Random House New Releases - Nature - Animals - Birds

The Goshawk by Marie Winn

2012-04-25T00:30:00-05:00

The Goshawk
Written by T.H. White
Introduction by Marie Winn

eBook | NYRB Classics | Nature - Birds & Birdwatching; Nature - Animals - Birds; Pets - Birds | $16.95 | 978-1-59017-546-0 (1-59017-546-8)

What is it that binds human beings to other animals? T. H. White, the author of The Once and Future King and Mistress Masham’s Repose, was a young writer who found himself rifling through old handbooks of falconry. A particular sentence—”the bird reverted to a feral state”—seized his imagination, and, White later wrote, “A longing came to my mind that I should be able to do this myself. The word ‘feral’ has a kind of magical potency which allied itself to two other words, ‘ferocious’ and ‘free.’” Immediately, White wrote to Germany to acquire a young goshawk. Gos, as White named the bird, was ferocious and Gos was free, and White had no idea how to break him in beyond the ancient (and, though he did not know it, long superseded) practice of depriving him of sleep, which meant that he, White, also went without rest. Slowly man and bird entered a state of delirium and intoxication, of attraction and repulsion that looks very much like love.

White kept a daybook describing his volatile relationship with Gos—at once a tale of obsession, a comedy of errors, and a hymn to the hawk. It was this that became The Goshawk, one of modern literature’s most memorable and surprising encounters with the wilderness—as it exists both within us and without.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Sixth Edition by Jonathan Alderfer

2011-11-01T00:30:00-05:00

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Sixth Edition
Written by Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer

Trade Paperback, 576 pages | National Geographic | Nature - Animals - Birds; Nature - Birds & Birdwatching; Science - Life Sciences - Zoology - Ornithology | $27.95 | 978-1-4262-0828-7 (1-4262-0828-6)

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 6th Edition contains the most all-new material since the first edition was published more than 25 years ago. The latest edition will include 300 new art figures; unique subspecies maps never before seen in a field guide; extensive migration information overlaid on species maps; field-mark labels on all artwork; text updates to include new species; reorganization reflecting taxonomic changes in the bird community; organization, readability, and increased page count with a fresh new design.

Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? by Mike O'Connor

2010-07-01T00:30:00-05:00

Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? And Other Bird Questions You Know You Want to Ask
Written by Mike O'Connor

eBook | Beacon Press | Nature - Animals - Birds; Nature - Birds & Birdwatching; Nature - Essays | $12.00 | 978-0-8070-8589-9 (0-8070-8589-8)

In 1983, Mike O'Connor opened the Bird Watcher's General Store on Cape Cod, which might well have been the first store devoted solely to birding in the United States. Since that time he has answered thousands of questions about birds, both at his store and while walking down the aisles of the supermarket. The questions have ranged from inquiries about individual species ("Are flamingos really real?") to what and when to feed birds ("Should I bring in my feeders for the summer?") to the down-and-dirty specifics of backyard birding ("Why are the birds dropping poop in my pool?"). Answering the questions has been easy; keeping a straight face has been hard.

Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? is the solution for the beginning birder who already has a book that explains the slight variation between Common Ground-Doves and Ruddy Ground-Doves but who is really much more interested in why birds sing at 4:30 A.M. instead of 7:00 A.M., or whether it's okay to feed bread to birds, or how birds rediscover your feeders so quickly when you've just filled them after a long vacation. Or, for that matter, whether flamingos are really real.

Soaring with Fidel by David Gessner

2008-04-01T00:30:00-05:00

Soaring with Fidel An Osprey Odyssey from Cape Cod to Cuba and Beyond
Written by David Gessner

Trade Paperback, 304 pages | Beacon Press | Nature - Birds & Birdwatching; Nature - Animals - Birds; Nature - Essays | $15.00 | 978-0-8070-8579-0 (0-8070-8579-0)

A Book Sense Notable Title

"As Gessner pursues [the ospreys] down the Eastern Seaboard and even into Cuba with a BBC documentary team at his heels, a lively tale of fish-eating raptors, broken embargoes and a nail-biting race to the finish line ensues . . . Gessner finds his Mecca not in the thrilling launch or triumphant end of his own 7,000-mile migration, but in the living done in between."—Jennifer Winger, Nature Conservancy Magazine

"An engaging, lyrical guide to osprey migration, Cuba, and a common humanity."—Orion Magazine

"Gessner's finest book, unpredictable in the best way, and funny, too; an adventure book and much more—a book of contact by a writer who quickly becomes an audible and visible presence."—Clyde Edgerton, author of Solo

"An interesting and complex book . . . In a surprisingly short amount of time, David Gessner has evolved into one of our most accomplished and singular writers about nature. While many authors treat their experiences in nature with a hushed earnestness and a suspect neatness, Gessner writes about the messy humanness of being outside."—Mark Lynch, Bird Observer

