Book reviews

Book reviews

Read reviews of the books we hold in the Chris Mead Library, written by our in-house experts. A selection of book reviews also features in our members’ magazine, BTO News.

All the Birds of the World

Featured review

Lynx have had a long-term project to produce an exhaustive guide to the birds of the world. It started out with the 17 volumes of the Handbook of the Birds of the World (1992-2013) which has family and species accounts for all birds. This was followed by the two volumes of the Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World (2014-16). They have now published the third and final stage of this avian odyssey with this current book.

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            Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World

            Author: Christian Cooper

            Publisher: Penguin Random House, New York

            Published: 2023

            2nd place in Best Bird Book of the Year 2023When starting Better Living Through Birding, I was not sure what to expect.Cooper is perhaps most widely known in the UK for the infamous incident in Central Park in 2020, but after reading this book I hope he will be best known in the birding community for his profound connection with birds, his eloquent prose, and his inspiring and often comical insights into the world of birding.This book is a unique blend: part autobiography, part birding almanack, and part exploration of the fascinating realm of comics. It weaves together the threads of Cooper’s life, with birds consistently serving as the vibrant red thread that holds it all together.As a seasoned writer, Cooper expertly intertwines stories from his childhood, his family, his birding adventures around the world, and a cast of endearing characters from his Central Park birding community.If you are a more experienced birder, you will undoubtedly recognise yourself and others in Cooper’s descriptions, both of people and of his experiences with birds. You will ache to see a Blackburnian Warbler from his detailed and emotive descriptions, and feel the renewed sense of awe at a Common Grackle as he talks about his experience seeing the bird through new eyes.For the beginning birder, Cooper’s top tips and “seven wonders of birding” are a great introduction to the hobby. His enthusiasm is infectious, and all birders will find themselves yearning to pick up binoculars and head outdoors to (re)discover the beauty of birds for themselves.Cooper’s personal anecdotes, along with his absolute skill for storytelling, make this book an engaging read from start to finish. His experiences are often humorous, touching, and thought-provoking, making it easy for readers to connect with his journey on a personal level.No matter your background, experience level, or whether you’re a US- or UK-based birder, I thoroughly recommend this book as a balm to the heart.Book reviewed by Faye Vogely

            Flight Paths: How the Mystery of Bird Migration Was Solved

            Author: Rebecca Heisman

            Publisher: Swift Press, London

            Published: 2023

            This fascinating book opens with a question: where do the birds go? People have, of course, been asking this question for centuries, and over time our knowledge has increased enormously and, indeed, is still increasing – from BTO’s own work revealing new migration routes of Cuckoos to the recent revelation that Scottish Red-necked Phalaropes winter off the Pacific coast of South America. The book does not answer this question directly but delves into the question of how we know where birds go.Early on, the author notes that there is no single best way to work out where birds go. Rather there is a toolbox of techniques each with its own strengths and the book provides a great introduction to these, starting with ‘bird banding’ (the book is written almost entirely from a western hemisphere perspective). From there it moves on to ‘noc-migging’ (which has an unexpectedly long and venerable history) and the study of ‘angels’ – and if you don’t know what they are, this book is for you. Next up is a brief history of radio-tracking, starting with the extraordinary tale of how a Wood Thrush was tracked on its migration (and, yes, that was a single thrush tracked for nearly 1,000 miles over seven days across America), before describing more recent technologies, such as geolocators and satellite tags. The book finishes with chapters on the role of ‘community science’ projects, such as BirdTrack, and which ask how all this has helped bird conservation efforts.A brief consideration of the ethics of migration studies, primarily the potential impacts of tags on the individuals who wear them, is welcome but a point made right at the end of the book particularly struck me. As is rightly becoming more common, the author acknowledges she lives on stolen land and I did pause to wonder what indigenous knowledge of bird migration have we lost over the centuries? Science may give us the details, but cultural associations and meanings are equally important. The book is a great read, and hearing about some of the challenges people faced when pioneering some of these techniques certainly adds an extra level of appreciation to the already wondrous stories about bird’s migratory feats. Indeed, I could easily have read more – at just over 200 pages (plus a good selection of footnotes) the book is quite short, although if that encourages more people to pick it up, so much the better. Book reviewed by Rob Robinson 

            The Meaning of Geese

            Author: Nick Acheson

            Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing UK

            Published: 2023

            Nick Acheson Hardback https://www.nhbs.com/de/the-meaning-of-geese-book £ 230 19.99 2023 Chelsea Green Publishing UK 9781915294098 Mike Toms

