Reviews (2)

OUTSTANDING - a MUST READ for anyone working in the outdoors
As a field geologist, Gulf War veteran and former EMT, I can say that this book is the most comprehensive text I have ever seen regarding outdoor dangers, survival and wilderness medicine. If you work outdoors or spend a lot of time recreating outside, this is a MUST HAVE book!

Wilderness Medicine
As an RN,Trauma Nurse Specialist, I found this book to be well written and highly informative. With the speed of modern travel it's also a great reference to have for injuries and illnesses that can occur in far away places that one doesn't see often, or ever in your "home" ED. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

perfect pocket knowledge!
You gotta have this little book of wildlife treasures on hand, because you will see most of these creatures if your visit is at least a week!

Another book I read before my visit was "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made," one of the most imaginative travel-writing efforts I have read lately. Like an anthropolgical text with far too many tangents, it gathers the best and brightest attractions in Costa Rica to explore in essays the various themes of the country. This means that the selections are as diverse and strange as the points-of-view they represent. Standouts include "House Made of Rain" about a day in the rainforest, "Why No Empire?" explaining why the Spanish Invasion apparently skipped Costa Rica, and "Women Under Tico Paternalism." ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A Must Have!
I just returned from a 10 day safari in Tanzania. The Safari Companion was informative and enlightening. Our tour guide asked me for my copy when the safarai was over! It seems the book is in such high demand in Africa, it commands nearly double the cover price. I gave her my copy. Because I enjoyed reading it so much on the trip and hope to use it to explain the 500+ pictures I took while there, I ordered another one when I came home!

Great for Amateurs
Most African Mammal guides are designed for people working in that field. Here, we have one specifically designed for the average enthusiast who wants to know a bit more than provided in the also essential Audobon Guide to African Wildlife. Let's face it - while you may get the occasional bird or even reptile enthusiast, it's the mammals that capture the imagination of the average person on the street when it comes to the wildlife of Africa.

You don't have to travel to the Dark Continent to enjoy this one, and - in acknowledgement that people can be interested in wildlife without necessarily being able or willing to go on Safari - it's also designed for use if you're fortunate enough (as I am) to be a regular at a quality zoo or even a regular viewer of "National Geographic" or "Nature".

The book is very easy to use and browse through, explaining habits and noting the best parks and reserves for each animal, as well as the animal's major predators or relationship with other predators. You don't have to look through it long to wish for similar volumes for Asia and North America.

Certainly worthy of being one of the first books on the shelf of anyone who loves African wildlife.

The perfect safari companion
Just returned from a safari to Tanzania. This book, along with the Audubon Field Guide to African Wildlife, made our experience that much better. The information contained in this book embellishes the wildlife viewing experience, by providing fascinating and in-depth information about the animals seen there. The text is organized very well and crammed full with useful information. Highly recommended reading for before a safari, and especially while there.

My most-thumbed book in Botswana
This is the book my tracker had in his jeep on a trip I took to southern Africa (SA, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia). My tracker didn't need it, but I found it fantastic reading during siestas and the longer drives. There are so many behavioural explanations missing from the standard safari guide. What's the difference between a high-horn threat and a low-horn threat in a roan antelope? I could see the different display postures, and this book told me a little more precisely what the display was all about. The only problem with this book is that there is no guide to spoor, so you'll have to get one. There are no colour photos, which is good for identification, because you don't want to get hung up on slight colour variations. Sometimes a roan antelope is about the same colour as a sable antelope. Look at the other identification marks. Anyway, as soon as I found a bookshop, I bought my own copy, and I still refer back to it.

Excellent but illustrated
While I agree with most of the other reviewers comments,I wouldn't agree that it is the only book you need. Descriptions and explanations are exemplary but the book is black/white illustrations with no color and no photographs. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Just what I was looking for
A few years ago I purchased "Birding By Ear" by Richard Walton & Robert Lawson. It's good, but I was disappointed by the small number of species represented (my version has 90 birds on three CD's, though Amazon's current offering appears to be abridged onto one CD). Each track has detailed verbal descriptions of the songs, and disc 3 includes some practice mixes of different habitats so you can test yourself. I think it would make a good tutorial for someone just getting started in listening to bird songs. But for me "Birding By Ear" didn't work. The detailed verbal descriptions got in the way of listening to the songs. I wanted more birds and fewer words.

After reading the reviews here, I bought the Stokes guide. It's perfect: 551 species and no extra talking (just a short introduction at the beginning of disc 1). A quick example of the depth of coverage: 18 species of owl compared to "Birding By Ear"'s three. I found it easy to locate what I wanted; the CD guidebook is very clear. Occasionally two birds are combined together onto one track to overcome the format limitation of 99 tracks per CD (otherwise it would have been a five-CD set). Sometimes multiple kinds of calls are included for the same bird; for example, alarm calls followed by juvenile begging calls. This is definitely the collection for me.

The best I've found
I own several bird identification books, this one is the best for the northwest region. My college zoology instructer recommended this to our class, and I was surprised at the difference between this book and others in the same catagory. This book is great for any birder, beginning or otherwise. It is easy to use because there are quick refrences and they tell you what you need to look for when trying to identify a bird. Each bird page has a picture or pictures, a regional map of where they can be found, habits, the sound they make, and other important information. I would highly recommend this book to any birder!

