Tawny Frogmouth (Australian Natural History) 

The tawny frogmouth is both intriguing and endearing. In this new book, well-known author Gisela Kaplan presents us with an easy-to-read account of these unique nocturnal birds of the Australian bush. This detailed account of life, behaviour and biology of tawny frogmouths is based on the most comprehensive single study ever conducted on tawny frogmouths, including wild and hand-raised birds. It combines ten years of systematic observation with published research to take us across a surprising range of characteristics and special features of this unusual bird. This book also notes insights derived from specific regional bird fauna surveys across Australia. We are shown this captivating Australian species in completely new and even unexpected ways. We learn that tawny frogmouths are very affectionate, have close bonds with lifelong partners, scream like prowling tomcats when distressed, fight with lightning speed and defend nest sites from reptilian predators by mobbing and spraying pungent faeces at these dangerous opponents. Uncompromising male fights are contrasted with a touching gentleness of males as fathers. We also learn how resilient and unusual tawny frogmouths are in the way they cope with heat and cold, sit out danger, do without drinking for most of their lives, and can use a large variety of food items. The developmental stages of nestlings and juveniles are illustrated with a number of stunning visual images accompanying the text, most of which have never before been described or seen.

Australian Owls, Frogmouths, Nightjars 

Publisher : Greater Glider (1 Dec. 2003)

• Language : English
• Paperback : 48 pages
• ISBN-10 : 094730410X
• ISBN-13 : 978-0947304102

The Nightjar (Shire natural history)

Product details

• Publisher : Shire Publications (1 July 1989)
• Language : English
• Paperback : 24 pages
• ISBN-10 : 0747800308
• ISBN-13 : 978-0747800309
• Dimensions : 
• 21.01 x 15.52 x 0.28 cm
• 
  

A Guide to the Nightjars, Frogmouths, Potoos, Oilbird and Owlet-nightjars of the World

The nightjars and their allies are amongst the most difficult of all birds to identify. Being strictly nocturnal and cryptically patterned in shades of brown, it is often necessary to rely on size, shape, habitat and voice to safely identify a species. The nightjars are by far the largest family in the order and are spread throughout the world. Some species have developed spectacular tails and wing adornments, but the majority are fairly uniform in appearance. They inhabit both forests and deserts and are ground-nesting. Many species are migratory. The forest-dwelling frogmouths of Asia and Australasia and the potoos of Latin America, adopt a less aeiral feeding strategy and nest on open branches or in tree crevices. The unique oilbird of South American nests colonially in caves, and the owlet-nighjars almost exclusively inhabit Australasia. This book fully covers this popular group of birds. The text has been thoroughly researched, both in the museum and in the field, and the plates depict feather-by-feather detail, allowing identification of all species, providing adequate views are obtained. As voice is so important in nightjar identification, an accompanying CD (priced separately) with the voices of many species will be issued simultaneously.

Nightjars and their Allies: The Caprimulgiformes

 Nightjars and their allies are a curious, fascinating, and remarkably varied group of birds that are found throughout the world. This largely nocturnal group has many specific adaptations for night time activity and some species alter their behaviour according to lunar cycles. Until now, the existing literature has lacked information about their biology or evolution. This book rectifies these omissions in a comprehensive account. The 118 species accounts provide details of coloration, plumage, moults, geographical variation, body measurements, habitats, behaviour, conservation, and evolution and are backed up by a comprehensive bibliography. The more general, introductory chapters review evidence about the group's evolutionary ancestry and place the birds' distributions, behaviour and physiology in an evolutionary context. The 23 superb plates by Martin Woodcock illustrate all the species, with behaviour and subtle variations depicted by delicate halftone drawings.

