The Ring Ouzel
A View from the North York Moors
Ken Hutchinson author Vic Fairbrother author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Whittles Publishing
Published:20th Aug '20
Should be back in stock very soon
Using vivid extracts from field notebooks and profusely illustrated with photographs as well as paintings and sketches by wildlife artist Jonathan Pomroy, the reader is transported to the beautiful North York Moors National Park. We can share in the excitement as the first Ring Ouzels of the year return from their winter quarters in North Africa, witness their courtship displays, the establishment of territories and the female ouzel painstakingly building her nest and laying eggs. This is followed by the monitoring of the hatching and fledging of chicks and the levels of predation - noted in order better to understand the productivity and sustainability of this vulnerable and isolated population. To hear the song of the Ring Ouzel carrying for a surprising distance across the high moorland in the early morning is one of the many delights of upland Britain. The authors have recorded and analysed both simple and complex songs in their study area and, following comparison with recordings from Scotland, Derbyshire and the Yorkshire Dales, have confirmed the suspected presence of local dialects. Crucially this book is much more than a remarkable record of twenty years' fieldwork as it builds on earlier research elsewhere and relates local findings to the results of other current studies in England, Wales and Scotland. The contraction in distribution and number of Ring Ouzels breeding in Britain, the work of the Ring Ouzel Study Group, the introduction of conservation measures and the potential impact of climate change are all described. Attention is drawn to the first indications of Ring Ouzel decline in Switzerland. As a migrant, the Ring Ouzel faces additional pressures and problems on passage and conditions in their wintering areas in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco are described. The importance of Britain as a stop-over and refuelling area for Fennoscandian birds on passage in Spring and Autumn is stressed. There is still much to learn and the early attempts to track Ring Ouzels on migration from Scotland to North Africa and back are described. This milestone publication brings the Ring Ouzel into sharp focus for the first time.
...covers every aspect of the life of a ring ouzel in fine detail... is extremely well illustrated with photos and sketches of the bird itself, nests and nest sites, plus helpful graphs and diagrams. The Ring Ouzel is a high-quality ornithologist's book, as well as being a fascinating book for a reader with a generalist interest in birds. Alan Stewart, Wildlife Detective blog-------------------...a fascinating read... is not only a great read but plays an important role in keeping records of the bird and the potential impact climate change can have on them.... A brilliant book for not only bird watchers, but for wildlife and nature lovers too. Rebecca Hay, UK Travel and Features Writer -------'...this is a beautifully illustrated book ... and peppered with superb watercolours. ... The well written prose is often full of observation so succinctly and poetically put across... Any birder will enjoy this book, and anyone with a serious interest in Ring Ouzels will need to refer to it often'. FatBirder -------'...It is superbly produced and illustrated, and is a great showcase for Ken and Vic’s dedicated fieldwork... a real benchmark publication and key reference... The watercolours are a masterstroke and really round the book off beautifully. ... I cannot recommend the book highly enough... Chris Rollie, RSPB Ring Ouzel Plan Manager --------- ‘…is a thorough compendium of two decades worth of careful field study… it is also a love letter to the landscapes and wildlife of Yorkshire… this is a beautifully presented book, a treasure trove of knowledge and a great examination of Ring Ouzel ecology…will be a useful touchstone for the future monitoring and conservation of one of our most vulnerable thrushes’. BTO News ---------'This new and comprehensive study provides a rare and fascinating insight into the lives of one of our most vulnerable upland birds... The book is beautifully complemented by the paintings and sketches of wildlife artist Jonathan Pomroy’. The Dalesman ---------- ‘…is the first monograph on this species since Ian Appleyard’s book… in 1994… A vast amount of information is set out… Many colour photos add to the book’s appeal, and it is a great addition to the bookcase’. Bird Watching Magazine ---------'This book, based on a 20-year local study by two amateur ornithologists, really packs a punch. With masses of original information and observations, it impressed the judges by its professional presentation and readability... This informative and attractive book sets the benchmark for future species studies of this nature. ...this account of the 'moorland Blackbird' in one part of its British breeding range is a really good read... and a great credit to the two authors'. British Birds --------- 'These two took this dedication to citizen science even farther. Their book details a lot of natural history, including some never-before-recorded courtship behaviours. But even more important, this information can help conservationists understand the birds' decline... conveys the joys of observation, of hiking and hiding in wild places, of making discovery'. Cool Green Science
ISBN: 9781849954587
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
288 pages