The titles reviewed in this section of Ibis are available for reference at the Alexander Library of Ornithology, c/o Sherardian Library, Plant Sciences Dept., University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK. Please write, telephone +44 (0) 1 865 271143 or email sophie.wilcox@bodleian.ox.ac.uk prior to your visit to make an appointment.

The aim of the Alexander Library is to build up a comprehensive collection of literature as a service to ornithologists. Its holdings include an extensive range of periodicals and a large number of reprints drawn from many sources: additional reprints of readers’ papers are always welcome. The library has always greatly benefited from its close relationship with the BOU. For many years, all journals received in exchange for Ibis have been deposited in the library, as have most of the books sent for review, through the generosity of reviewers and publishers.

In return, as a service to readers, this review section of Ibis is organized and edited by Dr Richard Sale (richard.sale@zoo.o.ac.uk), with the help of a panel of contributors. We are always grateful for offers of further assistance with reviewing, especially with foreign‐language titles.

Books for review: publishers are kindly asked to send two copies of each title to Richard Sale, IBIS Book Reviews, Alexander Library of Ornithology, c/o Sherardian Library, Plant Sciences Dept., University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK.

Gregory, Phil. Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds. 416 pages, 41 full‐page colour illustrations and numerous colour photographs and maps, London: Helm Identification Guides, Helm (Bloomsbury), 2019, hardback, £54.99 (NHBS), ISBN: 9780713660272.

For those familiar with Helm Identification Guides, the format of this work will be familiar: it starts with an introduction, is followed by 41 full‐page colour illustrations of the birds (painted by Richard Allen), and the 246 pages covering the species accounts is followed by a bibliography and an index.

It is now widely known that Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds are not close relatives, so it may come as a surprise to some readers that the two groups are still covered in a single work. However, this works well because the author divides the 40‐page Introduction into two sections – ‘What is a bird of paradise?’ and ‘What is a bowerbird?’ – much of which is devoted to discussing their relationships and contrasting their differences.

The taxonomy of many bird groups is in a state of flux, largely due to the use of genetic research to produce divergence times and to help unravel relationships. The groups described here are no exception, but some relationships within the two are enhanced by the fact that many taxa have distinct geographically distinct ranges and the sub‐groups have probably been separate for long periods. As a result, views are still changing and new species are being recognised (e.g. Google Cornell University ‘A new Species? The Vogelkop Bird‐of‐Paradise’).

The book includes separate accounts of 71 forms of Birds of Paradise, currently recognized as 45 species – the equivalent numbers for Bowerbirds are 37 and 28. Amongst the Bowerbirds, the forms in the Genus Ailuroedus were elevated from three to ten species only in 2015, while amongst the Birds of Paradise, the Trumpet Manucode Phonygammus keraudrenii currently includes six well‐separated forms and seems unlikely to remain a single species.

It is now well‐accepted that a couple of taxa which used to be Birds of Paradise belong elsewhere. These are covered in a chapter of their own headed Former Birds of Paradise – they are the Satinbirds, now Cnemophilidae (three species), and MacGregor’s Honeyeater, Macgregoria pulchra, now an aberrant honeyeater Meliphagidae.

This book provides an important summary to these fascinating birds and at the same time stresses how little we know about many aspects of their lives. It also grimly outlines many of the threats faced as the ‘Great War’ on nature intensifies.

Christopher Perrins

Howell, Steve N. G. & , Zufelt, K. Oceanic Birds of the World: A Photo Guide. 360 pages, 270 species covered with 368 plates including over 2200 colour photographs plus distribution maps, Princeton & Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2019, flexicover, £23.99, ISBN: 9780691175010, press.princeton.edu

Without doubt one of the most well‐thumbed and loved bird books on my shelf is a now rather tatty copy of Peter Harrison’s Seabirds of the World: A Photographic Guide, at the time a ground‐breaking publication and an accompaniment to his earlier published Seabirds: An Identification Guide. Fast forward 32 years and we have the subject considerably updated in this mouth‐wateringly magnificent volume. There is, however, a distinct difference in the title and, as explained by the authors, this work focuses on the real ‘seabirds’ – the truly pelagic species or ‘oceanic birds’. Therefore, gulls are accurately described as generally inhabiting coastal regions with just four of the more sea‐going species represented: Black‐legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla, Red‐legged Kittiwake Rissa brevirostris, Sabine’s Gull Xema sabini and Swallow‐tailed Gull Creagrus furcatus. Similarly, terns are restricted to Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus, Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus and Gray‐backed Tern Onychoprion lunatus. Cormorants and Pelicans are also excluded.

This is a field guide in the true sense of the words. Being just 15 x 21cm in size and with a robust and weatherproof cover, it is designed to be used as such and would certainly withstand the rigours of a seabird pelagic trip. The contents offer advice on how best to use the guide including an explanation of the format of species accounts and use of terminology. This is followed by a lengthy chapter on taxonomy which has moved forward significantly in the past 30 years. For instance, the aforementioned Harrison’s seabird guide published in 1987 recognized 107 tubenoses, but the current total stands at 175. Some are newly described taxa but most are the result of ‘upgrading’ subspecies to species level. These changes are comprehensively dealt with, a most notable example being that of the White‐bellied Storm Petrel Fregetta grallaria complex, a group with provisionally six different taxa. These are some of the world’s rarest seabirds which most mortals can only dream of seeing and yet they are well represented with stunning photographs, notably the Titan Storm‐Petrel Fregetta [grallaria] titan from the Pacific island of Rapa with a total population of c.500 pairs and the Inaccessible Storm‐Petrel Fregetta [grallaria] ‘leucogaster’. The taxonomic minefield of the Band‐rumped Storm‐Petrel Thalobata castro complex is also addressed.

The main species accounts lift the comparatively new format of the photographic field guide to new and heady heights. The sheer volume, quantity and quality of the images are extraordinary and a real testament to the photographic talent of the authors. Having attempted myself to take pictures of flying seabirds from a swaying boat on a heaving sea, it is easy to appreciate the skill involved! The species accounts are divided into relevant sections, for example ‘Small Black‐and‐White Shearwaters’, each with a brief introductory section and comparison thumbnail photographs. The majority of species have multiple images illustrating both under‐ and upper‐parts and many in a variety of plumages. As well as individual portraits most accounts feature quite brilliant composite plates, appearing similar in style to the illustration format used for traditional field guides. The images are carefully arranged on a blue background with the birds flying to the right. These are annotated with identification pointers and each has a pale yellow ‘post it’ note with a concise and succinct description. A distribution map is included for the majority. A short caption to each of the plates briefly details habitats, breeding and wintering grounds, and some behavioural characteristics. Particular favourites of mine are the ‘Dark Storm Petrels’, most notably Markham’s Storm‐Petrel Hydrobates markhami and Tristram’s Storm‐Petrel Hydrobates tristrami. These plates, which are side by side (pages 276–277), each contain seven flight images which are uncannily similar in body and wing position and are invaluable in separating these extremely similar species.

If you have experienced only a handful of the seabirds that are featured in this book, it is perhaps natural to go to the ones that are slightly more familiar. For instance, the Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea complex includes virtually identical flight portraits of Scopoli’s Shearwater Calonectris [diomedea] diomedea, Cape Verde Shearwater Calonectris edwardsii and Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris [diomedea] borealis. These illustrate the critical yet subtle differences of the under‐wing pattern perfectly.

If asked to choose a favourite photograph from this collection it would probably be that of the Hawaiian Petrel Pterodroma sandwichensis (page 92) perfectly captured against a cobalt blue ocean. The accompanying caption is a sobering reflection on the vulnerability of not only this species but seabirds as a whole. The consequences of habitat loss, consumption of plastics, non‐native predators and disease are all factors threatening their very existence.

This is an excellent book and a credit to the authors' painstaking research and knowledge. It is a celebration of the diversity and beauty of the world’s seabirds. A combination of the often‐harsh environment they inhabit, together with a complex taxonomy and elusive nature makes them perhaps the most compelling and fascinating of all bird groups. It is indeed a major achievement to have photographed so many of them and to present them in one publication. This is a ‘must have’ addition to any keen birder’s library.

Nic Hallam

Bond, Alan & , Diamond, Judy. Thinking like a Parrot: Perspectives from the Wild. 267 pages, many colour and monochrome illustrations, & line drawings, Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 2019, hardback, £26.99, ISBN: 9780226248783 (hardback), ISBN: 9780226248813 (e‐book), www.press.uchicago.edu

People have kept captive parrots as companions for many centuries because of their intelligence, beauty, ability to mimic human speech and because they interact and bond with their human carers. Consequently, they have been highly valued and traded internationally. Despite this interest, the study of parrots in the wild is relatively recent. The authors of this book are pioneers, and have studied parrot behavior in New Zealand, Australia, Costa Rica, and in naturalized populations in North America and Spain. Their book is not a traditional textbook or a popular book on parrots, but rather a quirky mix. It gives an overview of parrot biology and a detailed review of parrot cognition and behavioural ecology. It is a bold book based in part upon their own fieldwork, and considers the published literature, which the authors are not afraid to interpret and expand upon.

