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The Birds They Sang: Birds and People in Life and Art
by Stanisław ŁubieńskiBirds have inspired people since the dawn of time. They are the notes behind Mozart’s genius, the colours behind Audubon’s art and ballet’s swansong.In The Birds They Sang, Stanisław Łubienski sheds light on some of history’s most meaningful bird and human interactions, from historical bird watchers in a German POW camp, to Billy and Kes in A Kestrel for a Knave. He muses on what exactly Hitchcock’s birds had in mind and reveals the true story behind the real James Bond. Undiscouraged by damp, discomfort and a reed bunting’s curse, Łubienski bears witness to the difficulties birds face today, as people fail to accommodate them in rapidly changing times.A soaring exploration of our fascination with birds, The Birds They Sang opens a vast realm of astonishing sounds, colours and meanings – a complete world in which we humans are never alone.
Birds through Indigenous Eyes: Native Perspectives on Birds of the Eastern Woodlands
by Dennis GaffinAn intimate and personal account of the profound roles birds play in the lives of some Indigenous peopleFor many hours over a period of years, white anthropologist Dennis Gaffin and two Indigenous friends, Michael Bastine and John Volpe, recorded their conversations about a shared passion: the birds of upstate New York and southern Ontario. In these lively, informal talks, Bastine (a healer and naturalist of Algonquin descent) and Volpe (a naturalist and animal rehabilitator of Ojibwe and Métis descent) shared their experiences of, and beliefs about, birds, describing the profound spiritual, psychological, and social roles of birds in the lives of some Indigenous people. Birds through Indigenous Eyes presents highlights of these conversations, placing them in context and showing how Native understandings of birds contrast with conventional Western views.Bastine and Volpe bring to life Algonquin, Ojibwe, and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) beliefs about birds. They reveal how specific birds and bird species are seamlessly integrated into spirituality and everyday thought and action, how birds bring important messages to individual people, how a bird species can become associated with a person, and how birds provide warnings about our endangered environment. Over the course of the book, birds such as the house sparrow, Eastern phoebe, Northern flicker, belted kingfisher, gray catbird, cedar waxwing, and black-capped chickadee are shown in a new light—as spiritual and practical helpers that can teach humans how to live well.An original work of ethno-ornithology that offers a rare close-up look at some Native views on birds, Birds through Indigenous Eyes opens rich new perspectives on the deep connections between birds and humans.
Birds through Indigenous Eyes: Native Perspectives on Birds of the Eastern Woodlands
by Dennis GaffinAn intimate and personal account of the profound roles birds play in the lives of some Indigenous peopleFor many hours over a period of years, white anthropologist Dennis Gaffin and two Indigenous friends, Michael Bastine and John Volpe, recorded their conversations about a shared passion: the birds of upstate New York and southern Ontario. In these lively, informal talks, Bastine (a healer and naturalist of Algonquin descent) and Volpe (a naturalist and animal rehabilitator of Ojibwe and Métis descent) shared their experiences of, and beliefs about, birds, describing the profound spiritual, psychological, and social roles of birds in the lives of some Indigenous people. Birds through Indigenous Eyes presents highlights of these conversations, placing them in context and showing how Native understandings of birds contrast with conventional Western views.Bastine and Volpe bring to life Algonquin, Ojibwe, and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) beliefs about birds. They reveal how specific birds and bird species are seamlessly integrated into spirituality and everyday thought and action, how birds bring important messages to individual people, how a bird species can become associated with a person, and how birds provide warnings about our endangered environment. Over the course of the book, birds such as the house sparrow, Eastern phoebe, Northern flicker, belted kingfisher, gray catbird, cedar waxwing, and black-capped chickadee are shown in a new light—as spiritual and practical helpers that can teach humans how to live well.An original work of ethno-ornithology that offers a rare close-up look at some Native views on birds, Birds through Indigenous Eyes opens rich new perspectives on the deep connections between birds and humans.
