Book reviews

The titles reviewed in this section of Ibis are available for reference at the Alexander Library of the Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, c/o Sherardian Library, Plant Sciences Dept., University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, 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 benefitted 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 (zool0964@ox.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. Tong, W. Bird Love: the Family Life of Birds. 192 pages, prolifically illustrated mostly with colour photographs, Brighton: I vy Press, hardback, 2020, £24.99, ISBN: 9781782407485, quartoknows.com/Ivy-Press At first glance, this book looks like just another pot-boiler: a selection of pretty pictures with some bits of text wrapped around them. Perhaps the title helps to give that impression. That impression is wrong: the book sets out to explain – in layman’s terms – the major components of the breeding cycle of birds. The breeding cycle is divided into seven main sections: Ecology and Mating Systems, Courtship, Nests & Eggs, Raising Chicks, Sex Role Reversals, Group Breeding and Brood Parasitism. Each chapter is clearly subdivided into sections (Courtship has 12), each headed by a brief summary. The text is brief and snappy, covering each subject clearly and from an evolutionary perspective. It provides a clear description of most aspects of the breeding cycle and thus provides a useful introduction to the breeding biology of birds. The text is enhanced by a large number of high-quality photographs. Although some are almost as small as postage stamps (the book is 19.8 × 25.2 cm), they provide a valuable and relevant back-up to the text. The inclusion of scientific names of the birds might make it more useful to the serious, non-English-speaking reader. More seriously, the text lacks references so that it is hard for the reader to follow subjects up. A bibliography lists references to many of these key studies, but the crucial cross-reference between the text and the references is missing. That said, the book is recommended. Christopher Perrins Newton, I. Uplands and Birds. 598 pages (hb), numerous colour photos, figures and maps, London: W illiam Collins (New Naturalist), 2020, hardback and paperback, £65 (hb), £35 (pb), ISBN: 9780008298500 (hb), 9780008298524 (pb), harpercollins.co.uk Ian Newton needs no introduction to the ornithological community. Here he combines his extensive scientific experience and knowledge, together with his ability to synthesize information so as to present it in a readable form and to produce an excellent book on Uplands and Birds. Although it doesn’t say so in the tile, this is uplands and birds in the UK. The book is about far more than the ecology of UK upland birds, though. It also covers the historical, current and future management of the UK uplands, and considers how the interaction of climate, nature and land use influences the birds found there. It is a weighty volume at almost 600 pages, but the multiple colour photographs throughout the book, many of which provide excellent examples of the habitats being described, help to break up the text. The definition of uplands used in the book is broad, covering mainly uncultivated land above enclosed fields, and acknowledges that in some cases upland habitats approach sea level in the north of the UK. This broad definition allows the book to consider more than the obvious associations between moorland and mountain habitats, and birds. After three chapters covering human presence and impacts in the uplands, the formation of the uplands, and the ecology of upland birds, the book goes on to explore the existing land uses in the uplands and how these impact on species. Given the obvious importance of grazing in the uplands and grouse moor management, these topics get thorough explorations. Both are dealt with in depth over multiple chapters that explore the habitats, their management, the impact of management on birds and the wider environment, and the future of these managements. This means that readers come away with a broad understanding of contentious topics, as these chapters consider economic and social impacts of activities as well as ecological impacts. Subsequent chapters on waders, deer management and woodland management highlight that the relationship between upland land use and birds is about more than domestic livestock and grouse moor management. These chapters document the impact that these widespread human actions have on the characteristics of the uplands, in addition to their birds and other wildlife. The chapter on waders considers the habitat associations of these species, and dwells on the impact an increase in upland tree cover could have on populations of birds that rely on extensive areas of open ground. This is of particular relevance as the final chapters are on commercial forestry in the uplands and rewilding. These chapters might offer a look to the future of the uplands, and the future of bird communities, as upland areas become depopulated or abandoned, and solutions are sought to reduce the impact of climate change through the reduction of levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As we would expect from the author, the book is objective. It explores the scientific evidence and literature, and occasionally the ‘grey literature’, associated with topics. As it forms part of the New Naturalist series it is written for a wide, more general audience who are not necessarily academics. This means it provides a welcome, readable, impartial and informative book that should be of interest to anyone with an interest in upland ecology and land use, and not just upland birds. Graeme Buchanan Riddington, R. (Ed.). Birds of the UK Overseas Territories. 