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Hummingbirds of North America: The Photographic Guide by Steve N.G. Howell. Academic Press, 218 pages, 200 color photos, and maps. Paper $29.95

From: Oscar Carmona, Huntsville, TX USA
Reviewed on: March 3, 2002
Score: ***** (5 stars out of 5)

Steve Howell has provided a much needed reference for the hummingbirds of North America in this new guide from Academic Press. This new concept of photographic guides aid birders tremendously by adding color photographs to help complement the plethora of illustrations available in other guides. Hummingbirds can either be very easy to identify or extremely difficult. With the addition of this guide, hummingbird identification should be much easier for us all.

This guide covers the 24 species that regularly occur or those that have occurred in North America. Howell begins the book with a detailed introduction that covers the fine points of hummingbird anatomy and plumage variation. Howell also points out the different characteristics of the 14 genuses of hummingbirds. This is essential reading and should not be passed up. It also covers certain environmental factors that affect hummingbirds as well as a brief section on hybrid hummingbirds.

The species accounts are very thorough, well researched, and excellently written. The following categories are covered for each species: identification summary, taxonomy, status and distribution, range, structure, similar species, voice and sounds, habitat, behavior, molt, description, hybrids, and references. Numerous color photos and some color illustrations by Sophie Webb accompany the species accounts. The photographs, to say the least, are remarkable and show the birds in male, female, and immature plumages. On the Allen’s Hummingbird account, side by side photos of Allen’s and Rufous Hummingbirds are provided to show the differences on the tail and the backs of these similar species. Each of the photographs/illustrations is accompanied by text with the name of the bird, when and where it was photographed, a description of the plumage shown, and the name of the photographer/illustrator. The only drawback I see on this guide is that range maps are not provided for all species. The maps start appearing with the Ruby-throated Hummingbird account. The 15 species accounts prior to this do not have a map, possibly an omission by the printers. I would not let this oversight deter you from purchasing this guide.

This is a superb guide. It is very well written and all the information is up to date and the photographs/illustrations are near perfect. The guide is the perfect size to carry into the field and can be easily carried around in a daypack or coat pocket. I highly recommend this guide and find it to be an essential reference needed by birders of all skill levels. I am ready to take it out west and start working on my hummingbirds.

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Sparrows of the United States and Canada: A Photographic Guide by David Beadle and James Rising. Academic Press, 328 pages, 350 color photos, and maps. Paper $29.95.

From: Oscar Carmona, Huntsville, TX USA
Reviewed on: March 3, 2002
Score: *****+ (5+stars out of 5)

This long awaited companion volume to the Guide to the Identification and Natural History of the Sparrows of the United States and Canada is definitely worth the wait. Excellent color photographs of the 64 species that normally occur or have occurred north of the Mexican border are covered in this guide and complement the great illustrations by Beadle in the first volume. All of the regularly occurring Sparrows are covered, as well as those that are vagrants including: Worthen's Sparrow, Pine Bunting, Little Bunting, Rustic Bunting, Yellow-throated Bunting, Yellow-breasted Bunting, Gray Bunting, Pallas's Bunting, and Reed Bunting.

The authors have focused more on identification in this guide than the first where much natural history information was provided. Each species is given a brief, but thorough, treatment including: measurements, habitat, behavior, voice, similar species, geographic variation, distribution, conservation status, molt, description, hybrids, and references. A color range map showing seasonal status and numerous color photographs are included. Each color photograph depicts birds in adult and juvenile plumages as well as those of subspecies showing the range of variation in each species.

Each photograph is accompanied by a caption showing where and when the bird was photographed along with identification information and the name of the photographer. The photos are high quality and clearly show the reader the field marks needed in order to identify those pesky "little brown jobs".

I find this book to be more of a companion guide; it is worthy to be considered a guide all on its own. It is that good. It is very well written and all the information is up to date and the range maps are near perfect. The guide is the perfect size to carry into the field and can be easily carried around in a daypack or coat pocket. I highly recommend this guide and find it to be an essential reference needed by birders of all skill levels.

