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Bird Species: How They Arise, Modify and Vanish (Fascinating Life Sciences)
by Dieter Thomas TietzeThe average person can name more bird species than they think, but do we really know what a bird “species” is? This open access book takes up several fascinating aspects of bird life to elucidate this basic concept in biology. From genetic and physiological basics to the phenomena of bird song and bird migration, it analyzes various interactions of birds – with their environment and other birds. Lastly, it shows imminent threats to birds in the Anthropocene, the era of global human impact. Although it seemed to be easy to define bird species, the advent of modern methods has challenged species definition and led to a multidisciplinary approach to classifying birds. One outstanding new toolbox comes with the more and more reasonably priced acquisition of whole-genome sequences that allow causative analyses of how bird species diversify. Speciation has reached a final stage when daughter species are reproductively isolated, but this stage is not easily detectable from the phenotype we observe. Culturally transmitted traits such as bird song seem to speed up speciation processes, while another behavioral trait, migration, helps birds to find food resources, and also coincides with higher chances of reaching new, inhabitable areas. In general, distribution is a major key to understanding speciation in birds. Examples of ecological speciation can be found in birds, and the constant interaction of birds with their biotic environment also contributes to evolutionary changes. In the Anthropocene, birds are confronted with rapid changes that are highly threatening for some species. Climate change forces birds to move their ranges, but may also disrupt well-established interactions between climate, vegetation, and food sources. This book brings together various disciplines involved in observing bird species come into existence, modify, and vanish. It is a rich resource for bird enthusiasts who want to understand various processes at the cutting edge of current research in more detail. At the same time it offers students the opportunity to see primarily unconnected, but booming big-data approaches such as genomics and biogeography meet in a topic of broad interest. Lastly, the book enables conservationists to better understand the uncertainties surrounding “species” as entities of protection.
Bird Study (Merit Badge Series)
by Boy Scouts of AmericaThis book introduces scouts to the wonders and joys of bird watching and study.
Bird Talk: Hilariously Accurate Ways to Identify Birds by the Sounds They Make
by Becca RowlandA hilarious, informative, and vibrantly illustrated guide to 101 bird songs that sound surprisingly familiar. Have you ever gone for a walk in the woods and wondered what bird was making a sound like a siren going off, or somebody revving a chainsaw engine—or sneezing? Do you hear birds every day, in the park or your neighborhood, but never know quite what you are listening to? Birds are singing all around us, and author and illustrator Becca Rowland, aka Girl in White Glasses, connects the dots between their songs and the birds who make them, helping you to easily identify and remember their calls. Combining illustrations of common and rare birds with fascinating facts and whimsical descriptions of their calls, this book is full of humor and charm. From space lasers to cheeseburgers, Bird Talk introduces you to the weird and wonderful world of bird songs. This publication conforms to the EPUB Accessibility specification at WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
Bird Tracks: A Field Guide to British Species
by John Rhyder David Wege"A wonderful book that shares rare knowledge in a clear and focused way. I love it." - Tristan GooleyBird Tracks: A Guide to British Species explores and enhances the ability to identify a diversity of birds using just their tracks and trails. John Rhyder and David Wege approach this subject from the perspective of both the tracker and the birdwatcher. They have examined and described 139 species, each richly illustrated with a mixture of photographs and drawings of their unique tracks and trails.Bird Tracks is a comprehensive guide for trackers and birdwatchers interested in studying species found around the British Isles, and can also be of great use across north-western Europe. Written by experts in their respective fields, this work represents several years of research collated into the most in-depth study of bird tracks published to date.
Bird Watching For Dummies
by Julie Zickefoose Jessica Vaughan Dawn HewittBirds are everywhere. Why not start really watching them?Sometimes, all it takes is a “spark bird” to open the door. A bird, seen well, so unexpectedly beautiful and interesting that it cracks you wide open. Bird Watching For Dummies is a spark book, teaching you all you need to know about this fun, affordable, and accessible hobby. It gently guides as you explore your local habitats, learn to recognize more and more species, and reap the many mental health benefits of connecting to the outdoors and all the wonders it holds. This book gets you started, teaching you how to identify birds by sight and sound, find birdwatching hotspots, and get the birds to come to your own backyard. You’ll learn about the latest gear, the best field guides and online apps that will jump-start your bird identification skills. Into photography? This book has your back, with tips on getting good photos for identification and aesthetic purposes. Find out how to join a local bird club, find a field trip or a group tour to rainforest, desert, seacoast, mountains or prairie. Every habitat has its own special birds, and when the birding bug bites, you’ll want to see them all. Get started with bird watching or take your hobby to the next level Improve your skills with tips for identifying birds by sight and sound Understand bird behavior and learn gardening tips that will bring the birds to you Choose field guides, binoculars, apps, and other tools of the trade Bird Watching For Dummies will teach beginners and novices how to start bird watching, sharpen their bird watching skills, and expand their knowledge.
