Titles coming soon

Just a quick note some of the new titles I've signed up recently for the Poyser list.

Fowling, Feasting and Feathers: A History of the Exploitation of Wild Birds by Michael Shrubb
The way wild birds have been exploited over the centuries forms the focus of this book. It looks at the use of birds as food, for feathers and skins, for eggs, as cage birds, as specimens and for hunting. Never before has a book brought the considerable amount of information on these topics in the academic literature together under one cover.

Introductory chapters on what was taken, when, why and its impact are followed by a number of sections looking in detail at important bird groups. Along with discussions of broader themes of exploitation, the book is packed with amazing facts. For example, we learn

• why Grey Herons were so important in medieval falconry
• why the Black Death was good news for bustards
• when tame plover stew was all the rage
• why Napoleon is to blame for the scarcity of Quail in Britain today

The book concludes with discussions of the cage bird and plumage trades, both now consigned to the annals of history, in Britain at any rate. As well as summarising and condensing the material into a readable and entertaining account, Shrubb goes back to original sources such as 14thcentury feast and market records (written in medieval Latin and therefore virtually inaccessible to other researchers, until now). This has allowed him to shed new and surprising light on the biogeography of a number of British birds.

I'm delighted to announce that this landmark title will be published in August 2013.


The Barnacle Goose by Jeff Black,  Jouke Prop and Kjell Larsson

This book represents a culmination of more than 25 years of Barnacle Goose research, and is the story of one of Europe’s most celebrated long-term behavioral studies, detailing the lives of these social and sociable birds.

Chapters include sections on pair formation and bonding, family and population dynamics, brood parasitism, food and feeding, size and shape in different populations, life cycle, survivorship, dispersal, migration, and conservation, with particular regard to climate change. It is a rigorous and thorough examination of the lives of these birds, in fine Poyser tradition.

Coming in Autumn 2014

The Chough by Eric Bignal and Davy McCracken

Around the coasts and in the uplands of western Britain, one of our most majestic birds, the Chough, soars high above the cliffs on stiff black wings. These birds are often seen in small flocks, in which the birds constantly caw to each other. They are a magnificent sight, jet black with vivid red beaks and legs, and readily display their mastery of flight with displays of diving and swooping.

Known to ornithologists as the Red-billed Chough to distinguish it from its yellow-billed alpine cousin, this small crow occurs patchily across Europe into Western Asia, with isolated populations occurring as far south as Ethiopia. Part of the reason for its restricted distribution is its rather specific habitat requirements - rocky areas with close-cropped turf. These birds are declining in Britain, although a few pairs have recently recolonised the species’ former stronghold of Cornwall.

This Poyser monograph by Eric Bignal and Davy McCracken provides an up-to-date account of Chough biology. Summarising an extensive and diverse international literature, sections include an introduction to the species and its current status, breeding biology, feeding ecology, population dynamics, dispersal, conservation and habitat management, with particular emphasis placed on ecological studies stemming from the authors’ 30 years of research on the population on the Scottish island of Islay.

Coming in Autumn 2014

The Eagle Owl by Vincenzo Penteriani

The Eagle Owl is a large and impressive beast. One of the largest owls in the world, it is a fierce predator of large birds and mammals up to the size of foxes and small deer; in places where it shares habitat with humans, domestic pets can even be on the menu. As an undisputed top predator, its ecology is fascinating, while recent introductions to (among other places) the Lake District have had important conservation implications.

This Poyser monograph by Vincenzo Penteriani looks at distribution, foraging ecology, migration, breeding behaviour and population dynamics of this spectacular bird, with emphasis placed on recently established colonies such as in England and in the Coto Doñana in Spain. While primarily focused on the Eurasian form, Indian and North African eagle owls are also considered. 

Publishing in Spring 2015

Birds New to Science by David Brewer

Amazing as it might sound, ornithologists are still discovering, on average, five or so species of birds each year that are completely new to science. What’s more, these aren’t all just obscure brown birds on tiny islands – witness the bizarre Bare-faced Bulbul from Laos (2009) or gaudy Begun Liochicla from north-west India (2005). 

This book documents all of these remarkable discoveries made since 1960, from Barau’s Petrel onwards, covering around 250 species. It fills an important gap in the ornithological literature. Written in an engaging style, this book provides a rich reference to an era of adventure in ornithology. Each species account discusses the story of the discovery, with photographs of the birds where available, along with a discussion of what is known about the species’ biology, habitat, distribution, with a strong conservation edge – most of the species in the book are either vulnerable or endangered.

Publishing in Autumn 2015

Hope you are looking forward to these as much as I am!
Jim