http://www.lybrary.com/index.php?cPath=1111 Copyright © 2013 Lybrary.comThe use of DNA and other biological macromolecules has revolutionized systematic studies of evolutionary history. Methods that use sequences of nucleotides and amino acids are now routinely used as data for addressing evolutionary questions that, although not new questions, have defied description and analysis. The world-renowned contributors use these new methods to unravel particular aspects of the evolutionary history of birds. <b>Avian Molecular Evolution and Systematics</b> presents an overview of the theory and application of molecular systematics, focusing on the phylogeny and evolutionary biology of birds. New, developing areas in the phylogeny of birds at multiple taxonomic areas are covered, as well as methods of analysis for molecular data, evolutionary genetics within and between bird populations, and the application of molecular-based phylogenies to broader questions of evolution.<p>Key Features<br>* Contains authoritative contributions from leading researchers<br>* Discusses the utility of different molecular markers for questions of avian evolution, involving populations and higher-level taxa<br>* Applies molecular-based phylogenies of birds and molecular population genetics data to broad questions of organismal and molecular evolution.<br>* Compares and contrasts molecular and morphological data setshttp://www.lybrary.com/avian-molecular-evolution-and-systematics-p-291752.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/avian-molecular-evolution-and-systematics-p-291752.htmlFri, 10 May 2013 03:43:46 EDT <BR><p>A delightful and irreverent guide for bird watching, this guide is chock-full of color photographs, tips, and fun facts.</p>http://www.lybrary.com/1001-secrets-every-birder-should-know-tips-and-trivia-for-the-backyard-and-beyond-p-290666.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/1001-secrets-every-birder-should-know-tips-and-trivia-for-the-backyard-and-beyond-p-290666.htmlMon, 06 May 2013 17:39:30 EDT A guide to birding in the Granite Statehttp://www.lybrary.com/birdwatching-in-new-hampshire-p-289408.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/birdwatching-in-new-hampshire-p-289408.htmlSat, 04 May 2013 10:35:03 EDT This current revision, reflecting the extensive amount of birding activites that occurs year-round at Big Bend National Park.http://www.lybrary.com/a-field-guide-to-birds-of-the-big-bend-p-288403.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/a-field-guide-to-birds-of-the-big-bend-p-288403.htmlThu, 02 May 2013 09:41:51 EDT <i>Birds of Alaska </i>is a field guide to the most common and sought-after species in the state. Conveniently sized to fit in your pocket and featuring full-color, detailed illustrations, this informative guide makes it easy to identify birds in your backyard, favorite parks, and wildlife areas.http://www.lybrary.com/falcon-pocket-guide-birds-of-alaska-p-288389.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/falcon-pocket-guide-birds-of-alaska-p-288389.htmlThu, 02 May 2013 08:37:35 EDT This book is a collection of papers highlighting ways in which Raptors have successfully adapted to man-made landscapes and structures. The coverage of <b>Raptors in Human Landscapes</b> is broad, ranging from the impact of human activity on country-wide scales to the particular conditions associated with urban, cultivated, and industrial landscapes, as well as to the various schemes specifically directed towards the provision of artificial nest sites and platforms. The cases described hail from a wide geographic range including North and South America, Europe, Africa and elsewhere, and from a broad spectrum of species groups such as the falcons, accipiters, eagles, kites, and many others.<br>This is a book of immense value not only to ornithologists and conservation biologists, but also to engineers and managers involved in all kinds of building and environmental work in cities, power and water works, agriculture, and forestry.<p>Key Features<p>* Serves as a good introduction to all aspects of the subject<br>* Focuses on successful adaptations of Raptors to environmental changehttp://www.lybrary.com/raptors-in-human-landscapes-adaptation-to-built-and-cultivated-environments-p-288356.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/raptors-in-human-landscapes-adaptation-to-built-and-cultivated-environments-p-288356.htmlThu, 02 May 2013 07:40:51 EDT Wetland birds provide us with some of nature's most wonderful sights, from vast flocks wheeling overhead to newly-hatched chicks drying in the sun. Apart from their beauty, recreational and economic importance, they are excellent indicators of water quality and measures of biodiversity. But how do they use wetland habitats, and how can we best conserve and maintain them for the future? Here, Milton Weller describes the ecology of wetland birds by identifying patterns of habitat use and typical bird communities that result from the use of resources such as food, cover and breeding sites. He integrates basic and practical information on bird/habitat relationships for researchers, landowners, managers and keen birders alike. As wetlands continue to decline, this book will help us to understand the potential and limits of wetlands as bird habitats now and in the future.http://www.lybrary.com/wetland-birds-p-285884.