trindade Petrel, Kermadee Petrel, Atlantic Petrel, Great-winged Petrel, Bermuda Petrel, Black-capped Petrel, Soft-plumaged Petrel, Cape Verde (Fea's) Petrel, Desertas (Fea's) Petrel, and Zino's Petrel.

Multimedia Identification Guide to North Atlantic Seabirds: Pterodroma Petrels is accompanied by 2 DVDs with 130 minutes of both at-sea footage and, for some species, in-hand and at-colony footage. The DVDs follow the contents of the book, allowing cross-referencing, and form an excellent preparation for a seawatch or a pelagic trip. The DVDs are in PAL format (multiregional).

Conversational, playful, and witty, Birdscapes gently leads us to reflect on large questions about our relation to birds and the natural world. It encourages birders to see their pursuits in a broader human context – and it shows nonbirders what they may be missing.

Gough Island was first discovered in 1505 and subsequently used by passing ships for replenishment of fresh water. Now an important conservation area and home for numerous species of seabirds, Gough Island also has a small South African scientific station. The Island is part of the UK Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha.

This book examines the plants, animals and history of discovery and exploration of Gough Island.

Over the past twenty years considerable public attention has been focused on the decline of marine fisheries, the sustainability of world fish production, and the impacts of fishing on marine ecosystems. Many have voiced their concerns about marine conservation, as well as the sustainable and ethical consumption of fish. But are fisheries in danger of collapse? Will we soon need to find ways to replace this food system? Should we be worried that we could be fishing certain species to extinction? Can commercial fishing be carried out in a sustainable way? While overblown prognoses concerning the dire state of fisheries are plentiful, clear scientific explanations of the basic issues surrounding overfishing are less so – and there remains great confusion about the actual amount of overfishing and its ecological impact.

Overfishing: What Everyone Needs to Know will provide a balanced explanation of the broad issues associated with overfishing. Guiding readers through the scientific, political, economic, and ethical issues associated with harvesting fish from the ocean, it will provide answers to questions about which fisheries are sustainably managed and which are not. Ray and Ulrike Hilborn address topics including historical overfishing, high seas fisheries, recreational fisheries, illegal fishing, climate and fisheries, trawling, economic and biological overfishing, and marine protected areas. In order to illustrate the effects of each of these issues, they will incorporate case studies of different species of fish.

There are 10,500 species of bird worldwide and wherever they occur people marvel at their extraordinary beauty and wonder at their powers of flight. We also trap and eat birds of every kind. Today one species, the domestic chicken, is the single biggest source of protein for all of us. Yet birds have not just been good to eat. Their feathers, which keep us warm or adorn our costumes, give birds unique mastery over the heavens. Throughout history their flight has inspired the human imagination so that birds are embedded in our religions, folklore, music and arts. Today their images are everywhere – on our national emblems, flags, stamps, coins, banknotes – and bird imagery entwines the political rhetoric of freedom and informs our vocabularies of birth and death.

Birds and People explores and celebrates this extraordinary relationship. Eight years in the making and vast in both scope and scale, Birds and People draws upon Mark Cocker's forty years of observing and thinking about birds. Part natural history and part cultural study, it describes and maps the entire spectrum of our engagements with birds, drawing in themes of history, literature, art, cuisine, language, lore, politics and the environment. In the end, this is a book as much about us as it is about birds. Birds and People has been stunningly illustrated by one of Europe's best wildlife photographers, David Tipling, who has travelled in thirty-nine countries on seven continents to produce a breathtaking and unique collection of photographs.

Anyone can become an Urban Birder. You can do it anywhere and any time, whether you've got the day to spare, on your way to work, during your lunch break or just looking out of a window.
This book is an inspirational look at the birdlife in our cities, or more accurately, the author's personal journey of discovery involving encounters with racism, air rifle-toting youths, girls, alcohol, music, finding urban wildlife oases and of course, birds.

His story is entertaining and sometimes controversial, but the one guarantee is that the reader will be left feeling inspired enough to pick up a pair of binoculars and head to the nearest park.

Donated by Patrick Morant

Drawing on his own fieldwork, as well as evidence from Inuit, Amazonian Indians and other cultures, Diamond explores how tribal peoples approach essential human problems, from child rearing to old age to conflict resolution to health. He unearths remarkable findings – from the reasons why modern afflictions like diabetes, obesity and hypertension are largely non-existent in tribal societies, to the surprising cognitive benefits of multilingualism. As Diamond reminds us, the West achieved global dominance due to specific environmental and technological advantages, but Westerners do not necessarily have superior ideas about how to live well.

Donated by Charles Griffiths

Kagoshima Prefecture is located in the southern part of Japan, and comprises of more that 600 islands, including 28 populated islands. Kagoshima lies in the boundary zone between temperate and subtropical climates, and stretches over 600 km along the north-south axis. The islands have the richest diversity in both nature and human culture, including 419 of the 680 native species of birds found in Japan.

Presents several new approaches to estimating model selection uncertainty and incorporating selection uncertainty into estimates of precision.

Donated by the Durban Natural Science Museum

Clive Quickelberge is well known in the lepidoptera community of South Africa. This detailed account of the KwaZulu-Natal butterflies is an excellent companion to the recently published Conservation assessment of butterflies of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. For those who wish to re-establish a butterfly habitat in their garden, Quickelberge's monograph includes a description of the foodplants required.

The Enviropaedia is now in its 13th year of publication with the first edition appearing in 2000. The sub-title of this edition is the Eco-logical edition and the encyclopaedia includes articles on environmental topics, a directory of South African environment-related organisations, a guide to eco-logical living and articles by leaders in sustainable development.

Donated by Museu Nacional, Rio de Janeiro

The Cagarras Islands are an uninhabited archipelago about 5 km off Ipanema, a major beach of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This magnificently illustrated book on the natural history and biodiversity of the archipelago examines all aspects of the natural history of the islands - algae, invertebrates, fish, fauna, flora and birds. The book also looks at tourism on the islands where activities such as birding, rock climbing, fishing, sea kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling and yachting are permitted.

Donated by Mike Perrin

This book provides complete coverage of all aspects of the biology of extant African, Malagasy and Mascarene parrots, and reviews our knowledge of extinct and fossil parrots from the region. Particular themes include the behavioural and ecological characteristics of parrots, their species characteristics and conservation biology. Current concepts in avian and conservation biology are also discussed.
Parrots of Africa, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands is aimed at ornithologists, conservation biologists, avian ecologists, academics, bird watchers and parrot fans alike. It is well illustrated, with high quality original photographs, and includes distribution maps, figures and tables.

The book begins with an overview and introduction to resilience thinking and then takes the reader through the process of describing systems, assessing their resilience, and intervening as appropriate. Following each chapter is a case study of a different type of social-ecological system and how resilience makes a difference to that system in practice. The final chapters explore resilience in other arenas, including on a global scale.

Resilience Practice
Bookmark and Share
BRIAN WALKER AND DAVID SALT

248 pages | 34 figures, references, index | 6 x 9
In 2006, Resilience Thinking addressed an essential question: As the natural systems that sustain us are subjected to shock after shock, how much can they take and still deliver the services we need from them? This idea caught the attention of both the scientific community and the general public.
In Resilience Practice, authors Brian Walker and David Salt take the notion of resilience one step further, applying resilience thinking to real-world situations and exploring how systems can be managed to promote and sustain resilience.

The book begins with an overview and introduction to resilience thinking and then takes the reader through the process of describing systems, assessing their resilience, and intervening as appropriate. Following each chapter is a case study of a different type of social-ecological system and how resilience makes a difference to that system in practice. The final chapters explore resilience in other arenas, including on a global scale.

Resilience Practice will help people with an interest in the “coping capacity” of systems—from farms and catchments to regions and nations—to better understand how resilience thinking can be put into practice. It offers an easy-to-read but scientifically robust guide through the real-world application of the concept of resilience and is a must read for anyone concerned with the management of systems at any scale.

Donated by Lynx Edicions

The Special Volume includes a comprehensive, global index to the 16 volume collection, a useful tool which will enable users swiftly to find the species they are searching for in the more than 12,500 pages.

A number of species genuinely new to science have been described since the publication of their respective volumes, and therefore are not featured in the 16 volumes of HBW. The Special Volume covers and illustrates all of these species, 69, with texts, plates and distribution maps in the classic HBW format.

An unexpected addition to this volume is a section including the original scientific descriptions of 15 species, all totally new to science. These descriptions are the combined work of a number of renowned Amazonian ornithologists, and highlight the massive importance of the world's largest area of tropical forest.

From our initial projected list for the volume of 53 species, we are happy now to present an overall total of 84 new species, including those described directly in the volume.

Increasingly, cracks are appearing in the capacity of communities, ecosystems, and landscapes to provide the goods and services that sustain our planet's well-being. The response from most quarters has been for "more of the same" that created the situation in the first place: more control, more intensification, and greater efficiency. "Resilience thinking" offers a different way of understanding the world and a new approach to managing resources. It embraces human and natural systems as complex entities continually adapting through cycles of change and seeks to understand the qualities of a system that must be maintained or enhanced in order to achieve sustainability. It explains why greater efficiency by itself cannot solve resource problems and offers a constructive alternative that opens up options rather than closing them down.

In "Resilience Thinking", scientist Brian Walker and science writer David Salt present an accessible introduction to the emerging paradigm of resilience. The book arose out of appeals from colleagues in science and industry for a plainly written account of what resilience is all about and how a resilience approach differs from current practices.

Rather than complicated theory, the book offers a conceptual overview along with five case studies of resilience thinking in the real world.

Donated by Jane Turpie

As Thomas Sterner points out, the economic 'toolkit' for dealing with environmental problems has become formidable. It includes taxes, charges, permits, deposit-refund systems, labeling, and other information disclosure mechanisms. Though not all these devices are widely used, empirical application has started within some sectors, and we are beginning to see the first systematic efforts at an advanced policy design that takes due account of market-based incentives. Sterner's book encourages more widespread and careful use of economic policy instruments. Intended primarily for application in developing and transitional countries, the book compares the accumulated experiences of the use of economic policy instruments in the U.S. and Europe, as well as in select rich and poor countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Ambitious in scope, the book discusses the design of instruments that can be employed in a wide range of contexts, including transportation, industrial pollution, water pricing, waste, fisheries, forests, and agriculture. Policy Instruments for Environmental and Natural Resource Management is deeply rooted in economics but also informed by perspectives drawn from political, legal, ecological, and psychological research. Sterner notes that, in addition to meeting requirements for efficiency, the selection and design of policy instruments must satisfy criteria involving equity and political acceptability. He is careful to distinguish between the well-designed plans of policymakers and the resulting behavior of society.

Donated by Alan Kemp

Hornbills (order: Bucerotiformes) are a group of distinctive and charismatic birds found only in Tropical Asia and sub-saharan Africa. There are two families (bucorvidae and bucerotidae), 15 genera, 57 species and 75 subspecies; 32 species are in Asia and 25 species in Africa. They are mostly large in size and have long bills surmounted in many species by a conspicuous casque. Hornbills are omnivorous, but each species feeds predominately on fruits or small animals. Many hornbills are important seed dispersers and benefit the forest ecology. During the breeding season, the female enters a nesting cavity, usually in a large hardwood tree. she seals herself inside the cavity in the majority of species and stays there for much of the nesting cycle while the male brings food to her and her young. Most hornbill species are forest birds, dependant on large expanses of primary tropical rainforest for habitat, while some inhabit drier savanna, but all are vulnerable to disturbance and habitat loss.

Hornbills of the World is the first authoritative photographic guide to the order. All species are described and illustrated in multiple photographs showing both male and female, and distinct subspecies.

Cowgill and Davis' latest edition to the array of southern African bird field guides is a welcome addition for birders who wish to identify the waders seen at South African coasts and wetlands. The authors have developed a helpful silhouette system which, in combination with the use of classification, characteristics and behaviour, based on a 5-step shorebird identification process, make this a very useful identification guide. The book is well illustrated with photos and includes descriptions of habitats and tables showing seasonality, abundance and distribution.

Donated by Estate Late Jim Enticott

This is the first book published on the Aldabra Atoll, in the Seychelles archipelago. Hostile to human settlement because the atoll lacks both soil and water, it is home to 80,000 giant tortoises and thousands of seabirds including the frigate bird, the flightless Aldabran Rail and a number of other Aldabran endemics.

At the time of writing the Atoll was threatened by a proposed US airfield. It is now an UNESCO World Heritage Site and a BirdLife International Endemic Bird Area.

Donated by the American Museum of Natural History

This tenth part of type specimens of birds which are held by the American Museum of Natural History has consulted original descriptions, as well as consulting more recent studies. Modern names and coordinates of type localities have been provided where possible and comments on the taxonomic history are provided

In Trying Leviathan, D. Graham Burnett recovers the strange story of Maurice v. Judd, an 1818 trial that pitted the new sciences of taxonomy against the then-popular – and biblically sanctioned – view that the whale was a fish. The immediate dispute was mundane: whether whale oil was fish oil and therefore subject to state inspection. But the trial fueled a sensational public debate in which nothing less than the order of nature – and how we know it – was at stake.

