tags: Birdbooker Report, bird books, animal books, natural history books, ecology books
"One cannot have too many good bird books"
--Ralph Hoffmann, Birds of the Pacific States (1927).
The Birdbooker Report is a special weekly report of wide variety of science, nature and behavior books that are or soon will be available for purchase. This report is written by one of my Seattle bird pals, Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen, and is published here for your 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:
- Hanson, Harold C. The White-cheeked Geese: Taxonomy, Ecophysiographic Relationships, Biogeography, and Evolutionary Considerations (2 volumes). 2006 and 2008. AVVAR books. Paperbacks: 420 pages and 692 pages. Price: $25.00 U.S. each. SUMMARY: Harold Hanson's (1917-2003) posthumously published magnum opus on the systematics of the Canada Goose complex.
New and Recent Titles:
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Angier, Bradford (revised by David K. Foster). Field Guide to Medicinal Wild Plants (2nd edition). 2008. Stackpole Books. Paperback: 258 pages. Price: $21.95 U.S. [Amazon: $16.46]. SUMMARY: This classic field guide on medicinal wild plants has been revised and updated. -
Benton, Michael J. (editor). The Seventy Great Mysteries of the Natural World. 2008. Thames and Hudson. Hardbound: 304 pages. Price: $45.00 U.S. [Amazon: $29.70]. SUMMARY: Topics covered range from origins (of the Earth and life on it) to global warming and the future. -
Fortey, Richard. Dry Storeroom No. 1: The Secret Life of the Natural History Museum. 2008. Knopf. Hardbound: 335 pages. Price: $27.50 U.S. [Amazon: $16.50]. SUMMARY: A behind the scenes look at the Natural History Museum of London, England. GrrlScientist comment: As a former postdoc researcher at a natural history museum, I MUST READ THIS BOOK! -
Gibbons, Diane K. (with Mark Elbroch). Stories in Tracks and Sign: Reading the Clues that Animals Leave Behind. 2008. Stackpole Books. Paperback: 113 pages. Price: $21.95 U.S. [Amazon: $14.93]. SUMMARY: Sort of a CSI for naturalists.
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I hear only bad things about Hanson on Branta--any countervailing views out there?
HI Rick et al.:
Hanson's work is controversial among avian taxonomists. He recognizes 6 species in the Canada Goose complex and around 200 SUBspecies! These large numbers are hard for other taxonomists to swallow. I would just stick with the current 2 species (Canada and Cackling Geese) that the AOU checklist committee recognize.