Download or read book Bonding with the Barn Swallows written by Adele Barger Wilson and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2013-12-16 with total page 186 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Replete with captivating photos and descriptions of Barn Swallow activity, this book's 186 pages convey the discovery, excitement, and wonder of three pairs of Barn Swallows nesting at arm's length from the only outside doorway to the author's home. This true-life adventure, illustrated by 117 full-color photos, occurs over two summers in the central Appalachian Mountains of the eastern US. A pair of Barn Swallows builds a nest, successfully defends it, and raises five chicks in it, all photographically documented. The following summer, two different pairs of Barn Swallows use the same nest to raise a total of nine more chicks. Fascinating details of the nesting behavior of these birds are provided. The author painstakingly clarifies her observations in light of research on this species and on passerines in general. Many of the observations fit into the molds of typical Barn Swallow behavior, yet others present topics for future studies. There are photos showing a male swallow perching at interesting locations at night to guard his mate while she is on the nest. Also included are numerous photos of hatchlings, chicks, and soon-to-be fledglings, both alone in the nest and being fed by their parents. Aside from presenting what she has learned about the behavior of her local Barn Swallow population, the author goes to great lengths to describe the visual nature of their plumages. First-year and adult plumages are contrasted, as well as male versus female. An extra bonus is the inclusion of photos of five juvenile Barn Swallows taken just nine to ten days after fledging, showing remarkable differences between their plumage patterns. Yet the author goes one step beyond describing mere observations. She shares real-life accounts of her personal interactions with these charming birds. There is one male swallow in particular who demonstrates unusual tameness. At first bewildered and perplexed by the swallow's behavior, the author eventually ascertains the reason for his friendliness. The male swallow chatters to the author one morning while perching on the porch rail at a distance of only three feet. Nine days later, from the utility wire, he again attempts to communicate with her through his unmistakable body language. Two days later, the mystery is solved. Circumstances reveal the content of the male swallow's message to her. Throughout the course of the book, the author discerns twelve different teachings, or lessons, that Barn Swallows impart to us by their behavior. These lessons consist of principles of daily living that we humans could do well to replicate. Both adults and children can enjoy this book. Regardless of one's reading level, the photos alone are certain to provide a valuable learning experience.
Download or read book Barn Swallows written by J. Clark Sawyer and published by . This book was released on 2014-08 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On a fall day in a park, a barn swallow spreads its wings and takes off into the air to start a very long journey. The little bird travels thousands of miles during its migration south for the winter. After reaching its warm winter home, the barn swallow finds plenty of food as it zigzags through the air catching insects. By early spring, it's time to return north. In this dramatic and colorful book, beginning readers will learn all about where barn swallows go in the winter and the amazing ways they survive--including traveling in large groups, some as large as one million birds. Each 24-page book features controlled text with age-appropriate vocabulary and simple sentence construction. The lively text, colorful design, and exquisite photos are sure to delight and engage emergent readers.
Download or read book The Story of Fufu written by Stephanie Kendall and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2016-10-11 with total page 46 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this true story I chronicled a family of barn swallows as they scouted for a nest site until the babies fledged and flew away.
Download or read book The Bluebird Effect written by Julie Zickefoose and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 2012-03-20 with total page 389 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Julie Zickefoose lives for the moment when a wild, free living bird that she has raised or rehabilitated comes back to visit her; their eyes meet and they share a spark of understanding. Her reward for the grueling work of rescuing birds—such as feeding baby hummingbirds every twenty minutes all day long—is her empathy with them and the satisfaction of knowing the world is a birdier and more beautiful place. The Bluebird Effect is about the change that's set in motion by one single act, such as saving an injured bluebird—or a hummingbird, swift, or phoebe. Each of the twenty five chapters covers a different species, and many depict an individual bird, each with its own personality, habits, and quirks. And each chapter is illustrated with Zickefoose's stunning watercolor paintings and drawings. Not just individual tales about the trials and triumphs of raising birds, The Bluebird Effect mixes humor, natural history, and memoir to give readers an intimate story of a life lived among wild birds.
Download or read book Barn Swallows the Airport written by Hilary Vickers and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Handbook of Bird Biology written by Irby J. Lovette and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2016-06-27 with total page 736 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Selected by Forbes.com as one of the 12 best books about birds and birding in 2016 This much-anticipated third edition of the Handbook of Bird Biology is an essential and comprehensive resource for everyone interested in learning more about birds, from casual bird watchers to formal students of ornithology. Wherever you study birds your enjoyment will be enhanced by a better understanding of the incredible diversity of avian lifestyles. Arising from the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology and authored by a team of experts from around the world, the Handbook covers all aspects of avian diversity, behaviour, ecology, evolution, physiology, and conservation. Using examples drawn from birds found in every corner of the globe, it explores and distills the many scientific discoveries that have made birds one of our best known - and best loved - parts of the natural world. This edition has been completely revised and is presented with more than 800 full color images. It provides readers with a tool for life-long learning about birds and is suitable for bird watchers and ornithology students, as well as for ecologists, conservationists, and resource managers who work with birds. The Handbook of Bird Biology is the companion volume to the Cornell Lab’s renowned distance learning course, Ornithology: Comprehensive Bird Biology.