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BIRDS OF WESTERN AFRICA - Helm Identification Guides by NikBorrow and Ron Demey Christopher Helm - 2002 ISBN 0-7136 3959-8

Reviewed on March 11 2002

By Brian J Small

At long last this major work on the birds not just of West Africa, but the whole of western Africa, has arrived, just in time to use and test during a recent trip to the Gambia, where I was able to compare it with the competition. Covering a large region, from Mauretania in the north west, to Chad in the north east, then down to Congo in the south, with all of the coastal West Africa countries in between, it has a huge geographical scope. It is clear from the outset that Nik Borrow and Ron Demey have made a very important contribution to the study of birds in Africa. Long in the making, with a number of set-backs, this is sure to become the major work for the area, and one to which all travelling there will turn.

In size, too, it is very major, being 5cm (2inches) thick, and not necessarily all that portable as a field guide, however I suspect that this is not what it is intended as (also that it may well be transformed at a later date, like the Zimmerman et al Kenyan guide, into a smaller field guide). It has obviously been modelled on the Zimmerman guide in style and structure. The introductory chapters deal with similar aspects of the avifauna of the Western Africa region as the Zimmerman book, explaining the area covered, nomenclature and taxonomy, the species accounts and even a lesson in how to use hyphens. Then, after a brief look at the climate and topography, the endemic bird areas and restricted-range species (and the obligatory bird topography and glossary) we get down to the nitty grity - the plates and the individual species accounts. Finally, before the indexes, 20 pages of references, broken into general, county specific and finally species specific references.

In total, there are 147 plates - the last five being taken up by endemic island forms and additional vagrant or localised species. My first impressions were that the plates were very good, perhaps slightly wooden in some cases, accurate, but reproduced quite dark (a failing of the also excellent Helm guide on Thrushes). Closer study, and particularly when using it in the region, has shown that the paintings are extremely accurate, with Nik Borrow clearly having a great deal of experience in the field of the majority of the species covered in the book (according to the sleeve, all but 78). Take for example the Raptors. The tendency towards very dense reproduction makes, I suspect, much of the subtly of the originals less obvious, but close scrutiny of many show that many important details are depicted well: e.g., the Snake-eagles - few if any have got Beaudouin's as 'right' as this. A further example is the dreaded Cisticola group, and I feel here that the darkness of printing has a slightly detrimental effect when using them as an aid to their identification: the common Singing Cisticola gives little idea of the subtly paler, lightly streaked, greyer mantle contrasting with the richer wings. As an artist, I find some things strange: running one bird into another (hiding legs), especially if space available on the page would allow whole birds to be illustrated; on some perched bird plates the total absence of perches (weavers, bishops, widowbird, for example) looks a little odd and makes some plates, like pl. 87, look extremely stark. These few minor, and possibly personal to me, quibbles aside, the plates are very pleasing and show the important aspects of identification (like the undertail of Red-chested Swallow).

The text follows the same form as the Zimmerman guide in dealing with identification, voice, habits, similar species and distribution. The maps are clear and accurate. I find the text to be well-written and out of necessity concise, perhaps too concise at times when faced with some difficult to separate species. In the taxonomic melting pot which is Africa, the book deals well with subspecies and has taken a sound approach when elevating some to species level (e.g. Bangwa Forest Warbler Bradypterus bangwaensis), though might have argued a good case for African Stonechat Saxicola torquata to have been treated separately from European Stonechat Saxicola [torquata] rubicola, following the work of Wittman.\i \i0 In most instances the stance taken illustrates the developing work in some areas. Woodchat Shrike, for example, has three subspecies listed - senator , rutilans and badius : rutilans is possibly dubiously differentiated, whilst for badius it states that it has, amongst other features, less white on the shoulder, which I would contest.

This is an excellent book and clearly the best for West(ern) Africa, the illustrations are accurate and well produced, the text is thorough and easy to read. Its size precludes it being a field guide, but it is certainly the book for any with an interest in the region.

