Feathered Marvels

The Natural History and Extraordinary Lives of Birds

Dominic F. Sherony, Randi Minetor (Autoren)

Buch | Softcover

348 Seiten

2024
McFarland & Co Inc (Verlag)
978-1-4766-9188-6 (ISBN)

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A comprehensive natural history of birds that starts in the distant past in order to get a broader understanding of the birds that we see today. Chapters cover their lives, breeding, flight, migration and more, while also highlighting some especially unique bird fossils. Also included are chapters on the current decline of native birds.

From the discovery of the fossil Archaeopteryx to more than 10,000 different documented species today, birds have become the second most diversified class of vertebrates on Earth. Birds have evolved extensively since they first emerged in prehistoric times--but that diversity could dwindle and even vanish unless we take steps to conserve their habitats, ensuring that they sustain their numbers and their variety.

This natural history of birds starts in the distant past--going back to the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Paleogene periods--in order to get a broader understanding of the birds that we see today. Chapters cover their lives, breeding, flight, migration and more, while also highlighting some especially unique bird fossils, such as the Pelagornis Sandersi, which had a wingspan of more than 20 feet. Also included are chapters on the loss of needed habitats, the current decline of native birds, and what can be done to reverse it.

Dominic F. Sherony served as a member of the New York State Avian Records Committee for 11 years, and has published and lectured on various avian subjects. He lives in Fairport, New York. Randi Minetor is the author of more than 80 books including birding field guides. She lives in Rochester, New York.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

Part I—Birds in the Distant Past

1. Birds in the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods

2. Birds in the Paleogene Period

Part II—The Lives of Birds

3. Adaptation and Diversity

4. How Birds Are Different

5. Breeding

6. Flight and Migration

7. Vagrancy and Dispersal

Part III—Extraordinary Birds

8. The Megafauna of the Avian World

9. Hoatzin: A Window Into the Past

10. Unusual Birds

Part IV—An Overview of Birds and Their Habitats

11. The Classification of Birds

12. Perching Birds and Forest Habitats

13. Flycatchers

14. Hawaiian Honeycreepers: Adaptive Radiation

15. Grassland Birds

16. Nectar-Feeding Birds

17. Wetland Birds

18. Seed–and Fruit-Eating Birds

19. Trogons

20. Oceanic Birds

21. Shorebirds

22. Birds of Prey

Part V—Birds in Our World: Today and In the Future

23. The Decline of Native Birds

24. Can We Support Environmental Conservation?

Appendix 1: Index of Latin Bird Names

Appendix 2: Glossary of Terms

References

Index

Erscheinungsdatum	05.03.2024
Zusatzinfo	79 photos (all in color), appendices, bibliography, index
Verlagsort	Jefferson, NC
Sprache	englisch
Maße	178 x 254 mm
Gewicht	617 g
Themenwelt	Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik ► Natur / Ökologie
	Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Natur / Technik ► Naturführer
	Naturwissenschaften ► Biologie ► Zoologie
ISBN-10	1-4766-9188-6 / 1476691886
ISBN-13	978-1-4766-9188-6 / 9781476691886
Zustand	Neuware