Book Description

From a well-known outdoors and nature writer comes a narrative that explores a lifelong obsession with competitive birding.

What drives a man to travel to sixty countries and spend a fortune to count birds? And what if that man is your father?

Richard Koeppel's obsession began at the age of eleven, in Queens, New York, when he first spotted a Brown Thrasher and promptly jotted the sighting in a notebook. Several decades, one failed marriage, and two sons later, he added an astonishing 517 birds to that list on a single trip to Kenya. Soon after, he ended the last romantic relationship he would ever have, scaled down his medical practice, and decided to see every bird on earth, becoming a "Big Lister," a member of a subculture of competitive bird-watchers worldwide, all pursuing the same goal. Over twenty-five years, he collected more than 7,000 species (of a known 9,600), becoming one of about ten people ever to do so.

To See Every Bird on Earth explores the thrill of this chase, the all-absorbing crusade at the expense of all else, and travel, to places both dangerous and dull, for the sake of making a check mark in a notebook. It's also the story of obsession-answering the questions why list? and why birds?-and how it defines us. A riveting glimpse into a fascinating subculture, To See Every Bird on Earth traces the love, loss, and reconnection between a father and a son, and explains why birds are so critical to the human search for our place in the world. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

"To go where no man has gone before"

What a wonderful book! The editorial reviews are real good on this book and I won't repeat the same,just no need to. Also, the first customer review is a real good effort ,especially for someone who appears somewhat of a birding novice.Lisa AA has posted her 1st review, and I would like to commend her on her efforts.She very well shows that this book can be of interest to anyone who enjoys life,people and also the world of birds.I have the same experience when people who learn that I am into birding.Everyone seems to be fascinated about my interest,has a million questions and are amazed over the interest,sport or even the obsession that it can become.Questions like, "You mean you would drive 500 miles,just to see a bird;and it might even be gone when you get there?" As you will see, if you read this book;that can just be the start of it.
Of course ,not all birders can,or even begin to take on this interest the way world lister birders go at it.Some "bird" in their own back yards,towns,county,state or province,country,ABA (which takes in all the continental US,Hawaii,Alaska and Canada ,and then there are those tha make the whole world their target.What this book does is to give one an idea of what this pursuit can be all about.
The people who take up birding come from all walks of life,all ages, all abilities,all financial backgrounds.The one thing they all have is the desire to see as many birds as possible.Whether it is as simple as adding the number 78th bird to their yard list or the 4078th to their world list,the pleasure is the same;only the scale differs.
While the author centers on his father,he also discusses a lot about Phoebe Snetsinger ,who held the record of seeing the most birds in the world at the time of her untimely and unfortunate death.It just so happens that I know,and often bird with a lady who knew her well and was on the bus with her when the accident occurred.
I also knew another "Birder of the World",as is incribed on his tombstone.Norm Chesterfield held the world record for 7 years into the late 1980's.What a great fellow to talk to and what stories and experiences he had.He even went to Vietnam while the war was on.Just imagine,this little old man ,well into his 70's, birding while the the war was underway.He complained "the birding was lousy;too damn much shooting and banging going on.Couldn't hear nothing (birds singing)."
I guarantee anyone who likes birds,enjoys the outdoors or wonders what this obsession with birds is all about will love this book.
While most of us can only dream of what these World Listers do, we have to be content to read about it and dream ;or grab the bins and go see what's around.

One for the Big List!
I never thought birdwatching was even vaguely interesting until I read this book, and now I'm viewing every pigeon in Los Angeles with new eyeballs.
Dan Koeppel is a wonderful storyteller, and this tale of birds, family, and the evolution of birdwatching brims with amazing details, vivid description, and heartfelt anecdotes. His fluid writing is a joy to read. Complex concepts of scientic nomenclature are elegantly explained. The book revolves around an intense subset of birdwatchers- the so-called "Big Listers," folks so obsessed with the flying creatures that they have a need to see every species that exists on the planet. Sparing no expense, Big Listers jetset from jungle to jungle, equipped with tape recorders, binoculars, and field guides looking for more and more birds to put on their well-kept lists. At the same time, the designations of species are constantly changings, so from time to time lists grow due to splitting or shrink from lumping! Koeppel patiently explains this fanaticism of hardcore birdwatching. His perspective is unique; his father, Richard Koeppel, is currently one of the top 10 Big Listers on the planet. Woven within the stories of birds and birders is a tale of the relationships within Koeppel's family, as if this can possibly explain his father's arcane obsession.
Very readible. Perfect beach reading, especially for beaches that might have some avifauna nearby. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Consider the lynx, a medium-sized cat of boreal regions of North America, "a solitary animal, associated with the opposite sex only during mating." Consider the Oldfield mouse, Peromyscus polionotus, once abundant in abandoned fields and beaches from South Carolina to northern Florida. These are but two of the 390 species covered in this densely informative, well-illustrated guidebook to the mammals of North America, with photographs keyed to textual descriptions that cover a given animal's physical features, range and habitat, breeding characteristics, and behavior (and, helpfully, that list other animals with which it might be confused). This easy-to-use handbook makes a superb addition to any naturalist's library. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The best ..................
These are the BEST field guides we have ever owned. We have the trees, western USA birds, trees and sealife ones and they are a wonderful size and fit easily into a coat pocket or glove compartment of ones car and of course a back pack. They make a GREAT gift and during the Christmas season a great stocking stuffer.