Brian Small

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Handbook of the Birds of the World, Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Volume 7 - Jacamars to Woodpeckers, Editors Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott and Jordi Sargatal, ISBN: 84-87334-37-7

Reviewed on May 2nd 2002

By Brian J Small

It is difficult to review the Handbook of the Birds of the World ('HBW' to most) without superlatives eventually running out. It is without a doubt one of the, if not the, most fantastic series of books ever published on birds, and this the seventh volume, which concludes the non-passerines, keeps up the fantastically high standards of previous volumes and in some ways exceeds them. It cannot be stressed enough that if you have a budget for bird books, you must make this your priority, if you have not already started to collect them then start - they are more valuable than a new pair of binoculars and probably more helpful.

From the moment it is delivered to your door, with its smart packaging, you know that you are part of something special. Initially to be 12 volumes, the introduction to this volume, Volume 7, explains the reasons for now extending the project to 16, allowing the authors to 'deal comprehensively with the ever increasing volume of information' and to get to grips with the amazing variety of subspecies amongst the passerines.

The introduction appears after a 58 page foreword by Errol Fuller on extinct species, the decision to include extinct birds made in response to popular demand. Some species widely thought of as extinct have occured in prevous volumes, listed as 'Almost certainly extinct', and as a whole this is largely a precis of Errol Fuller's very good 'Extinct Birds'. Like that book this makes fascinating, and quite humbling, reading as you begin to realise the effect that human activity has had on a wide variety of species (parrots, pigeons, rails and island endemics - most notably the Hawaiian archipelago - come off the worst). Some of them used to be incredibly common, the Passenger Pigeon at one time perhaps the most numerous species on Earth, one can only marvel at the subtlety and beauty of this species; others, like Brace's Emerald from the Carribean, are known from only one specimen and perhaps a few fossil bones. All of them are now lost. Food for thought indeed.

From the foreword many interesting facts can be gleaned: the Wake Island Rail being eaten to extinction by Japanese soldiers 'dumped' on Wake Island during WWII and having to feed themselves from the land; that flocks of Passenger Pigeons as long as "4 or 5 English miles in length and more than one mile in breadth" once blocked out the sun as they moved about North America (this is also perhaps the only species for which the exact time of extinction is known, 1.00pm on 1st September 1914); the most recent extinction mentioned is that of the Kauai 'O'o, a Hawaiian endemic in 1985.

The main bulk of the book is taken up with the treatment of 216 species over 530 pages and 49 plates. The plates are, as ever, to an extremely high standard, perhaps even more in this volume than previous ones is the quality so consistently high. There are many highlights, but mention must be made of Ian Lewington's barbets and tinkerbirds (oh to own plate 7!) and also Chris Rose's flamebacks - the only criticism one might have is that the choice of background colours to some plates is a little too complementary, e.g. the afore-mentioned flameback's by Chris Rose, in which I find the lilac-blue background a touch at odds with the warm colours of the birds. The plates are worth getting the book for on its own, but add to them the enormous number of high quality photographs and it is a feast: image after image show interesting behavioural characters, to balance nicely with the plates.

The text that accompanies the plates is largely factual, containing specific details on taxonomy, distribution, plumage and morphological characteristics, diet, reproduction, movements, status and conservation. This is very detailed stuff, a lot of information packed into a small space, but it is fleshed out by lengthy introductory chapters to each family. This volume deals with the Gabulidae (jacamars), Bucconidae (puffbirds, Lanceolated Monklet, nunlets and nunbirds), Capitonidae (barbets and tinkerbirds), Ramphastidae (toucans, toucanets and aracari), Indicatoridae (honeyguides) and Picidae (woodpeckers, flicjers, sapsuckers, flamebacks, etc.). Each introductory section deals in detail with systematic issues (the first, that of the Gabulidae, explains the recent taxonomic studies and the systematic relationships of many of the species treated here), morphology, habitat choices and preferences, general habits and behavioural traits, voice, diet, breeding, movements, relationships with man, status and conservation. These are authoritative and well-written essays, and contain a mine of imformation and if you require further reading over 3,000 references are listed at the end of the volume.