The book is well written with a good command of language and a minimum of jargon. The content is a mixture of narrative and descriptive styles interspersing field observations with an evaluation of a massive amount of published data. It is divided into seven parts: origins, behaviour, sociality, cognition, disruption, conservation, and parrots and people, which cover 17 chapters. Six parts start with an essay about a specific parrot species the authors have studied, with field notes and observations on life history, behaviour and ecology. These vignettes are a springboard for the subsequent chapters and are lovely glimpses into the species’ world although they do not always sit as an obvious introduction.

Most of the chapters have been extensively researched and there are 72 pages of references. These are not directly quoted in the text and are given in notes on each chapter, together with background material, which are at the end of the book. There are seven appendices giving background information on parrots and their status, methodology, and details of the behaviour and vocalizations of the Kea Nestor notabilis, Kaka Nestor meriodionalis and Kakapo Strigops habroptilus that the authors studied.

The first chapter opens with a vignette on the Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus and follows with an introduction to parrots and their evolution, social behaviour and cognitive abilities. Intelligence in birds is most developed in the corvids and parrots and in both these groups it is the larger, longer‐lived species that have the reputation for the greatest intelligence. Of course, intelligence is also correlated with relative brain size and in a chapter on Brain and Sensory Systems the authors make a comparison between brain volume and body weight in parrots and corvids and demonstrate a consistently greater volume in parrots. They are the most intelligent of birds, Grey Parrots Psittacus erithacus demonstrating near‐human performance in some psychological tests.

Parrots are famous for their ability to mimic human speech and often use it in the correct context. Although their vocalizations are considered by many to be raucous and crude, the authors demonstrate the complexity of these calls with their variations in tone, pitch, modulation and inflection. Parrots communicate with these vocalizations and with displays. Body language is well‐developed, with subtle changes in posture and feather erection to express mood and emotion. Based upon their own studies of play and vocalizations, mainly in Kea, Kaka and Kakapo, the authors show how parrots develop their sociality through a range of complex interpersonal interactions and may develop long‐term relationships with partners and friends. The progeny of some of the larger parrots may associate with their parents for several years and live in extended multi‐generation family groups. These social groups form associations with other cohorts, and large aggregations can gather at roosting and feeding sites. Social skills are learnt as an extension of social play and playing with objects helps hone foraging skills. When conditions are favourable, social connections may persist for years although they can be dynamic when conditions change.

The complex vocalizations that parrots express are developed gradually and juveniles babble, just as human babies do, as they perfect them. They build upon a set of innate calls enlarging their vocabulary by mimicking other parrots and can develop new vocalizations even when adult, which they associate with particular situations or events. Populations develop their own dialects, and communicate information, such as danger or possession, and emotional states, such as anger, distress or hunger. Juvenile Keas have their own subcultures with their own idiom: the juveniles squeal.

The chapters on cognition and intelligence are particularly informative and give a glimpse into the rich and multi‐layered world in which parrots live. Many cognitive biologists are reticent to discuss intelligence as an umbrella term and prefer to consider its components such as memory, communication and problem solving independently. This approach is too clinical when considering a subject we can all intuitively understand, even if it is difficult to define accurately. As I read through the intricacies of parrot behavioural development and cognition, it reinforced feelings about how inadequately we care for most captive parrots. This is especially true for the larger more intelligent ones. Many are kept in impoverished surroundings with little natural social interaction and are consequently stunted in the range of vocalizations and behaviours they express. Analyses and compilations such as this book will hopefully raise awareness regarding their requirements and lead to better welfare standards of captive parrots and more effective conservation management.

The section on conservation follows an essay on the Kakapo, the most remarkable of parrots and one that has been subject to intense conservation effort for several decades. There is only one extra chapter in this part, entitled Contraction and Collapse, which chronicles the impact of humans upon parrot populations driving at least 18 species to extinction in modern times. It also highlights the pioneering efforts of New Zealanders in putting endangered birds on predator‐free islands and developing predator‐free mainland areas. These approaches to conservation are bold and often stimulate strong feelings. The authors question the wisdom of wide‐scale predator control using the poison 1080, due to the impact it may have on non‐target species. However, the conservation section is the most disappointing since it does not capture how biologists are utilizing knowledge of behaviour and using it to shape their approaches to parrot conservation. The projects for the Kakapo, and other species such as the Echo Parakeet Psittacula eques, that I work on, have provided conditions to optimize the behavioural development of captive‐raised birds so they are, upon reintroduction, able to integrate effectively into the wild. This approach has not always been embraced by other projects and many efforts to restore parrot populations by reintroduction have floundered due to the release of birds that have been poorly socialized, released at the wrong age and in inappropriate social groups. In the book the authors discuss at length how, and what, parrots may learn by social facilitation. Knowing how the birds transfer information can be applied to the way we manage bird populations. Captive‐reared birds, released to the wild and habituated to artificial nest‐box use and feeding on supplemental food from feeding stations, can transfer that knowledge to wild individuals, as has been successfully done with the Echo Parakeet. As a consequence, productivity may be enhanced by the use of safe nest‐sites, and chick survival and recruitment is improved by the provision of extra food.

I enjoyed reading the book, its strengths are in the sections on social behaviour, play, vocalizations and cognition. It is thought‐provoking, scholarly and the best of its genre; I will continue to refer to it for many years. If you are interested in parrots, or bird behavioural ecology and cognition, then rush out and get a copy, since this is a book for you.

Carl G. Jones

Pasquier, Roger F. Birds in Winter: Surviving the Most Challenging Season. 304 pages, numerous line drawings, Princeton & Oxford: Princeton University Press, 2019, hardback, £24.99, ISBN: 9780691178554, press.princeton.edu

The ornithological literature contains an extensive range of detailed studies of birds in the breeding season, from arrival and setting up territories, through pairing, nest‐building, egg laying and raising young. The author of this work has chosen to present an overview of the rest of the bird’s year.

The book is divided into 10 chapters. The first eight have a clear time sequence: 1. Responding to Winter; 2. Preparing for Winter; 3. Winter Ranges and Habitat Selection in Migratory Birds; 4. Spatial and Social Organisation; 5. Survival; 6. The Winter Day; 7. Anticipating Spring; 8. Departure. These are followed by two shorter chapters – 9. Conservation and 10. Climate Change – which are more general and perhaps less clearly ‘winter’ although the author points out that for some species climate changes during the non‐breeding season seem to be having a more marked effect on populations than those in summer and that these differences are predicted to increase.

A minor criticism could be the title of the work: the material in this book is clearly wider than ‘winter’ as the book covers a wide range of aspects of birds’ lives for which the word winter is not immediately applicable. These include migration to warmer climes for the winter, to how birds from high latitudes spend the day in their winter quarters, through to birds which are resident in the tropics. The title ‘Birds Outside the Breeding Season’ might perhaps be more descriptive, but is certainly ungainly.

However, handling the literature in this way results in a different approach and the author has put together an impressive account of a bird’s year. The text is well‐referenced and there are 33 pages of references and a 10‐page index, meaning that it is relatively easy to locate a subject. A novel approach to the ornithological literature and an instructive read.

Christopher Perrins

Hall, K. Where to Watch Birds in Somerset, Gloucestershire & Wiltshire (4^th edition). 314 pages, with many drawings and maps, London: Helm, 2019, paperback £24.99, ISBN: 9781472912381, e‐book £23.75, ISBN: 971472966124.

The first two editions of this book included ‘Avon’ in the title, a 1974 creation which was politically abolished in 1996, but which has continued as a Bird Recording Area. It disappeared from the title in the third edition, but the overall area covered has been the same throughout: it now includes details of 83 sites.

In the 30 years since the first edition there have been many changes. Several farmland and woodland species have seriously declined, and Exmoor has lost some of its former breeders (e.g. Merlin Falco columbarius and Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus), but waterbirds have greatly profited from the development of reserves, and most raptors have done well. In general, there is less to be seen on a casual country walk, and much more in landscapes created and managed by the conservation bodies. Accurate guidebooks to these places are therefore essential and the detailed revision of the site accounts in the new edition has been carried out with exemplary thoroughness, and the strictly factual text is highly readable.