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/wetland-birds-p-285884.htmlSat, 27 Apr 2013 12:39:11 EDT A charming account of the author's relationship with the birds and creatures who shared her homesite at Pimisi Bay, near Mattawa, Ontario.http://www.lybrary.com/the-loghouse-nest-p-279708.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/the-loghouse-nest-p-279708.htmlMon, 15 Apr 2013 11:34:18 EDT From childhood Louise de Kiriline Lawrence dreamed of settling one day in a tranquil spot and living in harmony with nature.http://www.lybrary.com/the-lovely-and-the-wild-p-279413.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/the-lovely-and-the-wild-p-279413.htmlSun, 14 Apr 2013 21:35:15 EDT <p>"Writing with uncanny skill, <b>Louise de Kiriline Lawrence</b> leads us gently into the world of birds. Her perception, intuition and experience give her insights that she here freely shares with us all.</p><p>"I knew this remarkable lady for years, and had previously read her <b><i>Mar</i></b>, but on re-reading it, I was struck with the sensitive, magical way she reveals the behaviour of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.</p><p>"At her doorstep, at almost everyone's doorstep, there is a wondrous, beautiful world, if we will only be patient and observant. In <b><i>Mar</i></b>, Mrs. Lawrence shows us the way.</p><p>"Naturalists, birders, aspiring ornithologists, scientists, all should take time to read <b><i>Mar</i></b>."</p><p>- Robert W. Nero, Author of <i>The Great Gray Owl</i> and <i>Redwings</i></p><p>"<b><i>Mar</i></b> is a glimpse into the natural life of a woodpecker -- a yellow-bellied sapsucker -- in two nesting seasons, as it interacts with its mate and other forest creatures.</p><p>"The narrative, deceptively simple, consolidates a lifetime of careful observation and imaginative research. It should appeal to all birdwatchers, novice or expert."<br/>- Maureen Johnson, <i>The Ottawa Citizen</i></p>http://www.lybrary.com/mar-a-glimpse-into-the-natural-life-of-a-bird-p-278771.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/mar-a-glimpse-into-the-natural-life-of-a-bird-p-278771.htmlSat, 13 Apr 2013 09:34:09 EDT Birds of Ontario contains an identification and description of all species, with 344 outstanding colour plates.http://www.lybrary.com/birds-of-ontario-vol-1-p-278589.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/birds-of-ontario-vol-1-p-278589.htmlFri, 12 Apr 2013 22:34:09 EDT With a rich avifauna of more than 300 species, the three islands that make up the Cayman Islands - Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac - form an increasingly popular birding destination. Although the islands' sole endemic species, Cayman Islands Thrush, was extinct by the 1940s, the islands have a healthy crop of regional scarcities and are an important migrant stopping point as they cross the Caribbean. <br/><br/>Containing hundreds of stunning photographs by Yves-Jacques Rey-Millet, <I>A Photographic Guide to the Birds of the Cayman Islands</I>, the latest addition to Helm's Photographic Guides series, provides full photographic coverage of every species on the Cayman Islands list. Concise text for each species includes identification, similar species, voice, habitats and behaviour, status and distribution. <br/><br/>This guide is an essential companion for anyone visiting these beautiful islands.http://www.lybrary.com/a-photographic-guide-to-the-birds-of-the-cayman-islands-p-278354.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/a-photographic-guide-to-the-birds-of-the-cayman-islands-p-278354.htmlFri, 12 Apr 2013 09:34:45 EDT <p>A veteran traveller with an aptitude for languages, Margaret Nice, researcher-scientist-author, amassed considerable knowledge of many of the birds of the world. Significantly, her most important paper was published in Germany, far from her birthplace of Amherst, Massachusetts. The paper dealing with the Song Sparrow appeared in two parts in the Journal fur Ornithologie.</p><p>Through the years, Dr. Nice, a Past President of the Wilson Ornithological Society, and a Life Fellow of the American Ornithologist's Union, was elected to Honorary Memberships in the ornithological societies of most of the countries she visited. These included Britain, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy and the Netherlands. She was a much-admired corresponding member of the Hungarian Institute of Ornithology. In Toronto, Canada, The Margaret Nice Ornithological Club was formed in her honor.