If like me you come to some of these groups with a fair amount of ignorance (okay, I admit it, a large amount), you will leave feeling educated and inspired. If any bird book is worth the money you pay for it, the Handbook of the Birds of the World is that book - indeed, it is worth more than the money you pay for it!

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Peterson Field Guides: Hummingbirds of North America by Sheri L. Williamson, Houghton Mifflin. 268 pages. Flexible cover, $22.00

Reviewed on April 7, 2002

From: Oscar Carmona, Huntsville, TX USA

Score: ****1/2 (4.5 stars out of 5)

This book is the latest edition in the line of the Peterson Field Guides Series. It is written in a similar format to the series’ most recent work on the Warblers of North America (Jon Dunn and Kimball Garrett, 1997) and Hawks of North America (William Clark and Brian Wheeler, 2001) and includes the same basic categories of description, behavior, habitat, similar species, status and conservation, and subspecies and taxonomic relationships in the species accounts.

The book covers over 30 species of hummingbirds that regularly occur in the United States or have the potential for occurrence as vagrants from Mexico. It is entirely a photographic guide which has both advantages and disadvantages.

The book is a very good and useful, but there are some issues that need to be addressed. First, the photographs are somewhat small; especially those that depict live birds in the field. This and the low-quality of some photos often obscure important identification features. On the other hand the plates showing close-up photographs of spread tail patterns and the head and bill are especially beneficial (even if the birds are unnaturally depicted held in the hand). These characters are extremely useful in species identification.

The book continues the Peterson system of using arrows to point out important field characters. The range maps for each species are exceptionally well done and appear up to date. They include the most current records of vagrants that I am aware of. I especially like the inclusion of the many Mexican species that although have yet to be conclusively documented in the United States but whose ranges are close enough to warrant mentioning. This alerts the observer to the possibility of those species which are not typically shown in the standard North American field guides. There are several species however that are mentioned but have no photographs. Photos of these birds would have been extremely useful.

Also important are the many photographs showing hybrid combinations of hummingbirds. Hummingbird species tend to hybridize more regularly than other bird groups so these photos are a plus. Finally, the information on Plumage Variation and Molt in the species accounts is a huge benefit.

Overall, the information in the book is accurate, informative, and useful. As a field guide it contains a massive amount of information that could overwhelm the casual backyard birder who simply wants to enjoy these feathered jewels. The book is geared mainly towards those advanced birders who are mostly aware of the many characters used to separate hummingbird species. This book is definitely worth having and makes an excellent companion to Steve Howell’s photographic guide to North American Hummingbirds.

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Extinct Birds by Errol Fuller (2nd Edition). Cornell University Press, 400 pages. Cloth $49.95.

Reviewed on April 6, 2002

From: Oscar Carmona, Huntsville, TX USA

Score: *****+ (5+ stars out of 5)

Extinct Birds is a large (sadly) and informative book that should be found on all naturalists' bookshelves. The book is large (nearly 400 pages) implies that there are a lot of birds that are no longer with us. In the introduction Fuller mentions Jerdon's Courser and the Four-colored Flowerpecker, two species previously thought extinct. Both have since been rediscovered. In addition, the international coverage given to the Louisiana Ivory-billed Woodpecker search shows that even non-birders are interested in seeing a species thought to be extinct. This illustrates one of the dramatic changes in recent times with regard to the whole subject of extinction. This book covers the 85 bird species that are known to have gone extinct since 1600.

As part of useful background information Fuller talks about the special role of islands in the extinction process. Many island endemics were lost with the introduction of non-native animal species. Fuller acknowledges a recent trend which is heightening interest in extinction, the recent scientific work using DNA technology and its hint that we may be able to restore species in the not too distant future. This is an exciting prospect right out of the pages of Jurassic Park.

There will be an estimated 1200 more bird species extinct in the next 100 years. There are a couple of things that are certain. The next edition of this book will be as beautiful as this one and depending on how soon it's published, it will be bigger. How much larger and by how many species remains unknown. I believe this book should be required reading for all novice and professional naturalists alike. It belongs on the shelves of all libraries.