Site guides have sometimes been criticised for their tendency to attract crowds of observers to famous hot‐spots when they might be usefully exploring lesser‐known territory. Experienced local residents may not need help in planning visits, but outsiders and new settlers must be sure of finding not only hides and target species, but also parking and toilets. The larger reserves are increasingly complicated: in Somerset, the various compartments of the Avalon Marshes are in the hands of four different organizations, and on the Gloucestershire/Wiltshire border the Cotswold Water Park, still expanding, has a bewildering 130 units to be explained in ten pages and two maps. Access to the military training areas on Salisbury Plain has to be carefully planned. A particularly useful feature is the species index, by which one can find the whereabouts of a number of passerines that were once more widespread, such as Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava, Tree Sparrow Passer montanus and Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra. Many visitors will wish to see the two famous downland species of Wiltshire, the Stone‐curlew Burhinus oedicnemus and the re‐introduced Great Bustard Otis tarda, and they will find here such help as can be discreetly given.

As with all guidebooks, the publishers must face the necessity of frequent editions, perhaps at intervals of no more than 5 years.

David Ballance

Light, L. The 50 Best Birdwatching Sites in New Zealand. 224 pages, numerous illustrations and photographs, Oxford: John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd, paperback, £19.99, ISBN: 9781912081493, johnbeaufoy.com

This book provides an overview of New Zealand’s birds along with descriptions of a selection of sites were these birds can be seen. The content represents a lifetime of birdwatching, walking and bird photography completed by the author and her late partner, and her passion for birds and New Zealand is clear in the foreword and introduction to the book.

The book starts with an overview of New Zealand’s birds, describing their evolutionary origins and the history of threats and extinctions as a result of human influence. It also provides an overview of the current conservation status of New Zealand’s many endemic species before providing an overview of the geography and climate of the region.

A quarter of the book is dedicated to describing the various families of New Zealand birds, with easy to read descriptions of the commoner species and numerous colour plates of them, many taken by the author herself. While not a replacement for a field guide, this nonetheless provides a well‐presented overview of the country’s birds for anyone unfamiliar with the region. Seabirds have always been a speciality for the country and there are sections on where to see them around the country, the threats to them and the steps taken locally to protect both seabirds and other endemic species. A list of pelagic tour operators and how to contact them is provided covering a range of options from full cruises to day and half‐day pelagic opportunities.

The rest of the book is dedicated to 50 well‐known birdwatching sites across New Zealand. Sites are grouped by North and South Island with a selection of sites and their habitats described along with target species. Walks are described and there are references to supplementary material, with many plates of target species interspersed throughout, making the book informative and visually appealing. However, some of the plates could perhaps have been replaced with maps providing further detail and context for the walks described.

While a good introduction to New Zealand birds, and a gazetteer of many of the most well‐known birding sites and how to get to them, the book does need to be accompanied by a comprehensive field guide for more hardened birders. Supplementary location information would also need to be sourced for the larger sites although the book does provide several potential sources in the relevant site descriptions. However, these comments do not detract from a book selling the wonder of New Zealand’s unique birds and describing some of its most iconic locations for birding.

Jon Coleman

Beehler, B. M. Birds of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. 461 pages, numerous photographs, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2019, hardback, $49.95 (NHBS ₤36.99), ISBN: 9781421427331. www.nhbs.com

Bruce Beehler, a research associate in the Bird Division of the National Museum of Natural History, has produced a remarkably comprehensive treatment of the birds of Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. The Foreword, by the late Chandler Robbins, suggests that the work is particularly directed toward amateur birders, from the novice to the most skilled.

The book consists of 29 chapters organized into four parts. Part I covers introductory topics such as local geography and habitats, birding skills, feeding birds and bird conservation among its eight chapters. Part II, entitled Bird Group Accounts, is divided in two sections, with five chapters on waterbirds and seven on landbirds, the latter including chapters on birds of prey, aerial foragers, and garden and feeder birds. Part III, entitled Birding Tools, has five chapters devoted to topics such as bird websites, field guides and other reference works, and regional bird organizations and institutions.

Detailed treatment of the birds of the region is found in Part IV (Bird‐Finding Guide), which begins with Chapter 26 and covers the 343 species that occur regularly in one or more of the three jurisdictions. A small colour photograph of each species accompanies a brief paragraph that describes its habitat, status and seasonal occurrence in the region, and one or more locations where it may be most reliably observed. Chapter 27 has short paragraphs on 122 rare or vagrant species for which there are substantiated records from one or more of the jurisdictions. A second section describes records for another 31 species that are considered reliable but unsubstantiated. Both include species that are now extinct, the Passenger Pigeon Ectopistes migratorius and Carolina Parakeet Conuropsis carolinensis in the former group and the Labrador Duck Camptorhynchus labradorius in the latter. Chapter 28 contains a 26‐page table that summarizes information on the status of each of the 496 species including status in each jurisdiction, seasonal occurrence and relative abundance.

The book is not only a comprehensive resource covering the birds of this mid‐Atlantic region of the USA, but is also a beautiful coffee table book liberally illustrated with magnificent photographs by Middleton Evans and 20 other contributing photographers. Anyone interested in the birds of the region, from the amateur birder to the professional ornithologist, will find it a valuable resource.

Ted R. Anderson

Read, John L. Among the Pigeons: Why our cats belong indoors. 347 pages, numerous b&w photographs, Mile End, South Australia: Wakefield Press, 2019, paperback, £39.99, ISBN: 9781743056141, www.nhbs.com

The author covers a subject similar to that in another recent book (Marra & Santella 2016, Cat Wars, see review in Ibis 160: 250‐251), namely that of the damage caused to the environment by the domestic cat. While the conclusions are similar, the two books differ (and so support each other) in that the first deals most heavily with the situation in the USA while this work is more wide‐ranging covering, in 22 chapters, more countries including Spain, Japan, Canada, Greece, Costa Rica, New Guinea and the author’s homeland, Australia.

In broad summary, there are two types of domestic cat with many areas populated by both ‘domestic’ and ‘feral’ (= unowned) cats and while many individuals can be viewed as being one or the other, many have paws in both lifestyles. There are also two types of humans: those who think that cats are doing damage to the natural world and those who believe that the damage that they do is insignificant, just part of nature. As is so often the case, the disputes between the two views become polarized and both politics and money cloud attempts to make objective decisions.

Damage to biodiversity by cats comes about in many ways including loss of native cat species through inter‐breeding (e.g. the Scottish Wildcat), through straight predation, through competition, by the cats eliminating the food supply of a native species, or through disease. Many of those who concede that cats may be causing environmental damage refuse to countenance killing them, believing that the problem can be solved by catching the cats, neutering them and releasing them to live out their natural lives, but without further breeding (Trap‐Neuter‐Release or TNR). There seems little hard evidence that this leads to real reductions in cat predation: in most cases there are simply no data. However, where studied, reduction in cat numbers is often a small or non‐existent effect due to immigration. Some argue that TNR is itself cruel because it lowers the social position of the animal in its community leading to increasing rates of bullying, disease and early death. However, in some places TNR is almost an industry in itself, with groups receiving large donations from members of the public towards their work and further support from the cat food companies (in the US cat food sales reached $11.7 billion in 2017).

The evidence that cats are seriously damaging populations of mammals, reptiles and birds comes from many quarters. Even ignoring the incontestable cases where cats have been introduced to islands and slaughtered seabirds, there are plenty of mainland examples where certain bird species seem to be at risk from cats. In Canada where 9.9–12.7 million cats kill up to 350 million birds a year, data from the Canadian Breeding Bird Census suggest that populations of 31 species are vulnerable as a result of cat predation. Ironically, many of these are species which come to bird feeders put out – often by cat owners – to augment their winter food supply, but where they concentrate and so are most easily caught by cats.

A considerable amount of evidence as to the dangers posed by cats comes from the author’s homeland, Australia. Feral cat numbers in Australia probably vary from 2.1 million after a drought or when there is rabbit disease (when cat numbers are reduced by lack of a key prey) to 6.3 million after a wet year. These are estimated to take 650 million reptiles and 377 million birds in an average year. Australia has many small populations of seriously endangered reptiles and mammals as well as birds; the Australian Threat Abatement Plan for Predation by Feral Cats lists 74 mammal, 40 bird, 21 reptile and four amphibian species at risk from cat predation although the impact of cat predation is not restricted to these species alone.

If that were not enough, cats are the prime host of a protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii which is responsible for the disease toxoplasmosis. In some mammals few individuals show obvious effects of infection, but may show more subtle effects such as an increase in risk‐taking. The widespread nature of cat faeces ensures that a high proportion of humans also come in contact with them and get infected. Again, in only a few are the effects apparent – although matching the observations on risk‐taking in other mammals: traffic accident rates are said to be higher in infected drivers. The most vulnerable humans are pregnant women where up to 40% of the infections may pass to the unborn child. Amazingly, in the USA 750 deaths a year are attributed to congenital toxoplasmosis.

Recognition of the dangers posed by cats may be coming, but it is pitifully slow as the pro‐cat lobby remains strong. In some areas work is being carried out to try to reduce cat numbers and some new humane methods of doing so seem to hold promise for the future.