"An ideal traveling companion and guide. Soaring with Fidel lets you hover for a while in the thermals of fine language, seeing the same old world from a fresh and invigorating altitude."—Ben Steelman, Wilmington (NC) Star-News

Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? by Mike O'Connor

2007-04-15T00:30:00-05:00

Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? And Other Bird Questions You Know You Want to Ask
Written by Mike O'Connor

Trade Paperback, 224 pages | Beacon Press | Nature - Animals - Birds; Nature - Birds & Birdwatching; Nature - Essays | $14.95 | 978-0-8070-8574-5 (0-8070-8574-X)

Soaring with Fidel by David Gessner

2007-04-01T00:30:00-05:00

Soaring with Fidel An Osprey Odyssey from Cape Cod to Cuba and Beyond
Written by David Gessner

eBook | Beacon Press | Nature - Birds & Birdwatching; Nature - Animals - Birds; Nature - Essays | $13.95 | 978-0-8070-8590-5 (0-8070-8590-1)

One September, after writing about ospreys on Cape Cod for years, David Gessner impulsively decided to follow the birds on their annual migration. Each fall these graceful raptors, with wingspans of up to six feet, cruise over the eastern United States, then soar over Cuba and winter in South America, returning north with the spring. In 2004, Gessner went along for the ride, traveling illegally into the mountains of Cuba and deep into Venezuela as he competed with the crew of a BBC documentary to be the first to follow the full migration, trailing the birds by car, boat, foot, and plane. He called his favorite osprey Fidel.

Soaring with Fidel is about the exhilaration of migration, but it is also a deeper meditation on the nature of human happiness. In describing the thrill of travel, the antics of these swashbuckling birds, and the cast of characters he meets (and drinks with) along the way—including scientists, students, tour guides, and an online group of birders—Gessner gives us a profound lesson in the importance of following what you love.

From the Hardcover edition.

BirdTalk by Richard C. Wheeler

2002-12-27T00:30:00-05:00

BirdTalk Conversations with Birds
Written by Alan Powers
Foreword by Richard C. Wheeler

Trade Paperback, 216 pages | Frog Books | Nature - Birds & Birdwatching; Nature - Animals - Birds | $14.95 | 978-1-58394-065-5 (1-58394-065-0)

For the last 20 years, Alan Powers, who lives near Cape Cod, has experimented with birdcalls—mimicking and answering the calls he hears around his country home, in cities, and abroad in France and Italy. In BirdTalk, he celebrates this connection with entertaining allusions to history, literature, travel, linguistics, and other fields. The result is a charming and erudite stroll through an area of interest sometimes lost in the urban din. Powers reveals “birdtalk” by mapping the history of ornithological studies, quoting such bird fanciers as Shakespeare and Emily Dickinson and discussing specific techniques. In one of the most amusing chapters, he describes his attempts to teach the birds new symphonic riffs on their own calls. This illustrated literary inquiry into birdcalls is a nature book with a gift-book look.

The Complete Guide to the Birdlife of Britain and Europe by Rob Hume

2002-09-17T00:30:00-05:00

The Complete Guide to the Birdlife of Britain and Europe
Written by Peter Hayman and Rob Hume

Hardcover, 288 pages | Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press | Nature - Birds & Birdwatching; Nature - Animals - Birds; Science - Life Sciences - Zoology - Ornithology | $59.95 | 978-1-58834-088-7 (1-58834-088-0)

This authoritative guide is unparalleled in scope and depth. More than 3,500 brilliant color illustrations show each bird from up to twelve different angles, clearly and accurately presenting all distinguishing features of male and female, juvenile and adult birds. The engaging text is easily accessible yet detailed enough to satisfy even the most experienced birdwatcher.

Each entry includes both common and scientific names for the bird. A succinct summary facilitates instant identification of the species and is followed by detailed discussions about habitat, feeding, displays and calls, breeding, migration, and length. A separate box offers "when to see" and "where found" information, indicating the time of year and where in Britain and Europe the species can be seen. For quick reference, icons accompanying each entry indicate the status of the species in Britain (resident, rare vagrant, etc.) and its preferred habitat. Finally, the captions accompanying the illustrations suggest features to check if a bird cannot be quickly identified.

This thorough guide is color coded to allow instant access to the right bird. For its level of detail, convenience, and incomparable illustrations, The Complete Guide to the Birdlife of Britain and Europe is an essential addition to any birder's library.