Download or read book Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior written by and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2019-01-21 with total page 3052 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior, Second Edition, Four Volume Set the latest update since the 2010 release, builds upon the solid foundation established in the first edition. Updated sections include Host-parasite interactions, Vertebrate social behavior, and the introduction of ‘overview essays’ that boost the book's comprehensive detail. The structure for the work is modified to accommodate a better grouping of subjects. Some chapters have been reshuffled, with section headings combined or modified. Represents a one-stop resource for scientifically reliable information on animal behavior Provides comparative approaches, including the perspective of evolutionary biologists, physiologists, endocrinologists, neuroscientists and psychologists Includes multimedia features in the online version that offer accessible tools to readers looking to deepen their understanding
Download or read book The Barn Swallow written by Angela Turner and published by A&C Black. This book was released on 2010-01-29 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Barn Swallow is a familiar and popular bird throughout the world. It is one of the most widely distributed bird species, breeding in North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa and wintering in South America, southern Africa, southern Asia and even northern Australia. Its habit of nesting close to human habitation has made this elegant bird a part of farmyard and village life and a welcome herald of spring. This book examines all aspects of the life of this endearing bird, with chapters on its flying skills and feeding habits, mate choice, breeding strategies, nest sites, eggs and incubation, nestling rearing, productivity and survival, migratory behaviour and population dynamics. It also considers changes in populations and behaviour in relation to intensive agriculture and climate change. The Barn Swallow is both engaging and authoritative; birdwatchers will enjoy amazing insights into the life of the species, such as the importance of tail feathers when finding a mate, or the sinister way that some birds kill of the chicks of rivals. Academic scholars will appreciate the book's broad overview of current research on this species.
Download or read book A Handbook to the Swallows and Martins of the World written by Angela Turner and published by A&C Black. This book was released on 2010-06-30 with total page 267 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This reference guide gives general details about the swallows and martins of the world. These include appearance, the basic coloration and differences between the sexes and immatures and the function of other areas of colouring. Several species within the same geographical area are often segregated by feeding in different habitats or at different heights or by eating different size-classes of insects. The two sub-families, one being the two river martins, the other containing about 72 species mainly in the genus hirundo, are dealt with, including their distribution and migration patterns. Feeding, courtship and breeding habits are considered, together with details of nesting sites, clutch size, incubation and life-span. Finally, the population sizes of the various species are examined, noting that whilst many have expanded their range by using man-made structures, forest species probably remain small and one species, the Red Sea swallow is known from only one specimen. The book follows the same approach, style and presentation as The Herons Handbook published in 1985. It is illustrated by the winner of the prestigious British Birds Illustrator of the Year Award and the author has contributed to many scientific papers and journals including BBC's Wildlife Magazine.
Download or read book Leaving the Wild written by Gavin Ehringer and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2017-12-05 with total page 410 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A thought-provoking and surprising book that explores the ever-evolving relationship between humans and domesticated animals. The domestication of animals changed the course of human history. But what are the consequences for these animals who have abandoned their wild existence in exchange for our care and protection? Domestication has proven to be a wildly successful survival strategy, but this success has not been without its drawbacks. A modern dairy cow’s daily energy output equals that of a Tour de France rider. Feral cats overpopulate urban areas. And our methods of breeding horses and dogs have resulted in debilitating and sometimes lethal genetic diseases. But these problems and more can be addressed, if we have the will and the compassion. Human values and choices determine an animal’s lot in life even before he or she is born. Just as a sculptor’s hands shape clay, so human values shape our animals—for good and or evil. The little-examined, yet omnipresent act of breeding lies at the core of Gavin Ehringer’s eye-opening book.
Download or read book Hamburger and French Flies written by Carol Kent and published by FriesenPress. This book was released on 2022-08-29 with total page 54 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hamburger and French Flies: A Barn Swallow’s Story is the incredible true story of a barn swallow who survived against harrowing odds. Knocked from its nest when only days old, Raven was taken in by a student named Carol, who was spending her summer banding sandpipers in Dorchester Cape, New Brunswick with the Canadian Wildlife Service. Too small to be separated from his parents and with barely any feathers yet to keep him warm, Carol and her mother nursed Raven to full and exceptional health. With Raven’s best interest at heart, unbeknownst to the little swallow, Carol imparted him with survival habits. She encouraged him to fly and taught him where to uncover bugs when food was sparse. And when the time came, while it broke her heart to do so, Carol sent Raven to be with his own kind. Confused but with a new feeling stirring inside him, Raven obeyed and travelled south to survive the harsh Canadian winter. Follow Raven’s journey in Hamburger and French Flies: A Barn Swallow’s Story to learn the remarkable tale of familial bonds and natural instinct—how there is reunion and forgiveness even in distance and time apart. And how most of all, there is new life on the other side.
