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Environmental scientists reveal the victims of humanity’s massive assault on nature. Gerardo Ceballos, Anne H. Ehrlich, and Paul R. Ehrlich serve as witnesses in this trial of human neglect, where the charge is the massive and escalating assault on living things. Nature is being annihilated, not only because of the human population explosion, but also as a result of massive commercial endeavors and public apathy. Despite the well-intentioned work of conservation organizations and governments, the authors warn us that not enough is being done and time is short for the most vulnerable of the world's wild birds and mammals. Thousands of populations have already disappeared, other populations ...
In this autobiographical account of a lifetime spent observing, researching and photographing birds, Peter Steyn shares experiences that span some 70 years. His story starts and ends in Cape Town, South Africa, but in between we read about the 17 years he spent in Zimbabwe – his most productive in terms of ornithological research. His worldwide travels in a quest to study birds, his regular spells as a lecturer on cruise-ship voyages, trips from the Arctic to the Antarctic, to remote Southern Ocean islands and to several Indian Ocean islands and St Helena, travels also to the USA, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Ethiopia – all in pursuit of birds. His detailed and fascinating memoir captures the author’s great enthusiasm for birds and their role in his shaping his life and experiences. The book is well illustrated and features more than 400 photographs taken during Peter’s lifelong journey with birds.
It’s estimated that 50 to 60 million Americans count birding among their hobbies. Some hang feeders in their backyards and accumulate yard lists; others participate in annual “Christmas Counts”; a select few travel to the ends of the earth in an effort to see every bird in the world. With Fifty Places to Go Birding Before You Die, Chris Santella takes the best-selling “Fifty Places” recipe and applies it to this most popular pastime. Santella presents some of the greatest bird-watching venues in the United States and abroad through interviews with prominent birders, from tour leaders and conservationists to ornithologists and academics. Interviewees include ornithologist Kenn Kaufm...
We exist at a moment during which the entangled challenges facing the human and natural worlds confront us at every turn, whether at the most basic level of survival—health, sustenance, shelter—or in relation to our comfort-driven desires. As demand for resources both necessary and unnecessary increases, understanding how nature and culture are interconnected matters more than ever. Bridging the fields of environmental history and American studies, Rendering Nature examines the surprising interconnections between nature and culture in distinct places, times, and contexts over the course of American history. Divided into four themes—animals, bodies, places, and politics—the essays spa...
The author's account of his travels from England to the rain forests of Asia, Africa, and Australia on a quest to see every one of a most elusive group of birds, known as pittas, in a single year.
Shadow of Liberation explores the intricate twists, turns, contestations and compromises of ANC economic and social policymaking with a focus on the transition era of the 1990’s and the early years of democracy With the damning revelations by the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture on the massive corruption of the South African body politic, the timing of this book could not be more relevant. South Africans need to confront the economic and social policy choices that the liberation movement made and to see how these decisions may have facilitated the conditions for corruption to emerge and flourish. Answers are needed. Padayachee and van Niekerk focus their attention on the prim...
"This beautifully illustrated book vividly depicts the most threatened birds on Earth. It provides up-to-date information from BirdLife International on the threats each species faces, and the measures being taken to save them. Today, 590 bird species are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered, or now only exist in captivity. This landmark publication features stunning photographs of 515 of these species--including the results of a prestigious international photographic competition organized specifically for this book. This is the first time that images of many of these birds have been published. It also showcases meticulously accurate illustrations by acclaimed wildlife artist Tomasz Cofta for the 75 species of which no photographs are known to exist. The World's Rarest Birds has introductory chapters that explain the threats birds face in a rapidly changing world, how their threat status is assessed, and how this information is used to set conservation priorities."--Jacket.
Australia has a rich and unique array of animals, including the largest diversity of marsupials on earth. The recent growth in ecotourism has increased the popularity of mammal-spotting, particularly whale and dolphin-watching, but also spotting of perennial tourist favourites such as koalas and kangaroos. Birdwatchers have for many years known of sites where special or difficult-to-see species may be reliably located. However, despite their comparative abundance and spectacular diversity, many of Australia's unique mammals remain under-appreciated because there has been little available information on where to see them – until now. For the first time ever, The Complete Guide to Finding th...
This is the third Penguin Dictionary of South African Quotations to be compiled by journalist and writer Jennifer Crwys-Williams. It is an all-new, 500-page slice of pure South Africana. Containing thousands of entries and spanning the first eight years of the 21st century, there is something for everyone in this invaluable 'Who said that?' handbook. From the serious to the profound, the poignant, embarrassing and the downright ridiculous, the public utterances of statesmen, comedians, political commentators, government ministers, sportsmen and many more are given a platform in this extensively researched collection. If you are a passionate follower of the ever-evolving South African story, ...