Did you know that the word 'swansong' comes from an ancient belief that while swans were silent throughout their lives, they sang a beautiful song on their deathbed? Or that a group of skylarks is called an exultation? Over the years, Springwatch has brought us unforgettable moments featuring our feathered friends, from nest cams capturing hatchlings as they emerge from their eggs to red kites soaring majestically in search of prey. Now, delve into the ultimate bird lover's companion, with expert tips on where to find British bird species and how to identify them, alongside avian folklore and favourite stories from the series. Arranged by bird family, Birdtopia includes explanations behind unusual collective nouns for birds - an unkindness of ravens may stem from the nineteenth-century belief that these birds turned their young out of the nest to fend for themselves - descriptions of bird calls, the reasons why birds create beautiful murmuration displays and the top places to spot them. Written by Springwatch naturalist and TikTok and Instagram’s ‘bird guy’ Jack Baddams and beautifully illustrated with line drawings, Birdtopia is the perfect gift for any bird lover. And the best thing about it all? We’re not talking about birds in some far off land, on the other side of the world. These are the ones we can see whenever we step outside our doors. They’re right there, for everyone. Get out and enjoy them!

Family isn't just important. It's everything. From lions hunting as a pride to penguins huddling together to keep from freezing in the bitter Antarctic winter, many animals are dependent on complex social relationships for their survival. Powerful dynasties lay claim to vast swathes of territory, fighting off rivals and securing their hunting grounds for generations to come. Dynasties offers an immersive insight into the shifting hierarchies of animal families. Each chapter follows a different dynasty, from the Marsh Lions of the Masai Mara to rival packs of painted wolves, from a tiger protecting her newborn cubs to a chimpanzee troop and the penguin colonies of the Antarctic. Alongside tender moments when bonds are strengthened through grooming and play, the book charts the rivalries that tip the balance of power, when family members turn against each other and younger animals grow strong enough to challenge for control. With over 200 stunning photographs and insights from the crew of the BBC series, Dynasties reveals in astonishing detail the intricate social lives of our planet’s most fascinating animals.

10 years on from the first, groundbreaking, Planet Earth, we use the most incredible advances in technology and scientific discovery to bring you the most exciting and immersive picture of our world's wildlife yet. With over 250 breathtaking photographs and stills from the BBC Natural History Unit's spectacular footage, this is an extraordinary new look at the complex life of some of the most amazing places on Planet Earth. Each chapter reveals an environment – some never-before-seen, some astonishingly familiar – defined by a unique set of rules required for survival. From the most desolate desert to the depths of the jungle, from blistering heat and freezing cold to perpetual darkness and deadly UV, discover how a whole host of creatures have adapted to life in the most extreme conditions. And how they compete with one another to become the largest, the fastest, the most poisonous, or most devious - all in a bid to survive. Planet Earth II includes the first in-depth look at the urban environment, and the surprising range of behaviours occurring right under our noses, as well as some previously untouched island worlds. Filmed with remarkable 5k and infra-red technology, these are the challenges, the confrontations, and the triumphs of some of the most extraordinary creatures in the natural world, told from their perspective. This is our planet, as you have never seen it before.

Beauty is more than skin deep. 'The natural world is awash with colour, but we are only seeing half the story. If we could see things as animals do, our world would become unimaginably brighter. Now, thanks to new science and technology, we can at last open our eyes.' - Sir David Attenborough In nature, colour is more than a source of beauty; it's a form of vital communication. Depending on the situation, colour says different things - it can be an expression of power or seduction, warning or deceit - and it can even, occasionally, save your life. Accompanying a major new BBC series with David Attenborough, Life in Colour explores the fascinating story of how colour works in the natural world. From the 'trichromatic' vision of Silver Leaf Langurs, which allows them to see orange and red against forest foliage - the colours not only of ripe fruit, but of their young - to African Mandrills who use their colouration to do battle, Professor Martin Stevens reveals a complex system of messaging visible only to those who know the code. Based on the latest scientific research in the field, and illustrated with stunning photography throughout, Life in Colour reveals a world previously unknown to us.

The ultimate portrait of the earth's Polar Regions.

There is no place like home. The conditions of Earth are not just good for life, they are perfect. Everything about our planet - its size, its distance from the Sun, its spin and tilt, its moon - is perfectly suited to our existence, and our planet's forces serve to nurture its spectacular biodiversity. A Perfect Planet shows in stunning detail how Earth has always been more than the sum of its parts. Unlike any other astronomical body, it is a living world. Focusing on four key natural forces - global weather systems distributing fresh water to all corners; marine currents delivering nutrients to the deepest reaches of the ocean; solar energy warming and electrifying everything it touches; and volcanic activity fertilising the earth's surface - Huw Cordey reveals to us new levels of this living world, a place populated with astonishing characters living remarkable lives. From Arctic wolves prowling moonlit landscapes or wood frogs, frozen in winter and magically thawing back to life, to flamingos flying thousands of miles to a vast volcanic lake in Africa to breed, we see time and again how animals are perfectly adapted to whatever the environment throws at them. Packed with over 250 full-colour images, and including a foreword by Alastair Fothergill and stills from the BBC series' spectacular footage, A Perfect Planet is a stunning exploration of life on Earth - life that is increasingly precious and rare.

Details the natural and human history of the islands and describes Darwin's theory of evolution.

Homo sapiens began to explore the worldbeyond Africa only 100,000 years ago.These people were not primitive cavemen,but as intelligent as ourselves. Thousands ofyears before Cook or Columbus, theypioneered a route from Africa throughEurasia to Australia, northern Europe, theAmericas, and ultimately the shores ofremote islands such as New Zealand. Whatour ancestors found was not the planet thatwe know today, but instead a prehistoricworld ruled by giant animals, 'monsters' thathad risen from the ashes of the dinosaurs.Monsters We Met tells the greatest untoldstory of our species: how humansdiscovered all the continents and met Earth'sextraordinary megafauna - enormous lizards,horse-sized bears, terrible cats, colossalbirds and lumbering plant-eaters.In the first review of its kind, and drawing onthe latest research from science, archaeologyand anthropology, this book sets out toanswer some vital questions. Did we battlewith megafauna for control of Earth, or didthey disappear for other reasons? Why doesone animal, Homo sapiens dominate ourworld today, and at what cost? And whatis the message from prehistory for us now?

China has more varied habitats for wildlife than anywhere else on the planet. But above all, China is a place of 1.3 billion people, most of whom still live in the countryside. This work explores the length and breadth of one of the world's most spectacular and mysterious countries.

It's Not Easy Being Green follows Dick Strawbridge and his family as they leave their comfortable home in the Midlands to tackle a remarkable self-sufficiency project - New House Farm in Cornwall. Their main objective is to have as little negative impact on the planet as possible by producing no waste and removing their dependency upon fossil fuels - all without compromising on their comfortable, modern 21st-century lifestyles. It's a laudable aim, but they are definitely not eco-warriors! With his hands-on, flamboyant approach, Dick offers practical tips on everything, from constructing water wheels, gadgets and greenhouses, to the trials of living with animals and knocking up 'proper' wholesome food. Packed with information about the cost of power, sourcing building materials, taking up permaculture and finding transport alternatives, It's Not Easy Being Green highlights the small steps that can change your life and is a simple, inspirational guide for everyone considering the path to green living.