Burnett vividly re-creates the trial, during which a parade of experts – pea-coated whalemen, pompous philosophers, Jacobin lawyers – took the witness stand, brandishing books, drawings, and anatomical reports, and telling tall tales from whaling voyages.

Donated by Rob Little

Cape Peninsula Birdlife breaks new ground: it provides residents of, and visitors to the Cape Peninsula with information where particular birds may be found and why and how they occur where they do. Superbly illustrated with photographs by some of South Africa’s premier photographers, readers will gain an appreciation of the extraordinarily rich natural history of the Cape Peninsula.

Donated by the British Museum of Natural History at Tring

The common Japanese name for the Rufous Vanga is Akaoohashimozu, whereas the literal translation of the Chinese characters describing the same bird is the "large-beaked red shrike". This bird is a Malagasy endemic, and this book describes the field investigations of two Japanese students studying the adaptive radiation of the family Vangidae. The researchers established that the Rufous Vanga is a cooperative breeder, a strategy that enhances the reproductive success of breeding pairs.

The 6 volume set of Mammals of Africa contains the very latest information and detailed discussion of the morphology, distribution, biology and evolution (including reference to fossil and molecular data) of every currently recognized species of African land mammal.

With more than 1160 species and 16-18 orders, Africa has the greatest diversity and abundance of mammals in the world. The reasons for this and the mechanisms behind their evolution are given special attention in Mammals of Africa.

Each volume follows the same format, with detailed profiles of every species and higher taxa. Mammals of Africa includes some 660 colour illustrations by Jonathan Kingdon and his many drawings highlight details of morphology and behaviour of the species concerned. Diagrams, schematic details and line drawings of skulls and jaws are by Jonathan Kingdon and Meredith Happold. Every species also includes a detailed distribution map. Extensive references alert readers to more detailed information.

Parasitic Diseases of Wild Birds provides thorough coverage of major parasite groups affecting wild bird species. Broken into four sections covering protozoa, heminths, leeches, and arthropod parasites, this volume will provide reviews of the history, disease, epizootiology, pathology, and population impacts caused by parasitic disease. Taking a unique approach that focuses on the effects of the parasites on the host Parasitic Diseases of Wild Birds will fill a unique niche in animal health literature.

The fourth edition of The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World has been updated to reflect the considerable change in our understanding of the evolution of birds derived from the study of their DNA over the past decade; thus the Cracraft sequence, adopted in 2003, is completely revised here. The new edition also reflects revisions to species limits and includes newly discovered species and subspecies. For each genus, type designation details are now given, and superspecies groups are frequently mentioned in the footnotes. Evaluation, as before, is based on the Biological Species Concept, carefully and conservatively applied. Range statements have been totally revised, particularly for the Americas. Overall the number of footnotes and references cited nearly doubles.

Begging by nestling birds has become the model system for investigating evolutionary conflicts of interest within families and their theoretical resolution provided by honest signals of offspring need. Wright and Leonard have brought together twenty-four original contributions from major researchers in all areas of this dynamic field.

A major identification guide, and the first fully comprehensive work to the birds of this important region. All 820 known species are described in full, and illustrated on colour plates, with detailed notes on identification, voice, range, distribution & status, and habits. There are initial chapters covering the region's geography, climate, land-use and conservation, and the key birdwatching sites. There are appendices to land birds found on offshore islands groups; Bornean montane birds by mountain group; endemic/endangered species by islands; an annotated list of birds of the Malay Peninsula not described in the text; and regional organisations, journals and museums.

Comprehensive, taxonomically modern, and fully illustrated field guide to the Chinese birds. Over 1300 species are illustrated in 128 original paintings, and fully described in the text. Colour distribution maps are provided for all illustrated species. John MacKinnon lived in China and Hong Kong for eight years, and has extensive experience of watching and writing about Chinese birds. This important book is a landmark in field guide publishing. Contents include: Introduction to the Region; History of Ornithology in China; Avian Biogeography of Region; Conservation; Field Techniques for Birdwatching; Anatomy and Plumage of a Bird; Glossary of Terms Used; Family and Species Descriptions; Limited Distribution Birds of Endemic Bird Areas; Lists of Threatened and Endangered Species of China; List of Birds of North Arunchal Pradesh (not described in book); List of Birds Expected on Spratly Islands (not described in book); List of clubs and journals for the area; Chinese names; Bibliography; Index and Synonyms.

Donated by the British Museum of Natural History at Tring

This lavishly illustrated book was published by the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company and the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. Both companies are fully committed to preserving and protecting the environment and ensuring that foreign governments abide by all environmental standards. The Kuwait community regard it as their personal responsibility to safe-guard and and conserve the fragile habitat that sustains both the resident and migratory birds. The book is intended to be a tool to raise public awareness of the need to protect the birds and their habitat so as to ensure they continue to visit and pass through Kuwait safely and unharmed each year en-route to their breeding grounds.
The guide presents colour plates of 390 species and 17 subspecies, each with a brief description of the habitat. Introductory pages give information about habitat types in Kuwait, Important Bird Areas, migration routes and conservation challenges.

Unknown donor

This is an introduction and general study of the butterflies of Ethiopia. The author presents a history of butterfly collecting in Ethiopia, describes the biogeographical and habitat affinities of the butterflies and gives the reader a fascinating glimpse into the habits of butterflies from feeding patterns to sexual behaviour and special relationships with other species such as ants.

The book is published by the Wondo Genet College of Foresty, based in the Wondo Genet area of Ethiopia which is remarkably rich in biodiversity.

Unknown Donor

The Wondo Genet area is well known as one of the best bird watching areas in Ethiopia. Its varied habitats, relatively intact mid- to high-level forest and easy accessibility attract many foreign and domestic visitors. Set at an altitude of 1800-2200m on the eastern escarpment of the Ethiopian Rift Valley the area is home to eleven endemic species of birds.

This detailed and comprehensive identification guide follows in the mould of "Sylvia Warblers" and "Pipits and Wagtails". It primarily covers the genera Acrocephalus, Locustella, Cettia and Bradypterus together with a few smaller related genera.

This authoritative handbook covers their identification in considerable detail, illustrated with line drawings, sonograms, colour plates and photographs. It is destined to become the ultimate reference for these challenging birds.

Unless the distributions and Red List status of species are known, conservation planning is impossible. Conservation Assessment of Butterflies of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland: reports the outcomes of the most important biodiversity conservation project for butterflies ever undertaken in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. It contains an updated Red List for all 794 butterfly species and subspecies in the region. The broad range of information as well as the informative and beautiful illustrations presented here makes this a publication which will be useful to everyone, from conservation planners and managers, researchers, professional and amateur lepidopterists, legislators, environmental consultants and members of the public.

Of the 794 taxa three are "Extinct" and 14 are "Critically Endangered" and four of these 14 are considered to be "Possibly Extinct." Another 27 taxa are classified as "Endangered," 19 as "Vulnerable," five as "Near Threatened" and nine as "Data Deficient." The remaining 717 taxa are "Least Concern."

Some species enjoy an almost legendary status among naturalists. The Shoebill, with its profile reminiscent of prehistoric creatures, is one such example. The author spent 33 months over 6 expeditions exploring the swamps of Botswana and Zambia. Her first encounter with the mythical bird took place in the Republic of Central Africa, where it is not endemic.

The resulting large-format book combines arresting photography with travelogue, punctuated by careful scientific notes and observations, which will contribute to knowledge of the Shoebill. The book also represents a plea to preserve the region's fragile ecosystems.

The book has been awarded the Prix des Explorateurs Thomas Allix and the Prix Francois Sommer.

Donated by Bloomsbury Publishing

This is the first comprehensive review of the hundreds of bird species and subspecies that have become extinct over the last 1,000 years of habitat degradation, over-hunting and rat introduction. Covering both familiar icons of extinction as well as more obscure birds, some known from just one specimen or from traveller's tales, the book also looks at hundreds of species from the subfossil record - birds that disappeared without ever being recorded.

Julian Hume and Michael Walters recreate these lost birds in stunning detail, bringing together an up-to-date review of the literature for every species. From Great Auks, Carolina Parakeets and Dodos to the amazing yet completely vanished bird radiations of Hawaii and New Zealand, via rafts of extinctions in the Pacific and elsewhere, this book is both a sumptuous reference and an amazing testament to humanity's impact on birds. A direct replacement for Greenway's seminal 1958 title "Extinct and Vanishing Birds", this book will be the standard reference on the subject for generations to come.

Donated by Patrick Morant

First, a horse in Brisbane falls ill: fever, swelling, bloody froth. Then thirteen others perish. The foreman at the stables becomes ill and the trainer dies. What is going on?

It takes months to establish that the cause is a virus which has travelled from a tree-dwelling bat to horse, and from horse to man. The bats had lived undisturbed for centuries in Queensland's eucalyptus forests. Now the forests are being cut down and the colonies of bats are roosting elsewhere...

Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic tells the story of such diseases. As globalization spreads and as we destroy the ancient ecosystems, we encounter strange and dangerous infections that originate in animals but that can be transmitted to humans. Diseases that were contained are being set free and the results are potentially catastrophic. In a journey that takes him from southern China to the Congo, from Cameroon to Kinshasa, David Quammen tracks these infections to their source and asks what we can do to prevent some new pandemic spreading across the face of the earth.

Donated by Timotheé Cook

A comprehensive field guide to the rich variety of bird life of the coastal landscape of British Columbia. Descriptions of over 250 species with colour illustrations throughout.

Donated by Princeton University Press

This illustrated book vividly depicts the most endangered birds in the world and provides the latest information on the threats each species faces and the measures being taken to save them. Today, 571 bird species are classified as critically endangered or endangered, and a further four now exist only in captivity. This landmark book features stunning photographs of 500 of these species - the results of a prestigious international photographic competition organized specifically for this book. It also showcases paintings by acclaimed wildlife artist Tomasz Cofta of the 75 species for which no photos are known to exist.

The World's Rarest Birds has introductory chapters that explain the threats to birds, the ways threat categories are applied, and the distinction between threat and rarity. The book is divided into seven regional sections - Europe and the Middle East; Africa and Madagascar; Asia; Australasia; Oceanic Islands; North America, Central America, and the Caribbean; and South America. Each section includes an illustrated directory to the bird species under threat there, and gives a concise description of distribution, status, population, key threats, and conservation needs. This one-of-a-kind book also provides coverage of 62 data-deficient species.

Donated by Patrick Morant

Rugged, sometimes bleak or forbidding, and largely uninhabited, the Namibian coast is a fascinating and complex mix of richness and paucity. The warm and dry Namib Desert stands in stark contrast to the cold waters of the Benguela current which is so biologically productive. In combination, the ocean and desert provide a harsh and spectacular environment that remains largely pristine. The principal aim of the book is to help improve the management of the coast by providing information to a wide audience of managers, students, tourists, entrepreneurs, and the general public. It is also hoped that the book will contribute to an improved understanding and appreciation of the Namibian coast.

Donated by Bloomsbury Press

This new Poyser title covers the natural history of a remarkably diverse and beautiful country, with its many and varied inhabitants. It provides something previously unobtainable – a broad and yet detailed overview of all aspects of Kenya's natural history and environment, illustrated by informative colour photographs. It is a rich resource for all wildlife professionals, educators, visitors and students – anyone with an interest in Kenya.

Accurate and accessible discussion is delivered in thirteen chapters covering geology, hominids and fossils, people, landscape, climate and weather, plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, the marine world and conservation. It is the first book to span the gap between general guidebook and detailed scientific material; it gives the `big picture' where Kenya's natural history is concerned and will be an indispensable companion to those whose work or pleasure involves them with the Kenyan outdoors.

The two authors are experienced professionals with over 90 years of African experience between them – one a published expert herpetologist and naturalist, the other a qualified safari guide. Kenya: A Natural History is essential background reading for those with a desire to understand Kenya. Each chapter contains a summary, background information, research and statistics, compares the historical with the present situation, and reviews relevant literature. If you want to find out how many bird species are known from Kenya, where its rare plants are, what has happened to its elephants during the last 100 years, or why the country is the cradle of humanity – this is the book for you.

Donated by Callan Cohen

To most observers, moult seems an overwhelming subject. But birders use many aspects of moult more than they realize--to distinguish juvenile birds from adults, to pick out an individual hummingbird from among dozens visiting a feeder, and much more. And for those whose interest goes beyond simply identifying birds, questions such as What triggers moult to start? How fast do feathers grow? and How long do they last? offer a fascinating window into the lives of birds. Put plainly, moult relates in some way to everything a bird does, including where it lives, what it eats, and how far it migrates.