336 pages, numerous photographs (most in colour), maps, figures and tables, London: T & AD Poyser (Bloomsbury), 2020, hardback (£60) and paperback (£35), ePDF and ePub also available, ISBN: 9781472977250 (hardback), 9781472977267 (paperback), https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/special-interest/natural-history/birds/poyser It is widely recognized that, in terms of global biodiversity, the UK’s main contribution resides in its 14 Overseas Territories (UKOTs). However, even for birds, there is a lack of relevant authoritative accounts of these widely available to the public. The initiative of British Birds (inspired by Richard Porter, I suspect) to commission a series of papers focusing on the birds of each UKOT was an excellent one. Collecting them all into a single volume (with brief updates as appropriate) provides a benchmark product and is equally to be commended. Inevitably, with a diverse authorship, the variety inherent in the UKOTs themselves and the timespan of original production (2008–2019), some inconsistencies in detail (and update) are apparent. Overall, however, there is remarkable consistency and the book is the most definitive single source currently available, representing essential reading for amateurs and professionals alike. The main emphases of the accounts for each UKOT are on the global/regional importance of the avifauna and its species, especially in terms of endemism and globally threatened status, together with details of the relevant Important Bird Areas and other actual or potential protected areas. The main threats (and remedial actions) are well summarized and the catalogue of human impact, whether historical, recent or ongoing, often makes dismal reading. A specially commissioned introductory chapter (The Importance of the UKOTs for Wildlife) provides a broader biodiversity context and highlights progress in tackling various threats. As most UKOTs are islands (all but Akrotiri (but this is probably a microcosm of Cyprus as a whole), Gibraltar and British Antarctic Territory), located in regions from tropical to polar and range in size from 37 km2 (Henderson) to 12 173 km2 (Falklands Islands – the size of Northern Ireland), they are exemplars of the conservation threats and challenges facing specialist insular bird species, avifaunas and habitats worldwide. A recurring issue is the impact of alien invasive species, with numerous successful eradications (notably South Georgia), inexplicable failures so far (Henderson) and imminent action to tackle the highest global priority (Gough). The introduction also highlights climate change as a priority threat: however, it seems unlikely that effective practical mitigation exists for any of its most likely manifestations (sea-level rise, increase in extreme events, habitat/trophic shifts). Conversely, the pervasive threat posed by habitat destruction and degradation appears under-emphasized, especially in relation to coastal sites. For me, this is the threat that needs concerted action across most UKOTs to ensure effective management of existing and potential protected areas. Resources available to UKOTs to do this need increasing by an order of magnitude. The underlying messages of this timely volume are clear: if you wish to see the best birds (and biodiversity) that the UK has to offer, visit the UKOTs and, whether or not you can visit, support those (mainly small NGOs) who are striving to protect this unique heritage. John Croxall Mitchell, J. (Compiler). Birds: An Anthology. 264 pages, 25 black and white illustrations, Oxford: B odleian Libraries, 2020, hardback, £16.99, ISBN: 9781851245291, www.bodleianshop.co.uk In the introduction to this book, its anthologist, Jacqueline Mitchell, explains that it was conceived to draw especially on archival material and the long history of birdwatching. It is a handsome book with the look and feel of something produced in the first half of the twentieth century. This is mainly due to its striking cover which features the work of Eric Fitch Daglish (1892–1966) whose fine wood engravings are the book’s only illustrations. Their quality adds considerably to the book’s appeal. The written content is divided into 10 sections, one for each of the seasons, the others covering such topics as habitats, song and bird/human relationships. The pieces chosen are mainly short prose extracts and span two millennia, with just a smattering of contemporary writing. Each section is arranged chronologically. The writers chosen (over 140 