</p><p>Though widely known as "The Song Sparrow Lady," she was more than the ultimate authority on the Song Sparrow and probably the most famous woman ornithologist in the world. A trained zoologist, active environmentalist and prodigious letter writer, she was also a loving wife and mother.</p>http://www.lybrary.com/research-is-a-passion-with-me-the-autobiography-of-a-bird-lover-p-276977.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/research-is-a-passion-with-me-the-autobiography-of-a-bird-lover-p-276977.htmlTue, 09 Apr 2013 10:32:42 EDT <p>From pine forest to desert scrub, from alpine meadow to riparian wetland, Albuquerque and its surrounding area in New Mexico offer an appealing variety of wildlife habitat. Birders are likely to see more than two hundred species during a typical year of bird-watching. Now, two experienced birders, Judith Liddell and Barbara Hussey, share their intimate knowledge of the best places to find birds in and around this important region.<BR></p><p>Covering the Rio Grande corridor, the Sandia and Manzano Mountains, Petroglyph National Monument, and the preserved areas and wetlands south of Albuquerque (including crane and waterfowl haven Bosque del Apache), <i>Birding Hotspots of Central New Mexico</i> offers twenty-nine geographically organized site descriptions, including maps and photographs, trail diagrams, and images of some of the birds and scenery birders will enjoy. Along with a general description of each area, the authors list target birds; explain where and when to look for them; give driving directions; provide information about public transportation, parking, fees, restrooms, food, and lodging; and give tips on availability of water and picnic facilities and on the presence of hazards such as rattlesnakes, bears, and poison ivy.<BR></p><p>The book includes a "helpful information" section that discusses weather, altitude, safety, transportation, and other local birding resources. The American Birding Association's code of birding ethics appears in the back of the book, along with an annotated checklist of 222 bird species seen with some regularity in and around Albuquerque.</p><p>For more information, please visit http://birdinghotspotscentralnm.com/<BR></p>http://www.lybrary.com/birding-hot-spots-of-central-new-mexico-p-265556.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/birding-hot-spots-of-central-new-mexico-p-265556.htmlTue, 05 Mar 2013 21:54:28 EST <p>In this beautifully illustrated guide, two practicing wildlife biologists describe the life histories of forty-five species of ducks, geese, and swans that occur in Texas. For common species and those that breed in the state, each account begins with an interesting fact (such as, "Red-breasted Mergansers have been clocked at over 80 mph, the fastest recorded flight speed for a duck . . .") and provides information on Texas distribution and harvest, population status, diet, range and habitats, reproduction, and appearance.</p><p>Exquisite photographs, informative distribution maps, and a helpful source list accompany the species descriptions, and the book offers a glossary and full bibliography for those who want to explore the literature further.</p><p>With the degradation and disappearance of the inland and coastal habitats that these birds depend upon, the natural history of these waterfowl species provides a vital reminder of the interconnectedness and crucial importance of all wetlands.</p><p>Birders, biologists, landowners, hunters, outdoor enthusiasts, and all those interested in the health and preservation of our coastal and inland wetland resources will enjoy and learn from this book.</p>http://www.lybrary.com/texas-waterfowl-p-264502.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/texas-waterfowl-p-264502.htmlSat, 02 Mar 2013 19:38:34 EST Naturalist Lyanda Lynn Haupt, an ornithology teacher and researcher, examines the amazing talents and personalities of the most common of birds. She muses on the tarnished reputation of the starling, the sexed-up antics of male woodpeckers, and the mysterious behavior and startling population explosion of crows in her hometown. Through the eye and voice of this talented writer, birds provide a fascinating point of contact with the natural world at large.http://www.lybrary.com/rare-encounters-with-ordinary-birds-p-257747.