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Raptors, including hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls, are wide-ranging, land-based predators found across a broad range of habitats on six continents. Most raptors undertake seasonal migrations, traveling along topographical corridors by which they orient themselves. Tens of thousands of raptors regularly gather at specific stopover sites, which leaves them vulnerable to habitat destruction and systematic hunting -- but also makes these otherwise widely dispersed birds easy to view in their natural environments. Published with Pennsylvania's Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and bringing together information from more than eight hundred raptor experts, this comprehensive guide provides detailed accounts of 388 globally significant "watchsites". For each site, the contributors document raptor species, migration periods, protection status, land use, and monitoring activities. Organized by continent and illustrated with photographs and maps, Raptor Watch offers an accessible, thoroughly researched guide to the viewing opportunities and conservation efforts provided by raptor watchsites around the world.
Raptors are formally classified into five families and include birds—such as eagles, ospreys, kites, true hawks, buzzards, harriers, vultures, and falcons—that are familiar and recognized by many observers. These diurnal birds of prey are found on every continent except Antarctica and can thrive in seemingly inhospitable spots such as deserts and the tundra. They have powerful talons and hooked beaks for cutting and tearing meat, and keen binocular vision to aid in their hunting prowess. Because of their large size, distinctive feeding habits, and long-distance flight patterns, raptors intrigue humans and have been the subject of much general interest as well as extensive scientific research. Keith L. Bildstein has watched and studied raptors on five continents and is well prepared to explain their critical importance, not only as ecological entities but also as inspirational tokens across natural and human-dominated landscapes. His book offers a comprehensive and accessible account of raptors, including their evolutionary history, their relationships to other groups of birds, their sensory abilities, their general natural history, their breeding ecology and feeding behavior, and threats to their survival in a human-dominated world. Biologically sound but readable, Raptors is a nontechnical overview of this captivating group. It will allow naturalists, birders, hawk-watchers, science educators, schoolchildren, and the general public, along with new students in the field of raptor biology, to understand and appreciate these birds, and in so doing better protect them.
Raptors of the World (Helm, 2001) is the definitive handbook to this most popular group of birds. This new field guide uses all of the plates from Raptors of the World, with a concise, revised text on facing pages, to create a conveniently-sized, lightweight field reference covering all 340 raptor species. Several of the plates have been reworked and repainted for this guide. The book also has an updated colour distribution map for each species. Much of the extensive introductory material has been retained in this guide, with the addition of a complete species list containing all subspecies and brief details of their ranges. Armed with this guide, birders will be able to identify with confidence any raptor encountered anywhere in the world.
Plates 1-3 illustrate representatives, in flight, of all 78 genera, grouped by size and zoogeographical regions.".
The ultimate field manual for identifying distant raptors The ultimate must-have guide for identifying migrant raptors, Hawks at a Distance is the first volume to focus on distant raptors as they are truly seen in the field. Jerry Liguori, a leading expert on North American raptors, factors in new information and approaches for identifying twenty-nine species of raptor in various lighting situations and settings. The field guide's nineteen full-color portraits, 558 color photos, and 896 black-and-white images portray shapes and plumages for each species from all angles. Useful flight identification criteria are provided and the accompanying text discusses all aspects of in-flight hawk identification, including flight style and behavior. Concentrating on features that are genuinely observable at a distance, this concise and practical field guide is ideal for any aspiring or experienced hawk enthusiast. The first guide to focus on distant raptors as they are viewed in the field New information and approaches for identifying distant raptors Illustrates twenty-nine species in various lighting situations and settings 558 color photos and 896 black-and-white images depicting plumage and shape characteristics All aspects of in-flight hawk identification, including flight style and behavior
No book has ever before specifically focused on the birds of prey of New Mexico. Both Florence Bailey (1928) and J. Stokley Ligon (1961) published volumes on the birds of New Mexico, but their coverage of raptors was somewhat limited. In the ensuing years a great deal of new information has been collected on these mighty hunters' distribution, ecology, and conservation, including in New Mexico. The book begins with a history of the word "raptor." The order of Raptatores, or Raptores, was first used to classify birds of prey in the early nineteenth century, derived from the Latin word raptor, one who seizes by force. The text then includes the writings of thirty-seven contributing authors who relate their observations on these regal species. For example, Joe Truett recounts the following in the chapter on the Swainson's Hawk: "From spring to fall each year at the Jornada Caves in the Jornada del Muerto, Swainson's hawks assemble daily to catch bats. The bats exit the caves--actually lava tubes--near sundown. The hawks swoop in, snatch bats from the air, and eat them on the wing." Originally from France, Jean-Luc Cartron has lived and worked on several continents, finding his passion in the wide-open spaces of New Mexico. He became fascinated by the birds of prey and has studied their ecology and conservation for nearly twenty years. Raptors of New Mexico will provide readers with a comprehensive treatment of all hawks, eagles, kites, vultures, falcons, and owls breeding or wintering in New Mexico, or simply migrating through the state. This landmark study is also beautifully illustrated with more than six hundred photographs, including the work of more than one hundred photographers, and more than twenty species distribution maps.