They are so complete as far as information goes, telling the reader what the migration and nesting habits are, where the birds can be found and they have wonderful photographs that are so useful when out on a hike. Our son loved them growing up and with a set of binoculars on a hike a person can find hours passing and not realize it.

The covers on the books (vinyl) make it easy to keep them clean. Buy at least one and I assure you, you will be hooked..........

One of the Best of Its Kind
I have several Audubon field guides, but this is the best of them all in my opinion. In this book, the editors made a wise decision to write more expansive descriptions, including a lot of information about the animal's behavior, eating habits, breeding, migration, and, often, its conservation status. The editors also show a sensitivity to man-made trends. For example, the domstic cat is listed here, as well as wild horses. In the former case, human carelessness has actually created a viable, but problematic, animal species; in the latter, humans intentionally let loose hundreds of horses at the end of the "wild west" days, and the animals have now actually found a niche.

The editors also did an excellent job of including rare species (such as the lynx and bobcat) as well as very common species (such as all the different kinds of squirrels).

It is unlikely that most amateur naturalists would have a chance to actually encounter every mammal in this book, so it is great to have a reference like this. Like other Audubon field guides, just reading the descriptions is fascinating. I would venture to guess that most people will discover species they never knew about, or learn new facts about what they thought were familiar species. Some of my favorites are the wolverine and the wild cats of southern North America.

This book, as well as most of the Audubon field guides, is a terrific resource for igniting children's imaginations. Reading about the animals' lives should help give children insights into the diversity and interconnectedness of species, and spark an appreciation for the beauty inherent in the wild.

excellent field guide
I thoroughly enjoy my Audubon field guides and the Mammals of North America is the most Interesting of the list. It is definitely a must have for anyone interested in animals. With tons of color photos of virtually every species in North america this is a great buy! Descriptions are longer and have more information than the Peterson series but some photographs are hard to see the identifyable traits of the specimen. Perfect size to throw in the pack and head out to the field to spot your favorites. ... Read more

Book Description

One of Abbeville's most spectacular achievements, representing the highest standards in fine art printing, now available at a more economical price.

This marvelous edition of Audubon's Birds of America displays all 435 of Audubon's brilliant handcolored engravings in exquisite reproductions taken from the original plates of the Audubon Society's archival copy of the rare Double Elephant Folio. Although many attempts have been made to re-create the magnificent illustrations in Audubon's masterpiece, nothing equals the level of fidelity or scale achieved in this high-quality edition.

Completely reorganized and annotated by Roger Tory Peterson, who was America's best-known ornithologist, and issued with the full endorsement and cooperation of the Audubon Society, this volume is the first to rearrange the plates in a more scientific order. Peterson's fascinating introduction places Audubon in the context of the history of American ornithological art and also reproduces a wide sampling of the work of Audubon's notable predecessors and disciples, including Peterson's own justly famous paintings.

This new systematic arrangement of the prints, complete with informative commentaries about each bird, made it possible to correct many of the problems or errors in Audubon's original edition that later scholarship revealed.

Other Details:428 full-color illustrations, 435 duotones. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Beautiful volume of audubon
If you are a birder and you collect all the great bird books, your collection is not complete until you get this. A beautiful book, contained in a hard case, with excellent printing. A steal at $250 at its original price, now knocked down between $125 to $185. Get this book! A great tribute to Peterson and Audubon. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

If you are a Cheesemaker, this is the book for you.
This is the latest edition of the authoritative text on Cheesemaking. Not an introductory or beginners book but if you already have some knowledge of Cheesemaking this will be a valuable reference to new Cheeses to make and improvements to your current Cheeses.

Look for ASIN 0751404179
The book is in the catalog but with a mis-spelled title. Look for

This book is back in print. Please get back to me on....ava
This book is back in print please get back to me on availibility.