It is hard to read this work without becoming convinced that cats really do belong inside.

Christopher Perrins

Murray, R.D. [The late], Andrews, I.J. & Holling, M. Birds in South‐east Scotland 2007‐13. 542 pages, with numerous maps, diagrams and photographs, The Scottish Ornithologists’ Club, 2019, hardback, £40.00 from SOC or contact last author on sescotatlas@gmail.com, ISBN: 9780951213971.

This is the second Atlas for the combined recording areas of Lothian and Borders, and the first to deal with the winter season. The data collection was carried out in parallel with the last National Atlas, but with a one‐year extension, around 800 observers taking part. The first and third authors were among the writers of the earlier Atlas, for 1988–94: it is sad that Ray Murray died suddenly just before publication. Since 1979, when the Borders Bird Report was first published, he had been the guiding star for recording in the area.

The standard lay‐out is exceptionally clear for a work that has much more to deliver than its predecessor. All the commoner species have a two‐page spread, with the main text and a small photo on the verso and a standard selection of coloured maps and diagrams on the recto: at tetrad scale, summer and winter distribution, and change back to 1968 are shown. There is a small key to hectad numbering, although it is hard to read, and the hectad lines on the bigger maps are very faint. Histograms show altitudinal change. There are excellent general maps on the end‐papers, an opportunity which is so rarely seized by atlas‐makers, although the hectad numbering is again very faint. There is a helpful key to the complicated iconography used on the species maps.

The coverage was evidently good, although the authors are frank in their analysis of such small weaknesses as locals might notice. There is a long discussion of the problems encountered in population estimates, this perhaps a little beyond the average reader’s scope. In their overview, the authors are deeply pessimistic. Over the 20‐year period, 52% of all species showed range contraction, only 34% showing expansion: nationally, 45% expanded and only 32% lost ground. The main reason for losses was intensified agriculture, the effects of which have been most serious in waders, where nine species showed declines of between 26% and 82%. Human disturbance was also a factor, especially on coasts. Gannets Morus bassanus have continued to increase on the Bass Rock: about 160 000 birds were present in the Firth during the summer. There have been catastrophic losses of Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla. Unfortunately, the results of the latest seabird survey arrived too late for inclusion.

However, there were a number of success stories, notably for Raven Corvus corax, Nuthatch Sitta europaea, Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita, Tree Sparrow Passer montanus and Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis. Numbers of Common Buzzard Buteo buteo have almost quadrupled, but the small, although persistent, population of Hen Harriers Circus cyaneus had limited success. In the last 30 years, three eyries of Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos have been erratically occupied, but young have fledged in only 14 summers. A re‐introduction programme has now started and it is to be hoped that the birds do not disappear ‘in suspicious circumstances’, as has happened in the past. White‐tailed Eagles Haliaeetus albicilla have begun to infiltrate from the introductions in Fife. Since 1998, Ospreys Pandion haliaetus have been successful at 11 sites.

I always like to see species‐richness figures for individual tetrads, which may increase local enthusiasm, as has been done in neighbouring Northumberland. Here, the authors found no space for these listings.

David Ballance

Barber, S., Bellamay, B. & Wall, T. Rostherne Mere: Birds of Mere and Margin. 250 pages, many illustrations by R. Scully, published by Tom Wall, 2019, paperback, £27.98 from NHBS, ISBN: 9781916043602, www.nhbs.com

Wall, T. G. (eds): Rostherne Mere: Aspects of a Wetland Nature Reserve. 384 pages, with many photographs, figures and maps, published by Tom Wall, paperback, 2019, £32.98 from NHBS, ISBN: 9781916043619, www.nhbs.com

The second book is marketed as a ‘companion’ to the first: the first is the one that most local birdwatchers will probably buy, since it consists mainly of a fully annotated species list. The companion volume has a fascinating account of the social and agricultural development of the area, which was largely owned and ‘preserved’ by the Egertons of nearby Tatton Park: the wealthy 2^nd baron, who was created Earl of Egerton, was the Chairman of the Manchester Ship Canal Company.

Rostherne is the third‐largest natural mere on the Shropshire/Cheshire Plain, and is at the north‐west corner of the area. It is now less than a mile from the Greater Manchester border, and lies between the M56 and the great park of Tatton. It is only about 10 km from central Manchester and is on the western approach to the Airport. By a happy chance, it was only a short walk from Tom Coward’s home of Bowdon and only a little further from Arnold Boyd’s village of Great Budworth. These two ornithologists, who both became national figures, played a considerable part in the long and complicated process by which Rostherne became a National Nature Reserve in 1961. The second book deals at great length with the question of access: in the 19^th century poachers and keepers were at war, and there is a fascinating account of the Great Bicycle Trespass by Mancunians in 1909.

Specialists with limited space or resources will probably restrict their purchase to the bird book, which is slightly smaller and cheaper. Its arrangement may seem unusual, with many sub‐headings introducing topics relating to individual species which give something of a journalistic air to the book. They certainly provoke curiosity in the reader: I sometimes found them slightly irritating, but others may like them. The pictorial histograms are successful, although in such a long book it might have been useful to have a concise profit‐and‐loss summary for the whole range of species. There are some memorable historic photographs, especially one of Coward and Boyd together, and another of Boyd using a draw telescope at Hilbre Island. The Reserve still produces an Annual Report.

David Ballance

Hayes, M. The Birds of South Gloucestershire: Three Centuries of Birding. 178 pages, numerous colour photos, maps and figures. Privately published by the author in a limited edition, 2019. For current availability, contact author at 10 Bellevue Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 9TU, Tel: 0117 960 1968. No ISBN given.

‘Avon’ had a political existence as a county only from 1974 to 1996, but it has remained as a Bird Recording Area for which two Bristol‐based societies have combined to issue regular and punctual annual reports during and after that period. The area has four divisions (North Somerset, Bath & NE Somerset, City of Bristol and South Gloucestershire) which are now locally known as CUBA (Counties that Used to Be Avon). This timely and entertaining book deals with the last of these.

‘Avon’ has had a strong ornithological tradition of population studies, perhaps more emphatic than in any other area in England. A series of local atlases were produced under the direction of the late John Tully and the late Richard Bland, who maintained tight links with the BTO, and had little time for rarities. Of course, many observers were looking for more exciting targets, which were duly reported in the annual summaries, but no general avifauna has ever been published to cover the whole area, or any of its components, for all species and seasons. In fact, the title of this new work is slightly confusing, since it deals only with rare and scarce species, of which only a handful can be found mapped in the atlases: the last attempt to summarize the full range of species was in the late Howard Davies’ work on the ‘Bristol District’ in 1947. So a gap has now been filled, and in great detail, with exact analysis of records in tables, graphs and pie‐charts, and many delightful photographs.

The most consistently productive area has been Severnside where migrants use the inland flyway to the Trent and the Wash, and frequent storm‐vagrants arrive from the west, including the famous White‐bellied/Black‐bellied Storm‐petrel Fregetta grallaria/tropica of 2009. A less obvious, but remarkable, inland site is Marshfield, the highest point in the area and an apparently unexciting corner of the Cotswolds along the old A4, where corn is grown and game‐birds reared and shot. It not only retains Corn Buntings Emberiza calandra, but has over the years hosted such improbable vagrants as a Pallid Harrier Cicus macrourus, a Black Kite Milvus migrans, a Little Auk Alle Alle and a Red‐flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus. The last of these is shown warily perching on a post on the front cover.

This is a book full of the author’s enthusiasm and the zeal of his researches, although there are a few trivial weaknesses in proof‐reading. Perhaps somebody will now tackle the rarities in the other parts of CUBA, which, after all, includes Chew Valley and Blagdon Lakes, and Steep Holm.