A comprehensive travelogue and guidebook exploring island adventures on many of the 135 islands accessible by ferry or bridge in the Great Lakes Basin. The Great Lakes Basin is the largest surface freshwater system on Earth. The more than 30,000 islands dotted throughout the basin provide some of the best ways to enjoy the Great Lakes. While the vast majority of these islands can only be reached by private boat or plane, a surprising number of islands—each with its own character and often harboring more than a bit of intrigue in its history—can be reached by merely taking a ferry ride, or crossing a bridge, offering everyone the chance to experience a variety of island adventures. Great Lakes Island Escapes: Ferries and Bridges to Adventure explores in depth over 30 of the Great Lakes Basin islands accessible by bridge or ferry and introduces more than 50 additional islands. Thirty-eight chapters include helpful information about getting to each featured island, what to expect when you get there, the island's history, and what natural and historical sites and cultural attractions are available to visitors. Each chapter lists special island events, where to get more island information, and how readers can help support the island. Author Maureen Dunphy made numerous trips to a total of 135 islands that are accessible by ferry or bridge in the Great Lakes Basin. On each trip, Dunphy was accompanied by a different friend or relative who provided her another adventurer's perspective through which to view the island experience. Great Lakes Island Escapes covers islands on both sides of the international border between the United States and Canada and features islands in both the lakes and the waterways that connect them. Anyone interested in island travel or learning more about the Great Lakes will delight in this comprehensive collection.
It is the year 2039 and the planet teeters on the brink of environmental disaster. Continued over-production and pollution has depleted all resources and made it difficult for people to find the staples of life: food; water even clean air, are all becoming increasingly difficult to find. Countries stand on the brink of war over resources, and the big political powers position themselves to covertly control the aftermath. The Cairo Environment Summit in the summer is meant to allow everybody to come to a point of agreement on what to do but the ageing political powerhouses seem intent only on injuring each other. The Old World wants immediately to limit activity, to reduce the human impact of over production. Their New World antagonists aren’t convinced, wanting to survey the planet’s resources and human activity ostensibly to identify the real causes, but really to consolidate their position before cuts happen. Whoever gains the upper hand in the war of words stands to win the war. However both Presidents vacillate over what to do, mindful of the opposing and competing political and environmental agendas that could derail the whole process. In Europe there is much talking and procrastinating while in the USA the Vice-President begins to position himself to take over from an increasingly unpopular President. Ever determined to stay one step ahead of the Old World, the US turns to its main technology partner who is the world leader in the embedded chip technology. Both powers extol the virtues of this interface which allows the user to access the internet and to maintain contact with family, friends and work colleagues by providing a direct connection between the brain and outside communications. It revolutionises living in the States: Europeans are less embracing, going for the more limited Omni chip over the American Zeus chip which provides an always on connection. After a powerful demonstration of its capabilities the US Government commits itself to a covert operation over which it finds it has increasingly less control. It’s own Senate Committee investigations on environmental change challenge the wisdom of the country’s stance but the two key witnesses soon realise they are fighting a losing battle with all save, perhaps, the chairperson. When the deaths begin, mysterious and without apparent cause, detectives in Europe seek to find out who might be behind the apparently unconnected but similar sudden deaths. In the US secret services agencies wonder whether they can stay on top of the increasing number of human infiltrations that threaten the very security of the country and the military stability of the world. KEY CHARACTERS: George Aspen: 50-something ex Greenpeace activist and eminent environmentalist. He is giving evidenceto the Senate Committee, along with European counterpart and long-time friend Roland Didot, on the state of the environment. When perfectly healthy Didot dies from an unexplained heart attack, George finds himself in a race to save his own life. Gary Knight: 30-something British detective is confronted with evidence that somebody is able to control the embedded chip now vital for military communications. It’s his job to find the person responsible and bring them to justice. He never thought it would take him to the jungles of Panama, masquerading as a network engineer. Andrea Callaghan: young, hot-headed but supremely intelligent computer specialist who is called upon to give expert advice on chip