Sorry for this obscure method but you make it hard to send email. ... Read more

Reviews (84)

An excellent book - a happy book that will make you cry.
I am in the middle of Chicken Soup for the Pet-Lover's Soul, and I am loving it. I try not to read too many stories at once, because I want the book to last! I am emotional anyway, but this is a real tear-jerker. If you love hearing stories about people who love their pets, and go out of their way for animals, I highly recommend this book!

Inspiring book that will make you laugh and cry!
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul is a fantastic book for anyone who has a special place in his or her heart for animals. The book was made up of many different stories describing the special qualities that make our pets and furry friends unique. I rated this book a 5 because I found myself crying one minute and laughing the next. There are stories that will make you giggle, one in particular describes buffalo playing a game on ice. It made me realize that there are many things about animals that we don't understand- and never will. Who would have guessed that buffalo play games? The book also included stories that sent tears down my cheek. The story that stands out the most in my mind is a story about how far a mother cats goes to save her kittens. The love of the mother cat can relate to human mothers as well, they will do anything to protect their children. I believe that animals are fantastic teachers. One story in the book talks about how a gorilla helped to rescue an injured (human) boy after he fell into her area in the zoo. The author of that story explained that what is truly amazing about the gorilla is that she helped the boy without caring about recognition. She helped the boy because she wanted to, she didn't know that recognition was even a part of the act. That is exactly what us humans can learn from these animals. We need to help somebody because it's the thing to do, not because we want to be remembered as a hero.
I would recommend Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul for anyone who enjoys animals or just wants to read a book that make you warm and fuzzy inside. The stories in the book will show you exactly why pets are teachers, healers, heroes and friends. You will realize how special they really are.
Also check out Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul for stories about teenagers that will inspire you.

Warm and fuzzy
Most of the series of 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' has the kind of warm and fuzzy story that many find endearing and sweet. They are not 'deep' most of the time, but do point to things beyond themselves; for my own use, I often find sermon illustrations and stories within the pages of volumes of Chicken Soup -- as chaplain at a retirement centre, many of the stories help people to recall happier times, and help them deal with their present situation.

This particular volume involves stories with animals. The relationship between animals and people of all ages can make for some of the funniest, most heart-warming, most sad, and most meaningful stories. There are contributing authors of some note (Barbara Bush, James Herriot, Jimmy Stewart, Gilda Radner, Art Linkletter) among other authors who had stories to tell and volunteered them. Much in the manner that Readers Digest accepts unsolicited stories from amateur authors, so does the Chicken Soup series. Often the most meaningful stories are those that happen to people who are not professional writers.

Few animals are left out here, as many animals have come to be companions with humans over the centuries. Dogs and cats feature prominently, as do horses and other farm animals, but there are also wolves, birds, dolphins, deer, wild turkeys, gorillas and even a Christmas mouse. The stories cover a wide range of topics, including pets as friends and healers, animals as rescuers and performers of other amazing feats, animals whose companionship meant a lot, and finally on the sadness and meaning of saying goodbye to an important family member.

Each of this stories can easily be read in a short time. This makes it a good source for 'falling-asleep reading', for use in public speaking and preaching opportunites, for shared reading-aloud times, and for simple enjoyment and entertainment. Many of the stories here are ones that stay with you; the story about the wild turkeys and the story of the Christmas mouse are stories I use again and again in my chaplaincy, and they are always appreciated.

The editors of the primary series 'Chicken Soup' are Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen; for purposes of this volume, they are joined by Marty Becker and Carol Kline, authors and animal-professionals in various capacities.

My cats give their paws-up to this!

Stories about pets as healers, teachers and friends
With chapters on amazing animals, love, companionship and saying good-bye, each page captures the unique life-enhancing bonds between animals and people. A very good book for any pet-lover. I recomend it for everyone.

My diary
This was a total diary of my life. It made me feel like hugging my dogs and not letting go. This book was so exciting I never wanted to put it down. Through good times and bad times pets always come through. It is easy for anyone to read and once you'll read it you will never put it down ... Read more

Reviews (23)

A Must have for any real birder.
This book provides bird watchers with an excellent guide to almost every bird found in the Eastern half of the US. The quick index and color tabs make finding the right page easy for most birders, and the introduction provides the information an inexperienced birder needs to learn how to use this book. The photographs are mostly excellent and show most of the important field marks. Immature, female, and non-breeding season plummage pictures are provided for many birds, and a wonderful description of the bird's plummage is always included. The maps, although sometimes inaccurate (as I've found with most guides) are easy to read. The addition of shading for migration routes would help, but could be confusing for some birders. The learning pages provide an excellent comparison of similar species; especially useful for sparrows and warblers. I would reccomend purchasing Peterson's guide in addition to this, but if you can only buy one, this is the one I'd buy. Keep in mind that every person is different, and will benifit from different organizations of species. Purchase the book you think will suit your preferences best.

