The World's Rarest Birds

Description

This illustrated book vividly depicts the most endangered birds in the world and provides the latest information on the threats each species faces and the measures being taken to save them. Today, 571 bird species are classified as critically endangered or endangered, and a further four now exist only in captivity. This landmark book features stunning photographs of 500 of these species--the results of a prestigious international photographic competition organized specifically for this book. It also showcases paintings by acclaimed wildlife artist Tomasz Cofta of the 75 species for which no photos are known to exist. The World's Rarest Birds has introductory chapters that explain the threats to birds, the ways threat categories are applied, and the distinction between threat and rarity. The book is divided into seven regional sections--Europe and the Middle East; Africa and Madagascar; Asia; Australasia; Oceanic Islands; North America, Central America, and the Caribbean; and South America. Each section includes an illustrated directory to the bird species under threat there, and gives a concise description of distribution, status, population, key threats, and conservation needs. This one-of-a-kind book also provides coverage of 62 data-deficient species.

Erik Hirschfeld works in air traffic control management and is a freelance writer, guide, and consultant in ornithology. Andy Swash is managing director of WILD"Guides" and a professional wildlife photographer, naturalist, author, and guide. Robert Still is an ecologist, widely traveled naturalist, and graphic artist who designs books that encourage people to take a greater interest in the natural world.