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The Birds of Sonora by Stephen M. Russell and Gale Monson. University of Arizona Press. 362 pages, 34 illustrations, and 4 maps. Cloth $75.00

Reviewed on April 6, 2002

From: Oscar Carmona, Huntsville, TX USA

Score: ****1/2 (4.5 stars out of 5)

Southeastern Arizona has long been heralded as a dream destination for birdwatchers. Where else can a birder see Elegant Trogons, Five-striped Sparrows, and a bevy of other species in the United States? For those looking to explore the other side of the border, Sonora, located in northwest Mexico, has these birds and much more to offer. The Birds of Sonora offers those curious birders a valuable reference.

Russell and Monson have provided us with a book detailing the status and distribution of over 500 species, many of which have occured or are expected to occur in the United States. This book is not a birdfinding guide, but a guide to the status and distribution of these birds within the Mexican state of Sonora. The species accounts are brief but informative and include information on habits, range, habitat, and nesting. Listed as well are some factors that have altered many species' ranges over the last several decades. Each species account includes a detailed map showing localities of breeding, migrant, or visitor occurrences. The book is graced with excellent line drawings by Ray Harm. The illustrations of the Surfbird and Linneated Woodpecker are my favorites.

It is clear the Russell and Monson are authorities on the birds of this Mexican state. I highly recommend this book for birders interested in birds of the American southwest and Mexico.

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The Complete Guide to the Birds of Europe by Killian Mullarney, Lars Svensson, Dan Zetterstrom, and Peter J. Grant. Princeton University Press. 2002, 399 pages, 195 color plates, Cloth $49.50.

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Reviewed on June 3rd, 2002

From: Oscar Carmona, Huntsville, TX USA

Score: ***** (5 stars out of 5)

This recent re-release from Princeton University Press covers the 722 bird species found in Europe and includes 23 introduced species and 103 accidental visitors. This re-release of the original pocket sized edition allows the reader to better appreciate the breathtaking illustrations and read the entirely redesigned text.

Many of Europe's top birding authorities have contributed information to this book and the end result is a masterpiece. The over 3,500 illustrations face the species accounts for easy access from one to another. Many species are also illustrated in flight as well as in their typical habitats and behaviour and differing plumages. The species accounts include up to date information on habitat preferences, status in Europe, voice, identification, and color range maps. The accounts are very readable and one does not tire of looking at the illustrations. Kudos to all involved in this project and I anxiously await a similar book for North American Birds.

This book is the most essential piece of information needed for anyone travelling to Europe for the purpose of seeing birds. Although the book is too large to take to the field, it may be left in the car or hotel for reference. I highly recommend this book in all its full size glory as well as the pocket size, I like it that much. Buy one for the home and one for the car.

score: 5+

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Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse by Steve Madge and Phil McGowan. Princeton University Press. 2002, 488 pages, 72 color plates, Cloth $49.50.

Reviewed on June 3rd, 2002

From: Oscar Carmona, Huntsville, TX USA

Score: ***** (5 stars out of 5)

This recent release from Princeton University Press covers over 250 species of pheasants, partridges, and grouse from around the world. This group is large and diverse and many of the species are familiar species while others are poorly known. This book provides excellent illustrations and comprehensive information for all these species.

The book starts off with a brief introduction about the gaps in knowlege on some species and how they may need to be further studied in order to conserve them for the future. A glossary of terms is also provided to help the reader comprehend some of the more technical terminology. The species accounts are very thorough and easy to read. The accounts include information on identification, description, geographical variation, measurements, habitat, voice, habits, breeding, distribution, status, and references. Alternate names for each species are also included in the species accounts.

The color plates are great. They are the collaboration of 7 illustrators. My favorite plates are those done by David Mead, but all the illustrators did an excellent job to create a uniform appearance throughout the book. The plates also illustrate male, female, juvenile, and subspecies plumages. Opposite the plates, a brief description of each species is given along with a color range map.

This is a well written, wonderfully illustrated, and comprehensive book. It is smaller than many other books in this series and may well be taken into the field. I recommend it for those interested in birds and on the shelves of libraries. In my opinion, it is the best source of information available on these birds.

score: 5+

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Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides by Lester Short and Jennifer Horne. Oxford University Press. 2001, 526 pages, 36 color plates, 17 color photos, Cloth $95.00.