technology and finds herself part of a covert team to uncover and stop the organisation infiltrating the chip. Tod Carter: RAF Typhoon pilot of supreme capability but with the ghost of ex-action in Macedonia which saw him compromise. He is called in to provide infiltration and exfiltration to Gary and Andrea because of his expert knowledge on a wide range of aircraft. Max Stoller: enigmatic and controlling CEO of Stoller Industries dreams of controlling the world from behind the scenes, using his chip technology to infiltrate the minds of the world’s politicians and military leaders. When they ask him for help he cannot believe his luck. Vladimir Nickolayev: a young Russian gaming and computing expert who is employed by Stoller to increase the ability of the Zeus chip. Supremely arrogant, Nickolayev will take any risk and do anything to steal power from Stoller and take the man’s dream with him. Sven Amundsen: Norwegian born European President who never seems able to make the difficult decision even though he knows what he needs to do. Driven by committee and destined it seems never to achieve the greatness of, say, his US or Russian counterparts. Carl Matthews: the US President forced into office by a scandal which rocked the previous administration. Unsure of his popularity and easily diverted from course Matthews is caretaking until the next elections and appears to be in trouble. Alan d’Amato: Matthews’ Italo-American vice-President who lusts for the power of office and seeks to usurp his commander-in-chief. d’Amato has a strong sense of duty to his country first and will do anything to ensure that America stands against the rest of the world and comes out on top. Lieutenant Benjamin Foley: heads up a crack US Marines unit designed to work behind enemy lines and wreak havoc. Captain Kate Mallory: SAS officer sent to the USA to extract George Aspen so he can give evidence at the Cairo Summit. Appeal: Operation Thunderhead is a fast paced thriller with multiple relationships that ranges across the planet. It gives the reader causes to explore as well as think about while having enough pace to encourage page turning. There are multiple threads and storylines which keep the reader guessing while not making it too hard to read and follow. In the style of 24 the action keeps the reader wanting to turn the next page in case they miss any action. And the end isn’t necessarily what you think it is.
This book is the ultimate flight-identification guide for the raptors of the Western Palaearctic, covering Europe, North Africa, the Middle East (including Arabia) to Central Asia. Raptors are notoriously hard to identify, even if seen well, and represent perhaps the toughest of all ID challenges for birders. This guide provides identification information for all 60 species that regularly occur in the region, to subspecific level. The text covers every plumage and age in detail, with each species account accompanied by a range of photographs covering all the principal plumages. Based on this stunning photographic coverage, most of which has never been published before, this book represents a landmark in bird identification books and a major work for all raptor enthusiasts.
Identifying hawks in flight is a tricky business. Across North America, tens of thousands of people gather every spring and fall at more than one thousand known hawk migration sites--from New Jersey's Cape May to California's Golden Gate. Yet, as many discover, a standard field guide, with its emphasis on plumage, is often of little help in identifying those raptors soaring, gliding, or flapping far, far away. Hawks from Every Angle takes hawk identification to new heights. It offers a fresh approach that literally looks at the birds from every angle, compares and contrasts deceptively similar species, and provides the pictures (and words) needed for identification in the field. Jerry Liguori pinpoints innovative, field-tested identification traits for each species from the various angles that they are seen. Featuring 339 striking color photos on 68 color plates and 32 black & white photos, Hawks from Every Angle is unique in presenting a host of meticulously crafted pictures for each of the 19 species it covers in detail--the species most common to migration sites throughout the United States and Canada. All aspects of raptor identification are discussed, including plumage, shape, and flight style traits. For all birders who follow hawk migration and have found themselves wondering if the raptor in the sky matches the one in the guide, Hawks from Every Angle--distilling an expert's years of experience for the first time into a comprehensive array of truly useful photos and other pointers for each species--is quite simply a must. Key Features? The essential new approach to identifying hawks in flight Innovative, accurate, and field-tested identification traits for each species 339 color photos on 68 color plates, 32 black & white photos Compares and contrasts species easily confused with one another, and provides the pictures (and words) needed for identification in the field Covers in detail 19 species common to migration sites throughout the North America Discusses light conditions, how molt can alter the shape of a bird, aberrant plumages, and migration seasons and sites User-friendly format