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/rare-encounters-with-ordinary-birds-p-257747.htmlSun, 10 Feb 2013 18:27:39 EST What is it that binds human beings to other animals? T. H. White, the author of <i>The Once and Future King</i> and <i>Mistress Masham's Repose</i>, was a young writer who found himself rifling through old handbooks of falconry. A particular sentence—"the bird reverted to a feral state"—seized his imagination, and, White later wrote, "A longing came to my mind that I should be able to do this myself. The word 'feral' has a kind of magical potency which allied itself to two other words, 'ferocious' and 'free.'" Immediately, White wrote to Germany to acquire a young goshawk. Gos, as White named the bird, was ferocious and Gos was free, and White had no idea how to break him in beyond the ancient (and, though he did not know it, long superseded) practice of depriving him of sleep, which meant that he, White, also went without rest. Slowly man and bird entered a state of delirium and intoxication, of attraction and repulsion that looks very much like love.<p>White kept a daybook describing his volatile relationship with Gos—at once a tale of obsession, a comedy of errors, and a hymn to the hawk. It was this that became <i>The Goshawk</i>, one of modern literature's most memorable and surprising encounters with the wilderness—as it exists both within us and without.http://www.lybrary.com/the-goshawk-p-257582.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/the-goshawk-p-257582.htmlSat, 09 Feb 2013 23:43:49 EST A Workbook for Beginning Bird Watchers<p>No other book for beginning bird watchers involves the reader so actively in the exciting first steps of learning to watch birds. This workbook is filled with quizzes and exercises that prepare the reader for going birding and help beginners develop a sense of accomplishment and progress. With each chapter covering a different aspect of bird watching, the author guides readers along a threefold path: learning how to really see birds, how to sort birds by category, and how to learn the easiest birds first. Plenty of room is provided for writing and sketching, and answers are supplied in the back of the book.http://www.lybrary.com/finding-your-wings-a-workbook-for-beginning-bird-watchers-p-247888.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/finding-your-wings-a-workbook-for-beginning-bird-watchers-p-247888.htmlMon, 31 Dec 2012 05:33:31 EST At age sixteen, Kenn Kaufman left home to travel the world in search of birds. Now a grown man and a renowned ornithologist, he has come back to visit his ailing mother and explain to her what drove his obsession with bird life. His explanation forms a series of interlocking tales from the frontier where the world of birds intersects with the world of the humans who pursue them. The stories range over settings from Alaska to Africa, from trackless jungles to parking lots. They delve into subjects from first dates to last rites, from imagination and desire to sleep deprivation, from poignant encounters with eternal mysteries to comical brushes with biker gangs and secret agents. But as the stories unfold, the ornithologist comes to realize that he can still learn from his mother some things about life and even about the meaning of birds.<p>Flights Against the Sunset brings together nineteen essays, mostly adapted from Kaufman's long-running column in Bird Watcher's Digest. They weave an original story that examines how we communicate about our passions with those who do not share the same interests and how to celebrate the world of infinite possibilities and wonder.http://www.lybrary.com/flights-against-the-sunset-stories-that-reunited-a-mother-and-son-p-247851.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/flights-against-the-sunset-stories-that-reunited-a-mother-and-son-p-247851.htmlSun, 30 Dec 2012 22:36:20 EST What is so compelling about falconry? Tim Gallagher mines his lifelong obsession with falcons for an answer in this engaging volume interweaving memoir, history, and travelogue. An entire subculture exists outside the mainstream of American society consisting of obsessed individuals (Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and film-writer Tony Huston among them) who still use the ancient training techniques and language of falconry. Gallagher finds that his personal story connects on many levels with that of Frederick II, the thirteenth-century Holy Roman Emperor, legendary falconer, and notorious freethinker who brought the full wrath of the medieval church down upon his dynasty. While following Frederick's footsteps through southern Italy, Gallagher ponders his personal history as well. What salve to his spirit did falconry provide when it ignited his passion at age twelve? Beset by a turbulent childhood dominated by a brutal and violent father, Gallagher turned to this sport for emotional release. He offers us a unique glimpse into the contemporary falconry subculture, and the result is a surprisingly frank and revealing personal story.<br>http://www.lybrary.com/falcon-fever-a-falconer-in-the-twentyfirst-century-p-247292.htmlhttp://www.lybrary.com/falcon-fever-a-falconer-in-the-twentyfirst-century-p-247292.htmlFri, 28 Dec 2012 00:17:49 EST