Simply the Best
Imagine a single CD set, with four CDs, that includes just about every bird you could hear in the western half of North America. Not just the common birds, but California Condor and Horned Puffin! This CD set is simply THE most comprehensive western sound set available. Each CD has at least 88 tracks, so most of the 551 species it includes can be quickly found on their own track. It also comes with a booklet that states not only where each recording was made (useful when you're distinguishing dialects in birds) but also a brief description of the context in which the vocalization was made.

To begin learning the songs and calls of western birds, you might want a simpler guide. But even beginners can select a few species at a time to tape onto a cassette and listen to over and over, then tape a few more over that and listen to them over and over. If you only purchase one sound recording set for western birds, this is the one to get.

And you can't beat Amazon's deal when you buy both [now and save.]

A case of mistaken identity
The quality of the recordings are excellent and the range of birds' songs covered is copious. The song for the Red brested sapsucker is that which is made by the Red breasted Nuthatch. It's not the entire portion of the recording for this bird. The part for the sound made by the Nuthatch "with nestlings" is under the sapsucker. Its not a case of confusion with the common name. A portion of the recordings were switched or mislabled for these two birds. I have not noticed this occurring anywhere else. If it does I would take away more stars.

The definitive reference for serious birders
Hard as it may be to believe, up until now there has not been a guide to bird songs of North America that includes virtually all the North American species AND which presents more than a brief snippet of sound for each bird. Until now, you actually could buy a more comprehensive guide to the bird songs of southern Africa than you could for North America! Plenty of less comprehensive sound guides for North America are on the market, but for an "encyclopedia" of bird sounds on this continent, birders have mostly had to content themselves with the Peterson sound guides, with their brief (5-10 second) sound samples and (until recently) completely outlandish price tags.

Finally, with the publication of the western edition of the Stokes guide in 1999, birders have the definitive reference they have been waiting for. These two volumes (the eastern edition is by Lang Elliott) together must be considered among the greatest bird sound guides ever published, anywhere.

Lang Elliott and Kevin Colver, the compilers of the two guides, are among the best natural sound recordists in the Americas, and had extensive experience producing their own CDs and tapes of natural sounds before they undertook the massive editing job for these guides. The results are stunning. The bird songs (averaging 30-35 seconds for each species, with variations of song and call notes also given where appropriate) are reproduced in the best audio quality possible. Notes accompanying the guides list each vocalization type heard on the CDs or tapes. The CDs and tapes average over 70 minutes each; about 8 1/2 hours of listening if you get both guides. Species of birds that have never been presented on any other guides are included here: Black Vulture, California Condor, and Horned Puffin for example. No effort was spared to track down recordings of even rarely heard species. The odds are overwhelming that, wherever you live in North America, the next bird sound you hear when you step outside is on at least one of these guides.

Since the publication of the Stokes guides, the Peterson series has reduced their prices. (I think they must hear footsteps behind them). But the Stokes guides are well worth the few extra dollars you will pay to enjoy and use them. Where else are you going to get a three or four-disc set for the prices you see here? For the beginning birder, I don't know if I would recommend these potentially overwhelming compilations. (Try one of Elliott or Colver's other CDs to start learning the songs of the bird around you!) But for the serious birder who wants to step up to a full-service guide to bird songs, there really is no other choice any more.

Thank you, Lang Elliott and Kevin Colver, for these superb reference works. ... Read more

Book Description

The survival of the Earth's biological resources is under threat from rapidly expanding human populations that are degrading the environment at an accelerating rate. Despite the increased awareness of the importance of biological diversity, the scientific foundations on which to plan conservation and development policies are still being developed. The Global Biodiversity Assessment represents an unparalleled attempt to provide an independent scientific analysis of the current issues. It assesses the present state of knowledge, identifies gaps in understanding and draws attention to those issues where scientists have reached a consensus as well as those where uncertainty has led to conflicting viewpoints and a need for further research. The Assessment provides an unprecedented source of information for decision-makers, officials, scientists and others interested in the future of the planet. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Global Biodiversity Assessment
A useful textbook for students, scientists and policy makers. The information is extensive and detailed in a logical fashion, taking the reader from the basics of biodiversity through to human influences, economic values and conservation. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Longtime animal lover Kobie Krüger got a little more than she bargained for when she married a game warden and moved deep into some of South Africa's wildest country.

In The Wilderness Family, Krüger recounts adventures and misadventures with the curious menagerie that shared her turf--and sometimes her roof--in the remote Mahlangeni section of Kruger National Park, which lies in the river-laced country between South Africa and Mozambique. Among the animals she encounters in the pages of her memoir are enterprising hyenas who, for whatever reason, pilfer cookware and blankets; a python that crept into bed with the Krügers on their first night in Mahlangeni; Egyptian goslings raised by a proud but broad-minded bantam hen; and the occasional ill-tempered elephant. Most affecting of all her encounters, however, is her long association with an orphaned lion cub named Leo, whom she and her family raised into adulthood. Leo, whose pastimes included alarming unsuspecting visitors and staring at passing birds in the sky, takes center stage for much of this book, and Krüger's loving portrait is a warm rejoinder to Joy Adamson's Born Free.