Bird and Butterfly Mysteries: The Truth About Migration
by Bernard AcworthAs part of his challenge to the theory of evolution, the outspoken creationist presents alternative theories of bird flight and migration. In 1932, Bernard Acworth established the Evolution Protest Movement (now called the Creation Science Movement) for the purpose of criticizing evolutionary theory in scientific terms. A freelance journalist and amateur ornithologist, he took aim at the accepted science of ornithology with a keenly skeptical eye. Here, Acworth addresses topics including bird and butterfly migration, and the peculiarities of the cuckoo. In Bird and Butterfly Mysteries, Acworth presents a close examination of the science concerning the flight of winged animals. Through this analysis, he exposes errors that call into question many of the major conclusions reached by professional ornithologists. While the two Laws of Currents Acworth proposes in this volume have since appeared in other works on ornithology, he has never received due credit for their discovery.
Bird in the Hand
by Paul Hostovsky<P>From the book: <P>Sighted Guide Technique at the <br>Fine Arts Work Center <br>In your hands the poems in their Braille versions grow longer, thicker, whiter. <br>They are giving themselves goose bumps, they are that good. Still they are only as good as themselves. <br>We are two <br>people wide <br>for the purposes of this exercise. <br>Remembering that is my technique, it's that <br> simple. Remembering it well is success. <br>Success is simply paying attention. <br>Like a poem with very long lines <br>we appear a little wider, move a little slower <br>than most of the community of haiku poets <br>leaping past us with a few right words. <br>A word about doors: they open <br>inward or outward, turn <br>clockwise or counterclockwise, depending <br>on something that you and I <br>will probably never grasp. <br>Doorknobs dance away <br>and the songs of the common house sparrow <br>who is everywhere, you say, play in the eaves <br>as we pass together through the door <br>to the world, <br>you holding my elbow, <br>your elbow and mine making two <br>triangles trawling the air <br>for the tunneling, darting, juking, ubiquitous brown birds.
Bird on the Wing
by Winifred MadisonElizabeth felt the year in Lincoln, Nebraska, had been the longest in her life. Longing to return to her real mother and her friends in Sacramento, she had refused to make friends, and she scorned everything about her new stepmother, the tacky Lorene. Elizabeth is full of anger and resentment, so when a seemingly trivial incident with Lorene suddenly evolves into a bitter fight, she decides to run away and hitchhike to California. While she is on the road Elizabeth meets an older girl with the unusual name of Maija Hrdlka, and it is this meeting that changes Elizabeth's life. Maija is a weaver who seems to Elizabeth to be full of wisdom and grace. The girls become good friends, and when Elizabeth's life in Sacramento turns into a travesty of her dreams, she runs away once again to live with Maija. How Elizabeth changes under Maija's influence from a shallow schoolgirl into an artist on the way to a mature understanding of herself and others is the crux of this sensitive and intriguing novel.
Bird versus Bulldozer: A Quarter-Century Conservation Battle in a Biodiversity Hotspot
by Audrey L. MayerAn examination of the struggle to conserve biodiversity in urban regions, told through the story of the threatened coastal California gnatcatcher The story of the rare coastal California gnatcatcher is a parable for understanding the larger ongoing struggle to conserve biodiversity in regions confronted with intensifying urban development. Because this gnatcatcher depends on vanishing coastal sage scrub in Southern California, it has been regarded as a flagship species for biodiversity protection since the early 1990s. But the uncertainty of the gnatcatcher&’s taxonomic classification—and whether it can be counted as a &“listable unit&” under the Endangered Species Act—has provoked contentious debate among activists, scientists, urban developers, and policy makers. Synthesizing insights from ecology, environmental history, public policy analysis, and urban planning as she tracks these debates over the course of the past twenty-five years, Audrey L. Mayer presents an ultimately optimistic take on the importance of much-neglected regional conservation planning strategies to create sustainable urban landscapes that benefit humans and wildlife alike.
Bird's Best Friend (Disney/Pixar Up)
by Disney PressThe sky’s no longer the limit with Disney•Pixar’s next hit, Up!Who is a bird's best friend? Why, a Junior Wilderness Explorer, of course! When the precocious Russell meets a huge flightless jungle bird named Kevin, they become the best—and most unlikely—of friends. Share their heartwarming story in this Step 2 Reader based on the latest Disney•Pixar release, Up.
