Overview

""The photos and illustrations in this large volume are so beautiful that one is tempted to skim the text. . . . That, however, would be a mistake: while brief, the text provides all the information readers need to understand the how, why and where of bird migration."" -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) Every year, billions of birds leave their North American breeding grounds for winter quarters thousands of miles south. That so many birds migrate so far through life-threatening conditions and to the same place each year is simply stunning. This lavishly illustrated book provides comprehensive information on migration and its great mystery: How do the birds know where to go? The latest scientific discoveries are explained, and a comprehensive directory presents accurate profiles and chronicles the migratory routes of more than 500 typical migrant species. Colorful maps, photographs, calendars and fact files feature easy-to-read symbols and abbreviations. Atlas of Bird Migration includes: North American birds of prey Hummingbirds, grosbeaks and starlings Eurasian shorebirds, storks and cranes Winter visitors from the Far North, such as swans, geese and finches African, South American and Australasian migrants Migratory sea birds, such as penguins, albatrosses and terns. The use of satellite tracking methods, current environmental threats and conservation initiatives are explained, and a comprehensive catalog of migrating species from all continents closes the book.

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9781554079711

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Reviews

(starred review) The photos and illustrations in this large volume are so beautiful that one is tempted to skim the text... That, however, would be a mistake: while brief, the text provides all the information readers need to understand the how, why and where of bird migration.-- (12/31/2007)

An invaluable resource for ornithologists, birders, and conservationists. Patterns of migration are discussed, such as long distance, east-west, attitudinal migration, and more. Entire sections are dedicated to the preparations of travel, flight stills, and techniques for studying bird migration, increasing conservation, and the human created threats migrants face. Many interesting facts are unearthed such as birds that migrant by swimming (such as Razorbills who are effectively flightless as they molt), and the specific routes of birds like Blackpoll Warblers that may not be the most direct but are nonetheless successful. Much of the Atlas provides detailed accounts of families of migrant birds. Specific species are used to illustrate--with colorful drawings, maps, and photographs--the various paths of migration. These treatments do not include every species in a family, but provide an excellent overview of the range and styles of migration they participate in. Each of the family accounts have information boxes with more cool bird facts... A catalog of migrants finishes out the book, providing an account of the more than 500 species of birds covered throughout the book. It includes a quick reference to the timing and locations of these species and also the distance covered by each bird.-- (11/25/2008) (starred review) The photos and illustrations in this large volume are so beautiful that one is tempted to skim the text... That, however, would be a mistake: while brief, the text provides all the information readers need to understand the how, why and where of bird migration.-- (12/31/2007)

Author Information

Jonathan Elphick is a natural history author and consultant with a 40-year career in ornithology. His many books include the award-winning Birdwatcher's Handbook and Birds: The Art of Ornithology.

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