Living on the edge: wetlands and birds in a changing Sahel

I opened this book expecting to read mainly about wetland birds. I was pleasantly surprised to find several detailed yet engaging chapters describing the geography, weather patterns, land uses and other environmental conditions that characterise the Sahel region and provide wintering habitats for many of our migratory birds. I felt that I gained a much better understanding of the places where our birds, and the fieldworkers on our ‘Out of Africa’ project, spend the winter. Of course the birds themselves feature strongly as well, with species accounts for a wide range of migratory species that use wetland habitats (not just waterbirds). The book is rich in data, with many graphs and maps examining population changes and bird movements, and will interest those readers who like facts and figures rather than want a coffee-table book. That said, the book is beautifully illustrated, with many colour photos and drawings of the Sahel habitat and the birds that use it. The science it contains is presented in a very readable style that is accessible to everyone. I’m sure this book will appeal to many BTO supporters with an interest in understanding more about how this environment can affect our bird populations.

Book reviewed by Lucy Wright