Reviewed on June 3rd, 2002

From: Oscar Carmona, Huntsville, TX USA

Score: ***** (5 stars out of 5)

This is the most recent installment of Oxford University Press' Bird Families of the World Series. It covers the Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides of the world. Many of these species are near and dear to many birder's hearts. The Toucans, for example, are a true sign of the tropical areas of the world.

The book covers 82 species of Barbet, including the recently discovered Scarlet-belted Barbet, 34 species of Toucan, and 17 species of Honeyguide. To start off, the color plates by Albert Earl Gilbert are wonderfully done. The birds are lifelike and the colors are rich. The backgrounds on many of the plates are adorned with tropical foliage giving the reader more than just a sterile white background. As with other books in this series, the species accounts are long and thorough giving the reader a wealth of information.

The introduction of the book covers the bird families in general including natural history, behavioral, and conservation information. This technical information is presented in an easy to read format for even the armchair birder.

Each species account includes sections on description, field characters, voice, range and status, habitat and general habits, displays and breeding behaviour, and breeding and life cycle. Each account also includes an easy to read black and white range map.

Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides is a great guide. I highly recommend it on the shelves of all birders and in libraries in particular. It is not intended as a field guide, but as a reference. It is the most thorough information available on these species of birds.

score: 5+

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Where to Watch Birds in Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean by Nigel Wheatley and David Brewer. Princeton University Press. 2002, 448 pages, 100 maps, 50 illustrations. Paper $19.95.

Reviewed on June 3rd, 2002

From: Oscar Carmona, Huntsville, TX USA

Score: ***** (5 stars out of 5)

This is the sixth installment of the popular Where to Watch Birds series. This birdfinding guide covers Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands. These locations have attracted many birders from all around the world with their tropical birds and breathtaking scenery. Wheatley and Brewer have compiled information on 215 individual sites that include: accomodations, transport, safety, and timing of visits, among others.

Each section of the guide is broken down by country or island. For example, the section on Costa Rica begins with a map of the country keyed numerically to the locations covered within that chapter. A thorough introduction is given on the country that includes the following topics: size, getting around, accomodation and food, health and safety, climate and timing, habitats, conservation, bird families, bird species, endemics, and expectations. These introductions are excellent in that they give you a general idea of what to expect of that country before you start reading about each of the localities covered. Once you get to the descriptions of the site locations, Wheatley and Brewer break down each location into the following categories: specialties, other species, other wildlife, access, and other areas. The information is very thorough and readable.

Maps are included to help in those areas where written directions may be difficult. The book is also adorned with excellent illustrations of many of the species that may be encountered on your next trip to the New World tropics. I highly recommend this guide to those planning a trip down south or even for those not planning. After reading, you may decide to take a trip of your own with this guide as your leader.

score: 5

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The Road to El Cielo by Fred and Marie S. Webster. University of Texas Press. 312 pages, 45 color photos, 4 black and white photos, 27 line drawings. Cloth $34.95.

Reviewed on July 13th, 2002

From: Oscar Carmona, Huntsville, TX USA

Score: ***** (5 stars out of 5)

Located in the Mexican State of Tamaulipas, Ranch del Cielo is Middle America's northernmost cloud forest. This area has long been a draw to many prominent ornithologists such as George M. Sutton and Irby Davis and to a long list of seasoned birders. For anybody that has visited this place, they come away feeling with that magical spirit, one that attaches itself to all those who come into this mist shrouded realm. Fred and Marie Webster have long been involved with Rancho del Cielo since its beginnings as a homestead for some American immigrants from Oklahoma. It is their experiences that they chronicle in The Road to El Cielo. Fred and Marie served as tour guides for groups of birders from all parts of the United States, Canada, and Mexico in order to attempt to raise funds to preserve El Cielo.

The Websters give a very addicting tale of the thrills and struggles they have encountered on their numerous journeys to this ranch, from its beginnings as a homestead to its ultimate arrival as a field research station for Texas Southmost College. The cast of characters rivals those found in murder mysteries or fiction books.