Bird's Birthday (Fountas & Pinnell Classroom, Guided Reading)
by Mike Spoor Valentina ByrneNIMAC-sourced textbook. Birthday Plans. Bird's birthday plans don't work out. But everyone has fun in the end.
Bird's-Eye View: Keeping Wild Birds in Flight (Orca Wild #4)
by Ann ErikssonWild birds are everywhere, from the dry deserts to the icy poles. We see them soaring overhead, paddling across water, flitting through trees, pecking at the ground or our backyard bird feeders and singing from fence posts. Birds contribute to the health of the planet and provide pleasure for millions of people, but wild birds are in trouble. Today, almost 200 bird species are critically endangered. They are threatened by habitat loss, invasive species, climate change, pesticides, plastics in the environment, human-made structures and other animals. Bird’s-Eye View looks at why wild birds are important, why they need help and what young people all over the world are doing and can do to give wild birds a boost. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Bird, Balloon, Bear
by Il Sung NaA fresh and heartwarming new story from Il Sung Na about finding the courage to make a friend. Bird is new to the forest, and he&’s looking for a friend. Bear could use a friend, too. But Bird is too shy to introduce himself. Just as he musters the courage to say hello . . . it&’s too late! Bear has already found a friend: a bright, shiny red balloon. Has Bird missed his chance? From the acclaimed Il Sung Na comes a charming and beautifully illustrated story about courage, kindness, and friendship.Peek inside the jacket for a special poster! Praise for Il Sung Na: "Na brings fresh energy to the familiar. With a coloring style that feels as if someone took a firecracker to a box of crayons, Na makes turtle shells as dynamic as a peacock's plumage." --The New York Times (The Opposite Zoo) &“Il Sung Na&’s illustrative art is so joyous, so jubilantly colorful, it feels celebratory and poetic even when the story is simple and spare.&” —The Boston Globe (A Book of Babies)★ &“[A] grand read-aloud.&” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred (Welcome Home, Bear) ★ "It&’s the rare picture book that, upon arrival, feels as though it has been around for years already; Na&’s belongs to this group.&” —Publishers Weekly, Starred (A Book of Sleep)★ "Vibrant [and] whimsical.&” —School Library Journal, Starred (Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit)
Bird, Bath, & Beyond: A Mystery (The Agent to the Paws Mysteries #2)
by E. J. CoppermanA talent agent for show biz animals has to solve a crime—and save a parrot who refuses to talk—in this “sharp” mystery with a “pitch-perfect heroine” (Kirkus Reviews).Kay Powell, theatrical agent to non-human animals, is babysitting—that is, birdsitting—her client, a parrot named Barney, on the set of his new TV show, Dead City. When the show’s charismatic star is shot in his trailer between scenes, the only eyewitness to the crime is—you guessed it—Barney. And even though Kay keeps explaining that even a “talking” parrot doesn’t actually converse with people, the investigators insist on interrogating the bird for information he clearly can’t communicate.Before long it’s clear that the perpetrator believes Barney might actually be able to supply useful evidence—and Kay will have to take the parrot under her wing and put the killer in a cage . . .“Charming . . . animal lovers and cozy readers should savor this romp through the world of animal acting and television production.”—Publishers WeeklyRaves for Dog Dish of Doom“A laugh-out-loud mystery.” —Library Journal (starred review)“[A] wry, feisty heroine.” —Kirkus Reviews
Bird, New Edition (DK Definitive Visual Encyclopedias)
by DKThe diversity and drama of the bird world brought to breathtaking life in an encyclopedic new editionUnrivaled in scope for a single-volume reference work, this photographic guide to every bird order and family profiles more than 1,400 species, pictured in their native environment by photographers around the globe. Authoritative, comprehensive, and completely up to date, this reference was produced and revised by a team of expert contributors and in partnership with the leading avian authorities Birdlife International and Audubon.Bird's photographic catalog showcases birds from hummingbirds to monkey-eating eagles, each with a photograph, description, three-color distribution map, and data file. Organized in taxonomic order, the catalog has detailed introductions to every bird order. The perching birds alone, making the largest order, occupy 158 pages; and most of their families, such as larks or tanagers, also have their own introductions. Nearly 100 further pages focus in vivid detail on bird biology--their flight, anatomy, feeding, communication, breeding, habitat, migrations, life cycles, and the many habitats they live in. All this, and special features on the world's most impressive birdwatching locations, make this "A must-have reference for every bird enthusiast" (BBC Wildlife Magazine).