Birdscapes: Birds in Our Imagination and Experience (Princeton Shorts Ser.)
by Jeremy MynottWhat draws us to the beauty of a peacock, the flight of an eagle, or the song of a nightingale? Why are birds so significant in our lives and our sense of the world? And what do our ways of thinking about and experiencing birds tell us about ourselves? Birdscapes is a unique meditation on the variety of human responses to birds, from antiquity to today, and from casual observers to the globe-trotting "twitchers" who sometimes risk life, limb, and marriages simply to add new species to their "life lists." Drawing extensively on literature, history, philosophy, and science, Jeremy Mynott puts his own experiences as a birdwatcher in a rich cultural context. His sources range from the familiar--Thoreau, Keats, Darwin, and Audubon--to the unexpected--Benjamin Franklin, Giacomo Puccini, Oscar Wilde, and Monty Python. Just as unusual are the extensive illustrations, which explore our perceptions and representations of birds through images such as national emblems, women's hats, professional sports logos, and a Christmas biscuit tin, as well as classics of bird art. Each chapter takes up a new theme--from rarity, beauty, and sound to conservation, naming, and symbolism--and is set in a new place, as Mynott travels from his "home patch" in Suffolk, England, to his "away patch" in New York City's Central Park, as well as to Russia, Australia, and Greece. Conversational, playful, and witty, Birdscapes gently leads us to reflect on large questions about our relation to birds and the natural world. It encourages birders to see their pursuits in a broader human context--and it shows nonbirders what they may be missing.
Birdsong
by Katya BalenAfter a devastating accident, a special new friendship helps talented musician Annie heal and rediscover her love of music through the joyous song of a blackbird nesting near her home. A stunning new novella from Katya Balen, the Carnegie Medal winning author of October, October.
Birdsong in a Time of Silence
by Steven LovattA lyrical celebration of birdsong, and the rekindling of a deep passion for nature."At this time of year, blackbirds never simply fly: instead, like reluctantly retired officers, they're always 'on manoeuvres', and it's easy to see from their constant agitation that for them every flower bed is a bunker, every shed a redoubt and every hedge-bottom a potential place of ambush"As the world went silent in lockdown, something else happened; for the first time, many of us started becoming more aware of the spring sounds of the birds around us. Birdsong in a Time of Silence is a lyrical, uplifting reflection on these sounds and what they mean to us.From a portrait of the blackbird - most prominent and articulate of the early spring singers - to explorations of how birds sing, the science behind their choice of song and nest-sites, and the varied meanings that people have brought to and taken from birdsong, this book ultimately shows that natural history and human history cannot be separated. It is the story of a collective reawakening brought on by the strangest of springs.
Birdsplaining: A Natural History
by Jasmine DonahayeWinner of the 2021 New Welsh Writing Awards: Rheidol Prize for Prose with a Welsh Theme or Setting 'Vivid, quick and iridescent, Birdsplaining is an absolute kingfisher of a book' – Mike Parker A wren in the house foretells a death, while a tech-loving parrot aids a woman's recovery. Crows' misbehaviour suggests how the 'natural' order, ranked by men, may be challenged. A blur of bunting above an unassuming bog raises questions about how nature reserves were chosen. Should the oriole be named 'green' or golden? The flaws of field guides across decades prove that this is a feminist issue. A buzzard, scavenging a severed ewe's leg, teaches taboos about curiosity. Whose poo is the mammal scat uncovered in the attic, and should the swallows make their home inside yours? The nightjar's churring brings on unease at racism and privilege dividing nature lovers, past and present. The skin of a Palestine sunbird provokes concern at the colonial origins of ornithology. And when a sparrowhawk makes a move on a murmuration, the starlings show how threat – in the shape of flood, climate change or illness – may be faced down. Jasmine Donahaye is in pursuit of feeling 'sharply alive', understanding things on her own terms and undoing old lessons about how to behave. Here, she finally confronts fear: of violence and of the body's betrayals, daring at last, to 'get things wrong'. Roaming across Wales, Scotland and California, she is unapologetically focused on the uniqueness of women's experience of nature and the constraints placed upon it. Sometimes bristling, always ethical, Birdsplaining upends familiar ways of seeing the natural world. 