Very impressive and helpful.
Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region is a very impressive and helpful bird identification tool. This happens to be a field guide that I feel confident using whenever I go birdwatching. I find that aspect to be the most important of any field guide--whether it's good enough to actually be trusted out in the field. This bird identification guide contains over 900 full color photographs. Also, all of the information pertaining to the particular species of bird is on the same page: this includes the color photograph, range map, and detailed text information (behavior, voice, feeding, nesting, and habitat for example). Having all of the information on one page is always very important. The book also contains quick alphabetical indexes inside the front and back covers that happen to be very useful for quick reference. The guide has a color tab index to bird groups, a quick guide to the most common backyard and feeder birds (good for beginners), and learning pages, too. I find the color photographs in this field guide to be clear, crisp, and very good. The guide also includes idenification symbols on the pages of particular birds that use feeders or birdhouses. A glossary of terms is included, too, along with a page that points out the names of the anatomical parts of a bird. Donald and Lillian Stokes have done an admirable job of putting this guide together. It's one of my favorite bird identification tools. I recommend it.

A tried-and-true field guide
The Stokes Field Guide-Western Edition has become my pocket reference of choice in the field. I wore out my first copy from overuse, which is a high compliment to its usefulness (and binding sturdiness).

As a pocket guide and quick reference, you cannot beat Stokes' "bang for the buck." It offers most of the basics that most birders would need in the field:
* Quick color tab index
* Large photos (which usually capture indicative plumage)
* Good all-up glance at ID, feeding, nesting, and other relevant behavior
* Nice North American habitat guide that zooms in if the range is geographically smaller
* Habitat type info has been very helpful

Downsides are few, but:
1. I think the anatomical reference is incomplete, but for most purposes basically adequate.
2. The "quick reference to the most common birds" pages seem somewhat pointless because the species are so arbitrary.
3. The color quality in some photos aren't as indicative as I'd like, but you have to expect some inconsistencies due to the nature of photographs, habitat and lighting.
4. There really isn't a section on responsible birding, ethics, and avian conservation. Their conservation section consists of BBC and CBC census data only.

That said, I love this guide. Between the Stokes and Sibley ID guides used in tandem, most people won't need another field resource for visual field identification.

SUPERB FIELD GUIDE WITH LARGE PHOTOS!!!
I recently got into this hobby of birding, and was looking for a good book to take with me on weekend jaunts, or to I.D. birds in my backyard. I am by no means a professional, but a casual birder. For that purpose, this fantastic book is much more than adequate! I like to 'check off' each corner page when I spot one of the birds shown, and the real color photos are an invaluable tool! Just this morning, this gorgeous Red Shouldered Hawk was sitting on a fencepost (was visiting my brother in the Cleveland, Ohio area), and I was able to readily I.D. it using this book. My next purchase will be a pair of digital binoculars with a built in digital cam. That way, I will be able to take a snapshot of these critters, and I.D. them later, if I can't at that moment! Plus, all the information on each bird is on one page! This is really a fascinating hobby, and I am glad to own this book (and the Western version) as my first guide! I highly recommend it.

Adequate
This is an adequate resource for a novice birdwatcher and it is well-organized. However, after testing this book in 3 Western wildlife refuges, I've decided that I would like more information on the behaviors and habits of each bird. I am by no means a "bird geek," but am simply seeking to know more about the natural world as I hike or row through it. The book provides little more than just name, rank, and serial number. Also, although the photography is mostly sharp and useful, some of the seagoing bird photographs are blurred and grainy, resembling a Bigfoot photo. I have been looking for the ultimate guide to Western birds but I'm going to keep looking. ... Read more

Book Description

A continuation of the successful BIRDING BY EAR system for learning bird songs.

Just as the original BIRDING BY EAR audio introduces listeners to a unique method of learning and remembering bird songs, MORE BIRDING BY EAR employs these proven techniques for ninety-six additional species of birds found east of the Rockies. Walton and Lawson have created learning groups of similar vocalizations and clearly point out distinguishing characteristics, using phonetics, mnemonics, and other memory aids. MORE BIRDING BY EAR will increase your skill and enjoyment in the field by helping you learn the vocalizations of twenty-five species of warblers, all of the North American rails, and an assortment of terns, other waterbirds, and passerines. Many shorebird call notes are also included.
Combine the auditory instruction here with the visual features of the Peterson Identification System. Page numbers in MORE BIRDING BY EAR's booklet refer to species descriptions in the PETERSON FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA, fifth edition. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Highly useful follow-up to BIRDING BY EAR
The second installment of the "By Ear" series is even more impressive than the previous guide. MORE BIRDING BY EAR has more wood warblers, sandpipers, and terns than BIRDING BY EAR and features the songs and calls of many of the most sought after bird species in Eastern/Central North America.

