Birder's Conservation Handbook: 100 North American Birds at Risk

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Birder's Conservation Handbook: 100 North American Birds at Risk

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Conservation of avian species is high on the priority list of many birders. Authored by a former National Bird Conservation director for the National Audubon Society, Birder’s Conservation Handbook is a unique guide to 100 of the most at-risk North American species. Written at a level accessible to the layperson, the species accounts were reviewed by 50 experts from many institutions. Introductory essays on topics such as birds as environmental indicators and conservation issues affecting birds offer background material. The taxonomically arranged entries, several pages in length, follow a standard format. A black-and-white illustration of the bird and a range map appear at the beginning of each entry. An overview of the species is followed by “Status and Distribution,” “Ecology,” “Threats,” “Conservation Action,” “Conservation Needs,” and “References” for additional reading. The selection of the 100 most threatened species consists of widely distributed species, such as the American woodcock, ferruginous hawk, Kentucky warbler, and rusty blackbird, as well as lesser-known birds, such as the bristle-thighed curlew, buff-breasted sandpiper, island scrub jay, and red-legged kittiwake. The “Conservation Action” section in each entry is one of the highlights of the book. For example, we learn that habitat restoration is important for conservation of many species, including the Bell’s vireo, California gnatcatcher, and red-headed woodpecker; slowing global warming may benefit such birds as the Florida scrub jay, mottled duck, and whooping crane; and restricting the use of lead shot could limit the decline of the California condor. The entries are followed by several appendixes containing tables of “North American Birds of Conservation Concern Listed by Different Agencies and Organizations,” “Hawaiian Birds of Conservation Concern and Extinct Species,” and “Mexican Government Official List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Bird Species” and a list of “Agencies and Organizations Involved in Bird Conservation.” A well-constructed subject index, using both common and scientific names, provides easy access to the contents. There is no other book specifically aimed at informing birders and researchers of threats to birds with suggestions of conservation actions to protect birds and their habitats. Highly recommended for public, academic, and special libraries.