Here, for the first time, moult is presented for the non-scientist. Muolt is very orderly and built on only four underlying strategies: Simple Basic, Complex Basic, Simple Alternate, and Complex Alternate. This book clearly lays out these strategies, and the more than 270 photographs help make the subject accessible. Each family of birds has its own account, starting with an overview of factors such as biogeography, taxonomy, habitat, and migration. Next come the moulting strategy or strategies of the family, as well as when and where the different moults occur. In-depth explanations usually follow, often broken down into one or more sections that cover the particular moults and relate them to aspects of life history and ancestry. Additional topics include case studies, groups of particular interest, and related subjects.

Donated by Jackie King

South Africa is a dry country and freshwater is a scarce natural resource.
The authors contributing to this publication are water scientists who are working towards ensuring that our scarce freshwater resources are available for both human and environmental use by managing the resource in a sustainable manner. Raising awareness, sharing knowledge and developing the skills of managers are just some of the ways the resource can be used sustainably. These topics are discussed in the chapters of the book.

Donated by Craig Potton Publishing

The moa were the most unusual and unique family of birds that ever lived, a clan of feathered monsters that developed in isolation for many, many millions of years. They became extinct reasonably quickly after the arrival of the Maori, and were a distant memory by the time European explorers arrived. So the discovery and identification of their bones in the 1840s was a worldwide sensation, claimed by many to be the zoological find of the century.

The author begins by recounting the story of discovery, which was characterised by an unbelievable amount of controversy and intrigue. Since then there has been an unbroken chain of new discoveries, culminating with intriguing revelations in recent years about the moa's biology, that have come to light through DNA testing and radio-dating. This is a fascinating and important book that richly recounts the life and death of our strangest bird.

Packed with a fantastic range of illustrations, this book fills an important gap in our natural history literature, a popular but serious book on this national icon.

Reproductive skew is the study of how reproduction is partitioned in animal societies. In many social animals reproduction is shared unequally and leads to a reproductive skew among group members. Skew theory investigates the genetic and ecological factors causal to the partitioning of reproduction in animal groups and may yield fundamental insights into the evolution of animal sociality.

This book brings together new theory and empirical work, mostly in vertebrates, to test assumptions and predictions of skew models. It also gives an updated critical review of skew theory. The team of leading contributors cover a wide range of species, from insects to humans, and discuss both ultimate (evolutionary) and proximate (immediate) factors influencing reproductive skew. Academic researchers and graduate students alike with an interest in evolution and sociality will find this material stimulating and exciting.

Social network analysis is used widely in the social sciences to study interactions among people, groups, and organizations, yet until now there has been no book that shows behavioural biologists how to apply it to their work on animal populations. "Exploring Animal Social Networks" provides a practical guide for researchers, undergraduates, and graduate students in ecology, evolutionary biology, animal behaviour, and zoology.

Existing methods for studying animal social structure focus either on one animal and its interactions or on the average properties of a whole population. This book enables researchers to probe animal social structure at all levels, from the individual to the population. No prior knowledge of network theory is assumed.The authors give a step-by-step introduction to the different procedures and offer ideas for designing studies, collecting data, and interpreting results. They examine some of today's most sophisticated statistical tools for social network analysis and show how they can be used to study social interactions in animals, including cetaceans, ungulates, primates, insects, and fish.

Drawing from an array of techniques, the authors explore how network structures influence individual behaviour and how this in turn influences, and is influenced by, behavior at the population level. Throughout, the authors use two software packages - UCINET and NETDRAW - to illustrate how these powerful analytical tools can be applied to different animal social organizations.

Donated by Jenny Day
"No one knows more about Darwin and about evolution than Stephen Gould does. No one writes more clearly on these subject then Stephen Gould does. No one is better equipped to deal with fallacies, however crude or however subtle, in this field than Stephen Gould is. This collection of reviews is my proof."-Isaac Asimov

Donated by Estate Late Walter Stanford
Henry Seebohm was born in Yorkshire in 1832 and died of influenza in 1895 at the age of 63. Seebohm was a successful steel manufacturer at Sheffield and his studies of birds were a leisure pursuit. He was a careful diary keeper and had a fine collection of European bird's eggs. He published a number of books and numerous articles on a range of birds and was interested in migration and the classification of birds. This book was to be his final contribution to the discipline he loved.

Donated by Patrick Morant

When the writer Donovan Hohn heard of the mysterious loss of thousands of bath toys at sea, he figured he would interview a few oceanographers, talk to a few beachcombers, and read up on Arctic science and geography. 'But questions can be like ocean currents: wade in too far, and they carry you away.' Hohn's accidental odyssey pulls him into the secretive world of shipping conglomerates, the daring work of Arctic researchers, the lunatic risks of maverick sailors, and the shadowy world of Chinese toy factories.

Moby-Duck is a journey into the heart of the sea and an adventure through science, myth, the global economy, and some of the worst weather imaginable. With each new discovery, Hohn learns of another loose thread, and with each successive chase, he comes closer to understanding where his castaway quarry comes from and where it goes. In the grand tradition of Tony Horwitz and David Quammen, Moby-Duck is a compulsively readable narrative of whimsy and curiosity.

Donated by Patrick Morant

Curtis Ebbesmeyer is no ordinary scientist. Though he has degrees in engineering and oceanography, he's never held a traditional academic post, choosing instead to consult, for everyone from the oil companies to Seattle sewage treatment facilities to the Navy, and then, along the way, he's followed his interests, researching many different aspects of ocean currents. In May 1990 a Korean freighter was wracked by a storm and spilled its cargo - over 60,00 Nike sneakers - into the North Pacific.

Soon, these sneakers were carried away on the ocean's currents and found washing up on coasts around the world. Ebbesmeyer realized that he could use the exact time and location of the spill, along with the location that each sneaker (conveniently individually tagged) was salvaged to track the ocean current which brought it there! This new science technique quickly captured the imaginations of beachcombers and media around the world, particularly after the spill of 29,000 plastic bath toys in 1992.

Ebbesmeyer gathered a worldwide team of volunteers, and continued to search out and document the location at which the objects, set afloat by cargo spills, finally hit the shore. It is a fascinating look at the creativity and energy of a most unusual man - as well as offering an amazing look at what currents have meant for the world and especially mankind through the centuries.

Donated by Garth Heydenrych

In this record of the Verreaux's Eagles of the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, photographer Garth Heydenrych has captured the very essence of the eagles' everyday lives in vibrant colour and impressive action in this accumulation of outstanding photographs.

When the gardens were established in 1982, the Black Eagles were nesting on the cliffs adjacent the Witpoortjie Falls. There are records of sightings of the eagles going back to the 1940s. Despite the rapid urbanisation and development within their immediate hunting territory and competition from feral dogs for their favoured prey, the dassie, the eagles have adapted to survive these constraints.

Donated by Faansie Peacock

Almost a quarter of southern Africa's bird species, and half of its endemics, are known by birders as LBJs or Little Brown Jobs. All birders experience some degree of trepidation when confronted by Ornithologicum nightmariensis. Consequently this potentially confusing group of birds is shunned by virtually all beginners and many experienced observers as well. However, LBJs include some of the region's most spectacular, thrilling, interesting, sought-after and memorable birds. This eagerly anticipated book will not only help you to confidently identify LBJs, but also to understand and enjoy these remarkable birds.

Donated by Estate Late Walter Stanford

Alfred Newton was based at Magdalene College, Cambridge when he completed this Dictionary in November 1896. In his words:

"It has been my object throughout to compress into the smallest compass the information intended to be conveyed. It would have been easier to double the bulk of the work, but the limits of a single volume are already strained, and to extend it to a second would in several ways destroy such usefulness as it may possess. Still I cannot but regret having to omit any special notice of several interesting subjects which bear more or less directly upon ornithology."

Some of the subjects he regrets omitting - nomenclature and protection - remain as contentious 116 years later as they were in his day!

Donated by Estate Late Walter Stanford

Moths present unlimited opportunities of discovery, pleasure and satisfaction in southern Africa, with its wide range of vegetation and great variety of moths. The belief that most of them are dull grey or brown insects is far removed from reality. In fact this authoritative book proves that moths often excel butterflies with their bright, ethereal, iridescent colours.

Moths of southern Africa describes and illustrates the more interesting or the commonest species likely to be encountered in southern Africa.

Donated by Peter Ryan

Recent progress of marine ecology in polar regions is amazing. It includes the discoveries of unique sea-ice communities, high biodiversity of the polar bottom fauna, as well as the life strategies of planktonic organisms, seals and penguins. Modern research focuses on the impacts of global warming on polar ecosystems. Those studies cover all scales from molecular biology to global biogeochemical cycles.

This book on marine polar biology contains 35 research reports and reviews by German scientists and their international partners spanning over two decades of biological research in the Arctic and Antarctic waters. Each article is worth reading on its won, and together they provide a comprehensive picture of the stat-of-the-art knowledge of polar seas and ecology.

Donated by Estate Later Walter Stanford

The snow bunting is a rare bird about the size of a sparrow. It is possibly the most romantic and elusive bird in the British Isles and certainly the hardiest small bird in the world.

The author gives a full description of the bird, dealing with such topics as habits and habitats in Scotland, nesting habits, distribution numbers and movements, which covers all aspects of the life of these seldom seen and little known birds, and summarises excellently what he has learnt not only from personal experience but from relevant literature.

Birds are among the most successful vertebrates on Earth. An important part of our natural environment and deeply embedded in our culture, birds are studied by more professional ornithologists and enjoyed by more amateur enthusiasts than ever before. However, both amateurs and professionals typically focus on birds' behaviour and appearance and only superficially understand the characteristics that make birds so unique.

"The Inner Bird" introduces readers to the avian skeleton, then moves beyond anatomy to discuss the relationships between birds and dinosaurs and other early ancestors. Gary Kaiser examines the challenges scientists face in understanding avian evolution - even recent advances in biomolecular genetics have failed to provide a clear evolutionary story. Using examples from recently discovered fossils of birds and near-birds, Kaiser describes an avian history based on the gradual abandonment of dinosaur-like characteristics, and the related acquisition of avian characteristics such as sophisticated flight techniques and the production of large eggs.

Such developments have enabled modern birds to invade the oceans and to exploit habitats that excluded dinosaurs for millions of years. While ornithology is a complex discipline that draws on many fields, it is nevertheless burdened with obsolete assumptions and archaic terminology. "The Inner Bird" offers modern interpretations for some of those ideas and links them to more current research. It should help anyone interested in birds to bridge the gap between long-dead fossils and the challenges faced by living species.

Donated by Gordon Orions
Blackbirds, orioles, grackles, cowbirds, meadowlarks, bobolinks, oropendolas, and caciques are all closely related members of the Icteridae, an avian family found only in the New World.
Blackbirds range in size from crow-sized oropendolas to sparrow-sized marsh species and live in nearly every habitat, including grasslands, arid deserts, and tropical forests. The social systems of blackbirds are equally diverse.

Zero inflated models and generalized linear mixed models is one of those rare volumes that clearly present new state-of-the-art statistical methodology in a clear and understandable manner. The text is both theoretical and thoroughly applied, offering readers a solid understanding of zero inflated count models from both a Bayesian perspective and as an extension of generalized linear mixed models - Joseph M. Hilbe, Arizona State University and Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Tropical deforestation; the collapse of fisheries; unprecedented levels of species extinction. Faced with the plethora of gloom-and-doom headlines about the natural world, we might think that environmental disaster is inevitable. But is there any good news about the environment? Yes, there is, answers Andrew Balmford in Wild Hope, and he offers several powerful stories of successful conservation to prove it. This tragedy is still avoidable, and there are many reasons for hope if we find inspiration in stories of effective environmental recovery.

Wild Hope is organized geographically, with each chapter taking readers to extraordinary places to meet conservation's heroes and foot soldiers, and to discover the new ideas they are generating about how to make conservation work on our hungry and crowded planet. The journey starts in the floodplains of Assam, where dedicated rangers and exceptionally tolerant villagers have together helped bring Indian rhinos back from the brink of extinction. In the pine forests of the Carolinas, we learn why plantation owners came to resent rare woodpeckers and what persuaded them to change their minds. In South Africa, Balmford investigates how invading alien plants have been drinking the country dry, and how the Southern Hemisphere's biggest conservation program is now simultaneously restoring the rivers, saving species, and creating tens of thousands of jobs. The conservation problems Balmford encounters are as diverse as the people and their actions, but together they offer common themes and specific lessons on how to win the battle of conservation and the one essential ingredient, Balmford shows, is most definitely hope.

Wild Hope, though optimistic, is a clear-eyed view of the difficulties and challenges of conservation. Balmford is fully aware of failed conservation efforts and systematic flaws that make conservation difficult, but he offers here innovative solutions and powerful stories of citizens, governments, and corporations coming together to implement them. A global tour of people and programs working for the planet, Wild Hope is an emboldening green journey.

Donated by CSIR
The Atlas of Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas in South Africa is the result of a project by the CSIR and a number of partners to determine which ecosystems in South Africa are the most important to keep in a good condition and the results were mapped.

The project started three years ago to establish how many and which rivers and wetlands need to be maintained in a natural condition to sustain economic and social development, while still conserving South Africa’s freshwater biodiversity. The project partners included the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Water Research Commission (WRC), the World Wide Fund for Nature – South Africa (WWF), the Department of Water Affairs and the Department of Environmental Affairs, the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) and the South African National Parks (SANParks).