of them) are from around the world, though British and American writers predominate. Philosophers, scientists, naturalists, travel writers, nature writers and poets all feature. Some of the material is relatively obscure, but there are many authors who readers will find familiar. It is perhaps no surprise that Edward Thomas and Gilbert White are the most quoted. The historical emphasis makes it feel a bit dry in places, which might reduce its appeal for some readers. However, what does become quite clear due to this format is how, over time, the birds of myth and fable have become transformed into the birds of science, without losing any of their fascination in the process. What is also apparent is how much those individuals able to combine the talents of observation, perception and articulation, for example Gilbert White and Charles Darwin, contributed to our understanding of the natural world. What also comes through with shocking clarity is that species we now consider scarce, such as the Cuckoo Cuculus canorus and the Corncrake Crex crex, were in relatively recent times familiar, not just to birdwatchers but to every countryman. Almost by definition, anthologies are meant to be dipped into by the fireside or bedside and this is how most copies of this book will be used. Many readers will enjoy some familiar passages or discover writers new to them. It is, though, also a catalogue of what we once had and have now mostly lost. As Mitchell says in her introduction: ‘One can only hope that now it is widely acknowledged that we are at a critical tipping point, we will at last heed the drift downwards of wildlife and finally resolve not to prioritize our own needs above those of all other species.’ Barry Gray Hammer, J. The Falcon Thief. 320 pages. New York: S imon and Schuster, 2020, hardback, £16.99, ISBN: 9781501191886. Following closely on the heels of The Feather Thief, which dealt with the theft of rare and important feathers from the Natural History Museum, Tring, readers can experience another dose of outrage in this tale of Jeffery Lendrum, who, it appears, has made a career of stealing the eggs of raptors close to the point of hatch and smuggling them to…? The question mark reveals the unsolved mystery of the book, for while available evidence, in the form of airline tickets, suggests the ultimate destination of the eggs was the Middle East, there is nothing incontrovertible, just rumour, hints and suspicion to support that allegation. After a brief Prologue, the book starts in Birmingham’s airport, where in May 2010 a cleaner, trained to be on his guard because of the times we live in, noted that a man had been in a shower/toilet cubicle for a very long time. When the man left the cleaner found that neither shower, washbasin, toilet or towels had been used and that a curious red egg had been deposited in the waste bin. Alerted by the cleaner, the man was taken into custody and a search revealed that beneath a band of surgical tape around his midriff were a collection of 14 eggs, held close to his flesh. The man was Jeffery Lendrum. His excuse was that he was carrying duck eggs tied to him to ease a back problem. In fact they were Peregrine eggs, 13 of the 14 alive and near hatch. Lendrum’s career is extraordinary. Born in what was then Northern Rhodesia, he and his father joined the national raptor group where the young Jeffery excelled at climbing trees and reaching cliff nests. But as well as helping with surveys, he was also stealing eggs. Both father and son were convicted of taking the eggs of endangered species, fined and given suspended sentences, but evidence that they were also exporting eggs at near-hatch age was never brought before the Court. Banned from Rhodesian National Parks, Jeffery Lendrum moved to South Africa. He set up a business importing African tribal art for sale in the UK, though the business did not flourish. Over the years he was tried and convicted in Canada for stealing near-hatch Gyrfalcon eggs, obtained by hanging from a rope below a helicopter hired in the USA and flown all the way to northern Quebec. On a second trip, Lendrum and a colleague were arrested and found to be in possession of seven Gyrfalcon eggs in an incubator. Believing they had uncovered an international wildlife smuggling operation, the arresting officer was hoping for a $1 million fine and 5 years in jail. But pleading guilty to possession the two men paid a small fine and were ordered out of the country. Later, Lendrum was arrested in South America for attempting to smuggle live Peregrine eggs (a rare pale morph of Falco peregrinus cassini). This time he fled before incarceration. Finally, now in his 60s and having suffered prostate cancer, he was again arrested in the UK in June 2018 having arrived at Heathrow from South Africa with 17 eggs of endangered African raptors: two of the eggs had hatched in transit. He was sentenced to 37 months in jail. He is likely to have been released by the time this review appears. The author the tale of one of the wildlife of recent times with often on egg in the UK but as Lendrum was not a and information for of the National on your point