You, the reader, get the feeling that you have been to El Cielo before and have met everyone described within the pages. Tales of the bone jarring rides up the mountain in old military vehicles, encounters with loggers, and sightings of tropical bird species make this book difficult to put aside.

This highly enjoyable book is one that naturalists, non-naturalists, and lovers of literature will find entertaining. The book is adorned by wonderful illustrations of birds found at El Cielo in their natural habitats. Color and black and white photos of El Cielo and many of the people mentioned in the book highlight the text. I highly recommend it; it is the next best thing to visiting El Cielo.

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Of Birds and Texas by Stuart Gentling and Scott Gentling. University of Texas Press. 228 pages, 50 color plates, 28 color remarques, and 8 figures. Cloth $75.00

Reviewed on September 4th, 2002

From: Oscar Carmona, Huntsville, TX USA

Score: ***** (5 stars out of 5)

This magnificent book may very well be the 20th century version of Audubon’s Birds of America. The Gentling brothers of Fort Worth, Texas have produced a large and exquisite book of their paintings reminiscent of those produced back in the 19th century. To complement these paintings, the Gentlings have provided essays as well as respected Texas writer, John Graves.

Some of the species of birds illustrated include Green Jay, Purple Martin, Bufflehead, Roseate Spoonbill, Crested Caracara, and my personal Favorites; Magnificent Hummingbird and Altamira Oriole. The essays accompanying the bird art tell of the Gentling’s encounters with these species in Texas. These are very enjoyable to read and complement the illustrations perfectly.

In addition to paintings of birds, there are also paintings of typical Texas landscapes accompanied by essays from the authors. What is interesting about this work of art are the essays at the beginning of the book. They tell how much of an influence John James Audubon was on them and it is evident in their art. The story on howthis book unfolded is also told, making this a double treat of fine writing and breathtaking art.

Congratulations to Scott and Stuart Gentling and the University of Texas Press for producing such a stunning book; one destined to become a classic for the next century. It should find its way to those interested not only in birds, but art and literature as well.

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The Birds of the Western Palearctic (Concise Edition) by D.W. Snow and C.M. Perrins. Oxford University Press, 1,694 pages, 594 color plates. Cloth $295.00

Reviewed on September 18th, 2002

From: Oscar Carmona, Huntsville, TX USA

Score: ***** (5 stars out of 5)

I have always been one to say that the quality of ornithological books made for European birds is of much higher standards than those for North America. The Birds of the Western Palearctic (BWP) Concise Edition backs my claim. The BWP is a 2 volume set that is jam packed with information from the massive nine-volume Birds of the Western Palearctic, which is the standard ornithological reference for the birds of Europe. This new concise version retains the essential information in a fraction of the space and at a much-reduced cost. Additionally, more than 230 magnificent new color plates have been specially commissioned for this edition to illustrate newly added species or to replace earlier paintings. The Concise BWP is an essential reference book for all who are interested in the birds of Europe. This two volume text covers the birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. This concise edition contains the essential information of the original and has been substantially updated, including many new color plates and revised distribution maps now in full color. Volume one looks at non-passerines (ostriches to woodpeckers), while Volume two concentrates on passerines (Tyrant Flycatchers to warblers).

Twenty nine of the world’s finest artists were commissioned for the color plates. The original plates were reproduced by electronic scanning techniques to provide maximum color and clarity. The entire layout of the book is easy on the eyes as species accounts and color plates complement each other without any confusion for the reader. Species accounts are very thorough, but concise and provide information on field characters, habitat, distribution, population, movements, food, social pattern and behavior, voice, breeding, wing length, and weight. In addition, indexes in seven European languages are included as well as indexes of English and scientific names.

While the concise edition is still not suited for use in the field, I feel that it is a definite study reference and can be kept in either a car or hotel room for birders visiting Europe. The 2 volume set in a slipcase are very elegant, but heavy. I highly recommend this 2 volume set for any serious birder, library, or university. It is well worth the price tag.

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