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. Below the fold is this week's issue of The Birdbooker Report which lists ecology, environment, natural history and bird books that are (or will soon be) available for purchase.

New and Recent Titles:

1. Collins, Billy (editor). Bright Wings: An Illustrated Anthology of Poems About Birds. 2009. Columbia University Press. Hardbound: 268 pages. Price: $22.95 U.S. [Amazon: $15.61]. SUMMARY: Collins has selected a series of bird related poems from poets ranging from Jonathan Aaron to David Yezzi. 58 color paintings by David Allen Sibley are intermixed with the text. Each painting has a caption describing the species depicted (see samples below).
   RECOMMENDATION: This book would make a good gift for poetry lovers and fans of Sibley's artwork.

2. Jenkins, Steve. Never Smile at a Monkey: And 17 Other Important Things to Remember. 2009. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Hardbound: 40 pages. Price: $16.00 U.S. [Amazon: $9.36]. SUMMARY: This latest title from paper artist Steve Jenkins explains ways to act when encountering 18 species of animals ranging from a platypus to the Rhesus Monkey. (Visit the author's website.)
   RECOMMENDATION: For ages 5-8. I like the author's Down, Down, Down title better.




3. Rashid, Scott. Small Mountain Owls. 2009. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Hardbound: 176 pages. Price: $39.99 U.S. [Amazon: $26.39]. SUMMARY: This book is divided into four parts covering the following owl species: Northern Pygmy-Owl, Flammulated Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl and Boreal Owl. The author draws on his experiences with these owls both as a bander/researcher and rehabiliator to write the species accounts. The author's artwork and photography highlight this book.
   RECOMMENDATION: Anyone with an intermediate to advanced interest in these owls will like this book.




4. Tudge, Colin. The Bird: A Natural History of Who Birds Are, Where They Came From, and How They Live. 2009. Crown. Hardbound: 463 pages. Price: $30.00 U.S. [Amazon: $19.80]. SUMMARY: This book is divided into four main sections: A Different Way Of Being, Dramatis Personae, How Birds Live Their Lives and Birds and Us. The book is illustrated with several line drawings by Jane Milloy. The text is very readable, often with wry humor.
   RECOMMENDATION: For the intermediate level birder who wants to learn more about the biology of birds.

You can read all the Birdbooker Reports in the archives on this site, and Ian now has his own website, The Birdbooker's Bookcase, where you can read his synopses about newly published science, nature and animal books. But Ian assures me that he still loves us here, so he'll still share his weekly Birdbooker Reports with us!