Readers who come to this memorable study of life in the African outback will be duly entertained, and those who are planning a trip there will learn a thing or two about how to behave around genets, cobras, rhinos--and, yes, lions. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (20)

An unforgettable story
First of all before I write the review, I wrote one using the same e-mail address on October 31, 1999 about "into the heart" by Kenneth Good. I believe it is still on the web. I can't remember what password I used then so I have now written a new one.

Now for the review:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So much so that I am now reading it the second time! Anyone who has love and compassion for animals will love this marvellously written piece of literature, a personal experience story. The author has a remarkable easy-to read writing style that speaks to the heart of the reader.

She possesses a unique sense of humour and it is difficult to put this book down until it is read from cover to cover. I like to read when I commute by bus, and last week I almost went past my bus stop as I was so deeply immersed in the book. From beginning to end this was a very pleasurable reading experience.

If you can visualize a lion cub living with a human family and a dog, you will see how love can transcend species differences you will see the amazing bonding that had taken place between humans, a lion, and a dog. It is a poignant story of nurturing, caring, and parenting an orphan lion who at times thought he was a dog and acted like one. My only hope is that the author will write a sequel to this book in which she may reveal not only how Leo the lion is doing now with his wives and offspring, but how she, her husband, and families are continuing their lives and what other animals they may have adopted since the departure of Leo.

Book for the whole family, for humans.
Very sensitive and delicate woman beautifully writes The Wilderness Family story.
It was great and refreshing reading because author does not focus on people; bookstores and libraries are full of stories about humans. This book for a change, tells us almost exclusively about animals, leaving humans as a background.
I highly recommend this title to everybody, adults and children.
This type of book, I can imagine, can be read loudly in front of the fireplace to the large family gathering. Kids will learn how to love all creatures: small, large, wild and domestic.
For those adults having a hard time to comprehend how animals can develop and possess awareness of their own existence, Kobie Kruger delivers powerful lesson.

The biggest problem with non-fiction is no sequels.
Probably one of the most touching and stirring non-fiction books I've ever read, I finished it far too quickly. Kobie Kruger is a very talented author, with a natural talent for engendering empathy to her deepest maternal love for both animals and her children.

I found myself in tears at their losses and beaming at their joys, and craving a life in Africa, far from telephones and the other modern annoyances of society.

The Wilderness Family.
I [hve] dreams of visiting Africa. Kobie Kruger's brilliant review of life in the African bush has deeply moved me and made me more serious and determined to travel to Africa's vast Kruger National Park. Her words paint a beautiful picture of Africa and it's animals. I laughed at how she overcame small problems, and cried at the hardest problem of all - giving up their beautiful lion Leo. She writes in a way that makes you want to know more. She tells of the bad points of living in the bush, but the good points outweigh them by far. She talks about their home for years at the Malangheni Ranger Station in the North-West Region of Kruger National Park. Her description of her home is beautiful and makes you wish you could jump into the book to see it for yourself. Her light sense of humour, and her ability to make you feel part of the family are just some of the qualities that make this book the best book I have ever read.

The Widerness Family
The Wilderness Family was a really good book. Kobie Kruger did a great job of painting a picture with her own words. I loved how in every chapter she told a different story. She always loved to write about how Leo, her lion, would always pretend he was a dog. She also would write about her many animals. Some of the animals she owned and fostered were chickens, dogs, lion, badgers, and horses. Overall, I loved this book very much, found it easy to read, and I would reccomend it to people of all ages! ... Read more

Book Description

This field guide deftly describes the 105 species of snakes in Texas, the state with the largest number of different species in the nation. Learn facts about the biology and behavior of these creatures, plus the latest findings on abundance, reproduction, ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent field guide great pictures & information!
This field guide on snakes is excellent. The pictures of each snake are clear and you can identify them easily when you see them in the wild (or in you're house). The organization of this book splits up into two sections venomous and nonvenomous which allows a very quick way to tell if you should be anywhere near the snake. The infromation on each type is plentiful and everything you need to know is included. There are maps of where to find each type and whether they are endangered or protected in the state of Texas. A system is given in the beginning of the book for how to easily determine a snake and also what to do if you happen to be bit by a venomous type. The only thing I would like to see in the next revision is the striking distance of each snake which isn't given in this book.

Too bad I can't give this one 6 stars.
A great book. A fantastic book. It's slightly larger than what one might expect for a field guide, but the difference is put to good use. Not only are the excellent photographs printed at such high resolution that you expect to see these scaled beauties slithering off the pages, but the accompanying text is so easy to read that you might find it to be a page-turner that ranks with some pretty good novels. This book is crammed with really useful or, at the very least, interesting info -- like the relative potencies of venoms from different snakes. (You might be surprised...) A detailed discussion of the mechanisms associated with different snake venoms and what might be done to counter them is really fascinating. The text for each species is accompanied by a distribution map; that text includes information on whether the snake in question is venomous, its behavior, reproduction, abundance, size, etc. I can't say enough good stuff about this book. If you live in a state adjacent to Texas and Mr. Tennant hasn't written a book about your snake population, it would well be worth getting this one. He also wrote the "Field Guide to Snakes of Florida," so you guys in Florida are lucky, too! This book made me want to head out at night to the local megapuddles that form near my house south of Houston to see what might be after those little frogs that seem to appear out of nowhere in the spring. Now, that might seem to be a little strange, but if you've read this book, you probably know what I mean.
Come to think of it, I'd like to give this one 7 stars...