BirdNote: Chirps, Quirks, And Stories Of 100 Birds From The Popular Public Radio Show
by BirdNote Ellen Blackstone Emily PooleOne hundred entertaining and informative essays from the popular public radio feature program, BirdNote, accompanied by original illustrations throughout--an illuminating volume for bird and nature lovers across North America.Here are the best stories about our avian friends from the public radio show BirdNote, each brief essay illuminating the life, habits, or songs of a particular bird. Why do geese fly in a V-formation? Why are worms so good for you--if you're a robin? Which bird calls, "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?" From wrens that nest in cactuses to gulls that have a strange red dot on their bills--these digestible and fascinating bird stories are a delightful window to the winged world. A foreword by John W. Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and an introduction by Gordon Orians, professor emeritus of biology at the University of Washington, are also included. Contains web links to the audio version of each story, with bird sounds.
Birdbrain Amos
by Michael DelaneyWhen Amos the hippopotamus advertises for a bird to help him with his bug problem, the tick bird who answers his ad creates a different set of problems for him by building a nest on Amos's head.
Birdbrain Amos, Mr. Fun
by Michael DelaneyOh no! Lovable Amos is heartbroken that his tick bird Amoeba has found a new, fun friend. Even worse, Amoeba's new friend isn't even real! Amoeba actually prefers her imaginary friend to her real-life hippopotamus one. Ready to swim any river necessary to regain Amoeba's affections, Amos sets off on a big adventure--a road trip to the Serengeti-- just to prove he's Mr. Fun. But like most vacations, things don't always go as planned. Crocodile traffic jams, strange local beasts, and unmarked forks in the river all spell potential doom for Mr. Fun. But leave it to our befuddled hero's own imagination to turn this disaster-in-the-making into an adventure Amoeba will never forget. As laugh-out-loud funny as the original, Birdbrain Amos, Mr. Fun is a trip kids will want to revisit over and over again.
Birder on Berry Lane: Three Acres, Twelve Months, Thousands of Birds
by Robert Tougias&“Birder on Berry Lane weaves a remarkably rich tapestry, describing many birds&’ lives around a single place and showing just how connected to them we can become. Robert Tougias proves that if we look, we can see so much more than we think, even in our own backyards.&” Brian Sullivan eBird project leader, Cornell University Author of Better Birding—Tips, Tools, and Concepts for the Field A month-by-month guide to the birds that flock to the peaceful New England backyard of a noted writer, birder, and naturalist. Robert Tougias's house on Berry Lane may look like a typical Connecticut suburban home, but as his fascinating year-long account reveals, its three-acre backyard is teeming with nature's mysteries. Acutely sensitive to the activities of birds, Tougias notes which species are present, which are breeding, and where their nests are. He identifies each species by its song, and brings us on a journey of appreciation as we learn the wonders of bird migration, the sensitive interaction of birds with their habitat, and the hidden meaning of their call notes and songs.Intimate and acutely observed writing reveals the miracles of the ordinary in the subtle changes, season to season, of the ecosystem of the woods, streams, and meadow that make up the sprawling backyard on Berry Lane. We are led to consider, too, the dangers posed by the climate crisis and unthinking human development. The quietly powerful writing tunes our senses to the change of the seasons, the return of warblers in spring, geese flying south in the fall--all happening on time as they have for eons.Beautifully illustrated with twenty-five line drawings, Birder on Berry Lane is a book of sublime simplicity that teaches an appreciation for what we commonly overlook.
Birder's Conservation Handbook: 100 North American Birds at Risk
by Jeffrey V. WellsUntil now there has been no single, comprehensive resource on the status of North America's most threatened birds and what people can do to help protect them. Birder's Conservation Handbook is the only book of its kind, written specifically to help birders and researchers understand the threats while providing actions to protect birds and their habitats. Jeffrey Wells has distilled vast amounts of essential information into a single easy-to-use volume-required reading for anyone who loves birds and wants to ensure they are protected. At-a-glance species accounts cover in detail North America's one hundred most at-risk birds; each account is beautifully illustrated by today's top bird artists. The text includes status, distribution, ecology, threats, conservation actions and needs, and references. A distribution map accompanies each entry. Chapters discuss birds as indicators of environmental health, the state of North American bird populations, major conservation issues, and initiatives now underway to improve the health of North America's birds. Birder's Conservation Handbook is an indispensable resource for birdwatchers, researchers, naturalists, and conservationists. Reading it will inspire you to become an active steward of our birds and the habitats we share. A comprehensive guide to North America's one hundred most at-risk birds and how to protect them Compact and easy to use, with beautiful illustrations and data organized for convenient, at-a-glance reference Detailed species accounts, including distribution maps Practical advice on conservation Information on leading conservation agencies and resources
Birdfinding in British Columbia
by Richard Cannings Russell CanningsFrom Canada's top birding team comes the definitive guide to finding birds in British Columbia.Veteran naturalist and birdfinder Richard Cannings and his son, Russell, a gifted birder in his own right, use their combined knowledge and expertise to guide readers to the best birding sites in the province. The book is divided into eleven regions, from Vancouver Island to the Far North, providing bird lovers with detailed information about how to reach the best sites to look for birds, when to look for them, and what they might find.Packed with descriptions of the natural history, ecosystems, and diverse landscapes of British Columbia and accompanied by numerous maps, this thorough guide is enhanced by Donald Gunn's charming line drawings and the authors' infectious enthusiasm, making it a must-have for novice and expert birders alike.