Nightjars, Potoos, Frogmouths, Oilbird, and Owlet-nightjars of the World

This is the ultimate identification guide to the nightjars, potoos, frogmouths, Oilbird, and owlet-nightjars of the world. Covering all 135 known species of these elusive and cryptically plumaged birds, this illustrated guide features more than 580 superb colour photographs depicting every species and many subspecies, including numerous images never before published. Photos of museum specimens are provided for birds for which no images in the wild exist, including species not seen since their original discovery. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, confusion species, vocalizations, distribution, habitat and altitudinal range, breeding season and sites, egg type and clutch size, downy chick, status, and Red List category. This easy-to-use photographic guide also includes a colour distribution map for every species as well as sections on plumage, taxonomy, and more. * The ultimate identification guide to these elusive birds * Covers all 135 known species * Features more than 580 colour photos * Provides detailed species accounts and a colour distribution map for every species * Includes sections on plumage, taxonomy, and more

In 1990, a group of Cambridge scientists arrived at the Plains of Nechisar in Ethiopia. On that expedition, they collected more than two dozen specimens, saw more than three hundred species of birds, and a plethora of rare butterflies, dragonflies, reptiles, mammals, and plants. As they were gathering up their findings, a wing of an unidentified bird was packed into a brown paper bag. It was to become the most famous wing in the world.

This wing would set the world of science aflutter. Experts were mystified. The wing was entirely unique. It was like nothing they had ever seem before. Could a new species be named based on just one wing? After much discussion, a new species was announced: Nechisar Nightjar, or Camprimulgus Solala, which means "only wing." And so birdwatchers like Vernon began to dream.

Twenty-two years later, he joins an expedition of four to find this rarest bird in the world. In this gem of nature writing, Vernon captivates and enchants as he recounts the searches by spotlight through the Ethiopian plains, and allows the reader to mediate on nature, exploration, our need for wild places, and the human compulsion to name things. Rarest Bird is a celebration of a certain way of seeing the world, and will bring out the explorer in in everyone who reads it.

In 1990 an expedition of Cambridge scientists arrived at the Plains of Nechisar, tucked between the hills of the Great Rift Valley in the Gamo Gofa province in the country of Ethiopia. On that expedition, 315 species of birds were seen; 61 species of mammal and 69 species of butterfly were identified; 20 species of dragonflies and damselflies; 17 reptile species were recorded; three frog species were filed; plants were listed. And the wing of a road-killed bird was packed into a brown paper bag. It was to become the most famous wing in the world. At British Natural History Museum in Tring, the wing set the world of science aflutter. It seemed that the wing was unique, but they questioned, can you name a species for the first time based only on the description of a wing, based on just one wing? After much to and fro, confirmation was unanimous, and the new species was announced, Nechisar Nightjar, Caprimulgus solala, (solus: only and ala: wing). And birdwatchers like Vernon began to dream. Twenty-two years later an expedition of four led by Ian Sinclair set off to try to find this rarest bird in the world. Vernon R.L. Head captivates and enchants as he tells of the adventures of Ian, Dennis, Gerry and himself as they navigate the wilderness of the plains, searching by spotlight for the elusive Nechisar Nightjar. But this book is more than a boy's own adventure in search of the rarest bird in the world. It is a meditation on nature, on ways of seeing, on the naming of things and why we feel so compelled to label. It is a story of friendships and camaraderie. But most of all it embraces and enfolds one into the curious and eye-opening world of the birdwatcher. For birdwatchers, twitchers, bird lovers, and about-to-become birdwatchers everywhere.

Swifts in a Tower 1st ed

The Swift has greater mastery of the air than any other bird, but is one of the least known, as it nests inaccessibly in holes. The author studied a colony in an Oxford tower, by substituting glass-backed nesting boxes for the ventilators in which they were nesting; after which the birds could be watched from a few inches away, thus providing unique means of studying them. Their flight (which may last five hours), courtship and nesting behaviour were fully studied, and have been illustrated with unique photographs by H. N. Southern. Behaviour in the air was also observed, swifts being the only bird known to mate on the wing. They also drink, bathe and collect their food and nesting materials without alighting, and even spend the night on the wing.

Swifts in a Tower

 First published in 1956, Swifts in a Tower still offers astonishing insights into swifts’ private lives along with thoughts about their life style and wider issues. Now more than sixty years later swifts have been studied even more thoroughly, with technology unimaginable in the 1950s. This continues to reveal even more of their secrets, so this edition, published in association with the RSPB for their Oxford Swift City project includes a new chapter by Andrew Lack, bringing the story of this remarkable bird into the 21st Century.

Swift Summers

The Common Swift is an aerial specialist rarely coming to the ground. This means they have been little studied. This book relates my time spent studying these special birds at a nesting colony where I had unique access.

Swifts and Us: The Life of the Bird that Sleeps in the Sky

Swifts live almost entirely in the air. They eat, drink, sleep, mate and gather their nesting materials on the wing, fly thousands of miles across the world, navigating their way around storms, never lighting on tree, cliff or ground, until they return home with the summer.

