tags: Birdbooker Report, bird books, natural history books
"One cannot have too many good bird books"
--Ralph Hoffmann, Birds of the Pacific States (1927).
Here's this week's issue of the Birdbooker Report by Ian Paulsen, which lists bird and natural history books that are (or will soon be) available for purchase.
New and Recent Titles:
Arbour, Claude. Choosing Wildness: My Life Among the Ospreys. 2008. Greystone Books. Paperback: 242 pages. Price: $22.95 U.S. [Amazon: $ 15.61] SUMMARY: The author describes his personal journey from being a high school dropout to becoming one of Quebec's most respected ornithologists. 
Beehler, Bruce M. Lost Worlds: Adventures in the Tropical Rainforest. 2008. Yale University Press. Hardbound: 258 pages. Price: $28.00 U.S. [Amazon: $18.48] SUMMARY: The author recounts twelve field trips he has taken to the tropics over the past three decades. [GrrlScientist note: I really really want this book! Hopefully, the publisher will send it to me soon.] 
Cannings, Richard. An Enchantment of Birds: Memories from a Birder's Life. 2007. Greystone Books. Hardbound: 211 pages. Price: $24.95 U.S. [Amazon: $18.96] SUMMARY: Noted British Columbian ornithologist Richard Cannings recounts encounters with his favorite birds. 
Hooper, Meredith. The Ferocious Summer: Adelie Penguins and the warming of Antarctica. 2008. Greystone Books. Hardbound: 299 pages. Price: $26.95 U.S. [Amazon: $17.79] SUMMARY: The author recounts the summer storms and circumstances that reduce the Palmer Station Adelie Penguin colony to near devastation. 
Wainwright, Mark. The Mammals of Costa Rica: A Natural History and Field Guide. 2007. Cornell University Press. Paperback: 454 pages. Price: $29.95 U.S. [Amazon: $19.77] SUMMARY: A compact guide to Costa Rican mammals. 
Zuchowski, Willow. Tropical Plants of Costa Rica: A Guide to Native and Exotic Flora. 2007. Cornell University Press. Paperback: 529 pages. Price: $35.00 U.S. [Amazon: $23.10] SUMMARY: A well illustrated guide to Costa Rican plants. More like this
Those of you on Twitter yesterday probably noticed the explosion of tweets with the hashtag #amazonfail.
Amazon has sent a letter to all of its associates based in Minnesota. All Minnesota based associates are being thrown out of the Amazon Associates program as of July 1st. This is because the State of Minnesota passed a bill that Amazon does not like.
Oil and Gas Projects in the Western Amazon Threaten Wilderness, Biodiversity, and Indigenous Peoples
A vast area of the western Amazon--arguably the most intact and biodiverse part of the Amazon--is now wide open for oil and gas development. This is a new threat to the forest, biodiversity, and many indigenous groups living in the region.
A bunch of people (including Bora) have pointed me to Clay Shirky's take on #amazonfail.