David Ballance

Ibis本节中所审查的标题可在英国牛津大学OX1 3RB的牛津大学公园路植物科学系亚历山大·鸟类学图书馆，Sherardian图书馆c / o处引用。在您访问之前，请致电+44（0）1 865 271143或发送电子邮件至sophie.wilcox@bodleian.ox.ac.uk进行预约。

亚历山大图书馆的目的是建立全面的文献收藏，为鸟类学家提供服务。它的馆藏包括各种期刊，以及从许多来源获得的大量重印本：始终欢迎读者阅读论文的其他重印本。图书馆与BOU的密切关系始终使他受益匪浅。多年以来，通过评审和出版者的慷慨捐助，所有以Ibis换取的期刊都已被存放在图书馆中，大部分书籍也被寄予审查。

作为回报，作为对读者的服务，宜必思的该点评部分由Richard Sale博士（richard.sale@zoo.o.ac.uk）组织和编辑，并有一个小组供稿。我们始终感谢您提供进一步的审核帮助，尤其是关于外语标题。

供审核的图书：敬请出版商将每个书名的两个副本发送给Richard Sale，IBIS书评，亚历山大鸟类学图书馆，Sherardian图书馆c / o Sherardian图书馆，牛津大学植物学系，Parks Road，Oxford OX1 3RB，英国。

格雷戈里，菲尔。天堂鸟和凉亭。416页，41张整版彩色插图以及大量彩色照片和地图，伦敦：头盔识别指南，头盔（布卢姆斯伯里），2019年，精装书，54.99英镑（NHBS），ISBN：9780713660272。

对于熟悉《头盔识别指南》的人，其工作格式将是熟悉的：从介绍开始，然后是鸟类的整版彩色插图41页（由理查德·艾伦（Richard Allen）绘制），涵盖物种账目的246页其次是书目和索引。

众所周知，天堂鸟和and鸟不是近亲，因此这两个小组仍然被一部著作所覆盖，这可能使一些读者感到惊讶。但是，这很有效，因为作者将40页的导言分为两部分-“什么是天堂鸟？” 和“什么是er？” –其中大部分致力于讨论他们之间的关系并对比他们之间的差异。

许多鸟类的分类法处于不断变化的状态，这在很大程度上是由于利用遗传研究来产生发散时间并帮助解开关系。这里描述的组也不例外，但由于许多分类单元在地理上具有不同的范围，并且子组可能长期处于分离状态，因此两者之间的某些关系得到了增强。结果，观点仍在变化，新物种也得到了认可（例如，谷歌康奈尔大学的“新物种？伏格科普天堂鸟”）。

该书单独记载了71种天堂鸟的形式，目前已确认为45种-Bow的等效数量为37和28。在il鸟中，艾露路德斯属的形态仅在2015年从3种增加到10种，在天堂鸟之中，小号手抄本Phonygammus keraudrenii目前包含六种分隔良好的形式，似乎不太可能成为一个物种。

现在已经公认，曾经是天堂鸟的几个分类单元属于其他地方。这些内容在他们自己的前天堂鸟的一章中进行了介绍-它们是Satinbirds，现在是Cnemophilidae（三种），以及MacGregor的Honeyeater，Macgregoria pulchra，现在是异常的Honeyeater Meliphagidae。

本书为这些迷人的鸟类提供了重要的摘要，同时强调我们对它们的生活的许多方面知之甚少。它还严峻地概述了“自然大战”加剧时面临的许多威胁。

克里斯托弗·佩林斯

豪威尔，史蒂夫·吴（ Steve NG）和祖菲尔特（Zufelt，K）。世界海洋鸟：图片指南。360页，270种，368种盘子所覆盖，包括2200多张彩色照片以及分布图， 普林斯顿和牛津：普林斯顿大学出版社，2019年，flexicover，23.99英镑，ISBN：9780691175010，press.princeton.edu

毫无疑问，我书架上最受人深思和喜爱的鸟类书之一，是彼得·哈里森（Peter Harrison）的《世界海鸟：摄影指南》现在相当精美的副本，当时是开创性的出版物，也是他较早出版的海鸟的伴奏：识别指南。快进32年了，我们在这个令人mouth目结舌的宏伟卷中对该主题进行了重大更新。然而，标题上有明显的不同，并且正如作者所解释的，这项工作着眼于真正的“海鸟” –真正的远洋物种或“海洋鸟类”。因此，海鸥被准确地描述为通常居住在沿海地区的海鸥，其中只有四个代表海鸥：黑脚Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla，红脚Kittiwake Rissa brevirostris，Sabine的鸥Xema sabini和燕尾鸥Creagrus furcatus。同样，燕鸥仅限于乌燕鸥Onychoprion fuscatus，褐翅燕鸥Onychoprion anaethetus和灰背鸥Onychoprion lunatus。excluded和鹈鹕也被排除在外。

这是真正意义上的现场指南。它只有15 x 21cm的尺寸，并配有坚固耐用的防风雨罩，可以照常使用，并且一定能够承受海鸟远洋旅行的严酷考验。内容为如何最佳使用指南提供了建议，包括对物种账户格式和术语使用的说明。紧接着是一长篇有关分类法的章节，在过去的30年中取得了重大进展。例如，前面提到的1987年发布的哈里森海鸟指南承认了107种结核病，但目前的总数为175种。有些是新近描述的分类群，但大多数是将亚种“升级”到物种水平的结果。这些更改已得到全面处理，最著名的例子是白腹风暴海燕Fregetta grallaria复合体，一组临时具有六个不同的分类单元。这些是世界上最稀有的海鸟，大多数凡人只能梦见它们，但它们以令人惊叹的照片很好地展现出来，特别是来自太平洋岛拉帕的泰坦风暴-斗牛犬Fregetta [grallaria]泰坦，总种群为c。500对和难以接近的风暴斗牛士Fregetta [grallaria]“ leucogaster”。还讨论了带状暴风雨的喀布尔塔布罗堡castro复合体的分类雷区。

主要种类说明将摄影领域指南的相对较新的格式提升到新的高度。图像的数量，数量和质量都是非凡的，这是作者摄影才能的真实证明。尝试自己在起伏的海面上从摇曳的小船上拍摄飞翔的海鸟的照片后，很容易理解其中涉及的技能！物种科目分为相关部分，例如“小型黑白剪切水”，每个都有简短的介绍部分和比较缩略图。大多数种类都有多幅图像，分别显示下部和上部，以及许多不同的羽毛。除个人肖像外，大多数帐户还采用了非常出色的合成板，其外观与传统现场指南所用的插图格式相似。图像被精心安排在蓝色背景上，鸟儿飞向右侧。这些使用标识指针进行注释，并且每个指针都有一个浅黄色的“贴”注释，并带有简洁明了的描述。包括大多数的分布图。每个板块的简短标题简要介绍了栖息地，繁殖和越冬场以及一些行为特征。我最喜欢的是“黑暗风暴海燕”，最著名的是Markham的Storm-Petrel Hydrobates markhami和Tristram的Storm-Petrel Hydrobates tristrami。这些板块并排放置（第276-277页），每个板块包含七个飞行图像，它们在机体和机翼位置极其相似，在分离这些极其相似的物种方面具有不可估量的价值。

如果您只经历过本书中介绍的少数海鸟，那么去那些稍微熟悉些的海鸟也许是很自然的。例如，Cory的Shearwater Calonectris diomedea复合体包括Scopoli的Shearwater Calonectris [diomedea] diomedea，佛得角Shearwater Calonectris edwardsii和Cory's Shearwater Calonectris [diomedea]蝴蝶的飞行肖像几乎相同。这些完美地说明了机翼下模式的关键而细微的差异。

如果要求从该收藏中选择一张最喜欢的照片，那可能是完美拍到钴蓝色海洋的夏威夷海燕Pterodroma sandwichensis（第92页）的照片。附带的标题是对这个物种乃至整个海鸟的脆弱性的清醒反映。栖息地丧失，塑料消费，非本地掠食者和疾病的后果都是威胁其生存的因素。

这是一本非常好的书，对作者的艰苦研究和知识表示感谢。这是对世界海鸟多样性和美丽的庆祝。它们所居住的经常恶劣的环境，加上复杂的分类法和难以捉摸的性质，使它们成为所有鸟类中最引人入胜和最着迷的鸟类。拍摄这么多照片并将它们呈现在一个出版物中，确实是一项重大成就。这是任何热心的观鸟者图书馆的“必备”补充。

尼克·哈拉姆

邦德，艾伦＆ ，戴蒙德，朱迪。像鹦鹉一样思考：野外视角。267页，许多彩色和单色插图及线条画， 芝加哥和伦敦：芝加哥大学出版社，2019年，精装书，26.99英镑，ISBN：9780226248783（精装本），ISBN：97809780248813（电子书），www.press.uchicago .edu

由于它们的聪明才智，模仿人类语言的能力以及与人类护理人员的互动和联系，人们将圈养鹦鹉作为伴侣一直存在了多个世纪。因此，它们在国际上受到高度重视和交易。尽管有这种兴趣，但在野外对鹦鹉的研究相对较新。本书的作者是先驱者，他们研究了新西兰，澳大利亚，哥斯达黎加以及北美和西班牙的归化种群中的鹦鹉行为。他们的书不是传统的教科书，也不是流行的鹦鹉书，而是古怪的组合。它概述了鹦鹉生物学，并详细回顾了鹦鹉的认知和行为生态学。这是一本大胆的书，部分基于他们自己的田野调查，并考虑了已出版的文献，

这本书写得很好，语言通晓，行话少。内容是叙述性和描述性风格的混合体，散布着实地观察并评估了大量已发布的数据。它分为七个部分：起源，行为，社会性，认知，破坏，保护以及鹦鹉和人，共涵盖17章。六个部分从一篇关于作者研究过的特定鹦鹉物种的文章开始，其中包括关于生活史，行为和生态学的实地记录和观察。这些小插曲是后续章节的跳板，虽然并不总是一个明显的引言，但它们可以很好地瞥见该物种的世界。