I thought this book was excellent!
I am not a "herpetologist" - - I don't like snakes, but I am trying to tolerate the beneficial types. It was about dusk a few weeks ago when I stepped inside my storage shed to close the door. My first reaction was, "I don't remember leaving a hose on the floor." I flipped on the light and about two feet from me was the meanest biggest snake I ever saw (actually, it was only about 42" long). Was it deadly? - - I guess so 'cause it nearly gave me a heart attack! After that experience, I knew I needed a fairly complete book on Texas' snakes in my library, so I purchased the above book. It has over sixty pages of full color pictures (that's over 120 snakes) with a commentary on each one as to its type, size, general location, habits, food preference, etc. I took a picture of the snake in my barn - - and when the book arrived, there it was in living color - - "Texas Rat Snake." Harmless....and beneficial. The key to a great book on snakes for the common layman, in my opinion, is clear, colorful pictures. I remember checking the public library for such a book as this 10-15 years ago, and couldn't find one. So, I reinterate, for everyday identification of Texas' snakes, you'd be hard pressed to beat this book! ... Read more

Book Description

More than a half-century ago the Canadian Wildlife Service assigned the naturalist Farley Mowat to investigate why wolves were killing arctic caribou. Mowat's account of the summer he lived in the frozen tundra alone-studying the wolf population and developing a deep affection for the wolves (who were of no threat to caribou or man) and for a friendly Inuit tribe known as the Ihalmiut ("People of the Deer")-is a work that has become cherished by generations of readers, an indelible record of the myths and magic of wild wolves. ... Read more

Reviews (51)

A surprisingly great book
The first time I saw,Never Cry Wolf, I thought I would not enjoy reading it. First, because it was an assigned literary book to read: secondly, it was not a book I would normally select to read. However, I was pleasantly surprised with this book, and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Farley Mowat, the author, has an incredible vocabulary that he uses to tell the story. But, while he may use some scientific or big words it doesn't distract the reader too much. In his writing, Mowat has a lovable quality, sarcasm. This trait makes the book fun to read and easily relatable to real life and people.

Mowat takes the reader to the world of the Arctic Wolves in the Canadian wilderness. The narrator, a biologist, is sent by the government to explore the life of the wolf, and, more specifically, to find out more information on how the wolf is interacting with the other species of life. What the narrator learns through his study changes his views on the wolf and on the world. He realizes that things aren't always as they seem, and facts are not always simple to understand.

Wolf Juice
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and kept the reader thinking. I was continually wondering how many other things we, as a society, might have misconceptions about. I loved the style of writing. I could have read the book in one setting. It was funny, egotistical yet humble, and kept me enthralled. After reading Farley Mowat's story, I was ready to head out and live on the Alaskan tundra with wolves and eskimos. Who doesn't need a break from the world once in a while? Luckily, I was able to mentally visit the wolves and enjoy the comfort of my recliner at the same time. It was like Discovery Channel, only the narrator was hilarious. Great book!!!!

wonderful book
All of Farley Mowat`s books are great.You will enjoy them if you are a nature or wildlife lover.

Is it real?
While I can't speak to the veracity of the facts involved, I can say with certainty that I loved this story of a man in the wilderness making friends with a wolf pack. He lovingly dedicates the book to one of his wolf friends.

Mowat goes alone into the Alaskan wilderness to study the wild wolves, who are being exterminated because of a belief that they are eating livestock. Mowat tries as well as humanly possible to live as he sees the wolves living. He drinks gallons of tea so he can pee around his camp to mark his territory. He eats rodents to see if he gets his full complement of dietary needs. He takes "wolf naps" so that he can watch them interact with one another during all hours. He even notes baby-sitting habits.

Unusually, the movie that was made from this book keeps to the story pretty accurately. I would recommend that, also.

Not Just for Naturalists
For me this book was a real page-turner. Mowat's writing has an exquisite simplicity to it. His entire experiences in the Arctic with wolves is facinating. I must admit that I did find some of the events unbelievable, but that could just be due to my preconceptions about wolves in general (the very types he is trying to dispel). However, for me, these unbelievable moments did not detract from the narrative in any way; I still found myself wanting to know what happened next. In my own mind while reading the book, I couldn't help but consider how our negative stereotypes of wolves are very similar to the negative stereotypes people often feel about other groups of people. In both cases, when one begins to truly know the other, he finds that there is really no basis for the negative sterotype. Mowat makes it point not to rely on anecdotal evidence when studying the wolf, and instead only gives merit to the anecdotal evidence after he has observed behavior that would back it up. It would seem that this should apply when judging people as well.