Donated by David Cumming
The introduction of transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) in southern Africa was based on an enchanting promise: simultaneously contributing to global biodiversity conservation, regional peace and integration, and the sustainable socio-economic development of African communities. Cross-border collaboration and ecotourism became seen as the vehicles of this promise, which would enhance regional peace and stability along the way. However, as these highly political projects take shape, conservation and development policy making progressively shifts from the national to regional and global arenas, and the people most affected by TFCA formation tend to disappear from view.

This book focuses on the forgotten people displaced by, or living on the edge of these protected wildlife areas. It moves beyond the grand 'enchanting promise' of conservation and development across frontiers, and ill-conceived notions of TFCAs and/or transfrontier parks as unified socio-ecological systems. Peoples' dependency on natural resources - the specific combination of crop cultivation, livestock keeping and resource harvesting activities - varies enormously along the conservation frontier, as does their reliance on resources on the other side of the conservation boundary. Hence, the studies in this book move from the dream of ecotourism-fuelled development supporting nature conservation, towards the local realities of marginalized people in marginal environments on the edge of national parks and protected areas.

Donated by Roelf Attwell
Sark is an ideal environment in which to study nature; geographically once a peak in the Armorican massif. It derives its geological structure, mild climate, and flora and fauna from its position in the Channel. The island provides peaceful habitats with adequate shelter and food for many species of birds and attracts many migrants as Sark is on the western edge of the main migration routes between northern breeding ranges and southern winter quarters.

The data presented in this book was collected and analysed between 1964 to 1972.

Comprehensive and extensive in its scope, the CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses compiles the most up-to-date information available from a wide range of literature sources (including regional publications) to provide a ready reference on body masses of most of the world's species of birds. This second edition includes an accompanying CD-ROM with a searchable electronic database. This new edition also features more complete coverage of the world's avifauna as well as expanded coverage of birds of South America, Japan, China, Africa, and the Pacific Islands. In addition, the order of species and families has been revised in the text to fit with the latest publications in avian taxonomy and systematics.

The origin of biological diversity, via the formation of new species, can be inextricably linked to adaptation to the ecological environment. Specifically, ecological processes are central to the formation of new species when barriers to gene flow (reproductive isolation) evolve between populations as a result of ecologically-based divergent natural selection. This process of 'ecological speciation' has seen a large body of particularly focused research in the last 10-15 years.

Ecological Speciation begins by clarifying what ecological speciation is, its alternatives, and the predictions that can be used to test for it. It then reviews the three components of ecological speciation and discusses the geography and genomic basis of the process. A final chapter highlights future research directions, describing the approaches and experiments which might be used to conduct that future work. The ecological and genetic literature is integrated throughout the text with the goal of shedding new insight into the speciation process, particularly when the empirical data is then further integrated with theory.

Parasites that manipulate the behaviour of their hosts represent striking examples of adaptation by natural selection. This field of study is now moving beyond its descriptive phase and into more exciting areas where the processes and patterns of such dramatic adaptations can be better understood. Host Manipulation by Parasites provides an up-to-date, authoritative, and challenging review of host manipulation by parasites that assesses the current state of developments in the field and lays out a framework for future research. It also promotes a greater integration of behavioral ecology with studies of host manipulation (behavioral ecology has tended to concentrate mainly on behaviour expressed by free living organisms and is far less focused on the role of parasites in shaping behaviour). To help achieve this, the editors adopt a novel approach of having a prominent expert on behavioral ecology (but who does not work directly on parasites) to provide an afterword to each chapter.

Parental care includes a wide variety of traits that enhance offspring development and survival. It is taxonomically widespread and is central to the maintenance of biodiversity through its close association with other phenomena such as sexual selection, life-history evolution, sex allocation, sociality, cooperation and conflict, growth and development, genetic architecture, and phenotypic plasticity.

This novel book provides a fresh perspective on the study of the evolution of parental care based on contributions from some of the top researchers in the field. It provides evidence that the dynamic nature of family interactions, and particularly the potential for co-evolution among family members, has contributed to the huge diversity of parental care behaviours expressed across as well as within taxa.

The Evolution of Parental Care aims to stimulate students and researchers alike to pursue exciting new directions in this fascinating and important area of behavioural and evolutionary biology.

Donated by BirdLife South Africa
Uniquely, the present work will present in one place the vernacular names of the almost ten thousand birds of the world in about fifty languages. It should thus serve as a valuable reference work and source of information that has been scattered through field guides, scientific journals, coffee-table volumes and across the internet, often buried under all sorts of other data.The compilations draw on official or other generally recognized authority wherever possible, and alternates are given where space permits. While the very fact that such extensive lists may, just by their existence, in future carry some authoritative weight in standardization of bird names, that is not its primary purpose, which is to present in a more useful format the nomenclature that is already in use.

Donated by the Animal Demography Unit
The proceedings of the Sálim Ali Centenary Seminar on birds of wetlands and grasslands (1996) is a storehouse of information which includes the papers that were a part of the seminar. The topics covered by students, national and international experts at the seminar were conservation of cranes; ducks and geese; bustards and floricans; raptors; waders, storks and herons; wetlands.

Donated by Pippa Parker, Random Struik
This book answers many of the questions about the nature and functioning of the dynamic Kalahari system. The vegetation of the Kalahari is rich, but some species may only appear on the odd occasion and only in reaction to a particular set of environmental conditions. Many bulbous plants appear overnight after a good shower resulting in a garden of exceptional beauty where the previous day there was only bare sand. This book identifies the trees, woody plants, and succulents found in the area as well as the annuals and creepers such as the tsamma which is the source of water for many of the game species of the Kalahari.

Donated by Pippa Parker, Random Struik
New Zealand's remarkable range of landscapes is home to an equally spectacular avian fauna. Not only are its endemic and native species at the top of any bird-watcher's must-see list, but its roll-call of seabirds, such as albatrosses and petrels, is world-renowned. In Where to Watch Birds in New Zealand Kathy Ombler introduces more than 30 of New Zealand's finest birding sites, with a full description of the location as well as a list of the birds to watch out for. Here are just a few examples of the sites that are covered:

Otago Peninsula, home to colonies of northern royal albatross, yellow-eyed and blue penguins and many other seabird species.

Kapiti Island, huge predator-free island that is a refuge for kokako, takahe, saddleback and stitchbird.

Farewell Spit, which gives seasonal lodging to hundreds of thousands of New Zealand and overseas migrants.

All the sites can be visited privately or with guided tours, and many of the tour and sanctuary operators have good connections with key bird-watching organisations in Britain and the US. The book also includes location maps, colour photography, a list of all the species mentioned, plus a shortlist of `must-see' birds, as well as travel tips and accommodation information for visitors.

Donated by Pippa Parker, Random Struik
This guide briefly describes the reptiles, amphibians and fishes of Zambia which the authors consider either common or especially interesting to warrant their inclusion. There are about 152 species and subspecies of reptiles in Zambia, of which 5.4% are tortoises, 36.9% are lizards, 56.4% are snakes and crocodiles make up 1.3% There are over 78 species or amphibians and over 400 species of fish. This guide is ably illustrated by Gabriel Ellison who donated his art work to the Wildlife Conservation Society of Zambia.

Could more than a million species disappear in the 21st century? Drawing upon a wide range of illuminating case studies from around the world, "Driven to Extinction" provides a balanced and highly readable insight into the potential impacts of climate change on the diversity of life. Richard Pearson meticulously assembles the evidence of how species of plants and animals have reacted to temperature changes in the past, and how they are likely to respond in the future. He shows how different species are interconnected, how subtle yet essential those connections can be, and how severing one link in the complex chain of mutual cooperation and dependency can lead to the breakdown of a once-thriving community and, ultimately, extinction.

At the same time, he also explores how climate change can offer some species new opportunities even as it narrows prospects for others, highlighting the adaptability and survival techniques of some of the weirdest and most wonderful creatures on the planet. Exposing successes and flaws in current research, "Driven to Extinction" is an engaging and unbiased overview of what scientists know - and don't know - about the impacts of climate change.

Donated by Joost Brouwer
This report tracks a Saker Falcon, Dorottya, from Hungary to Niger. Satellite tracking has contributed to the knowledge of the behaviour and ecology of the Saker Falcon in Niger. Habitat used by the bird varied from more or less natural habitat to intensive farmed millet fields. The main danger to the Saker Falcon in this region appears to be from boys with slingshots and from local hunters. The birds are also considered to bring good luck and to be useful for controlling birds and rodents that feed on the millet crops.

In just nine chapters, this monograph does a thorough job of identifying how animals and researchers are affected by noise. The opening chapter by Clinton Francis and Jessica Blickley reviews the rationale for the volume and briefly reviews each of the chapters. The chapters show how noise influences avian communication, behaviour, habitat use, breeding behaviour, and our ability to study birds. We learn that noise can substantially reduce acoustic detection of birds, which can cause biased estimates of species richness and community diversity. And these negative impacts of noise can occur even when that noise would be considered mild. Although we are now well aware of how differences in vegetative cover can influence detectibility, noise has clear implications for bird surveys that monitor population trends, habitat use, and various behavioural studies. Noise can influence nest predation by altering communication between birds as well as altering predator activity. Noise not only alters communication, but can cause physiological stress.

This monograph has lessons for all researchers. The editors encourage readers to carefully consider how noise, be it natural or human-induced, can influence animal behaviour and, potentially, the results of research work.

Donated by BirdLife Botswana
BirdLife Botswana published its first review of waterbird counts in Botswana in 2001 covering the period 1991-2000. This second review covers a full twenty years of counts. The last ten years has a much improved coverage of northern wetlands which have high international importance for migrating waterbirds. In dry countries like Botswana, seasonal and ephemeral wetlands play a critical role in supporting waterbird populations

Donated by John Cooper
This publication is the record of the second International Forum on the Sub-Antarctic, held in Hobart, Tasmania, on 26-27 April 2009. The focus of the second forum was on environmental change in the sub-Antarctic, with topics on dynamic interactions in the sub-Antarctic system with regard to atmosphere, water and land; managing and adapting to environmental and ecological change.

Climate change has moved from a contested phenomenon to the top of the agenda at global summits. "Climate Change Biology" is the first major textbook to address the critical issue of how climate change may affect life on the planet, and particularly its impact on human populations. Presented in three parts, the first deals extensively with the physical evidence of climate change and various modelling efforts to predict its future. Biological responses are then addressed from the individual's physiology to populations and ecosystems, and further to considering adaptation and evolution. The final section examines the specific impact climate change may have on natural resources, particularly as these relate to human livelihood. This volume will be a useful asset to the growing number of both undergraduate and graduate courses on impacts of climate change, as well as providing a succinct overview for researchers new to the field.

Climate Change Biology is a new textbook which examines this emerging discipline of human-induced climate change and the resulting shifts in the distributions of species and the timing of biological events. The text focuses on understanding the impacts of human-induced climate change, but draws on multiple lines of evidence, including paleoecology, modelling and current observation. Climate Change Biology lays out the scope and depth of understanding of this new discipline in terms that are accessible to students, managers and professional biologists.

Donated by Timothy Crowe
This meeting marked the first time the IOC took place in Latin America. These Proceedings are published online as a supplement of the Journal of Ornithology (v 153 S). They include papers by both Plenary and Symposia keynote speakers. A wide range of subdisciplines within ornithology are covered.

This is an illustrated version of aspects dealt with under the subject of Geographic Variation in the large handbook tome Roberts - Birds of Southern Africa 7th ed. Worldwide, this is the first field guide to attempt to comprehensively illustrate the varied plumages that are exhibited by the regions birds. Although sometimes a camouflage and defence mechanism against predation, many other factors contribute to plumage variation and it is hoped that this guide will stimulate the readers' interest in this complex subject so that we can further our knowledge on various subspecies, a concept that was brought to the fore a little over 100 years ago. The colour maps (courtesy of Guy Upfold), are a guide to the distribution of the subspecies; included too are the meaning of scientific names (Etymology). This information, together with 105 annotated plates illustrated by the exceptional talent of Ingrid Weiersbye, makes this guide essential for both beginner, and expert birders.

Donated by Estate Late Jim Enticott
This book describes the Arctic climate, geography, and biology, then discusses in detail the ways in which plants, insects, birds, and mammals have adapted to and exploited the region. Several of the important chapters were contributed by Canadian Arctic experts. The book contains many lovely color and black-and-white photographs of Arctic landscape and wildlife, though much of the expansiveness of the Arctic is lost due to the small size of the photographs. An excellent source of information for both public and academic libraries

Donated by Cambridge Scholars Publishing
The Dutch names are largely those on the Spotter Lijst van Latijn, Nederlands & Engels, which was based on Howard and Moore.
The Afrikaans names have been gleaned from the on-line information from various universities in South Africa and Namibia augmented by Avibase.