Once again, Richard Walton introduces each species and takes the listener through the various groupings. The birds are grouped based on habitat and the similarities of their calls. Walton points out key characteristics of each bird call to enhance the listener's learning experince. The handles he suggests for identifying each call are enormously helpful and enhance the listern's experience.

The birds featured on these discs are some of the rarer, hard to find species that can often only be identified by song. Rails, Empidonax flycatchers, cuckoos, kinglets, and a variety of waterbirds are inlcuded on the first disc. The second features around two-dozen warbler species (including the infamous waterthrushes) plus several of the less familar sparrows such as the Bachman's and Grasshopper. The third CD is comprised mostly of shorebirds, and finishes with habiat groups from such birding hotspots as Cape May. These groupings allow the listener to test his or her bird call identification skills. Sprinkled throughout the guide are species calls that tie up loose ends left by the previous discs; common loon, brown creeper, osprey, saw-whet owl, fish crow and blue-headed vireo are just a sample of the variety of species you'll find on this three disc set.

Along with the CDs, a complementry booklet with surprisingly good black-and-white illistrations is included. This helps the listener make visual assocations with the species they are hearing. Room is provided on each page for the listener to take notes on the various bird vocalizations. Page numbers for locating the birds on the plates in the PETERSON FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS: EASTERN/CENTRAL REGION are also provided in the booklet.

MORE BIRDING BY EAR is great learning tool for experienced and novice birders alike. The rails and shorebird sections are very helpful. The second disc is packed with warblers. The authors have done a superb job at covering close to all the birds found in Eastern North America. Between this disc set and the previous one, listeners should be able to learn enough to identifiy most of the birds they can hear while birding in the East. Another great buy. ... Read more

Book Description

This book provides a comprehensive and current source of information on fishes—including systematics, zoogeography, behavior, and conservation of fishes—that is often needed by professionals as background for writing accurate reports.This book covers the structure and physiology, evolution and taxonomy, zoogeography, and ecology and conservation of fishes.For fisheries biologists, conservation biologists, and aquatic ecologists that need an up-to-date reference on Ichthyology. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

THE text on the fishes...
I am an avid fish fanatic. Moyle and Cech have produced what should be the greatest book of scientific interest on the subject. Seems like there is a but there? There is, this is a text book. If you are taking ichthyology, an upper level (sometimes graduate level) course on fishes this book will be your best friend. It is critical to understanding the largest group of vertebrates. It is well organized, fact filled and well cited. But, if you don't have Biology one and two, some chemistry, physiology and an introductory zoology course behind you it will lose you at the introduction. Even though I rate it high I would wait until a professor says you have to buy it. ... 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

Following one of the world's experts on birdsong from the woods of Martha's Vineyard to the tropical forests of Central America, Don Stap brings to life the quest to unravel an ancient mystery: Why do birds sing and what do their songs mean? We quickly discover that one question leads to another. Why does the chestnut-sided warbler sing one song before dawn and another after sunrise? Why does the brown thrasher have a repertoire of two thousand songs when the chipping sparrow has only one? And how is the hermit thrush able to sing a duet with itself, producing two sounds simultaneously to create its beautiful, flutelike melody?

Stap's lucid prose distills the complexities of the study of birdsong and unveils a remarkable discovery that sheds light on the mystery of mysteries: why young birds in the suborder oscines -- the "true songbirds" -- learn their songs but the closely related suboscines are born with their songs genetically encoded. As the story unfolds, Stap contemplates our enduring fascination with birdsong, from ancient pictographs and early Greek soothsayers, who knew that bird calls represented the voices of the gods, to the story of Mozart's pet starling.

In a modern, noisy world, it is increasingly difficult to hear those voices of the gods. Exploring birdsong takes us to that rare place -- in danger of disappearing forever -- where one hears only the planet's oldest music. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (7)

Attracting Birds Made Simple
This colorful book is full of many ideas for attracting birds and keeping them interested in your backyard. There are many books on this subject, but this book is exceptional.

Sally Roth's explanations of how to go about attracting feathered friends are easy to understand and further made easy by the many illustrations.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in birds and their unique habits.

Couldn't be better--absolutely wonderful!!!
This book is loaded with practical info. about the most prevalent back-yard birds, including the type of food they like, nesting preferences etc., as well as key elements of their behavior. There are many wonderful suggestions for attracting birds and detailed instructions for implementing them, including wonderful & fun recipes. This is what the Audabon Backyard Bird Garden book should have been but isn't--so buy this one instead--useful, fun to read as well as to implement, wonderfully organized, and visually very attractive--a real winner!!!