The only improvement I think could be made to this book is for Mowat to include whatever became of his report. I realize he is telling the story to reveal his own experiences with the Arctic Wolves, and not to reveal the post report offical government position; but it woud have been nice to have that included anyway.

Overall, I think this is a great book, and well worth the few hours it takes to read it. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

The first and only field guide to offer comprehensive coverage of the African continent, this guide sends the reader on a virtual safari. All the birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects are brought to life, and the parks and reserves for which the continent is famous are described in thorough detail. This guide is packed with 577 stunning color photographs of African habitats and animals, and provides a wealth of information on more than 850 species compiled by veteran safari leaders and experts in African wildlife. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Essential book for safari
I just got back from a two week safari in Tanzania and both of my guides raved about my book. They each had books with pictures of birds and animals, not actual photos. The descriptions in this book are accurate, the photos beautiful, and the price is well worth it. I ended up giving my copy to my guide when he took me to the Serengeti airstrip for my trip home. I'm ordering another copy now!

Must-have Reference for Safari Goers!
This is a great reference guide to African wildlife. It could be used on safari to identify some animals or acquire additional information about already well know animals. It can also be used at home to read about the animal behavior, habitats and national parks of Africa. The book has wonderful collection of photographs useful for identification of many species. It also lists national parks and other sanctuaries by country. There are photographs of different wildlife habitats and a chapter explaining the geography of African continent. This is a very useful book, which could be used in many different ways to enjoy or gather information about the wildlife of the African continent. I recommend this guide to anybody interested in the natural history of Africa.

A Very Informative Book
This book gives you everything you need to know about the biogeography of Africa and many of the animals found in Africa. Pictures of the animals and land of Africa make it especialy helpful.

The best book in it's subject I have found.
We had just returned from our 17 day African Safari vacation. Many photographs were taken while on Safari. When the photo were developed my wife and I had a hard time remembering all the amimals we saw. This book has excellent quality and a large amount color photographs of African Wildlife. It doesn't stop there, The facts and information the author shares is phenomenal!

THE Book for Anyone studying taxonomy of African Mammals
This book has it all. It has a wonderful array of illustrations, each with the Scientific name below it, and it has wonderful sections for each African animal. This is a wonderful book, and as a taxonomist, I have used it in many different ways. ... Read more

Book Description

Antarctica has not always been a place of ice and snow. Once part of the supercontinent of Gondwanaland, it is believed to have enjoyed a warmer climate in which plants and land animals thrived. However, nowadays less than one percent of the surface is ice free, and at bedrock level the ice can be up to a million or more years old. In comparison, the Arctic consists entirely of pack-ice which breaks into ice floes in summer and floats on the Arctic Ocean.

While the ice gives rise to spectacular scenery, both on land and sea, these regions also have an astonishing variety of wildlife. The two Poles have few common species (apart from some birds and whales) but many unique endemic ones - polar bears, walruses and puffins in the north, penguins and elephant seals in the south.

The content will cover the following topics, among others:
- Geography and geology
- Climate and weather
- Ice, icebergs, glaciers and land formations
- History and exploration
- Wildlife and flora - how unique life has evolved in a very harsh environment
- Polar science - the scientists who live and work in Antarctica, the research bases
- Icebreaker shipping and tourism
- Politics and treaties and the interested parties, including the 1988 Minerals Convention
- The people of the Arctic
- Conservation and the future (specific Polar issues, such as melting of the ice caps and ozone depletion).

Both regions have long been associated with tales of great heroism in their exploration, and here too there are common links. Roald Amundsen was first to the South Pole and died in a rescue in the north (at that time his ship, the Fram, had been furthest south and furthest north). Frederic Cook, who lodged a false claim to being first to the North Pole, was the first to winter over in Antarctica, as part of a Belgian expedition. Nowadays, tourists can visit in cruise ships and see the almost impossible task the explorers set themselves.

Both areas are of concern ecologically. For several years there has been a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica; one is now opening over the Arctic Circle. Ecologists watch both Antarctica and the Arctic for any signs of change that may have implications for the planet as a whole. They join scientists from all over the world conducting research in these unique conditions.

With interesting and authoritative text written by a team of international experts, accompanied by over a thousand superb photographs, this book will fascinate all with an interest in the Poles and their wildlife. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

AWESOME
I been looking for a whille for a great Antarctica book.
this is by far the best.
wall to wall photos topics on everything explorations,wildlife,marine life, you name it.
spectacular coffee table book dont miss.

it even covers the artic "north pole" also

Excellent book!
I am an Earth Science teacher and I have done research in Antarctica. The book has many wonderful photos and highly informative text about the geologic, oceanographic, atmospheric and biologic features of the polar regions. I recommend this book for anyone interested in these areas, especially teachers.