of these are in the context or often include from the author has in I to their But one of the this to me, though with the is as that the nature of his means he has the he had as a bird he was he he could through a section of woodland and without point and say a I that with his of UK would that the species was in the UK and it did up it in However, one does have in that it with in the the The description of the and in there produced a of and in this but they a Lendrum seems never to have had a or business that paid more than he first or business around the for years, his a his At one point he suggests he was by breeding in a At other Lendrum on the point of important information on others with to in of the but up what might to him if he that is the but in a tale of a and not only in search of but of rare or many of which in as would the book on stealing feathers and this one is likely to have the reader feathers of Richard Sale & A Field to the Birds of & pages, numerous habitat photographs and maps, Oxford: 2020, paperback, £24.99, ISBN: The of was by a in from which in A of the South or the from (the large of and the of three influences have to the of features of the land with the of in in the final that, for many millennia, much of the of the South the with as well as with the islands of the and a climate, a natural of The of at the of the is equally by this and The bird of the main and its this but has also been by a of with of the National Parks This has been by a of and have in a to the birds of now and the has a of authoritative books on the birds of his and the with The Birds of The with a of bird illustrations, books and art through his and in for years before to the could be a more to that this book is a the first to cover the birds of in their with information to birds in and the of or or in other from John the format is at pages, it needs a than the are of and the cover and, the the of with the international of and and national or Inevitably, the is much more its has not up with the second with in The text the and key habitats, features of the for a short of bird and nature and on the use of the book before on to a species a species in and in at The section pages, species of text The order is and each Family is is by to are with brief of by or age by a on a of global and in habitat breeding and conservation are in birds in in in some cases (notably large raptors and with in of size the but without a The are and A small the authors (and have not recent on the The a the that is now throughout all being a has no species The is it in and but only near the where are with an almost white with is now recognized as a of it has been from the and coastal sea where there were once The is in The first pages of the book present a in other – the – of bird species of and and This could be for the or as a the species on each not necessarily to any habitat in but are widely to be of each habitat These are not to so that in the for and more or in size the or the The also a by any of species and form a bird but the land has some species to to across the South has been long to The are in their names you not to expect the or birds, do not the on your you will find over a but its scientific only in the uplands of and will you need to make that your are not the The are in habitats of the book should for it will be a new for or if you see or not in or in this book lacks the of other the authors and for a first of an bird As a it is a source for or it its as a for the or in any part of and & J. Birds of the pages, over colour of species maps, and 2020, and hardback, (hb), ISBN: (hb), Field to birds and would to have much in of the a of two covering the the other two on This first covers all the islands from and the and a of islands close to the South American on the that as they were once to South America their avifauna more to that than to the collection of islands which have a history from the due to of The the which is no surprise given the but it occasionally out the Over species have been on the various of which about the almost are will the but the book that species are another are and at have The of the species in these and the for their and makes for a The book starts with some general for the a section on and the need to be of and to to of and the is then an excellent section and on the which the below The species accounts Each is by a which to the Bird which has photos, and is also a where in a in Each species is illustrated with of breeding and where The is than the below × × and the pages, means the can to be as in general there are species The are again in – though this is a of and should not be as that the are but As the is and so needs a is and more the final on is best left to the potential The book with 1 is a by with on whether a species is or and whether it is than is a of species for which of have been Finally, there are pages of references and for further reading. J. & Birds of the pages, over colour maps, London: B Field second 2020, (but ISBN: This is the second of a book years and is so from that first as to being a new The

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