Hoopoe – A blog by nhbs

We are in ‘raptors’ about this exciting forthcoming title: Raptors: A Field Guide to Survey and Monitoring, and we hope that you will seize this opportunity (you can place an order in advance to receive your copy in early July hot off the press!) to get your talons on it.

Written and edited by members of the Scottish Raptor Monitoring Group, this book draws on the knowledge and experience of over 300 raptor specialists and has been funded by Scottish Natural Heritage with assistance from the other Statutory Conservation Agencies in Britain and Ireland, as well as non-government bodies concerned with birds of prey. It includes a CD-ROM containing raptor calls, and sets out to promote best practice for the survey and monitoring of raptors. It is hoped that it will provide a starting point for anyone wanting to begin a raptor study, and indeed to encourage a new generation of raptor ecologists.

Fantástico Sur?

Calling all Naturalists, Birdwatchers and Photographers! Have you heard of Fantástico Sur? (No, it is not a Roald Dahl character with red pointy ears and a penchant for fooling farmers!) Fantástico Sur is an entirely Chilean enterprise that sets up expeditions for naturalists and birdwatchers visiting southern South America.

Fantástico Sur is also involved in the authorship and publication of a growing number of wildlife books. Below are four fascinating photographic journey books in English and Spanish by Enrique Couve and Claudio F Vidal from Fantastico Sur distributed by NHBS:

Albatrosses

Atacama Desert

Torres del Paine

Antarctic Peninsula

ps. So, ‘Fantástico Sur’ basically means ‘Fantastic’? or ‘Fantastic South’? Right?

The Nature of the Cairngorms: Diversity in a Changing Environment, edited by Philip Shaw and Des Thompson, presents a huge amount of new and previously unpublished information, and sets a new standard for assessing the importance of National Parks.

The Cairngorms, Britain’s largest National Park, is home to an unrivalled variety of wildlife including the Golden Eagle, Osprey, Pine Marten, Red Deer, Red Fox, and Mountain Hare. It is arguably the most significant for nature conservation in Britain.

In this book, 35 authors have drawn from a wealth of published and unpublished sources, to present an up-to-date review of the area’s nationally and internationally important plants, animals, habitats, geology and landforms.

Especially for conservation professionals – but also for an educated public – this book will become indispensable.

Professor Georg Grabherr, University of Vienna

The second volume of the fantastic two-volume set on bird coloration is now available. The contributions in this volume concentrate on the Function and Evolution, while the first volume dealt with Mechanisms and Measurements. This long-overdue synthesis is published by Harvard University Press.

The seagulls on the roof of our warehouse are getting a little noisier each day as summer approaches.

The NHBS April Monthly Catalogue is now available online at http://www.nhbs.com/monthcat/current.html.
We have added more than 300 new titles to our catalogue in April – it’s an invaluable tool for everybody who needs to stay informed about new publications in Natural History, Environment, Sciences and Conservation. We produce them at the end of every month to highlight all the titles we’re adding to www.nhbs.com.
If you would like to receive future Monthly Catalogues by email, just send a quick note to subscribe@nhbs.co.uk and we’ll put you on our mailing list.

Now in stock: Gower – the latest volume in the collectable New Naturalist series. Available in both paperback and hardcover.

Gower is the definitive natural history of the Gower Peninsula, coinciding with its 50th anniversary as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

This book is available from NHBS at a special price, for a limited time only:

• Hardback: £34.99 (reduced from £45)
• Paperback: £17.99 (reduced from £25)

Follow a duck between two rice fields and see where it leads you…

Everyone knows that Bali is a fantastic place to visit, but now you can visit the real Bali, as described by insiders – including ecologists, anthropologists, Balinese journalists, sociologists and artists, while supporting environmental conservation efforts!

The Natural Guide to Bali is the essential new guide book for imaginative, responsible travellers.

With the motto: “Enjoy Nature, Meet the People, Make a Difference,” The Natural Guide seeks to bring together nature and people through responsible travel. The Natural Guide to Bali is a fascinating account of Bali as a destination for eco-tourists, as well as the extraordinary cultural experiences that Bali offers.

The International Ecotourism Society

We believe that this book will benefit the tourists and local communities alike. Besides helping the people by increasing the inflow of visitors, this book also provides education both for the tourists and the local people, while supporting environmental conservation efforts.

The Indonesian Ecotourism Network

This book is not just another guide book. It’s a guide book with a mission. The authors’ intentions and commitments shine through clearly on every page. Their mission is the laudable one of responsible, ecologically aware tourism. The aim is to provide the tourist with rewarding experiences while at the same time benefiting local communities. It is the first of a new series and I think it will become a leader. I thoroughly recommend this book.

Ni Wayan Murni

Gorgeously illustrated, beautifully written and replete with maps for each area, The Natural Guide to Bali is exactly what one would expect from Equinox, a publisher whose collection of Indonesia-focused works shows style and substance. The guide deserves a place on any bookshelf, for not only is it invaluable for those of us concerned about our declining planet and those who make frequent trips to Bali, it is, simply, a fascinating read.The guide is a travel book specifically for today’s environmentally fragile world, in which tourism has also been blamed for environmental degradation and the assault on traditional culture.

The Jakarta Post

Follow a duck between two rice fields and see where it leads you…Do like the Balinese: wake up early to catch the glorious mornings; nap during the afternoon heat…

This is not just another guidebook. It’s not just pointing you in the right direction or telling you what is in a place. It is written by people who love Bali, with the aim to make you feel the same, and to let you know why you should feel that way – to get the spirit of the place.

Amazon.com

The Secret Language of Birds is a real treat. This beautiful book explores the secret language of birds throughout the world through fascinating stories, quotes, secrets and myths. From dark tales of violence and transformation, to wonderful facts – did you know that Baby Zebra Finches learn their songs in their sleep? – this book will inspire you to see every bird in a new light:

How do you know but every bird that cuts the airy way Is an immense world of delight, closed by your senses five?

William Blake, The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

The book contains a wealth of interesting information. At NHBS, for example, our mascot is the Hoopoe:

Storm Detection

Many birds are believed by human beings to have the ability to predict the weather. This is not mere folklore but has its basis in scientific fact. It is a relatively recent discovery that the hoopoe, for example, is able to detect piezo-electrical charges in the atmosphere, which can presage lightning storms, and the bird’s behaviour alters as a result of them. So the hoopoe really can be used as a relaible indicator of harsh weather to come.

There is also a rather dark myth about our hoopoe – but for that you’ll have to read the book!

The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland is the first assessment of the changing status of butterflies in the 21st Century, updating the hugely popular Millennium Atlas of Butterflies of Britain and Ireland.This important new book, richly illustrated with many colour photographs, maps and plots showing changes in species’ distribution and abundance, provides a vital and up-to-date reference on the current state of the 59 butterfly species that regularly breed in Britain and Ireland.

Visit Butterfly Conservation for more information on butterflies, moths and their habitats.

The sun is definitely out today, winter is over, and this means that our new Spring/Summer Catalogue is now available!

We have handpicked 3500 of the finest new, forthcoming and best-selling titles in wildlife, science and conservation from the 100,000+ titles on www.nhbs.com to bring you this unique selection of the best in natural history publishing.

The Spring/Summer catalogue is now online, and you can view it on www.nhbs.com, or download it as a .pdf document for easy reading/printing. Enjoy!