Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)

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

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

FEATURED TITLE:

1. Pratt, H. Douglas and Mandy T. Etpison. Birds and Bats of Palau. 2008. Mutual Publishing. Paperback: 290 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S. [Amazon: $29.95]. SUMMARY: Palau, which comprises roughly 586 islands in the far western Pacific Ocean near the Philippines, has the richest native bird community in Micronesia, and this guide is loaded with information about the birds and their biology. This book is divided into three sections: introductionary material (including a birding guide), the birds of Palau (divided by habitat) and the bats of Palau (currently 2 species are found there). Lovely photography highlights this book. I especially like the photos of the Slaty-legged Crake and the Palau Owl. Collectors of bird postage stamps will also want this book for the photos of the gorgeous stamps designed by the author. GrrlScientist says: Wow, because I specialize in birds of the south Pacific, I'd like to review a copy of this book!

New and Recent Titles:

1. Couzens, Dominic. Extreme Birds: The world's most extraordinary and bizarre birds. 2008. Firefly Books. Hardbound: 287 pages. Price: $45.00 U.S. [Amazon: $34.20]. SUMMARY: This book is divided into four catagories of extreme birds: form, ability, behavior and families. Some of my favorite record holders include: biggest mouth (Tawny Frogmouth), smelliest bird (Crested Auklet), heaviest testes (Alpine Accentor) and most suspicious mate (Great Tit). Anyone interested in bird trivia will enjoy this coffee table book. GrrlScientist comment: This sort of book is a great way to get people, particularly students, interested in birds.




2. Hughes, Janice M. Cranes: A Natural History of a Bird in Crisis. 2008. Firefly Books. Hardbound: 256 pages. Price: $45.00 U.S. [Amazon: $29.70]. SUMMARY: This book is divided into three main sections: natural history of cranes, the whooping crane and species profiles. Anyone interested in cranes, especially the Whooping Crane, will enjoy this book.




3. Rice, Tony. Voyages of Discovery: A Visual Celebration of Ten of the Greatest Natural History Expeditions. 2008. Firefly Books. Hardbound: 336 pages. Price: $39.95 U.S. [Amazon: $29.16]. SUMMARY: This is a well illustrated account of ten natural history expeditions from Sir Hans Sloane's voyage to Jamaica (1687-1689) to the Challenger Expedition (1872-1876). Superb artwork and photographs spanning three centuries from the archives of the Natural History Museum of London document the most significant discoveries in the history of natural science exploration (London's Natural History Museum has the most comprehensive collection of natural science specimens and artworks in the world). Voyages of Discovery offers readers a privileged opportunity to explore that famous collection. Anyone interested in the history of natural history and the artwork it inspired will love this book.




4. Stein, Sarah Abrevaya. Plumes: Ostrich Feathers, Jews, and a Lost World of Global Commerce. 2008. Yale University Press. Hardbound: 244 pages. Price: $30.00 U.S. [Amazon: $19.80]. SUMMARY: This interesting book examines the world trade in Ostrich feathers (mostly for women's hats) from the 1880's to the World War I era. It also tells the previously untold story of Jewish cultural and economic history. Anyone interested in fashion, Jewish and economic history will find this book interesting. GrrlScientist comment: Now this sounds like a fascinating book that explores lots of different topics.