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This book is the first to present a comprehensive overview of parasitic birds and their hosts. Although the phenomenon has attracted the interest of naturalists and evolutionists since Darwin, only recently have researchers applied modern evolutionary theory and experimental methods to study the various adaptations related to brood parasitism. The work in this field is accelerating rapidly, and this volume collects work from the individuals and research groups around the world who have been responsible for nearly every major study in the last ten years. The papers present valuable summaries along with substantial new research, and the volume concludes with a review of important unsolved questions. The book is an invaluable resource on this fascinating topic, covering the remarkable sequences of adaptations and counter-adaptations, along with the perhaps even more remarkable cases where adaptations seem to be lacking. ... Read more

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''As has been true in all previous volumes, the editing andwriting of these chapters is excellent and the content remarkablygood,particularly given the length of the series....As usual, thesesources are a gold mine for researchers, graduate students, andteachers.'' --- The Wilson Bulletin''For researchersinterested in plumage evolution, hatching asynchrony or any of theother topics reviewed, [Volume 12] will be obligatory reading. Forothers interested in learning about new fields, this is one of thebest places to start.'' --- Recent OrnithologicalPublications''I do suggest that university libraries buy thisuseful series.''--- Animal BehaviorIn Volume 12,eminent international ornithologists further elucidateendocrinological correlates of mating strategies and hormones andreproductive behavior; assess the value of the ''brood reductionhypothesis'' in explaining ''the paradox of hatching asynchrony'';and explore the validity and sensitivity of growth bands in feathersas an indication of nutritional condition and the use of featherbanding in studying growth.Chapters are well supported with charts,maps, schematic diagrams, and photographs.CurrentOrnithology is the only English-language publication currentlydevoted exclusively to extensive reviews and synthesis of topicspertaining to all aspects of the biology of birds. Chapters fallunder such diverse rubrics as ecology, evolution, behavior,phylogeny, behavioral ecology, anatomy and physiology, andconservation biology. All authors are leading authorities on theirsubjects, and each chapter is refereed by experts in the topicscovered. Although all chapters focus primarily on birds, some topics,such as the social cognition of birds as compared to primates (Volume13), have significant application to disciplines outside ofornithology. Current Ornithology aims to provide an accessible,up-to-date, accurate source of data and to contribute to conceptualgeneralization and unification across the biological sciences. ... Read more

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This is the first scientific review of all factors affecting incubation in avian nests. These range from nest construction, egg characteristics and patterns of embryonic development. There is an extensive section describing incubation behaviour of parents and embryos, and there are chapters reviewing brood patch physiology and the various factors determining the incubation environment, including nest microbiology. Another section provides chapters giving detailed descriptions of examples of unusual aspects of avian incubation, whilst the final section provides consideration of the ecological, energetic and fitness cost of incubation. Written by authorities in their respective fields from around the world, this provides a comprehensive review of this critical aspect of avian reproduction. Much of the data included has not been previously published, and so Avian Incubation is not only an extensive reference text but is also a valuable contribution to our basic understanding of incubation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Exactly what I wanted
This book has just all the information I was looking for.
The ideias for further investigation found at the end of each chapter stir up every researcher or student. ... Read more

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Contributors to this volume offer new research on extinctionprocesses in birds, nest predation, and song systems, and describes agraphical model that helps predict the reproductive consequences oftime allocation between the competing demands of guarding young birdsand foraging for food. Current Ornithology is the onlyEnglish-language publication currently devoted exclusively toextensive reviews and synthesis of topics pertaining to all aspects ofthe biology of birds. Chapters fall under such diverse rubrics asecology, evolution, behavior, phylogeny, behavioral ecology, anatomyand physiology, and conservation biology. All authors are leadingauthorities on their subjects, and each chapter is refereed by expertsin the topics covered. Although all chapters focus primarily on birds,some topics, such as the social cognition of birds as compared toprimates (Volume 13), have significant application to disciplinesoutside of ornithology. Current Ornithology aims to provide anaccessible, up-to-date, accurate source of data and to contribute toconceptual generalization and unification across the biologicalsciences. ... Read more

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This book brings together the results from one of the most significant long-term studies of birds in the late twentieth century, testing our understanding of evolution in natural populations. Combining genetics, behavior, ecology, and a landmark data set, it will be essential reading for everyone with an interest in evolutionary ecology.The Lesser Snow Goose is a migratory Arctic breeder which occurs in two genetically distinct forms.Most have white plumage, but some are dark, allowing rapid scoring and study of a highly visible heritable trait.Initial chapters describe the natural history, recent evolutionary history, and current patterns of gene flow in the species. A subsequent chapter presents a detailed demographic model integrating both fecundity and survival components of fitness, which is used as an analytical framework throughout later chapters.Two chapters detail the effects of annual and age-specific variation in fitness components.The authors then focus on the microevolutionary status of the population, using data gathered over 26 years on 40,000 individually marked adult geese, 45,000 nests, and 110,000 goslings at one colony in northern Manitoba.The heart of the book analyses the working of natural selection on plumage color, seasonal timing of breeding, clutch size, egg size, and body size, using the components of fitness approach to quantifying selection in stages throughout the animal life cycle.The results are an important advance in understanding the evolutionary process in vertebrates. ... Read more