Donated by Animal Demography Unit
This atlas is the compilation of the work of thousands of amateur birdwatchers who were involved in the mapping of the distribution of bird species in the Netherlands between October 1978 to September 1983. The result is the description of 426 species and subspecies each with 12 maps per species, one for each month of the year.

The fifth edition of this book combines theory and applied and basic research to explain the connections between conservation biology and environmental economics, education, ethics, law and the social sciences. A major theme throughout the book is the active role that scientists, local people, the general public, conservation organizations and governments can play in protecting biodiversity, even while providing for human needs.

Along with reproduction, balancing energy expenditure with the limits of resource acquisition is essential for both a species and a population to survive. But energy is a limited resource, as we know well, so birds and mammals—the most energy-intensive fauna on the planet—must reduce energy expenditures to maintain this balance, some taking small steps, and others extreme measures.

Bird migration has long fascinated its human observers. It has been subject to scientific study for more than a century, by hundreds of scientists, using increasingly sophisticated methodology.

This book presents an up-to-date, detailed and thorough review of the accumulated information, taking account of both older and newer findings, but with the emphasis on the most recent developments. It deals with all aspects of this absorbing subject, including the problems of navigation and vagrancy, the timing and physiological control of migration, large scale movement patterns and their evolution, the particular problems that migrants face and factors that limit their populations. The emphasis throughout is on ecological aspects: on the different types of bird movements, including dispersal and nomadism, and how they relate to food supplies and other external conditions.

Author, Ian Newton, reveals the extraordinary adaptability of birds to the variable and changing conditions across the globe, including current climate change. This adventurous book places emphasis on ecological aspects, which have received only scant attention in previous publications. Overall, the book provides the most thorough and in-depth appraisal of current information available, with abundant tables, maps and diagrams, and many new insights.

This book outlines the principles of flight, of birds in particular. It describes a way of simplifying the mechanics of flight into a practical computer program, which will predict in some detail what any bird, real or hypothetical, can and cannot do. The Flight program, presented on the companion website, generates performance curves for flapping and gliding flight, and simulations of long-distance migration and accounts successfully for the consumption of muscles and other tissues during migratory flights. The program is effectively a working model of a flying bird (or bat or pterosaur) and is the skeleton around which the book is built.

The book provides a wider background and then explains how flight works and shows how to set up and test hypotheses generated by the program. The book and the program are based on adapting the conventional (and well-tested) thinking of aeronautical engineers to the biological problems of bird flight. Their primary aim is to convince biologists that this is the appropriate way to handle problems that involve flight, to make the engineering background accessible to biologists, and to provide a tool kit in the shape of the flight program, which they can use to solve practical problems involving bird flight and migration.

In addition, the book will be readily accessible to engineers who want to know how birds work, and should be of interest to the ever-growing community working on flapping 'micro air vehicles' (MAVs).The program can be used to predict the flight performance and capabilities of reconstructed fossil birds and pterosaurs, flying in ancient atmospheres that differ from present conditions, and also, of course, to predict and account for the results of experiments and observations on living birds and bats.

This book is a celebration of the Scottish Ornithologists' Club's contribution to the study and conservation of Scotland's birdlife. The book is the culmination of thousands of hours of field work, bird surveying and casual records assimilated by the SOFC's network of local recorders. The result is the most detailed record of the country's avifauna ever published - critical for future bird conservation.

The 9th part of Type Specimens of Birds in the American Museum of Natural History, this includes taxa in the families Zosteropidae (the White-eyes) and Meliphagidae (Honeyeaters and Sugarbirds). The original description of each taxon has been consulted, modern names and coordinates are given for type localities when possible, and comments on the taxonomic history are provided.

This book examines the function of the Sahel region of Africa as an important wintering area for long-distance migrant birds. It describes the challenges the birds have to cope with - climate change, of course, and rapid man-made habitat changes related to deforestation, irrigation and reclamation of wetlands. How have all these changes affected the birds, and have birds adapted to these changes? Can we explain the changing numbers of breeding birds in Europe by changes in the Sahel, or vice versa?

The Flexible Phenotype attempts a true synthesis of animal physiology, behaviour, and ecology by developing an empirical argument that describes the intimate connections between animal phenotype and environment. It starts with a synthesis of the principles guiding current research in ecophysiology, behaviour, and ecology, illustrating each aspect with the detailed results of empirical work on as wide a range of organisms as possible. The integrated story of the flexible phenotype is weaved throughout the book on the basis of the authors' long-term research programme on migrant shorebirds and their invertebrate prey.

These birds travel vast distances from one environment to another, and the changing nature of their bodies reflects the varied selection pressures experienced in these very different locations. In essence, the authors argue for the existence of direct, measurable, links between phenotype and ecology. Their book outlines a more encompassing approach to evolutionary ecology, based on first principles in physiology, behaviour, and ecology. It aspires to encourage a further integration of ecology and physiology, as well as fostering a collaborative research agenda between ecologists and physiologists.

Donated by Jenny Day

In 1872 HMS Challenger left Portsmouth on a voyage that was to take her round the world, eight times across the Equator, into the Antarctic ice, and over 68,000 nautical miles in a thousand days at sea. She was a three-masted corvette with auxiliary steam, and as well as a crew of 243 she carried a team of scientists led by Professor Wyville Thomson.

Copies of the two volume 1877 account of the voyage by Sir C. Wyville Thomson can be found in the Niven Library and in the Rare Books & Special Collections Library at UCT Library.

This textbook helped to define the field of Behavioural Ecology. In this fourth edition the text has been completely revised, with new chapters and many new illustrations and colour photographs. The theme, once again, is the influence of natural selection on behaviour--an animal's struggle to survive and reproduce by exploiting and competing for resources, avoiding predators, selecting mates and caring for offspring,--and how animal societies reflect both cooperation and conflict among individuals.

This is a unique and indispensable guide that offers a comprehensive overview of 43 of the country’s best and most accessible parks, reserves and wilderness areas. Organised by province, each site is presented in detail: history, location, landscape, geology, vegetation and wildlife, most notably mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects, are described, and the most important species in each category profiled.

Donated by Pete Hancock, BirdLife Botswana

A conservative estimate of avitourism made in 1997 (Turpie & Ryan 1998) indicated that "between 11,400 and 21,200 birdwatchers spent USD 12-26 million annually in the South African economy".

This 30 page book, which is also available in Setswana is a step-by-step guide to starting and sustaining a birding tourism business in Botswana. The book is designed to inform community groups about what is entailed and what is required to be successful in such an enterprise. Good business planning and sound marketing strategies are required.

Turpie, Jane K. & Ryan, Peter G. 1998. The nature and value of birding in South Africa. Randburg. BirdLife South Africa, is available in the Niven Library at 598.0723468 TURP

Learning how to get answers from data is an integral part of modern training in the natural, physical, social, and engineering sciences. One of the most exciting changes in data management and analysis during the last decade has been the growth of open source software. The open source statistics and programming language R has emerged as a critical component of any researcher's toolbox. Indeed, R is rapidly becoming the standard software for analyses, graphical presentations, and programming in the biological sciences.

This book provides a functional introduction for biologists new to R. While teaching how to import, explore, graph, and analyse data, it keeps readers focused on their ultimate goals - communicating their data in oral presentations, posters, papers, and reports. It also provides a consistent method (workflow) for using R that is simple, efficient, reliable, accurate, and reproducible. The material in the book reproduces the engaging and sometimes humorous nature of the three-day course on which it is based.

Donated by Pete Hancock, BirdLife Botswana

Compiled annually by BirdLife Botswana since 2009, this IBA report series compliments and updates the 1998 more general Important Bird Areas of southern Africa. 12 IBA sites have been identified in Botswana and this series reports on the annual monitoring of 7 of these sites. This is the most recent compilation of the findings of the monitoring group.

Donated by Pete Hancock, BirdLife Botswana

Compiled annually by BirdLife Botswana since 2009, this IBA report series compliments and updates the 1998 more general Important Bird Areas of southern Africa. 12 IBA sites have been identified in Botswana and this series reports on the annual monitoring of 7 of these sites.

Donated by Lynx Edicions

Volume 16 covers the last four families of the series, including two of the largest of all, the tanagers (283 species) and the buntings and New World sparrows (326 species), as well as the cardinals and the New World blackbirds, the latter including such spectacular birds as the orioles and oropendolas. The volume also includes a foreword by Anders Pape Møller on Climate Change and Birds.

Donated by Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale

Part of the museum's 'Studies in Afrotropical Zoology' series, this is the first illustrated book on the birds of Katanga. The status of the 693 species with confirmed records was investigated carefully, including research on the collections of the Royal Museum for Central Africa.

Katanga has five endemic bird species: Lippens's ground thrush from the Upemba National Park, greater double-collared sunbird from the Marungu mountains, Upemba masked weaver (along the Lualaba River), Lufira masked weaver (along the Lufira River), and black-lored waxbill (along the Lualaba River).

General distribution, presence and status in Katanga, ecology, breeding and migration, notes, and conservation status are discussed for a selection of 248 species that are illustrated in full colour. Habitat diversity is illustrated by 25 photos. Given that the photographs for this book were assembled over only three years by a small team, the authors conclude that Katanga's ornithological biodiversity is still relatively well-preserved.

"Nocturnal Birds of Southern Africa" brings the largely unseen world of night birds to the reader in the pages of this photographic guide, the first to cover the full spectrum of the owls, nightjars, night herons, thick-knees, coursers, the bat hawk and many other species in detail. This full-colour hardcover book has over 300 pages and is richly illustrated with 370 photographs, most of which have not previously been published, by the author and several leading photographers.

Introductory chapters discuss nocturnal birds in general terms in the southern African context, and in the species accounts, clear, easily readable text and photographs cover all important aspects of typical adults, nests, eggs or nestlings, juveniles and the habitat of the species, including identification. Large, clear distribution maps show the global distribution of each species, and basic species facts and information can be gleaned at a glance from succinct information at the end of each chapter. A new approach to the field identification of nightjars together with a unique set of images sheds fresh light on this difficult family of nocturnal birds.

Photographic coverage of nightjar species extends to most of the described races including those of the European nightjar, a publishing first. The author, John Carlyon and Penny Meakin, who illustrated the book, were responsible for most of the photography in this highly attractive publication.

Donated by Roelf Attwell

This study was conducted as part of the Sengwa Project - initiated in 1965 to study relationships between game animals and tsetse flies. Warthogs were discovered to support "the greater proportion of tsetse flies in the African savanna.

Donated by Roelf Attwell

This little book supplements the glossary which was published in Michael Lister's Bird Watcher's Reference book in 1956

Donated by Patrick Morant

This colorful pamphlet surveys the country's four present Ramsar sites and then identifies eight more that qualify for Ramsar status - it also contains a brief overview of Namibia's other perennial and ephemeral rivers and wetlands, and includes an extensive bibliography.

Donated by Save our Seas Shark Centre

This World Atlas shows more than 6000 photos of 4200 species of fish found in the oceans worldwide. Presented here are the fishes one is likely to see when diving or snorkelling. Most species occur on shallow reefs in tropical seas, with the greatest species diversity in the Southeast Asian regions. It includes both tropical and temperate fishes, those that inhabit rocky reefs and coral reefs, inshore and offshore, and pelagics that visit these waters.

Weighing in at more than 3kg, this book is an invaluable reference and identification guide.

Ecological sciences deal with the way organisms interact with one another and their environment. Using sensors to measure various physical and biological characteristics has been a common activity since long ago. However the advent of more accurate technologies and increasing computing capacities demand a better combination of information collected by sensors on multiple spatial, temporal and biological scales.

This book provides an overview of current sensors for ecology and makes a strong case for deploying integrated sensor platforms. By covering technological challenges as well as the variety of practical ecological applications, this text is meant to be an invaluable resource for students, researchers and engineers in ecological sciences.

The chapters of this book provide a comprehensive overview over the current state of research not only on torpor and hibernation, but seasonal adaptations of animals in general. The range of animal models studies was extended to include not just mammalian species, but also birds, reptiles and invertebrates.

This book describes and discusses the fascinating adaptations of animals to all facets of seasonality. It is this continuous physiological response to changing environmental conditions - a phenomenon called "rheostasis" - which is at the core of the research presented here.

This book aims to further advance the field of reintroduction biology beyond the considerable progress made since the formation of the IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group. Using an issue-based framework that purposely avoids a structure based on case studies the book's central theme is advocating a strategic approach to reintroduction where all actions are guided by explicit theoretical frameworks based on clearly defined objectives. Issues covered include husbandry and intensive management, monitoring, and genetic and health management. Although taxonomically neutral there is a recognised dominance of bird and mammal studies that reflects the published research in this field. The structure and content are designed for use by people wanting to bridge the research-management gap, such as conservation managers wanting to expand their thinking about reintroduction-related decisions, or researchers who seek to make useful applied contributions to reintroduction.