Something for everyone ...
Whether you're a birder or a gardener, or like me, a little of both, you'll love this book! I'm a novice birder and I bought this book hoping to find ideas about feeding and gardening for birds. I found what I was looking for and then some. This book has refreshing ideas, is user-friendly, humorous and practical. You'll learn interesting facts about some of our most common birds, identifying them, attracting them and how to landscape to keep them coming back. This is truly one of the most delightful books I've read this year. In fact, I've purchased additional copies as gifts for family members. It's definitely a book to keep in your library to refer to over-and-over again. It's A-to-Z reference and color illustrations are extremely helpful. Ms. Roth has done a superb job.

This one's a keeper!
This book is extremely reader friendly. I find myself looking it through it frequently and finding something new and useful each time. It's set up in such a way to make finding what you're looking for very easy. Great projects for birdfeeding. I love this book!

Great for Gardeners as Well as Birders
This is a beautifully illustrated book that contains great information for gardeners as well as birders. The information about the various flowers, trees, and shrubs that attract birds is very useful. Instructions for building bird baths, water pools, shelters, and other bird attractions are included. The descriptions of the birds and their behavior make the book a marvelous reference. Well done!! A wealth of information and a delight to read. ... Read more

Book Description

Xenopus laevis is the key model for developmental, differential and embryological studies in vertebrates. Using molecular biological techniques it has become possible within the last few years to analyze developmental processes up to the level of genes. On obtaining results it is necessary to correlate them with morphological and histological stages. This excellent work documents and describes such developmental stages in finite detail. After an informative introduction to The Early Development of Xenopus laevis follows the highlight of the book, namely the 42 plates, each consisting of at least four high resolution micrographs. The reader is thus provided with a histological presentation of immaculate quality. Each plate is complemented by a schematic diagram describing the details shown on the plate, an additional scheme indicating the section and an explanatory short text, making this a potentially highly sought after work. ... Read more

Book Description

When Steve Howell first visited Mexico in November of 1981, he arrived armed with a strong background of birding in Britain and the Western Palearctic, and an even stronger enthusiasm for the diverse and exotic birds of Northern Central America.But he also arrived without an adequate field guide.Indeed, to his surprise, he found that relatively little was known (and even less written) about the myriad of bird species that inhabit the region stretching from the U.S.-Mexican border to Nicaragua.And so, after eleven years of research in Northern Central America, and with the essential collaboration of Sophie Webb--a biologist and one of the most talented ornithological illustrators working today--we now have the definitive guide to birds of this fascinating region. drop rest as varied as the Laysan Albatross, the Blue-footed Booby, the Collared Trogon, even the rare Guadalupe Storm-Petrel.

A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America is astonishingly comprehensive, covering the identification, status, and distribution of all 1,070 birds species known from Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, and western Nicaragua.No other book approaches the thoroughness of this unique field guide.Beautifully illustrated with seventy-one color plates and thirty-nine black and white drawings, the guide shows 750 species and includes many plumages never before depicted.Of special interest are illustrations of some of the most notoriously difficult groups to portray, such as raptors in flight, owls, and nightjars.In addition, superb, easy-to-read maps help the traveling birder locate particular--even rare--species, and the entries describing individual birds detail their appearance, voice, habitat, behavior (including nesting and eggs), and distribution. With the U.S. birder in mind, the guide also includes birds that can be seen north of the border, showing these American migrants on plates when they could be confused with similar Mexican species, thus enabling the birder to make quick and ready comparisons in the field.And, with readable and fascinating presentations of the natural history of Central American birds, this guide will be welcomed not only by seasoned birders, but by any traveler exploring the rain forests, coastlines, and deserts of Mexico and the Central American isthmus.

Sponsored by the distinguished Point Reyes Observatory in California, A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America is a wonderful addition to the library of birders, nature enthusiasts, and travelers alike.With its lavish illustrations, clear writing, and unprecedented range, it offers hours of compelling reading and pleasant browsing for anyone intrigued by the colorful diversity of birds and the wild, largely unspoiled world next door. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Best Neotropical Field Guide - Hands down!
I will be brief - I find this to be the best field guide to the birds of any neotropical region currently available, and I pretty much have studied them all on depth! The only guides that come close to this level of usefulness are Hilty's Columbia field guide and the new Ridgely/Greenfield Ecuador 2 volume set. This book has excellent, seasonally specific range maps, and illustrates many plumage variations. I am astonished to read other reviews in which this book is considered cumbersome, because all too often smaller, lighter books sacrifice completness of information and thoroughness, which compromises their usefulness. True, it's a hefty volume, but it treats a complex avifauna without sacrificing necessary information. The other criticism I was surprised by was that the pictures were too "cartoonlike"; I have found these plates to be some of the most useful in the field, for they emphasize key characteristics with clarity. In the field, simplicity is far more practical than overly-detailed artwork which may be more lifelike, but blurs the differences between species. Anyway, praise for Howell! May this volume set an example for future field guides throughout Latin America!