            RSPB Handbook of Garden Wildlife

            Author: Peter Holden & Geoffrey Abbott

            Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, London

            Published: 2023

            Gardens cumulatively make up a huge habitat in the UK and for those of us lucky enough to have a garden they have the potential to host all sorts of amazing wildlife. This book is a remarkably comprehensive guide to almost everything that might share a space with humans. It covers much, much more than just birds. Species account for our feathered friends cover less than a fifth of the book. Mammals are covered in a good level of detail (although Red Squirrels are in every sense displaced by their grey cousin, and Pine Marten doesn’t feature). It’s fantastic to see that over half the book is taken up covering invertebrates and plants – the latter covering both native flora as well as popular cultivated plants.If you have a garden and want to make it better for wildlife there are all sorts of tips here – ponds and nest box design, calendars of what-to-do-when and even activities for children.Given the incredibly broad range of topics covered by this book it seems likely that getting interested in one of the species groups like fungi, beetles, or amphibians will likely lead to further research online or in more specific books. Even a bird guide would come in handy. This is a great book and one that should be on the shelves of all green-fingered naturalists – whether you’ve a few acres or a window box!Book reviewed by Steve Willis 

            Birdsplaining: A Natural History

            Author: Jasmine Donahaye

            Publisher: New Welsh Review, Aberystwyth

            Published: 2023

            The author herself acknowledges in her opening note that some offence may be taken by the title, but Jasmine Donahaye’s collection of short essays is much more than it first seems. She elucidates a multi-faceted explanation for Birdsplaining, adding to the anticipated definition the notion of using birds as a way to explore the relationship humans have both to each other and to the natural world, as well as seeing in them a means to understand personal experience. From the Swallows seeking a place to nest in her 18th century Welsh cottage home to a Western Bluebird spotted in California, birds are at the heart of this book.Set within the frame of the author’s own experiences, the 14 individual but connected essays bring up important issues: the human tendency to anthropomorphise the natural world; the colonial history of ornithology and the names of the local guides who have been largely forgotten; the equity of access to nature; the status of birdwatching as a traditionally male-dominated interest to name but a few. However, this isn’t a book that tries to tell you what to think, and functions more as a way to start a conversation rather than an attempt to conclude it.The experiences Jasmine Donahaye describes in Birdsplaining provide a means for personal reflection. It is an unusual, vivid, book which still manages to remain remarkably easy-to-read and enjoyable. It doesn’t shy away from taking on difficult subjects, and I’ve often found myself thinking about it in the days since finishing it.Book reviewed by Lesley Hindley 

            Be a Birder: The Joy of Birdwatching and How to Get Started

            Author: Hamza Yassin

            Publisher: Gaia Books

            Published: 2023

            Hamza Yassin is well-known for his work as a wildlife cameraman and presenter. He has worked on a whole host of television programmes, including David Attenborough’s Wild Isles, and has presented his own documentaries, in between winning Strictly Come Dancing of course. His new book, Be a Birder, is a truly joyful introduction to the world of birdwatching and never fails to spark enthusiasm in the reader. Although aimed at beginners, this book is excellent for any level of birdwatcher – I’ve certainly learned some new facts through reading it.This book is the perfect tool to take out and about on your first bird walks as it provides a taste of the species you might find. It’s split into sections by habitat, such as ‘Cities, Gardens and Parks’ or ‘Moors and Mountains’, and each section contains 8–10 species typical of that habitat, so wherever you are in the UK you can discover what’s around you. The species range from the common, like a Blackbird, to the unusual and exciting, like a Wryneck. The book provides an overview of each species, including information such as conservation status, things to look out for and how easy they are to spot. Hamza also describes each bird in three or four keywords which is a fun and easy way to help the reader remember them, such as a Redwing being a ‘visiting winter berry-fiend’ or a Green Woodpecker being a ‘large, loud laugher’!The wonderful thing about Hamza’s book is that it’s like carrying your own personal ornithologist around in your pocket. It goes far beyond the typical ID book and contains all the fun stories and anecdotes you’d pick up from going out on a walk with a birdwatcher. He has a fascinating fact for every species which makes you feel like you’re getting to know the birds personally. Knowing the size, weight and distribution of a bird is one thing, but it’s knowing that a Great Spotted Woodpecker has a bouncy flight pattern or that Long-tailed Tits like to hang out in big groups that really helps you spot them out in the wild!Through Be a Birder, Hamza has opened the door of birdwatching to anyone of any age. Both informative and fun, his passion and excitement shines through the text and is highly contagious, it’s hard not to catch the birding bug!Book reviewed by Jasmine Canham, BTO Youth Rep

            Haunted by the last tide: The SWLA in the Danish Wadden Sea

            Author: Colin Williams (text) & Marco Brodde (editor)

