Author: Robert Smith
Guest feature | The influence of artificial light on the behaviour of a nocturnal bird
Light pollution caused by artificial light at night (or ALAN) is one of many factors of the ever-increasing urbanization of the planet that impact the behaviour and ecology of organisms. The use of artificial light in rural and natural areas in addition to dense urban centres mean its one of the more pervasive symptoms of urbanization and can alter natural environments even quite far from cities. However, the ecological consequences of ALAN on the behaviour of organisms is not well understood, […] Read More
Elusive Birds of the Tropical Forest Understory
Elusive Birds of the Tropical Forest Understory (Comstock Publishing Associates) makes a fine effort to introduce us to an underappreciated and relatively little-known cohort of birds. Its attractive coffee table book format houses a compendium of portraiture sets for 41 bird species that reside in the lower to mid- strata of New World tropical forests. Accompanying each of these sets is an accessibly-written essay by one of several contemporary, expert tropical avian ecologists. Read More
Guest feature | Sex determination of Eastern White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys leucophrys) using wing chord length
The White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) is a common, sexually monochromatic (male and female coloration is identical) songbird species that occurs across North America in different seasons. For this reason, it is one of the most commonly studied songbirds in North America. The White-crowned Sparrow has four currently recognized subspecies: Eastern (leucophrys), Gambel’s (gambelii), Nuttall’s (nuttalli) […] Read More
Aboriginal Peoples and Birds in Australia
This is a very welcome publication. Anthropologist Philip Clarke has produced a wide-ranging survey of the historical and cultural relationships between Australia’s aboriginal peoples and its distinctive avifauna. These relationships are both deep and complex. When the first European settlers encountered this vast continent they were entering a world whose indigenous inhabitants had over thousands of years evolved a most detailed and intimate knowledge of their natural surroundings and its wildlife. Read More
Birds of Belize
I received the book from the publisher thanks to a request from AFO, who kindly asked me if I would be interested in reviewing this new book. The first pleasant surprise was the size of the book, which was very practical. The idea of having the groups of species presented on the folded front inside cover to get a quick idea of what we’re looking at seems to be very useful and well thought out. Although it may seem that there are few species in Belize, with this double-page spread of quick groups presentation... Read More
What an Owl Knows: The Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds
Jennifer Ackerman is well known for her previous books such as The Bird Way and The Genius of Birds, where she dives into the avian brain and explores the so different but brilliant mind of birds. In this book, she takes her passion for birds and science and explores the world of owls. Humans have a very special bond with owls, and they seem to be the most revered, beloved, but also feared birds in the world and our fascination with them goes back thousands of years. Read More
Birds of the Mesozoic: An Illustrated Field Guide
Birds fascinate people. A quick journey through human history reveals ample evidence of how birds have captured our imagination since the dawn of history and across cultures, from illustrations of birds in paleolithic cave art, to the in ancient Egyptian god Horus depicted as an eagle, to carved thunderbirds crowning totems in many North American indigenous cultures. oday, fascination in birds takes another form: birders – folks who engage in birdwatching as a recreational activity. In a report issued by... Read More
Audubon at Sea: The Coastal and Transatlantic Adventures of John James Audubon
Christopher Irmscher (a noted Audubon Scholar) and Richard J. King ( an accomplished writer about marine literature) provide an excellent review of John James Audubon’s waterbird adventures at a time of renewed interest in Audubon’s place in ornithology history and recent controversy about his life as a slave owner during this time of racial awakening. Read More- 4 of 4
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