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Raptors are an unusual success story of wildness thriving in the heart of our cities—they have developed substantial populations around the world in recent decades. But there are deeper issues around how these birds make their urban homes. New research provides insight into the role of raptors as vital members of the urban ecosystem and future opportunities for protection, management, and environmental education. A cutting-edge synthesis of over two decades of scientific research, Urban Raptors is the first book to offer a complete overview of urban ecosystems in the context of bird-of-prey ecology and conservation. This comprehensive volume examines urban environments, explains why some species adapt to urban areas but others do not, and introduces modern research tools to help in the study of urban raptors. It also delves into climate change adaptation, human-wildlife conflict, and the unique risks birds of prey face in urban areas before concluding with real-world wildlife management case studies and suggestions for future research and conservation efforts. Boal and Dykstra have compiled the go-to single source of information on urban birds of prey. Among researchers, urban green space planners, wildlife management agencies, birders, and informed citizens alike, Urban Raptors will foster a greater understanding of birds of prey and an increased willingness to accommodate them as important members, not intruders, of our cities.
The average person can name more bird species than they think, but do we really know what a bird “species” is? This open access book takes up several fascinating aspects of bird life to elucidate this basic concept in biology. From genetic and physiological basics to the phenomena of bird song and bird migration, it analyzes various interactions of birds – with their environment and other birds. Lastly, it shows imminent threats to birds in the Anthropocene, the era of global human impact. Although it seemed to be easy to define bird species, the advent of modern methods has challenged species definition and led to a multidisciplinary approach to classifying birds. One outstanding new toolbox comes with the more and more reasonably priced acquisition of whole-genome sequences that allow causative analyses of how bird species diversify. Speciation has reached a final stage when daughter species are reproductively isolated, but this stage is not easily detectable from the phenotype we observe. Culturally transmitted traits such as bird song seem to speed up speciation processes, while another behavioral trait, migration, helps birds to find food resources, and also coincides with higher chances of reaching new, inhabitable areas. In general, distribution is a major key to understanding speciation in birds. Examples of ecological speciation can be found in birds, and the constant interaction of birds with their biotic environment also contributes to evolutionary changes. In the Anthropocene, birds are confronted with rapid changes that are highly threatening for some species. Climate change forces birds to move their ranges, but may also disrupt well-established interactions between climate, vegetation, and food sources. This book brings together various disciplines involved in observing bird species come into existence, modify, and vanish. It is a rich resource for bird enthusiasts who want to understand various processes at the cutting edge of current research in more detail. At the same time it offers students the opportunity to see primarily unconnected, but booming big-data approaches such as genomics and biogeography meet in a topic of broad interest. Lastly, the book enables conservationists to better understand the uncertainties surrounding “species” as entities of protection.
This edited volume adopts an evolutionary framework to explore how pre-existing differences in life history, behaviour, and physiology of birds may determine the course of their adaptation to urban habitats.
The sparkling debut from an exciting new voice in Australian fiction, Claire Aman. Bird Country is a collection of spare and affecting portraits of ordinary people in rural Australia. A boat trip in a squall to scatter the ashes of an old man, who was not loved. A young father, driving his daughters home across grass plains, unable to tell them that their mother has died. A speech that doesn’t include the aching pain of trying to save a cousin’s life. A mother hiding her fugitive son in a cockatoo cage as the river rises. A man pouring his life into finding the perfect stained glass after his wife has left him. A woman longing for the right person to tell about her sister’s death, while she works nightshift at a roadhouse. These are moving and evocative stories about love and loss and yearning—and the things we don’t say. Claire Aman is a strong new voice in Australian fiction. Claire Aman grew up in Melbourne, but has lived most of her life in rural Australia, in and around Grafton in New South Wales. Her short stories have been published in a number of collections and several have won prizes, including the Wet Ink/CAL Prize and the Hal Porter Prize. ‘A suite of quietly beautiful short stories based in and around Grafton: A loving snapshot of a naturally beautiful but slightly melancholy rural centre. They are stories of fierce family loyalties, old age, poverty and small dignities, the kind that country towns seem to embody.’ Books+Publishing ‘Aman’s tales are burnished with a quiet intensity: While there’s a precision to the placing of each word that speaks of a controlling rigour, the actual content of these 16 stories reveals a certain freewheeling dramatic flair...Here is grief and beauty in symphony.’ Australian ‘Aman’s ideas are original and her imagination fertile...Aman is capable of some showstopper phrases, such as the “naked and mortified brightness” of the dead possum’s eyes in “Sustenance”, and she has a nice line in dry humour...Peopled with memorable and often touching characters, and redolent of Australia, Bird Country is a thoroughly enjoyable and varied reading experience, and Aman is a writer to watch.’ NZ Listener ‘A variety of birds—both free and caged—illustrate the human condition...I enjoyed the variety of emotions and the rich imagery in Aman’s anthology.’ Good Reading, FOUR STARS ‘It is rare these days that a complete collection of short stories can sustain a sense of breathless wonder throughout each and every piece included in its pages...But in the Australian short story scene, exciting things are happening, and I believe Claire Aman’s debut collection Bird Country is one of them...This is a collection that will bear reading and rereading, and rereading again in the years to come.’ AU Review ‘The 16 stories capture snapshots of poignant experiences and moments in time that are rich in emotion and thought-provoking. Inspired by motorcyclists, sailors, uninvited guests, bridge jumpers and bird fanciers, Aman tells her stories in descriptive prose and paints images that remain with you long after you have turned the final page.’ Weekly Times ‘A suite of fresh and beautiful short stories from the broken families and clapped-out pubs and river towns of rural Australia.’ Helen Garner, Sydney Morning Herald’s Year in Reading ‘Claire Aman’s warm and tough debut collection Bird Country carries such technical command that Aman is already an established hand at the form.’ Saturday Paper, Best Books of 2017, Best New Talent
Thirty young environmental activists share their dreams with voice of a generation Mya-Rose Craig Indigenous people and people of color are disproportionately affected by climate change. And yet they are underrepresented within the environmental movement. But not anymore. Written by the extraordinary environmental and campaigner for equal rights Mya-Rose Craig—aka Birdgirl—this book profiles 30 young environmental activists who are Indigenous people or people of color, from communities on the frontline of global climate change. Each speaks to the diverse set of issues they are fighting for, from water conservation, to deforestation, to indigenous rights, and shares their dream . . . A dream for climate justice. A dream for a healthy planet. A dream for a fairer world, for all. This is the first book from Craig, who shared a stage with Greta Thunberg in 2019’s climate strikes. US-based activists profiled include Marshallese ocean activist Litokne Kabua; @ThisIsZeroHour founder Zanagee Artis; indigenous rights activists Thomas Tonatiuh Lopez Jr., and Caitlyn Baikie; climate justice activist Rebeca Sabnam, and clean water activist Autumn Peltier.
The perfect resource for budding bird-watchers. Because birds can be found in every neighborhood, and in all seasons, they’re an excellent choice for piquing children’s interest in wildlife. Here’s a comprehensive guide to birds that makes the perfect starting point. Beautiful pages explore many different bird species and their fascinating and unique characteristics, from feathers to eggs and nests. A year in the life of birds explains what to look for, season by season. And the beginning bird-watcher section helps kids get started in the field. Birds of a feather? More like, birds of every feather here! Kids will be grabbing their binoculars to spot them all around!