            Publisher: Society of Wildlife Artists, London

            Published: 2023

            The result of two two-week trips by 19 artists, all members of the Society of Wildlife Artists (SWLA), this beautiful book documents the birds and landscapes of Denmark’s Waden Sea National Park. While the artistic styles vary, from pencil and watercolour to oil and scrap metal sculpture, the similarities of tones used – drawn from the places visited – create a unifying vision of the area’s rich wildlife and haunting presence. As powerful as the images is the richly woven text by Colin Williams, touching on the poetic at times in the way that it allows the reader to share the writer’s eye, rather than simply recounting an experience. For the most part the artworks cover species that will be familiar to UK readers, underlining that many of the birds that use the Wadden Sea – think wildfowl and waders – also haunt our shores. As you might expect from a book put together by Nye Hughes – the quietly creative designer – the layout flows gracefully, the respectful space around text and artworks helping to create a book that is deeply reflective and resonant in its sense of place.  Book reviewed by Mike Toms 

            RSPB How to Photograph Garden Birds

            Author: Mark Carwardine

            Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing, Lond

            Published: 2023

            During my 20 years of birding, I have only modestly dabbled in bird photography (with the same camera from the 2000s I’ve had since school), so when beginning to read this new RSPB book by Mark Carwardine I was curious to see how well it would read to a beginner such as myself, and whether it would inspire me to join the growing photographer community and to properly partake in this popular pastime.I was pleased by Mark’s clear message that you don’t need to travel to far-flung and exotic locations to take effective photographs. Focusing on your garden birds can offer a great source of enjoyment as well as a much more convenient opportunity to practise and hone your photography skills. As long as you remember a small number of core principles, there is nothing stopping you from taking professional-quality snaps from your doorstep. To emphasise this, the photographs in the book primarily come from Mark’s garden, and I particularly liked his inclusion of purposely-taken ‘bad’ shots, to reinforce his tips on what not to do when starting off.The pages are full of useful tactics to enhance your photography, as well as subtle tricks to make your photographs look as though they were taken during the all-too-brief ‘golden hours’ of the day, when natural light is at its best for taking effective shots. There is also a section on taking impressive photographs by producing your very own ‘artificial rain’ - though admittedly after the winter we’ve just had I think I’ll be passing on that particular trick for the foreseeable future!This book is certainly beginner-friendly, with Mark’s writing style coming across as a friendly mentor giving tips by your side. For those of you who are completely new, however, I would perhaps recommend reading the glossary at the back before commencing the book, as there might be some words and phrases that could be unfamiliar to you. I was also somewhat surprised not to see any diagrams of camera apparatus or accessories, though of course we have our phones and/or laptops to quickly look these up.Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to those wishing to explore and develop their photography skills. I certainly came to better appreciate the skill of taking good-quality shots which, like all hobbies, requires lots of practice and patience to master. With Mark’s helpful pointers, you’ll certainly get a head start, and I look forward to having them in mind myself when I’ll next have my camera while enjoying my garden birds.Book reviewed by Gethin Jenkins-Jones 

            From Wasteland to Wetland: A History of Woolston Eyes

            Author: Brian Martin

            Publisher: Privately published

            Published: 2023

            As a birder growing up in Greater Manchester in the 1990s, I would regularly phone Birdline Northwest (remember those days of having to phone up for bird news?!) and very often, the site Woolston Eyes, in Cheshire, would feature. Although I never had the chance to visit the site as it requires a permit to access, the name has always been a familiar one to me, and in my role as one of the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) team, I have had a few phone conversations with Brian Martin about a few of his WeBS records on that site over the years. Even before he published this book of the history of the site, from its beginnings as a desolate wasteland just a couple of miles from the centre of Warrington to the amazing wetland reserve it is today, the enthusiasm in which he spoke of the site was always evident and this book captures that love and dedication.The first chapter tells of the history of the area, which sits underneath the busy M6 Thelwall Viaduct, which many will have driven over without realising what was below them. The next few chapters detail the development of the habitat of the reserve which today is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has a nationally important breeding population of Black-necked Grebes, among other rare breeding species. The final part of the book has short stories detailing certain species which have been conservation successes on the site, including the grebes and also Willow Tits which are declining at an alarming rate (90% decline in England since 1995) but this site remains as a stronghold. The site is not only important for birds, but also invertebrates and they are covered in this book too.The book gives a thorough overview of the reserve’s history and its birds and even for those who may never get the chance to visit the site, it will be a fascinating read on what can be done with a bit of vision and a dedicated group of volunteers successfully managing a site over 40 years.Book reviewed by Neil Calbrade 
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