The science underpinning avian immunology is crucial to understanding basic immunological principles and the exceptional features of the avian immune system, as different strategies birds have adopted can provide important evolutionary insights. This book provides the most complete picture of the avian immune system so far. The world-wide importance of poultry protein for the human diet, the threat of an avian influenza pandemic and heavy reliance on vaccination to protect commercial flocks world-wide demonstrates the need to review the important practical lessons in disease control presented here.

With contributions from 33 of the foremost international experts in the field, this book provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive review of avian immunology of the field so far. It contains a detailed description of the avian innate immune system reviewing constitutive barriers, chemical and cellular responses; it includes a comprehensive review of avian Toll-like receptors. It also contains a wide-ranging review of the Ecoimmunology of free-living avian species, assessing the importance of this subject for studying population dynamics and reviewing the methods and resources available for carrying out such research.

It was only in the middle of the 19th century that the customers of Abu Markub, came across the Shoebill, one of the strangest birds to find its way to Europe. A central African bird, the Shoebill inhabits closed swamp regions with floating islands and dense vegetation. The Shoebill is adapted to this way of life which makes them extremely difficult for ornithologists to observe them in the wild.

In this publication Wolfgang Fischer’s observations of the Shoebill uncover the behaviour of the bird in a way that was not possible in the wild. In the Berlin Zoological Garden the Shoebills are kept in a habitat that matches the wild conditions as closely as possible in order that successful breeding can take place.

Donated by Sean Marr
All currently recognised indigenous freshwater fish species to the Western Cape are described in this book. The descriptions include photos of the fish in their natural environment as well as descriptions about distribution, biology, status and threats.

In addition to information about the indigenous fish, the book has descriptions of the major river catchments of the Western Cape, illustrated with maps and photos.

The migratory habits and migration schedules of waders can be better understood by analysing their measurements. This technical reference examines the morphometrical variation in 15 species using POSCON analysis and has a worldwide coverage of nearly all breeding populations.

Temperature and other climate variables are currently changing at a dramatic rate. As observations have shown, these climatic changes have serious consequences for all organisms and their ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions. Birds are excellent model organisms, with a very active metabolism, they are highly sensitive to environmental changes and as highly mobile creatures they are also extremely reactive.

This book discusses the current knowledge of observed changes and provides guidelines for future studies so we can document and understand how patterns of changing weather conditions may affect birds.

This publication represents the proceedings of the All-Union Bustard Group Meeting held in Moscow in 1986 and is the most comprehensive review of the status and conservation of bustards in Russia. The bustard species found in Russia and neighbouring countries are the Great Bustard (critically endangered), the Little Bustard (near threatened) and the Houbara Bustard (vulnerable). All three species are migratory and their conservation status is directly linked to human activities.

Donated by John Cooper
This second edition of Burton's booklet on South Georgia covers the exploration and natural history of the islands with a chapter on Sir Ernest Shackleton. Beautifully illustrated this introduction to the area is essential reading for anyone lucky enough to be able to visit the area.

Donated by John Cooper
More than 300 species of seabirds range across the world's oceans. In excess of 14 million birds, representing nearly two dozen species, make their home in the Hawaiian islands. These are na manu kai, the birds of the sea.

In addition to his photographs, the author shares the lessons he has learned during the many years spent with his camera in seabird colonies, providing an engaging personal perspective on life with seabirds.

Donated by University of Chicago Press
From the tufted puffin in the Pacific Northwest to the hook-billed hermit in the Brazilian rainforest, birds suffer from the effects of climate change in every corner of the globe. Scientists have found declines of up to 90 percent in some troubled bird populations and unprecedented reproductive failure in others. The most recent studies suggest dire prospects: 1,227 avian species are threatened with extinction and an additional 838 near-threatened species are urgent priorities for conservation action.

As much an indispensable guide as a timely call to action, Bird Watch is an illustrated tour of these endangered birds and their habitats. Encyclopedic in scope, this book features all 1,227 species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, thoroughly detailing the environmental pressures and conservation prescriptions that hold their futures in the balance. After introducing readers to the main threats to birds and regions at high risk, Bird Watch presents a visually stunning and scientifically accurate flight over the major bird habitats, including tropical forests; temperate and northern forests; deserts; mountains; grasslands; and Mediterranean, marine, freshwater, and oceanic islands.

In nature there exist three main types of biotic interactions between individuals of different species: competition, predation, and mutualism. All three exert powerful selection pressures, and all three shape communities. However, the question of how important interspecific competition in nature really is remains controversial and unresolved.

This book provides a critical and exhaustive review of the topic. Although the examples are limited mostly to birds the conclusions reached have a far broader relevance to population ecologists in general. The book reasons that the coexistence of species is the result of both past and presently on-going interspecific competition. Furthermore, understanding the importance of interspecific competition in natural systems will be increasingly important when modelling the effects of climate change on populations.

Donated by Roelf Attwell
Rennie Montague Bere, mountaineer, naturalist and Director of Ugandan National Parks (1955-1960) wrote this book on his return to Cornwall in 1961. The book was written primarily to engender a knowledge and interest among the Ugandan people about the wildlife of their country. The secondary purpose was as a field guide for visitors to the Ugandan National Parks.

Donated by Roelf Attwell
Bell-Cross's book is based largely on the monumental 1967 work of Dr Rex Jubb - Freshwater fishes of southern Africa - but includes the 1987 taxonomic changes to African fishes, 10 new species and records of exotic species which have been established in Zimbabwean rivers and dams.

This directory provides a concise summary of the 2345 Important Bird Areas described to date in the Americas. The inventory represents a participative consensus on the most important sites for bird and biodiversity conservation in the hemisphere, in what is probably the most comprehensive assessment of its kind to be published. Since the beginning of the IBA program in North America in 1995, sites have now been identified in all 57 countries or territories in the region, totaling more than 3,250,000 km2.

This book is the culmination of national IBA identification processes involving thousands of people in the Caribbean, North, Central and South America, and at least 150 governmental and non-governmental organizations. The directory is at once a high level awareness-raising publication; a decision-making tool for national and hemispheric biodiversity management and planning; and a portfolio of funding opportunities for potential donors.

Sprinkled across the tropical Pacific, the innumerable islands of Oceania are home to some of the most unique bird communities on the planet, and they sustain species found nowhere else on earth. Many of the birds that live in this region are endangered, however; many more have become extinct as a result of human activity, in both recent and prehistoric times.

David Steadman - a leading authority on tropical Pacific avian paleontology - has spent the past two decades in the field, digging through layers of soil in search of the bones that serve as clues to the ancient past of island bird communities. His years of indefatigable research and analysis are the foundation for Extinction and Biogeography of Tropical Pacific Birds, a monumental study of the landbirds of tropical Pacific islands-especially those from Fiji eastward to Easter Island-and an intricate history of the patterns and processes of island biology over time.

Donated by Peter Prokosch
Africa is currently the least urbanised region in the world, but this is changing fast. Of the billion people living on the African continent, about 40 per cent lives in urban areas. The urban population in Africa doubled from 205 million in 1990 to 400 million in 2010, and by 2050, it is expected that this would have tripled to 1.23 billion. Of this urban population, 60 per cent is living in slum conditions. In a time of such urban growth, Africa is likely to experience some of the most severe impacts of climate change, particularly when it comes to water and food security. This places huge pressures on the growing urban populations.

This report shows that there is a way forward for a more sustainable future where restoration of ecosystems, often in the green hills and watersheds surrounding cities, can provide cheaper, efficient and resilient water supply systems in a changing world.

Donated by Peter Prokosch
This report is a contribution to the UN's International Year of Biodiversity and is a complement of the UNEP-hosted Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) which is bringing visibility to the wealth of the world's natural capital. It documents over 30 successful case studies referencing thousands of restoration projects ranging from deserts and rainforests to rivers and coasts. The report confirms that restoration is not only possible but can prove highly profitable in terms of public savings.

Donated by Peter Prokosch
Gorillas, the largest of the great apes, are under renewed threat across the Congo Basin from Nigeria to the Albertine Rift: poaching for bushmeat, loss of habitat due to agricultural expansion, degradation of habitat from logging, mining and charcoal production are amongst these threats, in addition to natural epidemics such as ebola and the new risk of diseases passed from humans to gorillas.

Donated by Peter Prokosch
Through the air, over land and in water, over ten thousand species numbering millions of animals travel around the world in a network of migratory pathways. The very foundation of these migratory species is their connection to places and corridors across the planet. The loss of a single point in their migration can jeopardize the entire population, while their concentrations make them highly vulnerable to overharvesting and poaching.

Donated by Peter Ryan
In "Storms of My Grandchildren", Dr. James Hansen - the nation's leading scientist on climate issues - speaks out for the first time with the full truth about global warming: The planet is hurtling even more rapidly than previously acknowledged to a climatic point of no return. Although the threat of human-caused climate change is now widely recognized, politicians have failed to connect policy with the science, responding instead with ineffectual remedies dictated by special interests. Hansen shows why President Obama's solution, cap-and-trade, which Al Gore has signed on to, won't work; why we must phase out all coal, and why 350 ppm of carbon dioxide is a goal we must achieve if our children and grandchildren are to avoid global meltdown and the storms of the book's title.

This urgent manifesto bucks conventional wisdom (including the Kyoto Protocol) and is sure to stir controversy, but Hansen - whose climate predictions have come to pass again and again, beginning in the 1980s when he first warned Congress about global warming - is the single most credible voice on the subject worldwide. Hansen paints a devastating but all-too-realistic picture of what will happen in the near future, mere years and decades from now, if we follow the course we're on. But he is also an optimist, showing that there is still time to do what we need to save the planet. Urgent, strong action is needed, and this book, released to coincide with the Copenhagen Conference in December 2009, will be key in setting the agenda going forward to create a groundswell, a tipping point, to save humanity - and our grandchildren - from a dire fate more imminent than we had supposed.

Donated by the Animal Demography Unit
The Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem Programme was set up to assess the utility of top predators as biological indicators of ecosystem change and to implement an appropriate, integrated, system-wide monitoring programme to support sustainable management of the Benguela. The Programme was a joint initiative of Angola, Namibia and South Africa. The report is accompanied by two Annexes: Manual of methods for monitoring Cape fur seals in the BCLME and Monitoring seabirds in the BCLME: data collection manual

Donated by Peter Prokosch
This report explores the potential for mitigating the impacts of climate change by improved management and protection of marine ecosystems and especially the vegetated coastal habitat, or blue carbon sinks.

The objective of this report is to highlight the critical role of the oceans and ocean ecosystems in maintaining our climate and in assisting policy makers to mainstream an oceans agenda into national and international climate change initiatives. While emissions reductions are currently at the centre of the climate change discussions, the critical role of the oceans and ocean ecosystems has been vastly overlooked.

Donated by Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona
Every spring, long-distance Palaearctic migrants return to Europe from their sub-Saharan wintering grounds after having crossed two large geographical barriers in near succession, the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean Sea.
This journey is particularly demanding at this time of year because birds need to reach their breeding grounds as soon as possible to establish territories and find mates.
This book represents the results from 16 years of the Piccole Isole project, the main findings from a network of ringing stations that were in operation between 1992 and 2007 in Spain and Morocco. This network provided the first opportunity to simultaneously study spring bird migration right across the Mediterranean basin. Migrating birds were studied both in their areas of origin (NW Africa) and also in the areas where they stopped either during the sea crossing (Mediterranean islands) or while following less energetically demanding continental routes (coastal Spain).

Donated by Lloyd Kiff, The Peregrine Fund
This bound copy of an Occasional Paper of the California Academy of Sciences, records the Academy's expedition to the Galapagos Islands between 1905-1906 to collect and record the fauna and flora of the Archipelago. The collection of 8691 birds remained undescribed until the appointment of the author as curator in 1927.

Donated by Lloyd Kiff, The Peregrine Fund
Raptor biomedicine III is a refereed collection of papers that were presented at the 3rd International Raptor Biomedical Conference held in Midrand, South Africa, in August 1998. Wildlife biology, falconry and avian medicine and surgery are combined in this publication which is an essential resource both for the care of captive raptors and for the conservation of free-ranging birds of prey.

Donated by Lloyd Kiff, The Peregrine Fund
A unique synthesis of ecological information on all 4,037 species of birds found from Mexico south to Tierra del Fuego. In tables that cover over 300 pages, including much unpublished data, the authors summarize details of 40 key ecological parameters for each bird species. Moreover, because bird communities are good indicators of habitat type and condition, they also analyze the bird species of major habitats from a conservation perspective and develop specific guidelines to illustrate how governments, conservation organisations, and wildlife managers can use this ecological information to anchor conservation strategies in sound biological reality.

Donated by Lloyd Kiff, The Peregrine Fund
The Hawks Aloft worldwide Watch-site Manual was developed at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary between 1993 and 1995. The spectacle of raptor migration is used to help protect not only raptors themselves, but also the havitat resources upon which these wide-ranging predatory birds depend/

Donated by Peter Ryan
An increase in two degrees Celsius in average global temperature - which is almost inevitable - will heat politics to boiling point. Bringing together extensive interviews and the latest research, Gwynne Dyer reveals the realities of a planet facing scarce food, water, and land. Can our technology save us, or is it too late? Glavanizing yet unflinching, Climate Wars is an essential guide to the hot politics of the future.