Grassland Grouse and Their Conservation by Paul A. Johnsgard

2002-07-17T00:30:00-05:00

Grassland Grouse and Their Conservation
Written by Paul A. Johnsgard

Hardcover, 157 pages | Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press | Science - Life Sciences - Zoology - Ornithology; Nature - Animals - Birds; Nature - Environmental Conservation & Protection | $39.95 | 978-1-58834-039-9 (1-58834-039-2)

Paul Johnsgard, one of the world's leading ornithologists, has written this book as a call to action. Conservationists have seen a marked decline in the populations of North American grouse, particularly the grassland-adapted species. Unless action is taken swiftly, at least one species -- Attwater's prairie-chicken -- is certain to follow the heath hen into extinction.

Johnsgard begins with the tragic history of the heath hen, which became extinct in 1932. He devotes a chapter each to the greater and lesser prairie-chickens, greater and Gunnison sage-grouse, and sharp-tailed grouse. Johnsgard argues that habitat loss and excessive hunting are major factors contributing to the decline of each species, particularly the lesser prairie-chicken and the Gunnison sage-grouse, which have been proposed for threatened federal status.

This narrative history is troubling but not without hope. Johnsgard discusses places where populations exist that have yet to be preserved, and outlines the steps necessary to conserve these species. A possible future does exist for grassland grouse, and Johnsgard's book points the way toward securing it.

Trogons and Quetzals of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard

2000-06-17T00:30:00-05:00

Trogons and Quetzals of the World
Written by Paul A. Johnsgard

Hardcover, 223 pages | Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press | Science - Life Sciences - Zoology - Ornithology; Nature - Animals - Birds; Nature - Birds & Birdwatching | $49.95 | 978-1-56098-388-0 (1-56098-388-4)

Of all birdgroups, none is more closely associated with the world's tropical forests than trogons and quetzals. With shimmering golden-green feathers and long ornamental tail coverts, Central America's resplendent quetzal often has been called the world's most beautiful bird. Other New World as well as African trogonids also are iridescent and brightly pigmented, while red or reddish brown hues predominate in Asian species. Since deforestation and fires have ravaged many of the reclusive group's prime habitats, ornithologists and conservationists may soon be unable to study many of the world's trogonids in their native environments. Beautifully illustrated with color plates and line drawings, this comprehensive review of trogons and quetzals -- the first to be published in more than 150 years -- covers all thirty-nine extant species. The book includes detailed species accounts, range maps, and identification keys as well as a chapter that discusses comparative biology in terms of evolution, anatomy and morphology, behavior, ecology, breeding biology, and populations. Forty hand-colored plates -- most by the renowned nineteenth-century illustrator John Gould -- depict adults of both sexes; nineteen line drawings by author Paul Johnsgard illustrate behavior and anatomy. The book also includes more than three hundred bibliographic references. Despite their beauty and renown among birders, little has been previously published about the biology of many trogon and quetzal species. This up-to-date survey will serve as a valuable reference for ornithologists, conservationists, aviculturalists, and birdwatchers worldwide.

The Hummingbirds of North America, Second Edition by Paul A. Johnsgard

1997-08-17T00:30:00-05:00

The Hummingbirds of North America, Second Edition
Written by Paul A. Johnsgard

Hardcover, 278 pages | Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press | Science - Life Sciences - Zoology - Ornithology; Nature - Animals - Birds; Nature - Birds & Birdwatching | $49.95 | 978-1-56098-708-6 (1-56098-708-1)

Swift and iridescent, hummingbirds are found only in the New World, and encompass an amazing variety of specializations. No other family of birds can lay claim to so many superlatives, including smallest size, most rapid wingbeat, and most specialized plumages. While many species can be attracted to feeding stations and backyard flower gardens, others can be found only in the wild.

Paul A. Johnsgard's Hummingbirds of North America is the only book devoted to the identification, distribution, and biology -- both individual and comparative -- of all hummingbirds that breed in North America. First published in 1983, this acclaimed volume now has been revised and expanded to include twenty-five Mexican species, such as the long-billed starthroat and the fork-tailed emeralds, thereby more than doubling the species coverage of the original edition. Full species-by-species accounts survey the evolutionary history, anatomical and physiological specializations, and comparative ecology, behavior, and reproductive biology of this largest family of nonpasserine birds. Individual accounts are complemented by 24 full-color paintings.

Including updated range maps, identification keys, and a bibliography that has been broadened to include literature on the little-known Mexican species, the book is both accessible to amateur birders and an authoritative volume for ornithologists.

The Ecology of Migrant Birds by John H. Rappole

1997-07-17T00:30:00-05:00

The Ecology of Migrant Birds A Neotropical Perspective
Written by John H. Rappole

Trade Paperback, 269 pages | Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press | Science - Life Sciences - Zoology - Ornithology; Science - Biology; Nature - Animals - Birds | $29.95 | 978-1-56098-513-6 (1-56098-513-5)

Incorporating new information on migratory birds, most gathered within the past decade, this comprehensive synthesis is the first book to explore migration principally from the perspective of the tropical, or nonbreeding, portion of the migrant life cycle.

