The Mandarin Duck

The Mandarin Duck
Author: Christopher Lever
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 351
Release: 2013-02-28
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1408189887

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Mandarin Duck, one of the largest and best-studied is in southern England. The Mandarin Duck is a small and (in the case of the males) spectacularly colourful species of waterfowl. Widely kept in aviaries around the world, populations often escaped to form wild colonies. Although declining and nowadays surprisingly hard to find, Britain's wild Mandarin population is probably more numerous than that of the duck's true home, China and the Russian Far East, where it is now endangered. This Poyser monograph is a detailed account of this beautiful duck's lifestyle and biology, with particular emphasis on invasive populations in Britain and overseas. It is a superb addition to the long-running and acclaimed Poyser series.

Orkney Nature

Orkney Nature
Author: Robert James Berry
Publisher: T & AD Poyser
Total Pages: 328
Release: 2000
Genre: Nature
ISBN:

By painting a broad picture of the natural and manmade environments, this text gives a full account of the natural history of Orkney.

The Lapwing

The Lapwing
Author: Michael Shrubb
Publisher: A&C Black
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2009-01-01
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1408108984

A detailed, authoritative yet highly readable monograph on one of Britain's best-loved farmland birds, the Lapwing. With its striking green-black and white plumage and distinctive pee-wit call, the Lapwing is one of Britain's best-known birds. Lapwings depend on agricultural land to breed and are considered a barometer of the health of this habitat; the population has crashed over recent decades, partly due to changes in farming practices. In winter, Lapwings switch to coastal areas and to wetlands, including those in suburban areas, where large, noisy flocks can gather. Michael Shrubb's The Lapwing is a thorough review of Lapwing biology contains sections on population dynamics, feeding ecology, habitat use, migration, and conservation; there is an impressively detailed review of our current understanding of breeding biology, plus discussion of some other species in the genus. The Lapwing is a superb addition to the Poyser list. Of interest to both amateur naturalists, who will enjoy insights into the birds' lives, and to academics, who will appreciate the broad overview of current research, this title will remain the definitive work on the species for many years to come.

Orkney

Orkney
Author: Ronald Miller
Publisher: B.T. Batsford
Total Pages: 200
Release: 1976
Genre: Orkney (Scotland)
ISBN:

The Natural History of Orkney (Collins New Naturalist Library, Book 70)

The Natural History of Orkney (Collins New Naturalist Library, Book 70)
Author: R. J. Berry
Publisher: HarperCollins UK
Total Pages: 498
Release: 2012-08-30
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0007406584

This is the first survey of the islands' natural history, complete in one volume. Because Orkney is exceptional, it is vital reading for the serious naturalist, as well as for being a comprehensive and absorbing guide for every visitor. This edition is exclusive to newnaturalists.com

The Historical Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 1875-1900

The Historical Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 1875-1900
Author: Simon Holloway
Publisher: A&C Black
Total Pages: 867
Release: 2010-01-31
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1408128667

The landscape of Britain has been irreversibly changed over the last century. Modern agriculture, urban expansion, industry and transport have all left their mark, altering the face of the countryside forever. Shifting with the changing scene, the fortunes of Britain and Ireland's bird populations have fluctuated dramatically over the years. As current farming practices have evolved, the natural habitats and breeding patterns of many species have been disrupted. Urban and industrial growth has brought with it the pressures of new land use, pesticides, pollution and human interference. The activities of sportsmen, collectors and farmers have also taken their toll over the years. The new Poyser title The Historical Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 1875-1900 is a fascinating book resulting form years of meticulous research by the author, Simon Holloway, who provides an absorbing account of the distribution changes of Britain and Ireland's birds over the last quarter of a century. Large colour distribution maps and their accompanying text paint a species-by-species picture of a period which completely transformed the landscape of this country. It is, says Natural World magazine, "a classic case of 'why did no one write this book before?'...The experienced birder, using a knowledge of species requirements, can only marvel at what the long-vanished landscapes were then like." Birdwatch praises Simon Holloway's achievement, saying: "This book brings together so much information from disparate sources, and its status maps present such a clear picture of our late Victorian avifauna, that it should take its place beside the BTO atlases on the bookshelf." While Birdwatching adds: "If you are interested in the historical side of birds and their populations this book will be an endless source of fascination." As with all Poyser publications, the attention to detail, the lovingly produced illustrations and the sheer breadth of knowledge demonstrated by the autho

Howe

Howe
Author: Beverley Ballin Smith
Publisher:
Total Pages: 346
Release: 1994
Genre: History
ISBN:

Excavations at Howe between 1978 and 1982 presented an unparalleled opportunity to examine the extensive and complex remains of a broch settlement, and thereby more fully understand the stages of evolution from roundhouse to massive complex roundhouse. The ensuing discovery of the earlier Neolithic structures and enclosed early Iron Age settlements added further layers of importance to this rich and complex site. This volume presents the detailed excavation report, discussing the structural and environmental evidence, the material culture, human remains, and radiocarbon dates.