Birdbooker Report 97

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. Bradley, Patricia E. and Robert L. Norton (editors). An Inventory of Breeding Seabirds of the Caribbean. 2009. University Press of Florida. Harbound: 353 pages. Price: $75.00 U.S. [Amazon: $75.00].
   SUMMARY: This book details the status and distribution of the breeding seabirds of the Caribbean (including Bermuda). First the location is given and then an annotated list of species from that location is given. Information on the biology and conservation of the seabirds is also given.
   RECOMMENDATION: For those with a technical interest in Caribbean seabirds.
2. Graham-Cumming, John. The Geek Atlas: 128 Places Where Science & Technology Come Alive. 2009. O'Reilly Media. Paperback: 526 pages. Price: $29.99 U.S. [Amazon: $19.80].
   SUMMARY: This travel guide details 128 locations worldwide that a science geek would like to visit. Most locations are in England and/or related to physics. Some of my favorites are: The Gutenberg Museum, Mainz, Germany, Natural History Museum, London, England and the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine.
   RECOMMENDATION: For the world traveling science geek!
3. Haynes-Sutton, Ann, Audrey Downer and Robert Sutton. A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Jamaica. 2009. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 304 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S. [Amazon: $19.77].
   SUMMARY: This book features 650 color photographs by Yves-Jacques Rey-Millet of the birds found in Jamaica. Each species is given anywhere from a half page to a two page species account. Each account has a color range map and 1 to 3 photographs per species.
   RECOMMENDATION: For anyone interested in the birds of Jamaica.
4. Henderson, Robert W. and Robert Powell. Natural History of West Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. 2009. University Press of Florida. Hardbound: 496 pages. Price: $85.00 U.S. [Amazon: $57.37].
   SUMMARY: This volume summarizes the natural history of each of the more than 700 species of amphibians and reptiles that live in the West Indies. Each species account gives information on distribution, habitat, activity and conservation, etc.. Introductory material is also included.
   RECOMMENDATION: For those with a technical interest in West Indian herpetology.
5. Kays, Roland W. and Don E.Wilson. Mammals of North America (2nd edition). 2009. Princeton University Press. Paperback: 248 pages. Price: $19.95 U.S. [Amazon: $13.57].
   SUMMARY: This field guide to the 462 species of mammals found in North America includes 20 species recognized since 2002. It includes 112 color plates ( with 13 new ones, mainly of rabbits, hares, etc) that face the text. The text and range maps have been updated.
   RECOMMENDATION: Probably the easiest to use of the field guides to the mammals of North America.
6. Orr, Elizabeth L. and William N. Orr. Oregon Fossils (second edition). 2009. OSU Press. Paperback: 300 pages. Price: 24.95 U.S. [Amazon: $16.47].
   SUMMARY: This book covers the plant and animal fossils found in Oregon. It is well illustrated with maps, black-and-white photographs and artwork. Historical background information on the paleontological research in Oregon is given throughout the book.
   RECOMMENDATION: Anyone with an interest in Oregon's fossils will find this book useful!

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!