'Unusual, vivid… remarkably easy-to-read & enjoyable. Doesn't shy away from taking on difficult subjects… A means for personal reflection.' – BTO News [British Trust for Ornithology] 'An erudite, bold, questing and valid collection of beautifully written essays. Whilst one eye stays focused on the injustices and cruelties of the world, the other gulps in its jewels and preciousness. Moving, stirring, and vital.' – Niall Griffiths 'Superb… by turns moving, funny, illuminating… and… thought-provoking' – Katherine Stansfield 'Upends familiar ways of seeing the natural world ― and in doing so, creates its own ecological niche' – Karen Lloyd, Caught by the River 'A curiosity and passion so unapologetically alive that her words form wings' – Lotte Williams, Nation.Cymru 'Neither human-centred nor its opposite. Although she explores human grief, violence and recovery, Donahaye also has a beautifully conveyed passion for the unromantic aspects of the environment… She bridges the very gap [in nature writing] that she identifies.' – Saskia McCracken, The Welsh Agenda 'Whilst birds might not provide the answer to the meaning of life for Donahaye, they do have a part to play in finding meaning IN life, whether that be through personal symbolism and anecdotal encounters, or in larger questions about power and responsibility.' – Gwales.com 'A fresh way of looking at nature writing, a deeply personal account that embraces its own subjectivity' – Zoe Kramer, Wales Arts Review 'This is a beautiful collection where the nonhuman appears as a close neighbour… [and which] searches for hope and resilience in times of risk.' – Yvonne Reddick, New Welsh Reader
The Birdwatcher's Dictionary (Poyser Monographs #112)
by Peter WeaverThe author defines more than 1100 words and terms in this illustrated dictionary for the birdwatcher. Its attraction for the relative novice is obvious but it is equally directed to experienced birdwatchers who will find succinct definitions of terms that are new to them and of others that they have understood none too well. Whatever the user's ornithological expertise the book will expand or confirm his or her knowledge and offer at the same time an absorbing and entertaining browse, as a good dictionary should. Among the appendices is a full list of species on the British and Irish List arranged in 'Voous Order' and with categories of status in Britain and Ireland
The Birdwatcher's Dictionary (Poyser Monographs #112)
by Peter WeaverThe author defines more than 1100 words and terms in this illustrated dictionary for the birdwatcher. Its attraction for the relative novice is obvious but it is equally directed to experienced birdwatchers who will find succinct definitions of terms that are new to them and of others that they have understood none too well. Whatever the user's ornithological expertise the book will expand or confirm his or her knowledge and offer at the same time an absorbing and entertaining browse, as a good dictionary should. Among the appendices is a full list of species on the British and Irish List arranged in 'Voous Order' and with categories of status in Britain and Ireland
Birdwatchers' Year (Poyser Monographs)
by Leo Batten Jeremy Sorensen Donald Watson Mike J. WareingBirdwatchers' Year is, in essence, six 'years' of bird activity and behaviour as recorded, month by month, by six experienced bird watchers and ornithologists. The result is a fascinating compilation of fact, anecdote and general observation as seen and noted by the authors, that will appeal to birdwatchers at all levels of expertise. The habitats (Brent Reservoir in NW London, a Kentish woodland, the Ouse Washes in Cambridgeshire, farmland in Derbyshire, a mountain region of SW Scotland, and an island, the Calf of Man) encompass a wide and varied range of breeding, resident and passage birds, but the authors' observations are not confined to bird life alone - there are comments and 'asides' on many aspects of natural history and wildlife, weather and seasons, conservation and ecology. Each author has brought an individual approach to his 'diary' with the result that they are entertainingly diverse in style, content and viewpoint. The common factor throughout is an affectionate regard for the subject, an intimate knowledge of the habitat, and an evident understanding and knowledge of the birds and their environment. The diarists are: Leo Batten, Research Officer at the British Trust for Ornithology; Dr Jim Flegg, Director of the BTO; Jeremy Sorensen, RSPB Warden of the Ouse Washes; Donald Watson, bird artist and past-President of the Scottish Ornithologists' Club; Mike J. Wareing, farmer; Malcolm Wright, Warden of the Calf of Man Bird Observatory. The diaries are illustrated with line drawings by Ian Willis, except for that of Donald Watson, which is illustrated by its author. The bookjacket illustrations are by Ian Willis.