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Birds are hosts to many parasites, internal and external. The parasites inevitably form a burden to the host bird and therefore may affect its ability to grow, survive and reproduce as well as its behavior and the abundance and distribution of the whole species. As a consequence, bird-parasite systems have attracted attention from diverse fields. This book draws together a comprehensive range of experts in the field to provide an invaluable reference of current work in bird-parasite interactions. The book addresses the contemporary context of research in bird-parasite systems, and case studies which combine theoretical concepts with evidence from the literature and experimental data. Equal attention is given to ecology, behavioral response to parasitism, and sexual selection. This work will be of interest to biologists, evolutionary biologists, wildlife ecologists, and ornithologists and other professionals in related fields. ... Read more

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This book reviews what is known about the behavior and population ecology of the oystercatcher. The plight of this popular shorebird highlights the many conflicts of interest in coastal zones, between human activities such as shellfishing, land reclamation, and industrial pollution, and the needs of wildlife for food and suitable habitats.As well as detailing the oystercatcher's natural history--including the well-known specialization in feeding technique shown by individuals--the authors use their field studies of individual variations in behavior to produce population models. This novel approach provides tools for predicting how populations will respond to the many environmental changes to which the coastal zone is subject. Thus it can play a role in coastal management plans that seek to balance the needs of people and wildlife, and suggests that the same methods can be applied in other situations. ... Read more

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The current volume includes articles on sibling competition,hatching asynchrony, incubation period, and lifespan in altricialbirds, predation and the limitation of bird numbers, and populationtrends in birds of eastern North America. Current Ornithology isthe only English-language publication currently devoted exclusively toextensive reviews and synthesis of topics pertaining to all aspects ofthe biology of birds. Chapters fall under such diverse rubrics asecology, evolution, behavior, phylogeny, behavioral ecology, anatomyand physiology, and conservation biology. All authors are leadingauthorities on their subjects, and each chapter is refereed by expertsin the topics covered. Although all chapters focus primarily on birds,some topics, such as the social cognition of birds as compared toprimates (Volume 13), have significant application to disciplinesoutside of ornithology. Current Ornithology aims to provide anaccessible, up-to-date, accurate source of data and to contribute toconceptual generalization and unification across the biologicalsciences. ... Read more

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This is the first book to summarize the methods, conceptual issues and results of studies using the interpretation of feather growth rates as an index to nutritional condition in birds. The author has coined the term ptilochronology (literally. 'the study of feather time') to describe this technique, which relies on the fat that as a feather grows it produces visible growth bars. Both the technique and its conceptual foundations have been applied worldwide to numerous studies of avian evolution, ecology, and conservation biology. the author reviews this work, chronicles the various criticisms that have been amde, and describes how these have influenced the development of ptilochronology. He goes on to suggest experimental methodologies and analytical techniques to safeguard against invalid results. a final chapter summarises this new technique's contribution to avian biology, and suggests potential applications and a future research agenda. an appendix details specific measurements and describes the methodology associated with ptilochronology.
Ptilochronology provides a practical resource as well as a conceptual understanding of how this technique can be used to address important questions in avian biology. It will be of relevance and use to professional avian biologists and ornithologists as well as to graduate students of avian behavioural ecology, evolution and conservation. ... Read more

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This is an account of studies of the function and evolution of colorful plumage in the House Finch. It is also an engaging study on the evolution of sexual selection in birds and a lively portrait of the challenges and constraints of experimental design facing any field investigator working with animal behavior. Part I sets the stage for modern studies of the function of plumage coloration with a review of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries. Part II focuses on the proximate control and present function of plumage coloration. Part III takes a more explicitly evolutionary approach to the study of plumage coloration using biogeography and phylogeny to test hypotheses for why specific forms of plumage color display have evolved. It concludes with an account of comparative studies that have been conducted in the House Finch and other cardueline finches and the insight these studies have provided on the evolution of carotenoid-based ornamental coloration. ... Read more

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Salim Ali's association with the Bombay Natural History Society started when as a young child intrigued by the patch of yellow on the throat of a sparrow he had shot with his airgun, someone suggested he visit the Society to seek an explanation.The title of this commemorative volume, Petronia, is the generic name of the yellow-throated sparrow which started Salim Ali on his ornithological quest. It is comprised of articles on ornithology by Salam Ali's friends, colleagues, and students. ... Read more