An excellent book on Antarctica!
I recently took a cruise to Antarctica and this book was in the ship's library. This is an excellent book on Antarctica and the pictures are fabulous! This makes a great coffe-table book! ... Read more

Book Description

This superbly illustrated book is the first created primarily for field identification of the 350 species of parrots of the world, from the mighty macaws to the diminutive pygmy parrots. Along with range maps for each species, the book includes information on the ecology, vocalizations, life cycle characteristics, and geographical variation of all species and on the conservation status of parrots that are threatened or endangered. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Unbeatable Reference on WILD Parrots
I was long wondering whether to buy this book or not, but it was well worth getting.
The species accounts are incredibly detailed and it must have been hard work to collect all that data.
I have field experience regarding parrots in Eastern Indonesia and found this book to be amazingly up to date about the status of species occuring there - so I trust it is similarly good for parrots in the rest of the world, too!

Not a good guide
I own parrots, I have friends who own parrots, and I have a brother who breeds parrots. I feel I can knowledgably say that this is not a good guide to parrots. It is full of mistakes both in the text and in the illustrations. I was very disappointed when I went through this book and, fortunately, I did not buy it but got it through the library. If you want info about this group of birds buy the standard, Forshaw's Parrots of the World, and just realize that the information about ranges and scientific names might be out-of-date but overall this is the better book by far. It deserves no stars.

A Terrific Guide to Parrots!
This is got to be one of the best guide books I have ever seen featuring over 350 different species of parrots on our planet. Being the bird lover that I am, and that includes domestic as well as wild birds, I own almost every book out there on birds, and I really love this edition by Tony Juniper & Mike Parr. It should really be called an encyclopedia because there is just so much information in these almost 600 pages. The 88 superb color illustrations of all the species by 5 different artists are so beautiful & true to life. As you already know by reading the editorial & other reviews, this book includes range maps of the species locations, their vocalizations, life expectancies, and much more fascinating information.

Remember, this is not a book about parrots in captivity, its information about birds in the wild. If you don't own a parrot and are thinking about one, this book is a definite help in learning about all the different species that are out there. The more knowledge you have the better it will be when you do decide to pick out that perfect companion parrot for yourself & family. Owning a companion parrot is a lifetime commitment that shouldn't be taken lightly. I know I researched many months before I found the perfect parrot for us. The love you receive in return from your parrot will amaze you. I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. Highly recommended!

The Encyclopedia for Parrots
This is the first book I bought on Parrots and it is the only I would ever need to learn about the different types of Parrots in the world. It contains information and pictures on every type of Parrot from the African Grey to the rare Kakapo. I only wish they had an indication on the price range of each bird on the market for those who breed and sell. I would definitely recommend this book to the serious Parrot collector. A definite must on a Parrot lover's bookshelf and worth every dollar.

Excellent addition to any naturalist's library
This book belongs in the library of any naturalist or bird lover. The plates are wonderful with vivid colors that serve to identify the various species. The text provides concise information on natural history, a map of each species' range in the wild, its conservation status and other information. This book could be used in the field or as a comprehensive reference book on these remarkable birds. The authors must have poured a phenomenal amount of work into researching and writing this book. Buy one for yourself and another for a friend. ... Read more

Book Description

Draw into the lives of wolves through the experience of Jim and Jamie Dutcher and the wolf pack they lived with for six years. ... Read more

Book Description

At the biological crossroads of the Americas, Costa Rica hosts an astonishing array of plants and animals--over half a million species! Ecotourists, birders, and biologists come from around the world to immerse themselves in the country's unspoiled rain forests, mountains, and beaches, drawn by the likelihood of seeing more than three or four hundred species of birds and other animals during even a short stay. To help all of these visitors and local residents identify and enjoy the wildlife of Costa Rica, this field guide presents nearly three hundred species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, moths, and other invertebrates.Carrol Henderson, an experienced wildlife biologist, traveler, and tour leader in Costa Rica, has chosen the species that ecotourists are most likely to see, along with a selection of rarer, sought-after animals. He gives a general introduction to each group of animals, followed by individual species accounts that highlight identification features and interesting ecological adaptations for survival. His stunning close-up photographs and distribution maps complete each entry.In addition, Henderson includes a wealth of data about Costa Rica's natural environment, as well as a trip preparation checklist and lists of conservation organizations, wildlife tourism sites, and wildlife vocalization tapes and CDs. With so much information so readily and readably accessible, this field guide will be essential for planning and enjoying your time in Costa Rica. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

beautiful and essential
At a hefty 600 pages this collection has something for everyone--and manages not to skimp on the essentials or pad itself with filler. Though it would serve well as an introduction, "Field Guide to the Wildlife of Costa Rica" is even better as a companion (especially to my favorite book on the country, "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made").

Dont let the title of this book fool you.
I bought this book because I wanted a field guide to tropical wildife. Since Audubon and Peterson do not offer guides of this sort I went out on a limb. This book is definately not a field guide, but a desk reference. If you want to quickly identify the birds you are seeing, this is by no means the book to have. There are wonderful pictures and great descriptions, but the layout of the book takes time to find what you are looking for. It should also be noted that this is predominantly a guide to the birds of costa rica, there are less than a dozen insects mentioned and about the same number of reptiles/amphibians. Overall good information on the birds and few other animals listed, but terrible format. One final thought- this is not a light book to have in your backback hiking through backcountry Costa Rica. ... Read more

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Reviews (3)

A must read for those who follow the Yellowstone wolves
No one is more qualified to write about the Yellowstone wolves than the wolf project leader of the Park for the last 8 years, Dr. Douglas Smith. Gary Ferguson is a very accomplished writer about western wilderness and wildlife issues. I read almost every one of his books in one sitting.