"Dense, richly informative... Offers a showcase of struggling birds globally--but each shot through a lens that celebrates their diversity, vibrance, elegance, and enthusiastic displays."--Audubon Magazine "A must have for those with an interest in bird conservation."--Ian Paulsen, Birdbooker Report "A coffee table treasure or a rainy day home birding experience. I highly recommend The World's Rarest Birds as a valuable addition to the libraries of conservationists and birders alike."--Brad Sylvester, Examiner.com, Birdwatching "The book is educational, promotes conservation, looks nice, but at the same time is a reference source for those rare birds... The World's Rarest Birds is like that stuff you put in your gas tank to add oomph to your engine, but with birdbooks. A regional library of references will suddenly have high octane information on some of the least known species."--Greg Laden, Science Blogs "The content makes for disturbing reading, packed as it is with evidence and insight into how man is slowly but surely eliminating many of Planet Earth's 10,000 bird species... As the publishers quite rightly say with their accompanying literature, 'this is a book that we all wish wasn't necessary' (my emphasis). This is a sentiment that will resonate to most reading this blog but the book needs to find a wider audience rather than simply reach the already converted. The World's Rarest Birds deserves that wider audience and I sincerely hope it reaches them; otherwise we may need to produce another and more desperate volume in a short number of years. Let's hope not. This is a great book, and I have a suggestion. Buy two and send one copy to your elected representative at the highest level possible."--Phil Slade, Another Bird Blog "Absolutely fascinating from start to finish... A must have for all bird lovers!"--Rob Ripma, Nutty Birder "This fine book is simultaneously fascinating and saddening."--Herb Wilson, Portland Press Herald "Gorgeous... The details and facts listed are astounding."--Dave Lewis, Birds from Behind blog "Outstanding... A great read and a[n] exceptional contribution to the global Ornithological community."--Dan Murray, Birding New Jersey "Bring[s] to life what might otherwise be an abstract idea devoid of the impetus of emotion--the glory and wonder of nature, and the truly, dazzlingly, urgent need to protect what's left of it."--Cathy Taibbi, Wildlife Conservation Examiner "If you're a world birder or an armchair birder this is a fascinating if sobering book."--Harry Fuller, Towhee Blog "Beautiful... The book is intended to educate and mobilize birders, naturalists and the general public to take action to save threatened birds and to raise awareness for the BirdLife Preventing Extinctions Programme."--Penny Miller, A Charm of Finches "Filled with beautiful pictures and drawings, and a wealth of information on endangered bird species, this book is an absolute must-have for anyone interested in bird conservation, and a delight for people everywhere who love birds and enjoy learning about them."--Bill Saur, Passionate Birder "I loved this book; I would include it as one of the top books of the year."--Wildlife Extra "An extraordinary bird book... If you support conservation, and wish to protect the Earth's rarest birds, you need to read The World's Rarest Birds."--Gabriel Thoumi, Mongabay.com "A monumental effort to elevate the visibility of bird conservation efforts worldwide."--Beth Buczynski, Care2.com "As well as being well-researched, authoritative and up to date, this is also an impressive product. It is large-format, heavy and substantial with a 'quality feel' and is liberally illustrated throughout. Unfortunately, it is not a particularly joyful read for it is disturbing to find not only Velvet Scoter but also such species as Egyptian Vulture within its pages. Reading this book is therefore something of a bitter-sweet experience. It is a beautiful production and the birds are alluring indeed but their possibly brief tenure on this planet provides ample cause for despair."--Andy Stoddart, Rare Bird Alert "Extraordinary images and design, along with authoritative text, make The World's Rarest Birds the best book on rare birds of the world that I've seen. I'm very glad to have it, but at the same time saddened that it has to exist at all. But since there are birds in trouble we need a book like this to tell their stories. It belongs on the table--not the shelf--of anyone who cares about birds."--Grant McCreary, Birder's Library "This lovely, coffee-table sized book is a wonder... The take away lesson in this book is obvious: The species described in the book are in peril; conservation actions for each are necessary, and time is of the essence."--Birding Community e-Bulletin "[A] splendid book... Those who read the book will be like the blind men and the elephant. Photographers will see a photography book. Birdwatchers will see a field guide to rare birds. Conservationists will see extinction. And dilettantes will see a coffee-table book. All will be in some measure correct."--Matt Young, Panda's Thumb "[A] remarkable book... The 'coffee table' format belies the extraordinary amount of research and the sheer volume of information presented. The authors have produced a reference book of outstanding quality. But this is no ordinary reference book to be occasionally picked off the shelf, dusted down and browsed rather it is a treasure chest of stories of discovery, loss and re-discovery. I found each visit to these beautifully presented pages unearthed more gems and yet more extraordinary insights into our most threatened birdlife."--Keith Clarkson, Birding Frontiers "[A] handsome volume... Most people will never see an Australian night parrot, a Floreana mockingbird, or a Jamaican pauraque. This book is an inexpensive way for birders and general readers to travel the world to see the rare and endangered. Perhaps it can motivate more people to manage habitats for all species."--Linda Scarth, Booklist "This guide, filled with photos and descriptions of conservation efforts, illustrates the perils faced by rare and endangered avian species."--Science News "It can only be hoped that this beautiful book succeeds, however modestly, in its aim of increasing awareness of these threatened species--and of birds like the great knot that may well become endangered in the near future given the unsustainable path that we seem to be following."--David Diskin, South China Morning Post "An essential and timely study of conservationism and natural history."--Guy de Federicis, Blogcritics.org "Gorgeous photography, cool maps, graphs and tables, all will entice you to learn more about these birds and to care."--Robert Mortensen, Birding is Fun "A beautifully illustrated book vividly depicting the most endangered birds on our once beautiful planet, elaborating on the threats confronting these species, and the measures needed to protect them from dying out."--Wan Lixin, Shanghai Daily "A vivid portrait of animals under threat."--Maggie Fazeli Fard, Washington Post "This gorgeous oversized hardcover is a roll-call of the world's endangered birds, listed by region... [A]nyone who loves birds will learn a lot from this sobering reference that documents the variety of endangered birds and the tragic thoroughness and destructive reach of man'kind.'"--Devorah Bennu, GrrlScientist, The Guardian "This is a coffee-table volume scrapes the glossy veneer from rarity, places a marker firmly in the ground in a measured manner and unflinchingly highlights the endangered and vulnerable along with the challenges that face us to make them less so. If it succeeds in raising awareness for even some of the species it highlights it will be a major achievement. Buy a copy and give it to your MP or MEP with a personal message to do more; it's the least we can do."--Alan Tilmouth, Birdguides "If you do any sort of world birding, or even just dream about it, this is nothing short of scripture."--Eric Salzman, ABA Blog "It is sad to think that many of the birds depicted in this book may become extinct within our lifetime as a result of human impact and this book deserves a place on many a coffee table as a stark reminder of our influence on this planet."--BTO Online "An authoritative volume that's also a delight to hold, even if it's frequently disturbing to read."--Bradley Winterton, Taipei Times "This is an excellent book; packed with information, well-designed, full of excellent photographs and with lots of well-written and interesting text. The photographs are marvellous. And the illustrations of those birds for which no decent photographs exist, by Tomasz Cofta, are excellent too... It is a book that is a joy to have--but a shame that it needs to exist."--Mark Avery blog "Far from being just a list of rare birds and pretty pictures then, [The World's Rarest Birds] is a well-written, superbly-illustrated reference book that should be valid for years to come."--Charlie Moores, Talking Naturally "Everyone who has an interest in our wonderful amazing weird and surprising birds should have a copy of The World's Rarest Birds. Its 350 pages are packed with stunning images and loaded with facts to inspire us all to do more to protect our wild birds and the wild places they live... We highly recommend this book to all."--Biggest Twitch