The Best Guide for birders in Mexico
I've found this field guide quite complete, cause all the plates are well distributed, you can find the bird in perch & flying wich are really good when you're in the field, I've used this guide in all mexico for 4 months and work great!! even with the birds of tres marias island, it's rare find a book which describes the bird of this particular zone, the part describing the mexican border with guatemala it's fantastic, relating possible sightings of great birds of prey like (guiana crested eagle)in this part, and also mexican goverment used this book as a first bibliography, in it's bird conservation programmes,(parrot, birds of prey, passerines) first released on 1999 (PREPS)Semarnat.

i really recommed this book

Not exactly a field guide
I purchased this book before going to Mexico for a three-month research trip. While this guide is fairly complete, it is more than a little cumbersome to take along on any birding expedition. Also, some of the illustrations seem cartoon-like, especially after seeing the real bird in the wild. However, the general information at the beginning of the book about birding in Mexico was helpful, and it helped to initiate some interesting discussions with local nature guides.

Needs Pictures w/ Information
Used the book in Honduras (Ruinas Copan) and lowland Guatemala (Peten). Great work in many ways. Just needs to be more user and field friendly. In many ways it is far superior to Sibley's for NA, but lost many identifications due to not having picture adjacent to the text. Oh, more "in flight" information needed.

Best reading before/after birding Mexico
Of all books about birds of Mexico, this is the best. Very good illustrations and information. Some map distributions could do better, but everything else has been of great help. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the autumn of 1973, the writer Peter Matthiessen set out in the company of zoologist George Schaller on a hike that would take them 250 miles into the heart of the Himalayan region of Dolpo, "the last enclave of pure Tibetan culture on earth." Their voyage was in quest of one of the world's most elusive big cats, the snow leopard of high Asia, a creature so rarely spotted as to be nearly mythical; Schaller was one of only two Westerners known to have seen a snow leopard in the wild since 1950.

Published in 1978, The Snow Leopard is rightly regarded as a classic of modern nature writing. Guiding his readers through steep-walled canyons and over tall mountains, Matthiessen offers a narrative that is shot through with metaphor and mysticism, and his arduous search for the snow leopard becomes a vehicle for reflections on all manner of matters of life and death. In the process, The Snow Leopard evolves from an already exquisite book of natural history and travel into a grand, Buddhist-tinged parable of our search for meaning. By the end of their expedition, having seen wolves, foxes, rare mountain sheep, and other denizens of the Himalayas, and having seen many signs of the snow leopard but not the cat itself, Schaller muses, "We've seen so much, maybe it's better if there are some things that we don't see."

That sentiment, as well as the sense of wonder at the world's beauty that pervades Matthiessen's book, ought to inform any journey into the wild. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (45)

A Book, A Mountain
My brother casually lent me this book some years ago, but I only had the chance to read it recently. In a word I was stunned- in both Mathiessen's honesty and the force and beauty with which he renders all things he chooses to write about. Framing a period of great loss and confusion in his personal life, Matthiessen sets out on a scientific trip through Nepal with preeminent zoologist George Schaller. Their aim is to study and observe the Himalayan blue sheep, but in the back of their minds is the rare chance to see the mythic cat of the mountain cathedrals, the snow leopard. What makes Matthiessen's storytelling so rich is his ability to blend all his interests throughout the odyssey (philosophy, anthro, biology, history) in a way that magnifies the simple art of walking a path, observing. Throughout the book, we share that image with Matthiessen: walking a path surrounded by mountains ringing in light. With these surroundings he initiates an ongoing conversation with himself. Passing him and falling behind him on the path are a motley group of guides and sherpas. Some are quiet and resourceful, some opportunistic and cunning, and there is one who we never fully understand. This one, the enigmatic Tukten, is the one whom Matthiessen is the most drawn to. Perhaps because he feels he himself is a mystery, and that the world is a mystery. And to acknowledge this, is also a direction. After finishing the book, I called my brother to tell him how much I enjoyed the book. I mentioned a favorite passage, where George Schaller exchanges a haiku with Matthiessen, one that he had written during a long hike up to one of the villages. Unfailingly, my brother recited the haiku from memory after which must have been years since reading it. Maybe you too will find yourself saying it on a path of similar space:

Oh cloud trails I go Alone, with chatting porters. There is a crow.