Donated by Don Barrell
Volume 1 of the 10 volume series provides accounts of the existing life history information, behaviour, ecology, distribution and migration records of the Boobies, Buzzards, Cormorants, Divers, Ducks, Eagles, Falcons, Flamingos, Frigate Birds, Geese, Grebes, Harriers, Hawks, Herons, Ibises, Kestrels, Pelicans, Petrels, Shearwaters, Spoonbill, Storks, Swans, Tropic-birds & Vultures

Donated by Don Barrell
Volume 2 presents the life history information, taxonomic changes, behaviour, ecology, distribution and migration of the Avocets, Bustards, Coots, Crab Plovers, Cranes, Curlews, Finfoots, Ibisbills, Jacanas, Megapodes, Oystercatchers, Partridges, Phalaropes, Pheasants, Plovers, Quails, Rails, Sandpipers, Snipes, Stilts and Woodcocks

Donated by Don Barrell
Voume 3 of the 10 volume set includes information on long-range migration and taxonomic changes along with the existing life history information, accounts of behaviour, ecology, distribution and migration of the Coursers, Cuckoos, Doves, Gulls, Jaegers, Owls, Parrots, Pigeons, Pratincoles, Sandgrouse, Skuas, Stone Curlews & Terns.

Donated by Don Barrell
Volume 4 of this 10 volume series describes the behaviour, ecology, distribution, migration and taxonomic changes of the Barbets, Bee-eaters, Broadbills, Frogmouths, Honeyguides, Kingfishers, Nightjars, Pittas, Rollers, Swifts, Trogons & Woodpeckers

Donated by Don Barrell
Volume 7 describes the life history, behaviour, ecology, distribution and migration records for the Crows, Drongos, Larks, Orioles, Shrikes, Starlings, Swallows and Waxwings. This 2nd edition is illustrated with the paintings of John Henry Dick.

Donated by Don Barrell
Volume 8 of the 10 Volume series describes the life history, behaviour, ecology, distribution and migration patterns of the Babblers, Bulbuls, Cuckoo-Shrikes, Fairy Bluebird, Ioras, Leaf Birds & Parrotbills.

Donated by Don Barrell
Volume 7 of the 10 volume series describes the long-range migration, taxonomic changes, behaviour, ecology and distribution of the Babblers, Flycatchers and Thrushes.

Donated by Don Barrell
Volume 8 of the 10 volume series describes the long-range migration, taxonomic changes, life history, behaviour, ecology and distribution of the Chats, Thrushes and Warblers

Donated by Don Barrell
Volume 9 of the 10 volume series describes the long-range migration, taxonomic changes, life history, behaviour, ecology and distribution of the Accentors, Chats, Dippers, Nuthatches, Pipits, Thrushes, Titmice, Tits, Wagtails, Wall Creepers & Wrens.

Donated by Don Barrell
Volume 10 of this series describes the long-range migration, taxonomic changes, life history, behaviour, ecology and distribution of the Avadavat, Bayas, Buntings, Finches, Flowerpeckers, Munias, Sparrows, Sunbirds, Weavers & White-eyes.

Donated by Patrick Morant
Much of the southern African research presented in this volume was conducted by Alan Stephenson and his wife Anne while he was the Professor of Zoology at the University of Cape Town from 1930 to 1940. Stephenson was an exceptionally gifted artist as well as a zoologist and this volume is illustrated with numerous paintings and line drawings by the author.

Donated by Patrick Morant
Tidepools and rocky shores are among the most physically stressful environments on earth. When the tide is high, waves can sweep over plants and animals at velocities as high as 60 miles per hour, while at low tide, the same organisms dry up and bake in the sun. Yet despite this seeming inhospitality, tidepools and rocky shores are exceptionally complex and biologically diverse.

This comprehensive encyclopedia is an authoritative, one-stop reference for everyone interested in the biology and ecology of this fascinating and uniquely accessible environment. Conveniently arranged alphabetically, nearly 200 wide-ranging entries written in clear language by scientists from around the world provide a state-of-the-art picture of tidepools and rocky shore science.

Donated by Jenny Day
A chronicle of the life and letters of Thomas Huxley by his son Leonard Huxley.

Donated by Lloyd Kiff, The Peregrine Fund
An indispensable reference for every rehabilitator, falconer, zoo keeper, or aviculturist working with hawks, falcons, eagles, vultures, or owls. The book combines the authors' years of experience with rehabilitation and capture management, veterinary medicine and falconry techniques, supplemented with co-operation from rehabilitation from around the world. The authors have worked with rehabilitation from all over the world to bring this international guide of captive raptor management together.

Donated by Lloyd Kiff, The Peregrine Fund
Provides detailed information on the avifauna of Israel, written and photographed by 2 of the leading lights of conservation in Israel. Covers the 470 species to be found in the country with detailed information about habitat, behaviour, breeding, feeding, distribution etc.

Donated by John Cooper
Breeding on remote ocean islands and spending much of its life foraging for food across vast stretches of seemingly empty seas, the albatross remains a legend for most people. And yet, humans are threatening the albatross family to such an extent that it is currently the most threatened bird group in the world.

In this extensively researched, highly readable book, Robin W. Doughty and Virginia Carmichael sound an alarm over the potentially catastrophic extinction process that has gone largely unremarked by governments and fishing interests around the globe.

Donated by John Cooper
An account of the Adelie penguin and its predator, the skua by one of the few women to visit the Antarctic during the early 1960s. The book has absorbing details of birdlife, incisively written with keen observation and humour. As a bonus, the photographs of skuas and penguins are superb

Donated by Lloyd Kiff, The Peregrine Fund
Includes basic biology, life history, population characteristics, and research and management techniques for the mourning dove, which is the leading gamebird species in North America.

Donated by Patrick Morant
A stunningly original exploration of the beautiful, ancient, successful, astoundingly accomplished, largely unknown, and unfathomably different species with which we share this world. For as long as humans have been here, insects have been here. Yet we hardly know them, not even the ones we're closest to: the insects that eat our food, share our beds, live in our homes. Organizing his book alphabetically, with one entry for each letter, weaving together brief vignettes, meditations, and extended essays, Hugh Raffles uses the prism of history and science, anthropology and travel, economics and popular culture to show how insects have triggered our obsessions, stirred our fears, and beguiled our imaginations.

Raffles provides a glimpse into the ritualized world of Chinese cricket fighting, the deceptive courtship rituals of the dance fly, the vital and vicious role locusts play in the famines that afflict the African continent, the queer sexual practices among insects, the obsession of Japan's entire culture with insects, how insects deformed by Chernobyl inspired art, and how our unease with insects has prompted aberrant behavior of our own. Deftly combining the anecdotal and the scientific, Raffles has given us an essential book of reference that is, as well, a fascination of the highest order.

Donated by Jenny Day
Among the treasures to befound in this work -a rurther exploration of man and his world that the author began in his first and much acclaimed book, The lives of the cell - are essays on the human genius for making mistakes, on cloning, on warts, on punctuation and on 'transcendental metaworry'.

Donated by Jenny Day
Celebrates the father of modern taxonomy, the man who invented the system of giving living organisms two Latin names. This volume charts the rise of Carl Linnaeus from poor student at Lund University in Sweden to Professor of Medicine at Uppsala and founder of the Royal Academy of Sciences.

Donated by Jenny Day
In the Eighteenth Century those members of the public who wished to broaden their knowledge of natural history , a science still very much in it's infancy, obviously did not have the benefit of television and enthusiatic presenters such as Bill Oddie. Instead, they were fortunate enough to be able to read Gilbert White's excellent " Natural History of Selbourne" - surely, even 200 years later, there can be no finer introduction to nature than this poetic collection of letters. (Ian Thumwood)

Donated by Media Natur
This multivolume series by Norbert Bahr provides an overview of the systematics and taxonomy of all bird species and subspecies of the world based on current knowledge.

The first volume covers the order Charadriiformes, including the families Alcidae, Burhinidae, Charadriidae, Chionidae, Dromadidae, Glareolidae, Haematopodidae, Ibidorhynchidae, Jacanidae, Laridae, Pedionomidae, Pluvialidae, Pluvianellidae, Pluvianidae, Recurvirostridae, Rostratulidae, Rynchopidae, Scolopacidae, Stercorariidae, Sternidae, Thinocoridae and Turnicidae.

Besides scientific names, their authorship and dates of publication, it gives original names and original citations, as well as type localities for all taxa. It further contains often-used synonyms, German and English species names, short distributional informations, and Indexes

Because of the scope of conservation problems, biologists and managers often rely on 'surrogate' species to act as proxies to represent larger conservation issues. In this volume, conservation biologist and field researcher Tim Caro offers systematic definitions of surrogate species concepts, explores the theories behind them, considers how surrogate species are chosen, examines evidence for and against their utility, and makes recommendations for their continued use.

Roberts VII Multimedia Birds of Southern Africa for Windows is a comprehensive and interactive multimedia program. This outstanding new edition has been completely upgraded with almost all data being new or revised, and the program improved with a more user-friendly interface.

Donated by Lloyd Kiff, The Peregrine Fund
Published for the Raptors 2000 Congress (held under the auspices of the Raptor Research Foundation and the World Working Group on Birds of Prey), this is an immensely useful compilation of information on the history of raptor research in Israel. Well organised and readable, with fine illustrations, this book is a worthy addition to raptor literature.

Donated by Lloyd Kiff, The Peregrine Fund
Description of the avifauna of this Antarctic region, based on the author's thirteen years of research there. Includes information on ecology, behaviour and status of all species present, plus full checklist, as well as covering other aspects of the area's natural history.

Donated by Lloyd Kiff, The Peregrine Fund
There are 24 species of eagles, hawks and falcons in Australia. This is a balanced blend of writing and photography, with an essay on each species.

Donated by Lloyd Kiff, The Peregrine Fund
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent covers all the bird species found in India, Pakistian, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. The plates face the descriptions and maps for quick at-a-glance reference. This guide also provides tables, summarising identification features of particularly difficult groups such as nightjars, warblers and rosefinches.

Donated by Lloyd Kiff, The Peregrine Fund
The five countries of the Tropical Andes form the most biodiverse regions in the world, with a quarter of the world's bird species in just three percent of the land area. The astonishing range of habitats includes snow-capped mountains, the high Andean Puna, humid Amazon lowland rainforests, dry forest and the isolated, endemic-species-rich tepuis of Venezuala.

More than 600 researchers contributed to the book, which took eight years to compile. 455 sites are identified, covering 17 percent of the land area of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuala. A comprehensive introduction covers habitats, protection, threats and other issues. Each site is described in detail, with thumbnail location maps, graphics and data tables.

While it serves as an excellent site guide for birders, this is primarily a blueprint for governments and conservationists involved in planning protected area networks. More than half the sites have no protection.

Donated by Christopher Helm
This new field guide covers The Gambia, a country which is very popular with a large number of birders and tourists, and the whole of neighbouring Senegal. This fascinating region shelters many Western Palearctic migrants from September to April, as well as a significant list of resident West African birds. The stunning colour plates depict more than 680 species, covering almost every distinct plumage and race. The authoritative text highlights the key features needed to identify each species in the field, and accurate up-to-date maps are provided for every species. This comprehensive guide is an essential companion for anyone visiting The Gambia and Senegal.

Donated by Lloyd Kiff, The Peregrine Fund
Raptor Research and Management Techniques is not intended to be an all-inclusive manual or detailed "how-to" book, but rather a review of the field with up-to-date information on various techniques that is designed to provide readers with a general overview of the field. That said, each chapter has numerous references that will direct readers to additional sources for details and cautions regarding various field and laboratory techniques and management tools.

Donated by The Peregrine Fund
Provides comprehensive coverage of the variety of birds to be found in the Levant region, with a particular emphasis on Israel. Includes 252 species with each description supported by a clear colour photograph. Thumbnail silhouettes, identifying visually the different family groups, are shown on the guide pages, leading the reader quickly to the relevant section of the book.

Donated by the Animal Demography Unit
The population of the rufa subspecies, which breeds in the central Canadian Arctic and mainly winters in Tierra del Fuego, has declined dramatically over the last 20 years to between 18,000 and 30,000 birds.

Donated by the Animal Demography Unit
This proceedings provides a lot of information on woodcock and snipe research going on in Eastern Europe. There are still vast gaps in knowledge on the status of Scolopax rusticola, Gallinago gallinago, G. media and Lymnocryptes minimus in their vast Eastern European and Western Siberian breeding ranges. Hunters have contributed considerably to the knowledge of these secretive species and in addition hunting is a strong incentive for conservation and restoration of snipe habitats in particular.

Donated by A & C Black
Authoritative and concise, this beautifully illustrated atlas captures the dazzling diversity of bird life around the world. Its stunning full-colour maps reveal where birds are found and explain the many factors behind their distribution, while numerous photographs and illustrations showcase the most fascinating and colourful aspects of bird behaviour. Conservation concerns are highlighted throughout, underpinned by the very latest data from BirdLife International on the threats birds face worldwide.