大多数章节已被广泛研究，共有72页参考文献。这些没有在文本中直接引用，并且在每章的注释中以及在书末的背景材料中给出。作者研究了七个附录，这些附录提供了有关鹦鹉及其状态，方法学以及行为的详细信息以及作者研究的Kea Nestor notabilis，Kaka Nestor meriodionalis和Kakapo Strigops habroptilus的行为和发声的详细信息。

第一章以彩虹小鹦鹉Trichoglossus moluccanus上的小插图开头，随后介绍了鹦鹉及其进化，社交行为和认知能力。鸟类和鸟类的智力最发达，在这两个群体中，最大的，寿命更长的物种才拥有最大的智力。当然，智力也与相对大脑的大小有关，在关于大脑和感觉系统的一章中，作者比较了鹦鹉和弯曲体中大脑的体积和体重，并证明了鹦鹉的体积始终在增加。他们是最聪明的鸟类，灰鹦鹉Psittacus erithacus 在一些心理测试中证明了接近人类的表现。

鹦鹉以模仿人类语音并经常在正确环境中使用语音而闻名。尽管许多人认为它们的发声是喧闹和粗糙的，但作者通过音调，音高，调制和音调的变化证明了这些声音的复杂性。鹦鹉与这些发声和显示器进行交流。肢体语言发达，在姿势和羽毛竖立方面有细微的变化，可以表达情绪和情感。基于他们对游戏和发声的研究，主要是在基亚，卡卡和卡卡波，作者展示了鹦鹉如何通过一系列复杂的人际互动发展社交能力，并可能与伴侣和朋友建立长期关系。一些较大的鹦鹉的后代可能会与其父母联系数年，并生活在多代大家庭中。这些社会群体与其他同类群体形成联系，大型聚集体会聚集在栖息和觅食的地点。社交技能是社交游戏的延伸，而玩耍物体有助于磨练觅食技能。在有利的条件下，社交联系可能会持续数年，尽管在条件变化时社交联系会不断变化。

鹦鹉所表达的复杂发声逐渐发展起来，幼虫像人类的婴儿一样，在完善它们的过程中ba叫。他们通过模仿其他鹦鹉来扩大词汇量，建立了一系列先天的呼叫，并且即使在成年后也可以发展出新的发声能力，并将它们与特定的情况或事件联系在一起。人口发展自己的方言，并交流信息，例如危险或占有，以及情绪状态，例如愤怒，窘迫或饥饿。少年基亚斯有他们自己的亚文化，有他们自己的成语：少年尖叫。

有关认知和智力的章节特别有用，可以一窥鹦鹉生活的丰富多层次的世界。许多认知生物学家不愿将智能作为总括性术语进行讨论，并且更愿意独立考虑其组成部分，例如记忆，沟通和解决问题。考虑到我们都能直观理解的主题，即使很难准确定义，这种方法也太临床了。当我阅读鹦鹉行为发展和认知的复杂性时，它增强了人们对我们对大多数圈养鹦鹉的照顾不足的感觉。对于更大，更智能的服务器尤其如此。许多人被困在贫穷的环境中，几乎没有自然的社会互动，因此，他们表达的各种发声和行为受到阻碍。诸如本书之类的分析和汇编将有望提高对它们的要求的认识，并导致更好的圈养鹦鹉的福利标准和更有效的养护管理。

关于保护的部分是关于卡卡波（Kakapo）的一篇文章，这是最杰出的鹦鹉，几十年来一直受到强烈的保护。本部分仅增加一章标题为“收缩与塌陷”，记载了人类对鹦鹉种群的影响，这种鹦鹉种群在现代导致至少18种物种灭绝。它还强调了新西兰人在将濒临灭绝的鸟类放到无捕食者的岛屿上和发展无捕食者的大陆地区方面的开拓性努力。这些保护方法大胆，通常会激发强烈的感情。作者质疑使用毒药1080进行大规模捕食者控制的智慧，因为它可能会对非目标物种产生影响。但是，保护区最令人失望，因为它没有捕获生物学家如何利用行为知识以及如何利用其来形成鹦鹉保护方法。卡卡波（Kakapo）和其他物种，例如回声长尾小鹦鹉（ Echo Parakeet Psittacula equeques）的项目我所研究的，为优化圈养鸟的行为发展提供了条件，因此，它们在重新引入后能够有效地融入野外。这种方法并不总是被其他项目所接受，由于释放了社交能力差，以错误年龄和不适当的社会群体释放的鸟类，许多通过重新引入来恢复鹦鹉种群的努力都陷入了困境。在这本书中，作者详尽地讨论了社交促进下鹦鹉的学习方式和方式。了解鸟类转移信息的方式可以应用于我们管理鸟类种群的方式。被圈养的鸟类被释放到野外并习惯于人工巢箱使用，并从饲养站获取补充食物，可以将这种知识传播给野生个体，就像用回声长尾小鹦鹉成功完成的一样 结果，通过使用安全的巢穴可以提高生产率，并通过提供额外的食物来改善雏鸡的存活和繁殖。

我很喜欢读这本书，它的长处在社交行为，游戏，发声和认知等方面。它发人深省，学术性强并且是同类中最好的。我将继续提及它很多年。如果您对鹦鹉，鸟类行为生态学和认知感兴趣，那么赶紧拿出副本，因为这是一本适合您的书。

卡尔·琼斯

Pasquier，RogerF。冬季鸟类：在最具挑战性的季节中生存。304页，大量线条图， 普林斯顿和牛津：普林斯顿大学出版社，2019年，精装本，24.99英镑，ISBN：9780691178554，press.princeton.edu

鸟类学文献对繁殖季节的鸟类进行了广泛的详细研究，从到达和设置领地到配对，筑巢，产卵和育雏。这项工作的作者选择呈现鸟类其余年份的概述。

全书共分十章。前八个有明确的时间顺序：1.应对冬季；2.为冬天做准备；3.候鸟的冬季范围和栖息地选择；4.空间和社会组织；5.生存；6.冬日；7.期待春天；8.出发。紧随其后的是两个较短的章节– 9.保护和10.气候变化–尽管作者指出，对于某些物种，非繁殖季节的气候变化似乎具有普遍意义，但它们更笼统，也许不太清楚“冬季”。与夏季相比，对人口的影响更为显着，而且预计这些差异还会增加。

作品的标题可能是轻微的批评：这本书的内容显然比“冬天”还要广，因为该书涵盖了鸟类生活的各个方面，而冬季一词并不立即适用。这些包括冬季迁徙到温暖的气候，高纬度鸟类在冬季栖息的一天，以及热带地区的鸟类。“育种季节之外的鸟”的标题也许更具描述性，但肯定是笨拙的。

但是，以这种方式处理文献会产生不同的方法，并且作者对鸟类的年份做出了令人印象深刻的说明。该文本的参考文献很好，共有33页参考文献和10页索引，这意味着查找主题相对容易。一种新的鸟类学方法和具有指导意义的阅读。

克里斯托弗·佩林斯

霍尔，K。凡在萨默塞特，格洛斯特郡和威尔特观看鸟类（4^个版）。314页，有许多图纸和地图， 伦敦：Helm，2019年，平装本£24.99，ISBN：9781472912381，电子书£23.75，ISBN：971472966124。

本书的前两个版本的书名中包含“ Avon”，这是1974年创作的作品，在1996年被政治废除了，但一直作为鸟类记录区使用。它从第三版的标题中消失了，但整个覆盖范围一直相同：现在包括83个站点的详细信息。

自第一版以来的30年中，发生了许多变化。几种农田和林地物种已严重减少，埃克斯穆尔（Exmoor）失去了一些以前的繁殖者（例如Merlin Falco columbarius和Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus），但是水鸟已从保护区的发展中受益匪浅，大多数猛禽也做得很好。通常，在乡村休闲小路上看不到什么，而在自然保护区创造和管理的景观中则更多。因此，到这些地方的准确指南是必不可少的，并且在新版本中对站点帐户进行了详细的修订，并具有示范性的彻底性，并且严格的事实文本具有很高的可读性。

有时，有时会批评站点指南，因为它们可能会有益地探索鲜为人知的领域，从而吸引大量的观察者前往著名的热点。有经验的当地居民可能不需要计划旅行的帮助，但局外人和新移民必须确保不仅能找到皮革和目标物种，而且还能找到停车场和厕所。更大的储量变得越来越复杂：在萨默塞特郡，阿瓦隆沼泽的各个隔间由四个不同组织掌控，在格洛斯特郡/威尔特郡边界的科茨沃尔德水上公园仍在扩展，其令人迷惑的130个单位将在下面解释。十页和两张地图。必须仔细计划进入索尔兹伯里平原的军事训练区。一个特别有用的功能是物种指数Motacilla flava，麻雀过山车和玉米us Emberiza calandra。许多游客希望看到威尔特郡的两个著名的低地物种，石弯山茱Bur oedicnemus和重新引入的大Bus鸟Otis tarda，他们会在这里找到可以谨慎提供的帮助。