An Unforgettable Journey
I first read this book while in college but it still resonates for me today as well. What starts out to be simply a journey to far-off Tibet in search of the elusive snow leopard turns out to be also a journey towards understanding--of the death of his wife from cancer, the exotic culture and people of highland Asia, and his relationship to his mysterious guide and friend Tukten. No definitive answers are found to any of these questions but we learn that sometimes it's the quest and not the destination that's truly important.
It transports the reader to a faraway part of the planet but at the same time it shows how our journeys abroad can illuminate
our own lives and uncover parts of ourselves that we don't see
back in our tightly controlled worlds.
This is not a book for everyone's tastes but it is a true
classic in every sense of the word. Read it!

will i ruin it for you
if I tell you it has little to do with the snow leopard? It is the quest itself, what it means to quest. "Seek and ye shall find." We're never told what we'll find. To me it is impossible to create a top ten list of books--I love so many--but this is way up there. I plan to read it again and again.

4th times the charm
After 4 tries I finally finished this book. I have to agree with the 3 other reviewers- there are just too many references to Budhism that left me befuddled. If I wasn't in a foriegn country without other reading material I don't think I would of finished it this time either. My reccomendation is to read it fast and don't even try to make sense of about 20% of the book. Despite this I did enjoy the book but only 3 stars worth.

No Simple-minded Animal Story - It's an Adventure
If you're looking for a fifth grade narrative about really neat animals you'd better skip the Snow Leopard. However, if you are ready to take on a great author weaving the physical and the metaphysical together into one of the greatest adventure stories ever written you'll read and always remember this fantastic work of art. It's a tale of exploration that encompasses unbelievable off the map trekking, fascinating research by the greatest living large mammal zoologist, and enlightening insights into the very core of oriental religion. I have never read a book that successfully integrated so much intelligence into one superbly narrated tale. Without exaggeration, it's a classic. ... Read more

Book Description

The generation of mutant mice raises many questions about the best means of phenotypic analysis, breeding, and maintenance. The answers are now available from two experts with a wealth of detailed knowledge never previously assembled in one volume. Informal and highly practical, this handbook provides step–by–step methods for troubleshooting experiments, from the basics of gene targeting through the analysis of postnatal effects. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A must for any level of birder in Costa Rica!
A great field guide! After 8 days, my guide was well worn. The "human type" guides that we went birding with on two occasions used the same field guide. They would tell me what plate to go to, from memory, to find the birds we were viewing. My husband, a novice birder, ID'd as many birds as I did using this book. The printed information on the birds was excellent also, as it clinched several ID's.

Its a good field guide!
Just back from 2 week guided tour to Costa Rica. This was a tour featured as "Nature's Museum" and led by a trained biologist that was good on bird ID, though his time was demanded more for logistics and keeping everyone of our 26 tourists happy by hitting the majors such as monkeys, butterflys, and birds like Quetzels, Motmots, and Toucans. I found the Stiles and Skutch guide to be most helpful. Recommend that a new user, read all of the general information just prior to a visit to the country. Also read in advance, the descriptions of bird families and look thru the plates to get a feel for birds you might see. Then when in the field, you can easily scan the plates, and check out the narrative descriptions, including their habits and ranges. Though this was not a bird trip, we did pick up 150 species that we felt comfortable on ID and perhaps a dozen unknowns mostly because of only flighting glimpes. About half were first called out by the local guides and the others by ourselves with help of the book. I find this book's info. on bird ranges to be most useful especially for neotropical migrants for which our North American guides generally ignore wintering areas south of US. One note of caution, is that the color plates aren't always perfect, for instance the tree swallow is too green, the palm tanager a bit too drab, and variants are not shown. Looks like there is room for a next generation "Sibleyian" guide to birds in central America.

If you have a more casual interest in birds, you may be more happy with "A Pocket Wildlife Guide" for Costa Rica, published by Rainforests Pub.,... commonly available locally in Costa Rica. It has nice color plates of common birds, butterflys, reptiles, and mammals.

One of the Best
This book along with the essay collection "Costa Rica : The Last Country the Gods Made" should be owned by anyone who loves Costa Rica, even if they think they despise nature studies as dry and limited. This book's spirit is undeniable.

Classic and Useful
It is hard to add much to the reviews provided by readers. The book is a superb guide to the birds of Costa Rica. It is a bit heavy and many guides cut the text out and bind the pictures into something a bit lighter for the field.

Working with birds in Costa Rica
Excellent book, invaluable for field and in-hand identification of birds in Costa Rica. If I could offer criticism, we need a more up to date edition (many species' range information needs updating a little) and species with strong population clines need more plates (eg Caribbean versus Pacific races). For birders visiting in the winter an extra book for US species (I recommend The North American Bird Guide by David Sibley) will compliment Stiles & Skutch for many variable and eclipse plumage migrants. ... Read more