'No budding ornithologist should be without Matt Sewell's Atlas of Amazing Birds... sumptuous illustrations and brief captions tell us all we need to know.' The Telegraph Matt Sewell, creator of Our Garden Birds, presents his personal selection of the most amazing birds from around the world, with dazzling watercolour illustrations, witty and informative descriptions and maps of every continent. Did you know that the bald eagle holds the record for the world's biggest nest - weighing more than two tons? When the elf owl gets into trouble, it plays dead rather than fighting? The Adelie penguin can hold its breath for six minutes and leap up to three metres out of the water? Discover these and many more fascinating facts in this fabulous and beautiful book. Every bird chosen to appear in this book is amazing in its own individual way - birds that migrate thousands of miles, have strange and showy mating rituals, survive in extreme environments, are brilliant builders, are super-fast, super-brave or super-big! Sections on each continent - Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia, North America, South America and Antarctica - include maps to pore over. Travel the world to see magnificent eagles, resilient penguins, tiny hummingbirds, towering ostriches, stunning peacocks and many more. Colourful, clever, song-filled, strange and stunning - this book is a celebration of bird life!

A stunning and authoritative full-color atlas of the world's birds The Atlas of Birds captures the breathtaking diversity of birds, and illuminates their conservation status around the world. Full-color maps show where birds are found, both by country and terrain, and reveal how an astounding variety of behavioral adaptations—from flight and feeding to nest building and song—have enabled them to thrive in virtually every habitat on Earth. Maps of individual journeys and global flyways chart the amazing phenomenon of bird migration, while bird classification is explained using maps for each order and many key families. Conservation provides a strong focus throughout, with maps illustrating where and why birds are most under threat, and what is being done to protect them. Separate sections examine key factors influencing their distribution and endangering their survival, from deforestation and climate change to invasive species and the cage-bird trade. Bird groups most affected, such as island endemics, are highlighted, while a fascinating chapter explores the complex historical relationship between birds and humans, with maps and data for everything from poultry farming to birdwatching. The maps are supported by an authoritative text that uses the very latest data and case studies from BirdLife International. Packed with sumptuous photos, original diagrams, and imaginative graphics that bring the numbers to life, this book is a stunning and timely insight into perhaps the most colorful and intriguing group of organisms on our planet. The premier illustrated atlas of bird diversity, behavior, and conservation Features full-color maps, photos, and diagrams Covers bird evolution, classification, and behavior Describes the complex relationship between birds and their habitats Explores the impact of human activities on species survival Illustrates where and why birds are most under threat—and how to protect them

All life depends on plants but they are often taken for granted in our everyday lives. It is easy to ignore the fact that we are facing a crisis, with scientists estimating that one third of all flowering plant species are threatened with extinction. "Modern Day Arks" considers the essential conservation role of botanic gardens. Chapters feature gardens from around the world, including the UK, US, Australia, Germany, Turkey, Uganda, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil and China, revealing how a global network is striving to save our botanical heritage. Comments and photographs from the botanists involved lend an important personal angle to the text and reveal the important but little-known work that goes on behind the scenes of these beautiful gardens. In this elegant and engaging book, Sara Oldfield shows how botanic gardens truly are 'modern day arks' safeguarding species and saving resources on which we may soon depend. It is to be published in 2010, a year that sees the culmination of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.

Examines over 270 species of birds known to breed in Arizona, complete with color photos and nesting and migratory data.

Discusses how birds migrate and provides information on migrations in each region of the world and on the migrating habits of hundreds of species of birds.

Take a peek inside the beautiful and absorbing world of birds with this lavishly illustrated children’s bird atlas. From the Amazon Rainforest to the Rocky Mountains, this fully-fledged children’s bird guide will take you on a guided tour, continent by continent, to meet some of the most spectacular birds in the world! Get ready to journey through different biomes, like rivers and desserts, to discover fun facts about birds that will fascinate and inspire every budding ornithologist. In this bird book for kids, you’ll learn why flamingos are pink, why birds migrate and who migrates the farthest, and which bird species are endangered. Packed with hundreds of incredible, life-like illustrations, this educational book is a pictorial guide to the birds of the world. It showcases birds from every continent as you’ve never seen before with detailed maps pinpointing where different species of birds can be found. See magnificent snowy owls in the Arctic, tiny three-wattled bellbirds in the Caribbean, towering ostriches in Africa, and gorgeous depictions of the flighty American Robin. A Truly Breathtaking Celebration of Birdlife The Bird Atlas is arranged in order of continent - Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia, North America, South America, and Antarctica. Every continent is introduced with an overview of the ecology, climate, and landscape, and the typical and incredible birds that live there. This children’s book is the perfect introduction to our feathered friends and makes a great gift for the new generation of birdwatchers. Inside the pages of this children’s atlas, you’ll discover: • Fascinating facts about birds, from why vultures are bald to how bald eagles actually aren’t • Why some species are endangered and what can be done to protect them • Birds that can be found in different countries and continents of the world, their habitat, geography, and climate More from DK Books: Don’t miss out on more fascinating atlases! After exploring this fascinating bird book for kids, your child can move on to The Body Atlas to discover the inner workings of the human body. Next up is The Animal Atlas that takes children on a tour to meet the animals of the world.

The long-awaited second atlas of breeding birds in Vermont

A “fascinating” journey to little-known and contested lands around the globe, from Tibet to the Isle of Man to Elgaland-Vargaland (Geographical Magazine). What is a country? Acclaimed travel writer and Oxford geography don Nick Middleton brings to life the origins and histories of fifty states that, lacking international recognition and United Nations membership, exist on the margins of legitimacy in the global order. From long-contested lands like Crimea and Tibet to lesser-known territories such as Africa’s last colony and a European republic that enjoyed independence for a single day, Middleton presents fascinating stories of shifting borders, visionary leaders, and “forgotten” peoples. “Engrossing . . . You’ll not find Middle-earth, Atlantis or Lilliput inside, but you will find something just as intriguing . . . sure to prompt discussions about what makes a country a ‘real country.’” —Seattle Times

From the great winding Ganges river in India to the thick conifer forests of northern Europe, travel across the glbobe to discover the rich variety of animals that share our blue planet. Written by zoologist Dr. Nick Crumpton and fully illustrated throughout, this fascinating fact-filled book will be treasured for generations.