Beaks, Bones and Bird Songs - How the Struggle for Survival Has Shaped Birds and Their Behavior

Zusatztext “This is a wonderful book about birds for birders who would like to understand them better.” —Dennis Paulson! author of Shorebirds of North America   “A joyride through the secret lives of birds. Drawing on centuries of bird research and observation! Roger Lederer brings readers an engaging exploration of bird survival strategies and their evolutionary origins." —James R. Karr! professor emeritus! University of Washington “It might not seem so! but “it’s tough to be a bird!” Roger J. Lederer writes. . . . Lederer convincingly makes the case in his accessible and detail-rich survey of bird behavior. His examples are vivid and plentiful. . . . Lederer! an emeritus professor of biology! has an easy way with zoological concepts and the patient air of a born teacher.” — Washington Post “An exceptional overview of the life! adaptations! and impressive skill sets of wild birds. . . . Highly recommended for all interested in natural history and the impact of humans on the natural world.” — Library Journal Beaks! Bones! and Bird Songs an “admirable undertaking. . . rich source of information.” — Choice Magazine “A trove of information for true bird nerds.” — Bird Watcher’s Digest  “Birds have conquered every environment on Earth—including our hearts. This book reminds us that our fates are intertwined with theirs.” —Gary Langham! chief scientist of the  National Audubon Society “Professor Lederer gives us an ornithologist's ‘inside’ view of birds—and shows that birds are even more intricate! diverse! and downright astonishing than most of us imagine.” —Warren F. Cooke! chairman of  The American Bird Conservancy   “Gracefully mingles [Lederer’s] own experiences around the world with what is known about birds (and what still remains a mystery).” — Chico Enterprise-Record Informationen zum Autor Dr. Roger Lederer is a professor of biological sciences at California State University! Chico. He has published papers and books on ecology! science education! and ornithology. Dr. Lederer has served as a consultant to governments! schools! and organizations like BBC! National Geographic! National Public Radio! National Canadian Television! the Guinness Book of World Records! and many others through his popular website! ornithology.com. Klappentext It’s tough to be a bird.  They may seem to not have a care in the world! but birds face arduous challenges every moment of every day. Using only senses and instincts! they have to find food! migrate! withstand the weather! and avoid predators—all while competing with each other and countless other species for survival. Today! after evolving for more than 200 million years! birds are challenged by a new set of obstacles brought about by humans.   How do they make their way in the face of these trials? Navigating by smell and changing their songs in noisy cities are just a few of the remarkable ways birds cope with a changing planet. Marvel at their resilience! as ornithologist Roger Lederer shares an insider’s appreciation for the most uncommonly common creatures on Earth.   Introduction It’s Tough To Be a Bird Look outside your window, take a walk, go fishing, watch a video, or do anything else that allows you to see birds in the wild. You may get the impression that birds are blithely going about their business, happily chirping, singing, and scratching among the leaves, flitting from branch to branch, clambering up a tree trunk, or soaring through the sky barely moving a feather. Looks like an easy life. Cultural symbols like the dove representing peace, the bluebird signifying happiness, and the robin as the harbinger of spring reinforce the idea that...

Product details

• Authors: Roger Lederer, Roger J. Lederer
• Publisher: Timber Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.06.2016
• EAN: 9781604696486
• ISBN: 978-1-60469-648-6
• No. of pages: 288
• Subjects: Guides > Nature > Nature guide; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Biology > Zoology