Bøger i RSPB serien

Sparrows are often considered familiar to the point of invisibility, but the recent steep decline in numbers of both native British species is a reminder that these unassuming chatterboxes deserve a little more attention. Of all the true sparrow species found worldwide, only two occur in the British Isles. Globally, the story of the House Sparrow is one of dramatic expansion: from humble origins in the Middle East where they spread, along with agriculture, to become the most widely distributed bird on the planet. The smaller, more active Tree Sparrow has also spread extensively, following the domestication of rice rather than wheat, and both species have been heavily persecuted in recent years. In Spotlight Sparrows, Amy-Jane Beer examines the causes behind the decline of these familiar species, and explores their biology and life cycle, social behaviour, and the significant role that sparrows play in human culture, from Shakespeare and Edith Piaf to Captain Jack Sparrow.The Spotlight series introduces readers to the lives and behaviour of our favourite animals with eye-catching colour photography and informative expert text.

Woodpeckers are fascinating birds, filling our forests with their unmistakable drumming, and capturing our imaginations with their incredible ability to drill holes in trees and their bright, colorful plumage.Three species of woodpecker are resident in the UK: the Green Woodpecker, often seen on lawns and in fields; the Great Spotted Woodpecker, a frequent visitor at garden bird-feeders; and the tiny Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, sadly now in decline. The Wryneck--which twists its neck "like a snake" when threatened--also passes through the UK on its yearly migration and has captivated people throughout the ages. Gerard Gorman provides a close-up look at the lives of these birds, from their anatomy, diet and nesting habits to their iconic drumming behavior. He also explores the relationship that humans have enjoyed with woodpeckers for centuries, in folklore, myth and conservation, and gives tips on how to observe these wonderful birds in the wild.

Spotlight Bats will provide up-to-date and exciting information to an audience already keen on nature and interested to know more about these fascinating mammals by detailing the biology, diversity, evolution, natural history, behavior, and ecology of bats, as well as their interactions with humans and folklore. These tiny, harmless mammals are frequent visitors to our homes and gardens yet, due to their speed, size and nocturnal / crepuscular habits, are extremely difficult to get a good look at and are little understood. There are 1,240 species of bat in the world; bats make up around 20 per cent of all mammal species, but the taxonomic focus of Spotlight Bats will be three common and relatively easily identifiable species (Pipistrelle, Noctule and Long-eared Bat), and three more unusual ones (Daubenton''s bat, Barbastelle and Greater Horseshoe Bat). Other bat species of interest, including some of the more charismatic ones (e.g. vampire bats, fishing bats, bumblebee bats, fruit bats, etc.) will also be described.

Most wildlife books are designed to help you identify the animals you have seen. This book is different. In this new, user-friendly guide one British species is highlighted per page, and each account explains in accessible text how to find it, where to find it and how to ensure you have the most rewarding wildlife-watching experiences.Within the 'How to Find' section, author Marianne Taylor explains the best time to look for each species, its preferred habitat, and offers tips to help make your search easier or more productive. In 'Watching Tips' she advises on how to get the most from your encounter, how to observe the species at length and with luck witness its most fascinating behaviour. A colour panel indicates each species' geographical distribution on a map, including 'Super Sites' where the species is particularly abundant or regular. A calendar shows when each species is present or active in the UK to help you plan your visits to nature reserves. Colour photos serve as a reminder of each species' key identification features.In total, RSPB British Naturefinder features nearly 300 species, and it includes all British mammals, reptiles and amphibians, along with a carefully chosen selection of other British animals of interest, such as butterflies, moths, dragonflies, spiders and fishes.

The RSPB Spotlight series introduces a selection of iconic UK wildlife to the general reader. This latest title focuses upon the swallow and the swift, two well known birds that, although unrelated, are often combined--and, indeed, confused--in the popular imagination.Traditional heralds of the European summer, swallows and swifts have many things in common. Both feed on aerial insects and are thus similarly adapted for an aerial lifestyle, with long wings, aerodynamic bodies, and fast agile flight. Both have a penchant for breeding on or around buildings, bringing them into close contact with people. And both are long-distance migrants, departing our insect-free shores in autumn to spend winter in sub-Saharan Africa then returning the follow spring. These seemingly miraculous journeys, combined with a predilection for returning to the same building to breed year after year, has seen both birds embedded deep in our cultural heritage.Appearances, however, can be deceptive. Swallows and swifts are not related. Swallows (which also include martins) belong to the order Passeriformes, or "perching birds," alongside the likes of sparrows and robins. Swifts belong to the order Apodiformes, alongside hummingbirds. The striking similarities come down to "convergent evolution," a process by which animals from separate evolutionary roots evolve to resemble one another--in this case, by adapting to the shared demands of a life spent catching small flying insects. The similarities are so striking that it is perhaps unsurprising how often swifts and swallows are confused.This highly readable study looks closely at both birds, examining both their differences and similarities. Separate chapters cover all aspects of their biology and lifestyle, from their mind-boggling migrations to the mud construction of their nests. Fascinating secrets are revealed, such as how swifts may pass an entire year in flight without once landing. Finally, it examines the relationship that we have enjoyed with these birds since time immemorial, spanning both culture and conservation, and offers expert tips on where and how you can watch them for yourself.

Presents an introduction to watching birds. This book discusses general birding - where to go and when, what equipment to take with you, tips on attracting birds to your garden, and how to take field notes. It features more than a hundred and thirty of the commonest species of Britain and Ireland.

In this work, John Busby conveys his own remarkable ability to capture the grace and motion of living birds, illustrating his ideas and suggestions with many examples of his own work.