Birdwatchers' Year (Poyser Monographs #119)
by Leo Batten Jeremy Sorensen Donald Watson Mike J. WareingBirdwatchers' Year is, in essence, six 'years' of bird activity and behaviour as recorded, month by month, by six experienced bird watchers and ornithologists. The result is a fascinating compilation of fact, anecdote and general observation as seen and noted by the authors, that will appeal to birdwatchers at all levels of expertise. The habitats (Brent Reservoir in NW London, a Kentish woodland, the Ouse Washes in Cambridgeshire, farmland in Derbyshire, a mountain region of SW Scotland, and an island, the Calf of Man) encompass a wide and varied range of breeding, resident and passage birds, but the authors' observations are not confined to bird life alone - there are comments and 'asides' on many aspects of natural history and wildlife, weather and seasons, conservation and ecology. Each author has brought an individual approach to his 'diary' with the result that they are entertainingly diverse in style, content and viewpoint. The common factor throughout is an affectionate regard for the subject, an intimate knowledge of the habitat, and an evident understanding and knowledge of the birds and their environment. The diarists are: Leo Batten, Research Officer at the British Trust for Ornithology; Dr Jim Flegg, Director of the BTO; Jeremy Sorensen, RSPB Warden of the Ouse Washes; Donald Watson, bird artist and past-President of the Scottish Ornithologists' Club; Mike J. Wareing, farmer; Malcolm Wright, Warden of the Calf of Man Bird Observatory. The diaries are illustrated with line drawings by Ian Willis, except for that of Donald Watson, which is illustrated by its author. The book jacket illustrations are by Ian Willis.
The Birdwatcher’s Year
by Richard WilliamsonThis handbook is bursting with tips, facts and folklore to guide you through the birdwatching year. Find out how to identify birds by sight or song; learn about their behaviour, habitats, and breeding and migration habits; and discover how to encourage birds into your garden. Includes handy pages for making your own notes each month.
Birdwatching with Your Eyes Closed: An Introduction to Birdsong
by Simon Barnes"Most of us can see, but not everyone looks. Most of us can hear, but not everyone listens. This book will help you do both. And, above all, it will tell you how to enjoy." Bill Oddie"He'll tune your ears to winter's lonely voices - robins, wrens, long-tailed tits - before preparing you for the exultant sounds of spring." The TimesLearning to identify birdsong is not just a way to become a better bird-spotter. It is tuning in: a way of hearing the soundtrack of Planet Earth... Why do birds sing? What are they trying to say?Birdsong is not just about natural history. It is also about our history. We got melody from birds as we got rhythm from the womb. This vital book, with an accompanying podcast available online, takes you from winter into deepest spring, teaching you how to recognise song after song as the chorus swells. Beginning with the thin, soft song of the robin and ending with the life-affirming melody of nightingales. Along the way, you will learn the science of birdsong the difference between song and call, the physiology of songbirds, what birdsong tells us about evolution, and indeed the very beginnings of life itself. The aim is to give you a flying start in birdsong so that, after reading this book, you'll be listening to order, not chaos, to Bach, not white noise. You will be more aware of the wild world, and better able to understand it.
Birdwatchingwatching: One Year, Two Men, Three Rules, Ten Thousand Birds
by Alex HorneAlex Horne is not a birdwatcher. But his dad is, so with the prospect of fatherhood looming on his own horizon, Alex decided there was no better time to really get to know both his father and his father's favourite hobby. So he challenged his dad to a Big Year: from 1 January to 31 December they would each try to spot as many birds as possible; the one who spied the most species would be the victor. Along the way Alex would find out what makes his dad tick, pick up a bit of fatherly wisdom and perhaps even 'get into' birdwatching himself.Join Alex as he journeys from Barnes to Bahrain in this charming tale of obsession, manliness, fathers and sons, and the highly amusing twists and turns of a year-long bird race.
The Birthday Duck
by Michael MorpurgoThe classic story of finding fun on the farm from the Nation’s favourite storyteller, gorgeously re-illustrated by Sam Usher.
The Birthday Surprise (Dotty Detective #5)
by Clara VulliamyDot, her best friend Beans and her dog McClusky all love sniffing out a good mystery and together they will solve the case and save the day . . .