The book is a series of stories about individual wolves, packs, plus well known and lesser known events in the Park's wolf recovery. Chapters also explain concepts of wolf biology, and the effects wolves are having on America's first national park.

Those people who go to Yellowstone to watch wolves or follow these events will want to snap this book up.

Others interested in wildlife will find it less compelling, but still a useful and good read.

The book is a fitting story of ten years of wolf recovery in Yellowstone Park. Still to be told is the history of wolf recovery in areas outside the Park, especially in Idaho where the number of wolves outnumber those of the Park almost three to one.

Readers will enjoy a number of photographs of wolves and wolf interactions with other animals in the photo insert in the middle of the book. Many of these, such as those in the Park's remote Pelican Valley, could only be taken by the Park's wolf biologists.

Decade of the Whitewashers
I went to the bookstore recently to see what the deal was about the book. After being tipped by various sources about promotions of this book and seeing it advertised in some circles, I went to take a peek.

I was shocked by the book. Like many books, it credits the murderer Ed Bangs for helping with comments for the book.

It gets worse. As I flipped through the book, the author apparently decided to ignore the fact that the three scientists Ed Bangs, Mike Jimenez, and Carter Niemeyer, have all become murderers of wolves. They kill on average about a hundred a year. Though the numbers always vary with depredation issues.

In this book they are portrayed as heroes. The book as well as the authors clearly forget an important point. What one starts as, doesn't necessarily show what they are after a certain amount of time or at the end of a task.

In this case, all these scientists have slaughtered packs, brutally and unjustly throughout the years since the Yellowstone reintroduction in their various positions in the U.S.

Once they cared about wolves, but now all they care is about ignoring sound science and non lethal methods that prevent cattle depredations. They also ignore peaceful co-existence between people and wolves, placing bullets as the guise of reintroduction.

The book also forgets to mention the fact that the wolves in Yellowstone are an experiment, a tool for management. Which begs the question, in the words of Eva-Lena Rehnmark, is a managed wolf a wild wolf?

This book isn't objective, or really factual, as a result. It clearly is biased. And being praised by David Mech, who clearly supports culling of wolves and gutting protections on wolves by reducing their status of Endangered to Threatened under the Endangered Species Act (since he too thinks that they are recovered), shows that this book isn't as much as factual as catering to interests that want to make the wolves suffer more than ever.

Do a simple google search and you will see the horrors that they have caused since this reintroduction. Even my non-profit site proves it.

As a result, there are more accurate books on wolves that are more worthy of reading.

Vicious by Jon Coleman, Neither God Nor Devil by Eva-Lena Rehnmark, Of Wolves and Men by Barry Lopez

These are just to name a few.

~Mike Wagner Freelance Wolf Activist http://www.heartofthewolf.org

The Story of Ten Years of Success
The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone park has been one of the most controversial feats of conservation of all time.

In this book, the project manager who supervised this effort tells the story of the release and the ten years of history that have followed. He had an interesting task of making the project work with the Farm Bureau on one side of the battle, and the Sierra Club on the other. Then there are the well meaning tourists, and the poachers.

In spite of it all, the reintroduction has prospered. the wolves have survived and in so doing changed the ecosystem of the park. In so doing, much more has been learned about the wolf behavior. The individual packs have been carefully studied, the pack dynamic, the survival of cubs in the wilderness, all have taught scientists more about wolf behavior.

The stories are not uniformly plesant, the pack has survived, but not all members. There's the story, for instance, of a mother chasing an elk and running into a stick that pierced her chest and killed her. No one else would take over her pups and they died.

This is a fascinating story of a decade of conservation. ... Read more

Book Description

Vegetation Mapping Edited by Roy Alexander Environment Research Group, Department of Geography, Chester College, UK and Andrew C. Millington Department of Geography, University of Leicester, UK The past decade has witnessed a resurgence of interest and activity in the mapping of vegetation that has been driven by the needs of environmental modellers and policy makers on the one hand and by the increased availability of data sets and sophisticated tools for their handling and analysis on the other. This increased activity, together with the greater variety of purposes for which vegetation maps are being produced, has led to a divergence of approaches, a wider range of entities being mapped and a more varied audience of end users. Over the same time period the researcher interested in vegetation mapping has had to consult an ever-broadening range of sources in order to keep abreast of developments in the field. This book seeks to provide a review of recent developments in vegetation mapping and the purposes for which it is carried out by bringing together a series of case studies covering techniques and their applications at a range of spatial scales. The work included covers scales of enquiry from the quadrat to the biome, studies based on data gathered from ground, air and space, and applications of mapping in temperate, semi arid and tropical environments. Issues involved in the use of data sets from different sources, the recognition and handling of error and the effects of scale are also given detailed consideration. The volume concludes with a review of contemporary approaches to vegetation mapping and the identification of some key research questions. Vegetation Mapping will thus serve as a collected source of reference on techniques and approaches for the researcher while providing a rich variety of case study and methodological information for postgraduate students and undergraduates following specialist courses. ... Read more