Key Areas for Threatened Birds in the Neotropics by Adrian J. Long

1995-10-17T00:30:00-05:00

Key Areas for Threatened Birds in the Neotropics
Written by David C. Wege and Adrian J. Long

Trade Paperback, 311 pages | Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press | Science - Life Sciences - Zoology - Ornithology; Nature - Environmental Conservation & Protection; Nature - Animals - Birds | $49.95 | 978-1-56098-529-7 (1-56098-529-1)

Approximately 3,600 bird species occur in the 21 countries of mainland Central and South America, of which 290 are listed as threatened. Taking a country-by-country, site-based approach, this book documents the 596 most important areas for the conservation of these threatened birds. Introductory chapters define Key Areas and the distribution of threatened species, describe habitats, threats and conservation, and identify the gaps in our knowledge of Neotropical birds.

Finding Birds in the National Capital Area, Second Edition by Claudia Wilds

1992-10-17T00:30:00-05:00

Finding Birds in the National Capital Area, Second Edition
Written by Claudia Wilds

Trade Paperback, 263 pages | Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press | Nature - Birds & Birdwatching; Nature - Animals - Birds; Science - Life Sciences - Zoology - Ornithology | $15.95 | 978-1-56098-175-6 (1-56098-175-X)

In the second edition of Finding Birds in the National Capital Area, Claudia Wilds updates her classic guide with new maps, directions, and descriptions, providing information on birding from Delaware to North Carolina accessible to the notice and detailed enough for the experienced birder.

Random House New Releases - Nature - Animals - Birds

The Goshawk by Marie Winn

The Goshawk Written by T.H. White Introduction by Marie Winn

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Sixth Edition by Jonathan Alderfer

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Sixth Edition Written by Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer

Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? by Mike O'Connor

Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? And Other Bird Questions You Know You Want to AskWritten by Mike O'Connor

Soaring with Fidel by David Gessner

Soaring with Fidel An Osprey Odyssey from Cape Cod to Cuba and BeyondWritten by David Gessner

Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? by Mike O'Connor

Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? And Other Bird Questions You Know You Want to AskWritten by Mike O'Connor

Soaring with Fidel by David Gessner

Soaring with Fidel An Osprey Odyssey from Cape Cod to Cuba and BeyondWritten by David Gessner

BirdTalk by Richard C. Wheeler

BirdTalk Conversations with BirdsWritten by Alan Powers Foreword by Richard C. Wheeler

The Complete Guide to the Birdlife of Britain and Europe by Rob Hume

The Complete Guide to the Birdlife of Britain and Europe Written by Peter Hayman and Rob Hume

Grassland Grouse and Their Conservation by Paul A. Johnsgard

Grassland Grouse and Their Conservation Written by Paul A. Johnsgard

Trogons and Quetzals of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard

Trogons and Quetzals of the World Written by Paul A. Johnsgard

The Hummingbirds of North America, Second Edition by Paul A. Johnsgard

The Hummingbirds of North America, Second Edition Written by Paul A. Johnsgard

The Ecology of Migrant Birds by John H. Rappole

The Ecology of Migrant Birds A Neotropical PerspectiveWritten by John H. Rappole

Key Areas for Threatened Birds in the Neotropics by Adrian J. Long

Key Areas for Threatened Birds in the Neotropics Written by David C. Wege and Adrian J. Long

Finding Birds in the National Capital Area, Second Edition by Claudia Wilds

Finding Birds in the National Capital Area, Second Edition Written by Claudia Wilds

The Goshawk
Written by T.H. White
Introduction by Marie Winn

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Sixth Edition
Written by Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer

Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? And Other Bird Questions You Know You Want to Ask
Written by Mike O'Connor

Soaring with Fidel An Osprey Odyssey from Cape Cod to Cuba and Beyond
Written by David Gessner

Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? And Other Bird Questions You Know You Want to Ask
Written by Mike O'Connor

Soaring with Fidel An Osprey Odyssey from Cape Cod to Cuba and Beyond
Written by David Gessner

BirdTalk Conversations with Birds
Written by Alan Powers
Foreword by Richard C. Wheeler

The Complete Guide to the Birdlife of Britain and Europe
Written by Peter Hayman and Rob Hume

Grassland Grouse and Their Conservation
Written by Paul A. Johnsgard

Trogons and Quetzals of the World
Written by Paul A. Johnsgard

The Hummingbirds of North America, Second Edition
Written by Paul A. Johnsgard

The Ecology of Migrant Birds A Neotropical Perspective
Written by John H. Rappole

Key Areas for Threatened Birds in the Neotropics
Written by David C. Wege and Adrian J. Long

Finding Birds in the National Capital Area, Second Edition
Written by Claudia Wilds