Sarah Gibson has written a fascinating story of discovery, exploring what is known about these mysterious birds, their ancient ancestry and how they have been regarded through history. But the swifts are in real danger: often unintentionally, we are sealing our homes against wildlife of any kind. Cracks, gaps and crevices which for thousands of years have offered nesting space in buildings, are being closed off, while new housing rarely offers entry holes for nesting birds. Loss of breeding places is considered to be a significant factor in the steep decline of these birds over the last twenty years.

Pallid Swifts (and common swifts): A semi-scientific introduction to a species

A semi scientific introduction to a species. A science communication book focusing on observations of a Swifts Nest box since 2011, and the behaviour and established knowledge of the species.

Swifts: A Guide to the Swifts and Treeswifts of the World

The second edition of this highly acclaimed book has been extensively revised by the author to take account of recent information, most particularly about the neotropical swifts, and several plates have been revised by the artist.

Published in association with Christopher Helm/A & C Black

The White Nest Swiftlets (French)

Owing to the high prices reached for their edible nests, the White-nest and Black-nest Swiftlets are birds of high economical value for the countries where they live. Continuous overexploitation of their nests led to the breakdown, and even to the extinction of many of their populations. Their conservation is handicaped by the lack of knowledge we have on their biology, as was pointed out at the 9th conference of the C.I.T.E.S
In this book we try to present a synthesis of all that is known about the White-nest and the Black-nest Swiftlets.......

Swiftlets of Borneo: Builders of Edible Nests

Since the close of the 16th century AD, the edible nests of swiftlets have aroused the perplexed curiosity of European travellers to South-east Asia, while at the same time providing one of the most important constituents of traditional Chinese medicine. For both cultures – western and eastern – Swiftlets of Borneo clarifies the nature of these nests, the troglodytic lives of the birds that build them, and the exploitation of this highly valuable natural resource.

Devil Birds: The life of the Swift

Swifts are among the most fascinating of our birds - at once familiar and mysterious. For centuries swifts have lived close to man, nesting under the rooves of our houses, but we know very little about them, for except when they are hidden away in their dark nests, they spend their entire life on the wing, flying literally millions of miles in a lifetime.
For many years a colony of swifts has nested in the tower of the University Museum at Oxford.(It was here that David Lack did the research for his classic work ' Swifts in a Tower'). Derek Bromhall spent two seasons filming this colony, beginning in the phenomenally hot summer of 1976 and ending with the more normal breeding season of 1977 with its spells of cold, wet weather. For these two years he watched the swifts going about their daily business; this book describes that experience, bringing us closer to the lives of swifts than has ever been possible before.

The Bee-Eaters

Dr Hilary Fry's study of the bee-eaters covers all 24 species of this colourful Family, which ranges from southern Europe, Africa and the Middle East to India, China, south-east Asia and Australia. A major part of the book comprises the species accounts, with complementary colour plates of 42 species and sub-species and detailed maps depicting the geography of their evolution. In addition there are chapters on the bee-eaters' evolutionary development, their food and foraging behaviour, and relationships with apiculture; of particular interest are chapters on social and reproductive life, the role of 'helpers' at the nest, and the meaning of plumage and social distinctions between the species. The author's colour plates delight the eye and accurately portray plumage and 'jizz'. They are fully supplemented by more than 100 drawings by John Busby, capturing the essence of these birds with a rare deftness and vitality.

Le Rollier d'Europe

Véritable saphir sur un ciel plombé d'été, le rollier d'Europe renverse la tête, en attitude de salutation, et lance un " cracracracracra " très grave.Au fil de ce livre, à l'aide de photographies inédites, vraiment exceptionnelles, Alain Christof nous dévoile la vie de cette espèce rare et farouche qui niche en France d'avril à septembre.Durant de longues heures, il l'a cherché, suivi, observé, photographié... avec une passion toujours renouvelée. Parades, salutation, offrandes, nourrissages, tout devient clair.Des illustrations fascinantes et un texte très documenté nous plongent dans l'univers du rollier d'Europe et nous font tour à tour découvrir son habitat cavernicole, son régime alimentaire, sa reproduction, ses migrations et les conditions de sa survie.