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Informationen zum Autor Mark Brazil is a widely travelled field ornithologist and an experienced writer. He received a doctorate for his studies of the behavioural ecology of the Whooper Swan in Scotland and Iceland. His interest in swans has continued and he spends part of each winter studying them in Hokkaido, where he is currently Professor of Biodiversity and Conservation at Rakuno Gakuen University, Hokkaido. His main research interests have centred around East Asian birds, particularly the Japanese avifauna. Mark is the author of The Birds of Japan (Helm, 1991), The Whooper Swan (Poyser, 2003), Field Guide to Birds of East Asia (Helm, 2009) and Field Guide to the Birds of Japan (Helm, 2019). He has written research and review papers on a wide range of species and has contributed a regular column on natural history to The Japan Times newspaper continuously since 1982. Vorwort Taking an in-depth look at the Whooper Swan, this book investigates its biology, migratory habits, courtship and breeding behaviour and its role in the folklore and legend of the many countries where it occurs. Zusammenfassung This is the first ever monograph on the Whooper Swan. This species is found in the northern Palearctic and is the world's most widely distributed swan. It is a familiar bird in northern Europe and across Asia to the far East, and is particularly noticeable when migrating between breeding and wintering grounds in large, noisy flocks. This migratory behaviour makes it a powerful symbol of seasonal change, and this, together with the bird's beautiful appearance, make it a popular subject of folklore and legend. For much of its range the Whooper Swan is the archetypal 'wild swan', and its voice and appearance is deeply evocative of time and place.This book looks at all aspects of the life and times of this enchanting bird. The book includes chapters on taxonomy, population, range and distribution, diet, breeding biology, behaviour, migratory behaviour and longevity, as well as taking a look at the swan's associations with our own species in history and legend and throughout its geographic range.This book is a brilliantly readable and exhaustively researched monograph. It is illustrated throughout with numerous photographs and line drawings, illustrating various aspects of the species' behaviour and morphology. It will appeal greatly to all those with an interest in birdwatching, especially those who already know something of this wonderful and inspirational bird. Inhaltsverzeichnis List of Figures List of Tables Preface Acknowledgements 1 A Swan's World2 Swan Culture3 The Whooper Swan4 Range, Habitat and Population - Europe5 Range, Habitat and Population - Russia and Asia, and Vagrancy6 Food, Feeding and Flocking Behaviour7 Social Behaviour8 Breeding Biology and Behaviour9 Non-breeding Whooping Swans10 Movements and Migration11 In Sickness and in Health Appendices Notes Bibliography ...