Birdgirl: Looking to the Skies in Search of a Better Future
by Mya-Rose CraigBirder, environmentalist and activist Mya-Rose Craig is an international force. In her moving memoir, Birdgirl, she chronicles her mother’s struggle with mental illness, and shares her passion for social justice and fierce dedication to preserving our planet.Meet Mya-Rose – otherwise known as “Birdgirl.” In her words: “Birdwatching has never felt like a hobby, or a pastime I can pick up and put down, but a thread running through the pattern of my life, so tightly woven in that there’s no way of pulling it free and leaving the rest of my life intact.”Birdgirl follows Mya-Rose and her family as they travel the world in search of rare birds and astonishing landscapes. But a shadow moves with them, too—her mother's deepening mental health crisis. In the face of this struggle, the Craigs turn to nature again and again for comfort and meaning. Each bird they see brings a moment of joy and reflection, instilling in Mya-Rose a deep love of the natural world. But Mya-Rose has also seen first-hand the reckless destruction we are inflicting on our fragile planet, as well as the pervasive racism infecting every corner of the world, leading her to campaign for Black, Indigenous, people of color.Joining the fight of today's young environmental activists, Mya-Rose shares her experiences to advocate for the simple, profound gift of nature, and for making it accessible to all, calling her readers to rediscover the power of our natural world.Birder, activist, daughter: this is her story.
Birdhouses and Feeders
by S. Craven G. Barquest R. EllarsonYou don't have to be an outdoorsy type to enjoy birdwatching, and you don't necessarily have to go outdoors to watch birds! Set up any of these thirty cozy homes and feeders in a spot that's conveniently viewed from indoors, and let the show begin!This easy-to-use manual features clear illustrations and step-by-step construction guidelines for building permanent residences, winter homes, and snack bars for birds of many different feathers—wrens, bluebirds, owls, robins, titmice, and other species, including squirrels and bats. A list of easily obtainable materials appears with each design, along with helpful suggestions for attracting specific creatures. Most designs involve woodworking techniques; others offer simple methods for recycling milk jugs, cardboard cartons, and tires into wildlife refuges.
Birdie & Harlow: Life, Loss, and Loving My Dog So Much I Didn't Want Kids (…Until I Did)
by Taylor WolfeThe funny and poignant story of one woman’s wonderfully codependent relationship with her dog – and what he taught her about chosen family and the reward of motherhood.Birdie & Harlow is the story of a baby and a dog. But motherhood is never quite that simple. In Taylor Wolfe’s case, it’s a long, zigzagging and winding road.Meant to be a last-minute anniversary gift for her then boyfriend (and now husband), the highly-energetic and loud-mouthed Vizla puppy named Harlow turns out to be the best snap decision twenty-year-old Taylor ever makes—and the beginning of the most epic friendship she ever has. As Wolfe’s resistance to 9-5’s and traditional adulthood grows, Harlow becomes the perfect companion for her eccentricities in a world that thrives on conformity. Wolfe’s twenties—full of pitfalls and surprises, sad days and silver linings—led her to the realization that life is too short to spend your days in a crate (or a cubicle), that parks are meant to be enjoyed, and most importantly, she wants to be a mom. But really, isn't she one already? A charming and touching memoir, Birdie & Harlow is a tribute to the many expressions of modern motherhood, to both human and fur babies alike. Taylor’s story reminds all of us that life will surprise you and that families should come in every shape and size.
Birdie for Now (Orca Young Readers)
by Jean LittleDickon wasn't happy in his old home or his old school. He hopes that in his new neighborhood he will meet children who never knew his old, hyper self, who will like him for who he is now. And he hopes for a dog of his own. Dickon's mother calls him Birdie. She feeds him milk from a teddy bear mug. She worries if he's out of her sight for a moment and she knows how filthy and vicious dogs can be. Dickon is delighted to discover that the Humane Society is right on the other side of the fence behind the new house, but only by disobeying his mother will he ever get close to a real dog.