与所有指南一样，出版商必须面对频繁出版的必要性，间隔不得超过5年。

戴维·巴伦斯

Light，L .新西兰50个最佳观鸟地点。224页，大量插图和照片， 牛津：约翰·博弗伊出版有限公司，平装，19.99英镑，ISBN：9781912081493，johnbeaufoy.com

本书概述了新西兰的鸟类，并介绍了可以看到这些鸟类的地点。内容代表作者和她的已故伴侣毕生的观鸟，散步和鸟类摄影的经历，书的前言和简介清楚地表明了她对鸟类和新西兰的热情。

该书首先概述了新西兰的鸟类，描述了它们的进化起源以及人类影响导致的威胁和灭绝的历史。它还概述了新西兰许多特有物种的当前保护状况，然后概述了该地区的地理和气候。

这本书的四分之一致力于描述新西兰鸟类的各个家族，并以通俗易懂的方式描述了普通鸟类及其众多色板，其中许多由作者本人拍摄。尽管不能代替野外指南，但它为不熟悉该地区的任何人提供了该国鸟类的详细介绍。海鸟一直是该国的特色菜，有许多章节介绍了在全国各地看到它们的情况，对它们的威胁以及当地为保护海鸟和其他特有物种而采取的措施。提供了远洋旅行社的列表以及如何与他们联系，涵盖了从全游轮到一日游和半日远洋旅行机会的一系列选择。

本书的其余部分专门介绍了新西兰的50个著名观鸟地点。地点按北岛和南岛分组，并选择了一些地点及其栖息地以及目标物种。书中描述了步行，并提到了辅助材料，许多板块散布着许多目标物种，使这本书内容丰富且吸引人。但是，某些板块可能已被地图取代，这些地图为所描述的步行提供了更多的细节和背景信息。

虽然很好地介绍了新西兰鸟类，并在许多最著名的观鸟地点以及如何到达它们的地方都刊登了宪报，但该书的确需要随附针对更坚硬的观鸟者的全面野外指南。尽管本书确实在相关的站点说明中提供了一些潜在的资源，但也需要为较大的站点提供补充的位置信息。但是，这些评论并不会减损一本出售新西兰独特鸟类奇观并描述其一些最具标志性的观鸟地点的书。

乔恩·科尔曼

比勒，B.M。 。马里兰州，特拉华州和哥伦比亚特区的鸟类。461页，无数照片， 巴尔的摩：约翰·霍普金斯大学出版社，2019年，精装本，49.95美元（NHBS₤36.99），ISBN： 9781421427331.www.nhbs.com

国家自然历史博物馆鸟类科的研究人员布鲁斯·比勒（Bruce Beehler）对马里兰州，特拉华州和哥伦比亚特区的鸟类进行了非常全面的处理。已故钱德勒·罗宾斯（Chandler Robbins）的前言表明，这项工作特别针对从新手到最熟练的业余观鸟者。

该书共29章，分为四个部分。第一部分在八个章节中介绍了介绍性主题，例如本地地理和栖息地，观鸟技巧，喂鸟和鸟类保护。第二部分的标题为“鸟群帐户”，分为两个部分，其中五章涉及水鸟，七章涉及陆鸟，后者包括猛禽，空中觅食者以及花园和饲养鸟的章节。第三部分的标题为“观鸟工具”，分为五个章节，分别涉及鸟类网站，现场指南和其他参考著作以及区域鸟类组织和机构等主题。

在第四部分（鸟类发现指南）中可以找到对该地区鸟类的详细处理方法，该部分从第26章开始，涵盖了在三个管辖区中的一个或多个管辖区定期发生的343种动物。简短的段落描述了每个物种的彩色照片，描述了该物种的栖息地，状态和季节在该地区以及最可靠地观察到的一个或多个位置。第27章对122种稀有或流浪物种做了简短的说明，这些物种有一个或多个司法管辖区的有据可查的记录。第二部分介绍了另外31个被认为可靠但没有根据的物种的记录。两者都包括现已灭绝的物种，即“旅鸽”（Ectopistes migratorius）和“卡罗莱纳州长尾小鹦鹉”（Conuropsis carolinensis）在前一组中，拉布拉多鸭Camptorhynchus labradorius在后者中。第28章包含一个26页的表格，该表格汇总了有关496个物种的状态信息，包括每个辖区的状态，季节性发生和相对丰度。

这本书不仅是涵盖美国中大西洋地区鸟类的综合资源，还是一本精美的咖啡桌书，上面有米德尔顿·埃文斯（Middleton Evans）和其他20位特约摄影师拍摄的精美照片，自由地加以举例说明。从业余观鸟者到专业鸟类学家，只要对该地区的鸟类感兴趣，就会发现它是宝贵的资源。

泰德·R·安德森

阅读，约翰大号。在鸽子中：为什么我们的猫会在室内。347页，大量黑白照片， 南澳大利亚Mile End：Wakefield Press，2019年，平装本，39.99英镑，ISBN：9781743056141， www.nhbs.com

作者涉及的主题与最近的另一本书类似（Marra＆Santella 2016，Cat Wars，参见Ibis 160：250-251中的评论），即家猫对环境造成的损害。尽管结论相似，但两本书有所不同（因此相互支持），因为第一本书最关注美国的情况，而这项工作则涵盖了22个章节，涉及面更广，涵盖了更多国家，包括西班牙，日本，加拿大，希腊，哥斯达黎加，新几内亚和作者的祖国澳大利亚。

概括地说，有两种类型的家猫，其中很多区域都由“家猫”和“野猫”（即无家可归）组成，尽管许多人可以看作是一个或另一个，但两种生活方式中都有爪子。人类也有两种类型：那些认为猫对自然界造成损害的人，以及那些认为猫造成的损害是微不足道的，只是大自然的一部分。通常情况下，两种观点之间的争议变得两极分化，政治和金钱云都试图做出客观的决定。

猫对生物多样性的破坏有很多方面，包括通过杂交（例如苏格兰野猫），通过直接捕食，通过竞争，通过猫消除本地物种的食物供应或疾病而造成本地猫物种的丧失。许多承认猫可能对环境造成破坏的人拒绝容忍杀死猫，认为可以通过捉住猫，将猫绝育并释放它们过自然生活来解决问题，但无需进一步繁殖（Trap-Neuter -发布或TNR）。几乎没有确凿的证据表明这会真正减少猫的捕食：在大多数情况下，根本没有数据。但是，在研究中，由于移民，减少猫的数量通常是很小的影响，或者根本不存在。有人认为TNR本身是残酷的，因为它降低了动物在其社区中的社会地位，导致欺凌，疾病和早期死亡的发生率增加。但是，在某些地方，TNR本身几乎是一个行业，各团体收到公众的大量捐款用于其工作，并得到猫粮公司的进一步支持（2017年美国猫粮销售额达到117亿美元）。

猫对哺乳动物，爬行动物和鸟类种群造成严重破坏的证据来自许多方面。即使无视将猫引入岛屿和被屠杀的海鸟的无可争议的情况，在大陆上也有很多例子，其中某些鸟类似乎受到猫的威胁。在加拿大，每年有990–1,270万只猫杀死多达3.5亿只鸟，来自加拿大繁殖鸟类普查的数据表明，31种动物的种群由于猫被捕食而脆弱。具有讽刺意味的是，其中许多是通常由养猫者放养的鸟类喂食器，以增加冬季食物的供应，但它们集中在哪里，因此最容易被猫捉住。

关于猫造成的危险的大量证据来自提交人的家乡澳大利亚。澳大利亚的野猫数量可能从干旱后的210万只或出现兔子疾病（由于缺少主要猎物而使猫数量减少）到潮湿的一年后的630万只不等。据估计，这些物种平均每年可捕食6.5亿只爬行动物和3.77亿只鸟类。澳大利亚有许多极少数濒临灭绝的爬行动物，哺乳动物以及鸟类。澳大利亚野生猫威胁消除计划列出了74种哺乳动物，40种鸟类，21种爬行动物和4种两栖动物受到猫捕食的危险，尽管猫捕食的影响不仅限于这些物种。

如果这还不够的话，猫就是原生动物寄生虫弓形虫的主要宿主，弓形虫是弓形虫病的病因。在某些哺乳动物中，很少有人表现出明显的感染作用，但可能表现出更细微的作用，例如冒险行为增加。猫粪的广泛性质确保了很大一部分人也与他们接触并被感染。再一次，这种影响只有极少数是明显的-尽管与其他哺乳动物的冒险行为观察相符：据称，被感染的驾驶员的交通事故发生率更高。最脆弱的人群是孕妇，其中多达40％的感染可能会传染给未出生的婴儿。令人惊讶的是，在美国，每年有750人死于先天性弓形虫病。