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This volume reviews our current understanding of avian population dynamics and explores ways in which population studies can contribute to effective conservation and management. Estimation of demographic parameters, the role of mathematical modelling, and the special problems of island populations and seabird populations are discussed. The emphasis throughout is on how bird populations are regulated under various constraints and conditions, including the impact of environmental changes.This book will be useful and interesting to ornithologists, ecologists, wildlife managers, and population biologists. ... Read more

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In a small nest in a large oak tree, the drama begins. A young American Robin breaks open his shell and emerges into a world that will provide the warmth of sunny days and the life-threatening chill of cold, rainy nights; the satisfaction of a full stomach and the danger of sudden predator attacks; and the chance to mature into an adult robin who'll begin the cycle of life all over again come next spring. In The Seasons of the Robin, Don Grussing tells the uncommon life story of one of the most common birds, the North American Robin. Written as fiction to capture the high drama that goes on unnoticed right outside our windows, the book follows a young male robin through the first year of life. From his perspective, we experience many common episodes of a bird's life--struggling to get out of the egg; awkwardly attempting to master flight; learning to avoid predators; migrating for the first time; returning home; establishing a territory; finding a mate; and beginning the cycle again. This creative approach of presenting natural history through a fictional, yet factually based, story allows us to experience the spine-tingling, nerve-wracking, adrenaline-flowing excitement that is so much a part of the life of every wild thing. As Don Grussing concludes in his preface, "Once you experience the world through a robin's eyes, I hope you'll look at every wild thing with new appreciation and respect for what they accomplish by living." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Interesting and Wondrouos
I downloaded this book onto my Kindle so I had something to read on a cross-country flight I was taking.Little did I know I would end up absolutely enthralled."The Seasons of the Robin" by Don Grussing, although written in prose, translates mentally into poetry.The language used to convey the life of "Young Robin" is simple but incredibly effective in conveying the way a robin might think and feel.As someone who has loved birds from the moment of my first parakeet at age 5 to a later-in-life newly developed passion for birding, this book gave me a profound appreciation for the "being" of a bird.Although based in science, this is life as experienced by the bird.I don't know how Grussing did it, but he cracks open our own shell of analysis and objectivity to enable us to feel at one with this wondrous creature.While robins are pretty common birds around here, I will never look at one in the same way again.Each robin I see now is a precious being, a particular individual, and I am in awe of the challenges these beautiful birds will have to face to make it through the seasons to return and start the cycle of life anew. I would like to thank the author for writing a book of such beauty that it transformed my way of looking at the world.I would strongly recommend this book not only for adults but also younger readers (middle school and above) as a way to help them appreciate the beauty of nature and the animals around them.

The 'robin's eye' perspective is outstanding, here
The Seasons of the Robin appeared last Fall, but deserves ongoing recommendation as an outstanding ornithology book perfect for any college-level library strong in the subject. It begins with a young American robin breaking his shell and emerging into a world and reads like the classic 'One Day at Teton Marsh' in following the robin's life cycle. The 'robin's eye' perspective is outstanding, here.

Intimate Insights on a Wonderful Bird
While not the most literary of reads, I ended up wildly enthusiastic about this novel thanks to the profound appreciation it awakened in me as to what it really takes for a bird to survive. I haven't looked at robins (or any bird) the same way since. If you love watching birds in action and contemplating their lives, this closely observed story of a year in one robin's life will bring considerable pleasure and insight.

This book will change how you look at birds forever...
The Seasons of the Robin is a wonderful, insightful account of the first year in a young birds' life. Written from the Robin's point of view, the reader experiences all the joys and dangers the bird faces from the moment he hatches, through the fledgling stage, the perils of migration and surviving the winter and returning to the breeding grounds as a first year adult seeking a mate and territory of his own.The author avoids anthropomorphism, revealing the sharp intelligence, quick learning and adaptability of the Robin very well.
Anyone who has ever wanted to more deeply understand the lives of familiar birds will find this book incredibly enjoyable and enlightening.As a birdwatcher and nature lover I now have a whole new depth of understanding of the animals I observe. I know a lot about birds, but after reading this book, I feel that I truly understand how it is to be one. But even if you are not a back yard birdwatcher or have never given much thought to the birds in your back yard and city parks, you will still enjoy this book and common birds will never be over looked again! My respect and admiration for all living things is taken to a new level after reading this book, which I enjoyed so much that after finishing it I immediately started over and read the whole book again. Beautifully written, this is a classic, which I will cherish and enjoy over and over for many years to come.
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The book has no illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher's website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Publisher: London, Macmillan; Publication date: 1890; Subjects: Birds; Nature / Birds ... Read more

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This book an EXACT reproduction of the original book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more