Big Bird's at bat--and CRACK!--it's a fly ball out of the yard, past the playground, and through every page of this sporty board book. Toddlers' favorite game of peekaboo meets high action in a rollicking rhyme that will delight all terrible twos with a taste for trouble. Full-color illustrations.

Why does Monkey fear Leopard? Why does the Reed Warbler babble? How did Jabulani outwit the Lion? These and other intriguing questions are answered in When Bat was a Bird. Twenty four fresh and exciting stories feature memorable creatures both real and magical. Information boxes provide supporting information about the people, animals, reptiles, insects and birds of Africa. Over 90 full-colour illustrations bring the wealth and beauty of African wildlife alive for children. In his latest collection author Nick Greaves draws once more from the lore, mythology and history of various southern African tribes to relate a new collection of tales that is bound to become a firm favourite along with the highly successful When Hippo was Hairy, When Lion could Fly and When Elephant was King.

A collection of stories, featuring sparrows, jays, buzzards, and bats, based on those African American tales originally written down by Martha Young on her father's plantation in Alabama after the Civil War.

A mixture of folktales and fun facts about the people, mythology and animals of Africa sure to be enjoyed by readers young and old.

Bat detector surveys are carried out by ecological consultants, researchers, conservationists and hobbyists. Understanding and categorising non-bat sounds in surveys offers the potential of knock-on benefits for informing development projects (e.g. other important records discovered within a site), as well as the possibility of associated conservation benefits. In recent years the number of people carrying out these surveys and recording calls with bat detectors has grown considerably. These surveys often generate vast amounts of audio recordings, resulting in the heavy workload associated with completing the sound analysis and reporting process. Those carrying out analysis can be distracted, intrigued or delayed owing to the occurrence of recordings that are unfamiliar and not identifiable to them. These recordings can relate to ‘difficult to ID’ bat species, but also, often, sounds not related to bats. This can be especially true when noise triggers such as insects, small mammals or birds look like bat-related noise. Therefore, only knowing what bats sound like is not enough. It is extremely useful to know what other sources of noise look and sound like within the same soundscape. This resource will help bat workers, in whatever environment they are in, to be more confident in recognising, categorising and dismissing other sounds. The book includes a substantial downloadable sound library (.wav format) that readers can listen to by ear or process through sound analysis software. Is That a Bat? also caters for sounds that are also heard by ear alone, in the field, during the hours of darkness. These scenarios often have bat surveyors intrigued or confused as to what they are listening to. Occasionally, knowing what these sounds are could be important, or at the very least, of interest. The first chapter caters for the subject overall, including suggestions from the author as to why the subject matter is of value. It also discusses bat-related calls (including social calls) with a view to offering comparisons against the other sources of sound discussed in separate chapters. Continuing through the book, there are chapters covering the following: small mammals; amphibians; insects; birds; electrical/mechanical noise; and other noise/nuisances. Within each chapter there are sub-sections about bat detector recorded sound, sound by ear, as well as advice on techniques and methods to reduce or increase the likelihood of recording other sounds. The book concludes with associated appendices, including a ‘Problem Solving Key’ to help those encountering an unfamiliar sound to narrow it down to the likely source. With technology advancing at pace, the technical ability of the analyst is of huge importance. With a wider perspective and more knowledge, those responsible for interpreting field encounters can be more confident when making decisions about sources of sound. Apart from that, ‘knowing stuff’ makes the job far more interesting and gives the bat worker a greater appreciation of the natural world within which they are working.

Delve into the fantastical world of "The Loon, the Bat, and the Raspberry Bush," a treasury of unforgettable fables from gifted storyteller and naturalist Allan Foster. Featuring common plants and animals found in backyards, parks, local woodlots, and forests around the Great Lakes Region, this collection of carefully selected tales artfully explains such mysteries as why cardinals are red, how roses got their thorns, and why groundhogs spend half their lives underground. Each story is accompanied by a pencil sketch and brief natural history to help identify specific creatures and link them directly to the environment, delivering not only an intriguing naturalist lesson, but an entertaining tale. Using his signature storytelling technique, Foster associates local plants and animals with famous characters from myths and legends while other stories introduce not-so-famous and new characters-plants and animals that talk to each other, defend their homes, fall in love, risk their lives, and play practical jokes. Soar in the skies with the hummingbird army, solve a nutty case with Squirrel, and discover a very important lesson with a Canadian goose. Ideal for families and children alike, "The Loon, the Bat, and the Raspberry Bush" is the perfect tool for learning more about our exciting natural world.