Donated by KNNV Publishing
To the untrained eye, all reed warblers may look alike. A closer look, however, reveals an astonishing diversity in ecology and adaptive strategies across the world's 50 species. The new book "The Reed Warblers: Diversity in a Uniform Bird Family" is a magnificent overview of this interesting group of song birds. Vividly written and beautifully illustrated, this accessible book will appeal to biologists and general nature enthusiasts alike. This book was written in co-operation with the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology.

Donated by Peter Ryan
Archibald Thorburn (1860-1935) is recognised as an outstanding illustrator of animals and in particular of the birds of western Europe. This publication is illustrated with 82 watercoloured plates depicting, with high scientific accuracy, over 400 species of British birds. The book is simultaneously a work of art.

Donated by the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund
This new field guide deals with the nesting habits of the 730 bird species known to breed in southern Africa. It is set out in a standard field-guide format (text pages facing colour plates), covering 4-5 species per double-page spread. The information given is an up-to-date summary of what is known about the nesting habits of each species: where they nest, when they nest, what the nest looks like, how many eggs they lay, how long these take to hatch.
Approximately 1300 colour photographs, taken by 68 different photographers, illustrate most of the nests and birds, many reproduced here for the first time. Also included are 1200 photographic images of the eggs of each species, accurately coloured and all reproduced at life size, ranging from the large eggs of the vultures and eagles to the tiny eggs of waxbills and cisticolas.

Donated by Christopher Helm
The Horn of Africa has the highest endemism of any region in Africa, and around 70 species are found nowhere else in the world. Many of these are confined to the isolated highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea, but a large number of larks specialise in the arid parts of Somalia and adjoining eastern Ethiopia, whilst the island of Socotra has its own suite of endemic species. The region is also an important migration route and wintering site for many Palearctic birds.

Donated by Lloyd Kiff
This large-format, multi-authored work is aimed at a non-scientific audience and describes the peregrine restoration story chronologically, topically and geographically. Tom Cade provides an introduction on the bird's life history traits in relation to recovery. The focus is largely on North America.

Donated by Edward Dickinson
This is the first book to explain the importance of priority in relation to names in ornithology and in the context of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Backgrounds are first provided on the Code and on printing and publishing over the last 250 years. The compilers then bring together reports on 148 books and 121 periodicals in zoology which, between them, present almost all the challenges that can make date determination problematic. The reports provide links to the published authorities and are supported by tables containing extensive detail about the subsidiary parts or issues with their pagination and dates. This book and the included CD Rom are a searchable treasure trove.

Developed by a team of field and museum ornithologists, this publication is the first comprehensive presentation of a large number of different measurements that can be taken on birds since the 1931 treatise of Baldwin, Oberholser and Worley, published in the Scientific Publications of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. With the aid of detailed illustrations this handy volume offers concise instructions and recommendations on how to measure birds. Problems with particular measurement techniques are discussed, as are accuracy, reliability, and comparability of measurements, the numbering of flight feathers, skull ossification, determining weight, and appropriate measuring tools. A comprehensive glossary and list of references round off this useful book.

The Kerguelen Plateau, located in the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean, is the second largest submarine plateau in the world. Despite the remoteness of the islands that emerge from the Plateau, following their discovery at the end of the 18th century the abundant marine living resources of the region have been a focus of human endeavour. Initially, whales and seals were harvested, but at the turn of the 20th century, fisheries for finfish commenced and continued since. The latter half of the 20th century saw increased marine research activities, which includes oceanographic, biological and ecological studies, directed at better understanding this region and its role in the diversity, structure and function of the ecosystems of the Southern Ocean and sustainable use of its resources.
This book is a compilation of scientific contributions from the Symposium The Kerguelen Plateau, Marine Ecosystem and Fisheries, held in 2010 at Concarneau, France.

Donated by John Cooper

The Wirebird is a small plover, endemic to and resident on St Helena. It is the only endemic bird on the island; as such it is the National Bird, all other 5 endemic birds have gone extinct.

From ice-dependent penguins of Antarctica to songbirds that migrate across the Sahara, birds' responses provide early warning signs of the impact of climate change. "Winged Sentinels: Birds and Climate Change" uses colourful examples to show how particular groups of birds face heightened threats from climate change, and to explore how we can help birds adapt in a warming world. Generously illustrated with colour photographs the book is a fascinating insight into what climate change means for birds, and the potential consequences of ignoring these warning signs.

Comprehensive review written by leading authorities from around the world, and covering all aspects of incubation biology from evolution to practical aspects. There is an extensive section describing incubation behaviour of parents and embryos, and there are chapters reviewing brood patch physiology and the various factors determining the incubation environment. Another section provides chapters giving detailed descriptions of examples of unusual aspects of avian incubation, whilst the final section provides consideration of the ecological, energetic and fitness cost of incubation.

Donated by Paul Isenmann

This book is an annotated checklist of the 506 species (of which 155 are breeding, 103 presumed breeding and 86 species previously not considered) recorded in Mauritania. This West African country is at the conjunction of the Sahara and the Sahel and the Palearctic and Afrotropics. The checklist provides data on status, phenology, distribution, habitat, nesting and the origin of migrants and winter visitors. In addition, the book gives information on the geography, the history of ornithology, the biogeographical affinities of the breeding birds, the bird migration system in Mauritania and a comprehensive biography. The country includes the Banc d'Arguin (Africa's most famous wintering site for sub-arctic waders) as well as several major wetlands for Palearctic and Afrotropical waterbirds.

Donated by Timothy Crowe

Proceedings of a Symposium held during the VI Neotropical Ornithological Congress, Monterrey, Mexico, 4-10 October 1999

Donated by Paul Isenmann

The Banc d'Arguin in Mauritania is the foremost wintering ground for wading birds and the largest breeding area for colonial waterbirds in all of West Africa.

This book includes an annotated checklist of over 300 species with notes on their status and a detailed account of the 25,000 to 50,000 pairs of nesting colonial birds and 2,000,000 wintering birds.

Donated by Timothy Crowe

Papers delivered at a meeting of the AOU in Portland, Oregon, August 2008. The purpose of the symposium was to review the history of subspecies in ornithology, the relevance of subspecies to biodiversity, and examples of recent research that involved subspecies of birds

Islands with large colonies of seabirds are found throughout the globe. Seabird islands provide nesting and roosting sites for birds that forage at sea, deposit marine nutrients on land, and physically alter these islands. Habitats for numerous endemic and endangered animal and plant species, seabird islands are therefore biodiversity hotspots with high priority for conservation. Successful campaigns to eradicate predators (e.g., rats and cats) from seabird islands have been conducted worldwide. However, removal of predators will not necessarily lead to natural recovery of seabirds or other native species. Restoration of island ecosystems requires social acceptance of eradications, knowledge of how island food webs function, and a long-term commitment to measuring and assisting the recovery process.

Annotated checklist giving habitat, status and distribution information on 851 species.

Donated by Christopher Helm

This compact field guide, based on "Birds of Seychelles" by Adrian Skerrett, Ian Bullock and Tony Disley (Helm 2000), is the only field guide to cover every species recorded in the Seychelles. It covers more than 250 species, including all residents, migrants and vagrants. Concise text on facing pages highlights key identification features, including habitat, distribution, status and voice. The plates are based on the authors' previous work, but with the addition on many new images. The text has been completely re-written and revised for this edition, and the plates are been re-worked to accommodate a number of new additions to the country's list. There are now 12 more plates than in the first edition.

Donated by Santiago Imberti

This collection of high quality MP3 recordings features 600 sounds of 160 bird species from Patagonia, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands.

Donated by Timothy Crowe

Based on a study commissioned by the WWF, this volume draws together a diverse group of authorities to discuss the conditions under which harvesting wild species for human consumption may act as a conservation tool, rather than adopting the more usual routes, through protected areas, etc. Presenting fifteen case studies from around the world - in areas ranging from fisheries and forestry to non-timber forest products and trophy hunting - the authors explore the link between sustainable development and biodiversity conservation.

Temperature impacts the behaviour, physiology and ecology of all organisms more than any other abiotic variable. In this book, the author draws on theory from the more general discipline of evolutionary ecology to foster a fresh approach toward a theory of thermal adaptation.

Donated by the Authors, Liz and Mike Fraser.

This is an illustrated account of the botanical exploration of South Africa's Cape Floral Kingdom and the plants that this region has given to the gardens of the world over the last four centuries. Over Kew's 250 year history, Cape plants and their collectors have contributed greatly to the establishment of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew as the pre-eminent centre for botanical research.

Liz Fraser's original botanical illustrations are a wonderful addition to the text, which is further enhanced by archival illustrations and present-day photographs from the Cape. The book has a wide appeal and will be of interest to conservationists, gardeners, botanists, historians, botanical artists, naturalists, and visitors to the Cape.

Donated by Prof Jenny Day

This book is both a study of the finches of the Galapagos and their evolution, an account of the adventures of Peter and Rosemary Grant and their ingenious and meticulous work on the islands, and a general exploration of modern research in the field. The Grants' research, has lasted more than twenty years, and has demonstrated natural selection operating and revealing changes over generations, not over millennia as Darwin originally supposed. Coupled with this kind of research is the current trend in evolutionary biology to analyse sub-microscopic particles, including those of the finches of the Galapagos. Using this method one can actually see DNA evolve, and manipulate and accelerate evolution itself.

Donated by Pippa Parker, Random House Struik

Over the last 18 years, Wayne Lynch has travelled thousands of miles to Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and a dozen remote island clusters in the tempestuous Southern Ocean to study and photograph the 17 species of penguins in their natural habitats. In this book, he documents the extraordinary life cycle of these tough, resourceful and beautiful birds in some of the harshest environments imaginable.

Donated by Prof Graeme Cumming

This manual contains chapters on the basic ecology of avian influenza and wild birds, capture and marking techniques (ringing, colour marking and satellite telemetry), disease sampling procedures, and field survey and monitoring procedures.

Numerical Ecology with R provides a bridge between a textbook in Numerical Ecology and the implementation of this discipline in the R language. After short theoretical overviews, the authors explore the methods by means of applied and extensively commented examples. The book starts with exploratory approaches, proceeds with the construction of association matrices, then addresses three families of methods: clustering, unconstrained and canonical ordination, and spatial analysis. All the necessary data files, the scripts used in the chapters, as well as the extra R functions and packages written by the authors, can be downloaded from a web page accessible through the Springer web site.

An annotated checklist of the birds of the Luangwa Valley and adjacent areas, including details of when and where each recorded species may be seen and the likelihood of seeing them; plus breeding data, maps of the area and illustrated with Pete Leonard's beautiful drawings.

This book is the first monograph in English on the 34 shrike species distributed across Africa, Eurasia and North America. The author reconstructs the evolutionary history of the group at different stages of its phylogenesis, from the early origins of the family Laniidae, presumably in Africa, through the secondary expansion of species across Eurasia and into the New World. The book examines adaptation resulting in changes in bodysize and plumage colouration, foraging behaviour, breeding dispersion, motor signal behaviour and vocalizations. Special attention is paid to the development of signal and communication behaviour in groups of closely related species at different stages of their divergent evolution. The results of recent molecular studies on shrikes are discussed as well.

Urbanization is a global phenomenon that is increasingly challenging human society. Urban ecology, the interdisciplinary study of ecological patterns and processes in towns and cities, is a rapidly developing field that can provide a scientific basis for the informed decision-making and planning needed to create both viable and sustainable cities.

Mathematical Models of Biological Systems provides a practical introduction to basic mathematical modelling methodology and analysis. It covers a variety of biological applications and uses these topics in turn to highlight key components in the art of modelling. The book covers deterministic as well as stochastic dynamics, continuous-time as well as discrete-time dynamics, partial differential equations, dimensional analysis, and curve fitting/parameter estimation. It contains numerous case studies, graded from elementary examples to more complicated problems, as well as a general treatment of good modelling practice. Although the book assumes a basic background in mathematics, specifically beginning calculus and elementary statistics, all requisite material is included in a series of appendices.

Donated by Wiley-Blackwell

Birds are key indicators of ecosystem health, and such a well-studied group of organisms, that they provide an excellent lens through which to examine global conservation problems caused by phenomena such as climate change, declines in ecosystem services, habitat loss, fires, overexploitation, and invasive species. Therefore, the book also provides an engaging synopsis of the general issues in conservation and the problems faced by other wildlife. This book will serve as an important resource and companion to all people interested in observing and conserving birds in the tropics and elsewhere.

Donated by Lynx Edicions

This Field Guide describes and illustrates all the species and subspecies of birds in Macaronesia (the Azores, Madeira, the Savage Islands, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde). Special features include detailed distribution maps, species status for each archipelago and the official list of the birds of Macaronesia compiled by the S.O.C. (Canary Islands Ornithological Society). The guide describes 573 species and subspecies, covering all resident, nesting, migrating and vagrant birds.