Download or read book Handbook of Psychology Biological Psychology written by Irving B. Weiner and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2003 with total page 804 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Includes established theories and cutting-edge developments. Presents the work of an international group of experts. Presents the nature, origin, implications, an future course of major unresolved issues in the area.
Download or read book Wyoming Wildlife A Natural History written by Paul Johnsgard and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2019-06-30 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book surveys Wyoming's mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian faunas. In addition to introducing the state's geography, geology, climate, and major ecosystems, it provides 65 biological profiles of 72 mammal species, 195 profiles of 196 birds, 9 profiles of 12 reptiles, and 6 profiles of 9 amphibians. There are also species lists of Wyoming's 117 mammals, 445 birds, 22 reptiles, and 12 amphibians. Also included are descriptions of nearly 50 national and state properties, including parks, forests, preserves, and other public-access natural areas in Wyoming. The book includes a text of more than 150,000 words, nearly 700 references, a glossary of 115 biological terms, nearly 50 maps and line drawings by the author, and 33 color photographs by Thomas D. Mangelsen.
Download or read book National Geographic Pocket Guide to the Birds of North America written by Laura Erickson and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 2013 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents information about 160 North American bird species, including facts about physical features, voice, habitat, food, and a map indicating the regions in which each species can be found.
Download or read book The Bluebird Effect written by Julie Zickefoose and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 2012 with total page 389 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Through raising and rehabilitating birds, Zickefoose pulls back a curtain on their motivations, desires, and even emotions. This book is a visual feast, lavishly illustrated with watercolors and field sketches.
Download or read book Biological Exuberance written by Bruce Bagemihl and published by St. Martin's Press. This book was released on 2000-04-10 with total page 1549 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Publishers Weekly Best Book One of the New York Public Library's "25 Books to Remember" for 1999 Lavishly illustrated and meticulously researched, filled with fascinating facts and astonishing descriptions of animal behavior, Bruce Bagemihl's Biological Exuberance is a landmark book that will change forever how we look at nature. Homosexuality in its myriad forms has been scientifically documented in more than 450 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, and other animals worldwide. Biological Exuberance is the first comprehensive account of the subject, bringing together accurate, accessible, and nonsensationalized information. Drawing upon a rich body of zoological research spanning more than two centuries, Bagemihl shows that animals engage in all types of nonreproductive sexual behavior. Sexual and gender expression in the animal world displays exuberant variety, including same-sex courtship, pair-bonding, sex, and co-parenting—even instances of lifelong homosexual bonding in species that do not have lifelong heterosexual bonding. Part 1, "A Polysexual, Polygendered World," begins with a survey of homosexuality, transgender, and nonreproductive heterosexuality in animals and then delves into the broader implications of these findings, including a valuable perspective on human diversity. Bagemihl also examines the hidden assumptions behind the way biologists look at natural systems and suggests a fresh perspective based on the synthesis of contemporary scientific insights with traditional knowledge from indigenous cultures. Part 2, "A Wondrous Bestiary," profiles more than 190 species in which scientific observers have noted homosexual or transgender behavior. Each profile is a verbal and visual "snapshot" of one or more closely related bird or mammal species, containing all the documentation required to support the author's often controversial conclusions.
Download or read book Women After All Sex Evolution and the End of Male Supremacy written by Melvin Konner and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2015-03-09 with total page 400 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A sparkling, thought-provoking account of sexual differences. Whether you’re a man or a woman, you’ll find his conclusions gripping.”—Jared Diamond There is a human genetic fluke that is surprisingly common, due to a change in a key pair of chromosomes. In the normal condition the two look the same, but in this disorder one is malformed and shrunken beyond recognition. The result is a shortened life span, higher mortality at all ages, an inability to reproduce, premature hair loss, and brain defects variously resulting in attention deficit, hyperactivity, conduct disorder, hypersexuality, and an enormous excess of both outward and self-directed aggression. It is called maleness. Melvin Konner traces the arc of evolution to explain the relationships between women and men. With patience and wit he explores the knotty question of whether men are necessary in the biological destiny of the human race. He draws on multiple, colorful examples from the natural world—such as the mating habits of the octopus, black widow, angler fish, and jacana—and argues that maleness in humans is hardly necessary to the survival of the species. In characteristically humorous and engaging prose, Konner sheds light on our biologically different identities, while noting the poignant exceptions that challenge the male/female divide. We meet hunter-gatherers such as those in Botswana, whose culture gave women a prominent place, invented the working mother, and respected women’s voices around the fire. Recent human history has upset this balance, as a dense world of war fostered extreme male dominance. But our species has been recovering over the past two centuries, and an unstoppable move toward equality is afoot. It will not be the end of men, but it will be the end of male supremacy and a better, wiser world for women and men alike.