Bitch: A Revolutionary Guide to Sex, Evolution and the Female Animal
by Lucy Cooke'A book that is tearing down the stereotypes and the biases. Absolutely fascinating.' BBC R4 Woman's Hour'From the heir to Attenborough. 5*' - Telegraph'Colourful, committed and deeply informed.' Sunday Times'Beautifully written, very funny and deeply important - Lucy Cooke blows two centuries of sexist myths right out of biology.' PROFESSOR ALICE ROBERTS 'Mr Darwin, your time is up...This is the evolutionary reboot us bitches have been waiting for.' SUE PERKINS_______________________________________________________________What does it mean to be female? Mother, carer, the weaker sex? Think again.In the last few decades a revolution has been brewing in zoology and evolutionary biology. Lucy Cooke introduces us to a riotous cast of animals, and the scientists studying them, that are redefining the female of the species.Meet the female lemurs of Madagascar, our ancient primate cousins that dominate the males of their species physically and politically.Or female albatross couples, hooking up together to raise their chicks in Hawaii.Or the meerkat mothers of the Kalahari Desert - the most murderous mammals on the planet.The bitches in BITCH overturn outdated binary expectations of bodies, brains, biology and behaviour. Lucy Cooke's brilliant new book will change how you think - about sex, sexual identity and sexuality in animals and also the very forces that shape evolution.__________Praise for Lucy's previous book THE UNEXPECTED TRUTH ABOUT ANIMALS'Endlessly fascinating' - Bill Bryson'I cannot remember when I enjoyed a non-fiction book so much' - Daily Express'A joy from beginning to end' - Guardian'Best science pick: deeply researched, sassily written' - Nature
Bivalve Filter Feeders: in Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystem Processes (Nato ASI Subseries G: #33)
by Richard F. DameBivalve filter-feeding mollusks are important components of coastal ecosystems because they remove large quantities of suspended material from the water and excrete abundant amounts of reactive nutrients. These animals are also major prey for numerous predators including birds, fish, mammals, and invertebrates; furthermore, they are significant food resources for humans. While studies on the organismic and population level have dominated bivalve ecology, the recent focus on the ecosystem roles of filter feeding systems has led to larger-scale investigations. With this approach the specific topics of physiology, grazing, predation, nutrient cycling, physical environment, computer simulation modeling, and environmental management are combined into a meaningful whole.
Black Beauty (Young Reading)
by Mary Sebag-MontefioreA captivating retelling of Anna Sewell's classic novel beautifully illustrated by Alan Marks. Perfect for encouraging independent reading. Part of Young Reading Series 2 for readers growing in confidence.
Black Beauty
by Anna SewellBlack Beauty is one of the best-selling novels ever published and takes its title from the horse who narrates the story. Black Beauty begins his young life in the English countryside and eventually becomes a cab horse in London. After many moves and changes, he retires back in his beloved green pastures, where he reflects on the treatment he received, both good and bad, by his owners and handlers. The only book by English author Anna Sewell, Black Beauty was meant to call for humane and ethical treatment of animals, particularly horses, with which Sewell shared a special bond throughout her life. First published in 1877, Black Beauty has been adapted multiple times for film and television.
Black Beauty: The Autobiography Of A Horse (Macmillan Collector's Library #14)
by Anna SewellDesigned to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector’s Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector’s Library are books to love and treasure. This edition of Black Beauty features illustrations by Cecil Aldin and an afterword by author and conservationist Lauren St. John.Black Beauty enjoys a carefree upbringing in a pleasant meadow with his mother, where his gentle first master trains him well – until he is reluctantly forced to sell him. Through a long and varied life, Black Beauty passes from one owner to the next; some treat him well, others are so cruel that they inflict lasting damage.Anna Sewell’s biographical novel about a horse is one of the bestselling books of all time, and her depiction of Victorian society’s harsh treatment of animals inspired significant changes to animal welfare in both the UK and America.
Black Beauty (Collins Classics)
by Anna SewellHarperCollins is proud to present a range of best-loved, essential classics.
Black Beauty: The Autobiography Of A Horse (Classic Adventures Ser.)
by Anna SewellBlack Beauty is a handsome, sweet-tempered colt with a strong spirit. As a young colt he is free to gallop in the fresh green meadows with his beloved mother, Duchess, and their kind master. But when his owners are forced to sell him, Black Beauty goes from a life of comfort and kindness to one of hard labour and cruelty. Bravely he works as hard as he can, suffering at the hands of men who treat animals badly. But Black Beauty has an unbreakable spirit and will, and is determined to survive . . .With a wonderful introduction by award-winning author Meg Rosoff, Black Beauty is one of the twelve best-loved classic stories being launched in the newly branded Puffin Classics series in March 2008.
Black Beauty (HarperCollins Children’s Classics)
by Anna SewellThis beautiful HarperCollins Children’s Classics edition of Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty is the perfect addition to any bookshelf.