人们可能已经认识到猫所构成的危险，但由于亲猫游说组织仍然坚挺，实在太慢了。在某些地区，人们正在努力减少猫的数量，而一些新的人道方法似乎有望为将来带来希望。

在不确信猫确实属于里面的情况下，很难读懂这本书。

克里斯托弗·佩林斯

默里，RD [晚期]，安德鲁斯，IJ和霍林， M。Birds在东南苏格兰2007-13。542页，包含大量地图，图表和照片，苏格兰鸟类学家俱乐部，2019年，精装本，SOC上的£40.00或通过sescotatlas@gmail.com与最新作者联系，ISBN：9780951213971。

这是Lothian和Borders合并录音区的第二本地图集，并且是第一个处理冬季的地图集。数据收集与上一届《国家地图集》同时进行，但延长了一年，约有800名观察员参加。第一和第三位作者是1988-94年间早期地图集的作者：可悲的是，雷·穆雷在出版前突然去世。自1979年首次发布《边界鸟报告》以来，他一直是该地区记录的指导性明星。

对于比其前作要交付的作品要多得多的工作，标准布局非常明确。所有较常见的物种都有两页的分布，背面有正文和小照片，而正面则有彩色地图和图表的标准选择：在四倍尺度上，夏，冬季分布，并可以追溯到1968年。如图所示。尽管很难阅读，但是百分数编号有一个很小的键，并且较大的地图上的百分数线非常隐蔽。直方图显示高度变化。最终论文上有出色的通用地图，这是地图集制作者很少抓住的机会，尽管百位数编号再次非常微弱。物种图上使用的复杂图像有一个有用的关键。

尽管作者坦率地分析了当地人可能注意到的这些小弱点，但报道显然是不错的。对于人口估计中遇到的问题进行了长时间的讨论，这也许超出了普通读者的范围。在他们的概述中，作者深感悲观。在20年期间，所有物种中有52％表现出范围收缩，只有34％表现出扩张：在全国范围内，有45％扩张，只有32％失地。造成损失的主要原因是集约化农业，对涉水者的影响最为严重，其中九种物种的下降幅度在26％至82％之间。人为干扰也是一个因素，尤其是在沿海地区。塘鹅桑属巴桑巴斯岩石上的鸟类数量持续增加：夏季，峡湾大约有16万只鸟类。Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla遭受了灾难性的损失。不幸的是，最新海鸟调查的结果来不及纳入。

然而，有一些成功的案例，特别是对乌鸦乌鸦科拉，五十雀西塔油橄榄，Chiffchaff柳莺collybita，麻雀麻雀和金翅雀黄雀黄雀。普通秃鹰But的数量几乎增加了三倍，但尽管很小，但持久的“ Hen Harriers circus cyaneus”种群获得的成功有限。在过去的30年中，金鹰天鹰座chrysaetos的三个眼睛曾经不规律地被占领，但是年轻人仅在14个夏天就逃了出来。现在已经开始了重新引进计划，希望这些鸟不会像过去那样“在可疑情况下”消失。白尾鹰Haliaeetus albicilla已开始从法伊夫的传入渗透。自1998年以来，鱼鹰Pandion haliaetus已在11个地点获得成功。

我总是喜欢看到单个四足动物的物种丰富度数字，这可能会增加当地的热情，就像在邻国诺森伯兰郡所做的那样。在这里，作者找不到这些清单的空间。

戴维·巴伦斯

理发，S.，Bellamay，B.＆墙，T。罗瑟恩·米尔（Rostherne Mere）：仅有的鸟类和边缘。250页，R.Scully的许多插图，汤姆·沃尔（Tom Wall）出版，2019年，平装，27.98英镑，NHBS，ISBN：9781916043602， www.nhbs.com

Wall，TG（eds）：Rostherne Mere：湿地自然保护区的各个方面。384页，包含许多照片，图形和地图，由汤姆·沃尔（Tom Wall）发行，平装本，2019年，32.98英镑，来自NHBS，ISBN：9781916043619， www.nhbs.com

第二本书是作为第一本书的“伴侣”销售的：第一本书是大多数当地观鸟者可能会购买的书，因为它主要包含一个完全注释的物种清单。同伴对该地区的社会和农业发展有一个有趣的描述，它主要由附近的塔顿公园（Tatton Park）的埃格顿（Egerton）拥有和“保存”：富有的^第二男爵是埃格顿伯爵（Earl of Egerton）创建的，曼彻斯特船舶运河公司。

罗瑟恩（Rostherne）是什罗普郡/柴郡平原上的第三大自然光，位于该地区的西北角。现在距大曼彻斯特边境不到一英里，位于M56和塔顿公园之间。它距曼彻斯特市中心仅10公里，位于通往机场的西侧。幸运的是，它距汤姆·科沃德（Tom Coward）的鲍登（Bowdon）的住所仅几步之遥，而距阿诺德·博伊德（Arnold Boyd）的Great Budworth村仅几步之遥。两位都是国家鸟类学家的鸟类学家，在长期复杂的过程中发挥了重要作用，罗斯瑟恩（Rostherne）在1961年成为国家级自然保护区。第二本书详细讨论了获取问题：在19^世纪百年偷猎者和饲养员在战争中，关于曼昆人1909年的“大自行车侵入”的记载很有趣。

空间或资源有限的专家可能会将购买的书限制在鸟的书上，后者要小一些且便宜些。它的安排似乎很不寻常，许多小标题介绍了与单个物种有关的主题，这给这本书增添了新闻气息。它们肯定会引起读者的好奇：我有时会发现它们有些恼人，但其他人可能喜欢它们。图片直方图是成功的，尽管在这么长的书中，对于整个物种范围进行简明的损益摘要可能很有用。有一些令人难忘的历史照片，尤其是Coward和Boyd在一起，而另一位Boyd使用希尔伯岛上的平移望远镜拍摄的照片。储备金仍会产生年度报告。

戴维·巴伦斯

Hayes，M .南格洛斯特郡的鸟类：三个世纪的观鸟。178页，包含大量彩色照片，地图和图形。作者私人发行的限量版作品，2019年。如需当前可用信息，请联系作者，位于布里斯托尔金斯伍德贝尔维尤路10号，BS15 9TU，电话：0117 9601968。未提供ISBN。

“雅芳”仅在1974年至1996年间就作为县级政治存在，但仍保留为鸟类记录区，两个位于布里斯托尔的社团在此期间及之后共同发布了定期和守时的年度报告。该地区有四个区（北萨默塞特郡，巴斯和东北萨默塞特郡，布里斯托尔市和南格洛斯特郡），现在在当地被称为CUBA（曾经是雅芳的县）。这本及时而有趣的书涉及了最后一本书。

“雅芳”在人口研究方面具有很强的鸟类学传统，也许比英格兰其他地区更为强调。在已故的约翰·塔利（John Tully）和已故的理查德·布兰德（Richard Bland）的指导下，制作了一系列本地地图集，他们与BTO保持着紧密的联系，并且很少有稀有的时间。当然，许多观察者正在寻找更令人兴奋的目标，这些目标已在年度总结中得到了适当的报告，但还没有任何通用的动物动植物能够覆盖整个地区或任何物种和季节的任何部分。实际上，这项新作品的标题有点令人困惑，因为它只涉及稀有和稀有物种，在地图集中只能找到其中的少数几个：总结物种的全部范围的最后一次尝试是在后期。霍华德·戴维斯（Howard Davies）于1947年在“布里斯托尔区”工作。

最一致的生产区一直Severnside移徙者使用内陆迁徙路线的特伦特和清洗，而频繁的风暴，流浪到来自西部，其中包括著名的白腹/黑腹风暴海燕Fregetta grallaria / tropica 2009 。一个不太明显但引人注目的内陆地点是马什菲尔德，它是该地区的最高点，而且是科茨沃尔德沿旧A4的一个不引人注目的角落，那里种植了玉米，饲养和射击了猎鸟。它不仅保留了玉米BunEmberiza calandra，而且多年来还收容了诸如帕利德·哈里斯·奇库斯（Pallid Harrier Cicus macrocus），黑鸢（Milkus migrans），小奥克·阿莱·阿莱（ Little Auk Alle Alle）和红翼蓝尾（Bluetail Bluetail）之类的不可思议的游荡。si（Tarsiger cyanurus）。这些中的最后一个显示为小心地栖息在封面上的柱子上。

这本书充满了作者的热情和研究热情，尽管在校对方面存在一些琐碎的弱点。也许现在有人会解决CUBA其他部分的稀有问题，毕竟这包括Chew Valley和Blagdon Lakes以及Steep Holm。

戴维·巴伦斯