Book Description

Includes descriptions of the habits, habitats, tracks, signs, and ranges of all the mamals of North America.More than 1,000 illustrations show individual tracks, different track patterns, animals in their habitats, droppings, and gnawed trees - every type of clue the tracker needs. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A must-have tracking classic
When I was a kid running a trapline in northern Michigan, this was the book I carried in my rucksack. Today, more than 35 years later, I've written 2 books of my own on the subject of tracking wildlife, but this book is still on my bookshelf. Olas Murie was a true American pioneer who led the way into an area where no one else had gone before him. He established the first standards, and while modern genetic and other scientific techniques have increased our knowledge of wildlife manifold over what was known in Murie's day, it was he who laid the foundation on which the rest of us build. This book is a must-have for every tracker's library.

Good and comprehensive guide, a little difficult
It is a good and comprehensive guide, it has a lot of animal tracks, I found it a good and complete guide, but honestly sometimes I had a lot of difficult tryng to find some kind of tracks that I found.

In my personal opinion I think that this is a very good book for experts on the field but not so good for beginners in animal tracks. And by the way it doesnt have any color illustration, and altough they are not needed I was very familiar with peterson guides and this one is a little different.

A very useful guide
My wife and I have found this guide to be very useful in interpreting the sign left behind by the creatures resident in our northeastern woods, not only tracks but scat as well (with hundreds of detailed drawings of scat it is as much a guide to those leavings as tracks). The extensive behavioral descriptions are equally useful. I am not clear on the basis for the criticisms contained in the other review concerning animal harassment. Dr. Murie was a dedicated conservationist and President of The Wilderness Society after his retirement from the Fish and Wildlife Service and his respect for the creatures he is describing is evident on every page. While he acknowledges that some tracks were obtained from live-trapped animals, it is clear from the book that the overwhelming mass of the data is from direct field observation from a life spent in the outdoors.

good book
very down to earth. dos'nt go into detail

earliest version of tracking, collected specimens to study
Interesting way in which early biologists studied animals. Should have a foreword explaining that methods in book are not recommended to observe wildlife (trapped to collect specimens and harrassed wildlife in order to study their behavior). ... Read more

Book Description

A Primer of Conservation Biology, Third Edition incorporates background, theory, and examples in a lively and readable text that will appeal to a wide audience and stimulate interest in conservation biology. The book provides the most up-to-date perspective on many high-profile issues in the field, such as sustainable development, the effectiveness of conservation laws and treaties, the design of conservation areas, classification of conservation threats, and strategies to save species on the verge of extinction.

The Primer is divided into five chapters, focusing successively on biological diversity and its value, the threats to biological diversity, conservation at the population and species levels, protecting and managing habitats and ecosystems, and human societies and sustainable development. Case studies are included to demonstrate the controversies in the field, and to stimulate thought and discussion. The book provides many examples of successful conservation approaches and ends with suggestions for a future agenda. Throughout, the choice of examples is well balanced to show the full range of species, habitats, and geographic areas of the world. The links between conservation biology and environmental law, environmental economics, philosophy, social sciences and anthropology, park management, and government policy are clearly presented.

The book is very well illustrated, includes an extensive bibliography (covering literature through 2004) and a glossary, and has an annotated list of suggested readings and discussion questions at the end of each chapter. Sources of further information are given in an Appendix. A Primer of Conservation Biology is ideally suited for use in short undergraduate courses, either as a stand-alone text or supplemented by outside readings. It can also be used effectively as a supplemental resource for courses in introductory biology, general ecology, population biology, environmental science, and wildlife management. Its broad perspective, concise format, and appealing writing style make the Primer the perfect choice for students, volunteers, professionals, government policymakers, and others who are eager to learn more about conservation biology. These same qualities give the book a strong appeal to students whose first language is not English. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent introduction to Conservation Biology
Rihard Primack's Essentials of Conservation Biology was the the first textbook to present the fledgling field of conservation biology in a comprehennsive fashion. His Primer of Conservation Biology presents complex topics in a manner that makes this information accessible to a wider readership. The book covers a broad range of topics that includes an accounting of the origins and history of the field of conservation biology. The basic operating principles are offered with numerous examples of their application to real world problems. The author has chosen these examples from many different parts of the world so that all readers can relate to the practical approaches cited. This book serves as an excellent introductory text for readers that want a thorough introduction to conservation biology and access to the jargon of the field. I have recommended this book to students considering entering the field as well as to non-scientists that wish to become familiar with the basics of this new branch of science. ... Read more

Book Description

Retaining the introductory flavor of the now classic First Edition, this revision includes all the latest techniques in the field. New information on methods of radio tag harnessing, new sections on satellite tracking techniques and new types of data analysis are all included. Still the only comprehensive, up-to-date, introduction to this fundamental technique for wildlife and behavioral biologists.

* A unique guide to the subject
* Full coverage of the very latest techniques in both terrestrial and satellite tracking
* Detailed, practical guidance in how to fit tags, track animals, source and evaluate equipments and techniques and analyse resulting data ... Read more