GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist and her five parrots are currently relocating to Germany, where she will continue writing her blog while also writing a book and learning German. (Meanwhile, her parrots will continue to nibble on her extensive personal library.) If you appreciate GrrlScientist's writing, you can help pay her living expenses by hiring her to "blog" your conference, speak at your club or write articles for your publication (or by clicking on the Paypal button below). If you read an essay on this blog that you especially enjoyed, please nominate it for inclusion in 
tags: Birdbooker Report, bird books, natural history books
"One cannot have too many good bird books"
--Ralph Hoffmann, Birds of the Pacific States (1927).
Here's this week's issue of the Birdbooker Report by Ian Paulsen, which lists bird and natural history books that are (or will soon be) available for purchase.
New and Recent Titles:
- Crump, Marty & Alan. Headless Males Make Great Lovers: And other unusual Natural Histories. 2007. University of Chicago Press. Paperback: 216 pages. Price: $14.00. [Amazon: $11.90]. SUMMARY: Essays on unique animal behaviors.
- Guttman, Burton S. Finding Your Wings: A Workbook for Beginning Bird Watchers. 2008. Houghton Mifflin. Spiralbound: 224 pages. Price: $14.95. [Amazon: $10.17] SUMMARY: A beginners guide to Birding. [I have received a review copy of this book and it looks great -- review coming soon].
- Hirschfeld, Erik ed. Rare Birds Yearbook 2008. 2007. MagDig Media Limited. Paperback: 273 pages. Price: about $50.00 US [Amazon: $75.00]. SUMMARY: Details the World's 189 most threatened birds. [I have a review copy of this book too -- review coming soon!].
- Powell, Alvin. The Race to Save the World's Rarest Bird: The Discovery and Death of the Po'ouli. Due out: 10 March 2008. Stackpole Books. Hardbound: 276 pages. Price: $24.95. [Amazon: $16.47]. SUMMARY: Details the rise and fall of the Hawaiian Honeycreeper called the Po'ouli. [I am hoping to receive a review copy of this book].
- Shubin, Neil. Your Inner Fish: A Journey into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body. 2008. Pantheon. Hardbound: 240 pages. Price: $24.00. [Amazon: $16.32]. SUMMARY: Details the discovery of the "fishibian" Tiktaalik and the evolution of the human body.
Out-Of-Print Title:
Not only does Ian collect new books, he collects out-of-print ones. This past week, he got in this title:
Smithe, Frank B.. Naturalist's Color Guide. Parts 1-3 (1974, 1975, and 1981). American Museum of Natural History. 2 small paperbacks and 1 spiral book.
SUMMARY: Frank B. Smithe (1892-1989) was an ornithologist who wanted to describe the colors of birds. The "Naturalist's Color Guide" was the end product of his research. The guide is made up of color samples like those you get at paint stores, except the color sample is exactly defined. One of Ian's favorite colors is: "Kingfisher Rufus". See sample page below;
Humanities & Social Science
Comments
Al Powell will speak at the Harvard Museum of Natural History on Saturday March 29 at 2 pm on his new book,
The Race to Save the World's Rarest Bird, on the story of the po'ouli, the Hawaiian bird which went extinct just 30 years after it was discovered. The museum is in Cambridge, just a 6-7 minute walk from the Harvard Square T stop.
Check out the Nests & Eggs exhibit, and the mini-exhibit on the Ivory Billed woodpecker when you're there. www.hmnh.harvard.edu.
Posted by: Blue | March 3, 2008 11:24 AM