Tim Birkhead Books

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fly Or to live high in the tree tops Or perhaps you've wondered what birds do when no one is looking Birds have some of the most extraordinary - and peculiar - behaviours on the planet. Ravens love PLAYING games. In winter, they sledge down snow-covered rooftops on their bellies, getting faster and faster. Partridges are SNEAKY and know just how to trick hungry foxes. And honeyguides are HELPFUL. They help humans to find the sweetest treat in the forest - honey. These are just some of the incredible stories you'll read in this book. With fascinating factual detail and playful storytelling from ornithologist Tim Birkhead and vibrant, personality-filled illustrations from Cat Rayner, this book captures what it's really like to be a bird.

How are eggs of different shapes made, and why are they shaped as they are? When does an egg's shell harden? Why do some eggs contain two yolks? What creates the colors and patterns of an eggshell, and why do they vary? Which end of an egg is laid first—the blunt or the pointy end? These questions are explored as the journey of a bird's egg from creation and fertilization to hatching is examined, with scientific knowledge set against a historical backdrop. The exploration begins with the stunning, uniquely patterned eggs of the guillemot, leading into the eggs of hens, cuckoos, and other birds, revealing fascinating facts about these natural wonders. Interwoven with these insights are extraordinary stories of individuals captivated by the study and collection of eggs since Ancient Egypt, often not to the benefit of conservation efforts. Grounded in science and enriched by a lifetime of bird observation, this work offers an engaging exploration of the science behind eggs and the history of humanity's obsession with them.

A hugely engaging book about birds, their senses, and behaviour that is informed by an attractive blend of personal experience, entertaining stories, and cutting-edge science. From the author of "The Wisdom of Birds."

"Since the dawn of human history, birds have stirred our imagination, inspiring and challenging our ideas about science, faith, art and philosophy. Looking to the skies above, we have variously worshipped them as gods, hunted them for sustenance, adorned ourselves in their feathers, studied their wings to engineer flight and, more recently, attempted to protect them. In Birds and Us, award-winning writer and ornithologist Tim Birkhead takes us on an epic and dazzling journey through this mutual history with birds, from the ibises mummified and deified by Ancient Egyptians to Renaissance experiments on woodpecker anatomy, from Victorian obsessions with egg collecting to the present fight to save endangered species and restore their habitats. Weaving in stories from his own life as a scientist, including far-flung expeditions to wondrous Neolithic caves in Spain and the bustling guillemot colonies of the Faroe Islands, this rich and fascinating book is the culmination of a lifetime's research and unforgettably shows how birds shaped us, and how we have shaped them"--Publisher's description.

Birkhead reveals a world in which males and females vie with each other as they strive to maximize their reproductive success. Color illustrations.

Focusing on the ecological tragedy of the Great Auk, the book explores the devastating impact of human exploitation on this once-thriving seabird species. It details the Auk's idyllic life at sea and its vulnerability to human predation, particularly after European discovery in the 16th century, leading to its extinction by 1844. The narrative also delves into the obsession with collecting its remains, highlighting a poignant journey through history and conservation. Renowned ornithologist Tim Birkhead's involvement adds depth to the exploration of the Auk's legacy.

Losfliegen und die Welt von oben sehen – ein einzigartiger Ausflug in die Vogelwelt. Das perfekte Geschenk für alle, die Vögel und die Natur lieben. Ausgezeichnet als „Naturbuch des Monats“ von der Deutschen Akademie für Kinder- und Jugendliteratur Die Welt der Vögel steckt voll ungeahnter Talente! Wie ist es wohl, ein Vogel zu sein? Sich einfach in die Lüfte zu schwingen, die Welt von oben zu sehen … Doch das ist längst nicht alles: Vögel legen einige außergewöhnliche und faszinierende Verhaltensweisen an den Tag! Dieses Buch nimmt mit auf eine Reise rund um den Globus, zu gefiederten Meistertänzern, lauten Plappermäulern und begnadeten Schauspielern. Man erfährt, wie die Rothuhnmutter hungrige Füchse austrickst und die Schnepfe tagelang ohne Pause fliegen kann, dass der Honiganzeiger mit Menschen zusammenarbeitet, um an seine süße Leibspeise zu kommen, und vieles mehr. Perfekt für alle, die Vögel und die Natur lieben; wunderschön illustriert von Catherine Rayner.

Ptáci se někdy chovají nezvykleji a prapodivněji než kterékoli jiné zvíře na Zemi. Zvláště když si myslí, že je nikdo nevidí. Albatros může létat týdny bez jediné přestávky. Orebice dokážou obelstít hladové lišky. Papoušci jsou pěkně upovídaní. A krkavci si ohromně rádi hrají. Prostřednictvím vyprávění plného zajímavostí od oceňovaného ornitologa Tima Birkheada a krásných ilustrací Catherine Raynerové se s vámi tato knížka podělí o tajemství dvaceti našich opeřených přátel.Pojďme zjistit, jaké to doopravdy je být ptákem.

Rozmýšľali ste niekedy o tom, aké je to lietať? Alebo vidieť po tme? Alebo ste si predstavovali, aké by to bolo žiť vysoko v korunách stromov... Vtáky sa niekedy správajú zvláštne a nezvyčajne, viac než ktorékoľvek iné zviera na Zemi. Najmä keď si myslia, že ich nikto nevidí. Albatros môže lietať celé týždne bez prestávky. Kuropty dokážu prekabátiť hladné líšky. Papagáje sú pekne utárané. Krkavce sa veľmi radi hrajú. Prostredníctvom pútavého rozprávania nabitého faktami od oceňovaného ornitológa Tima Birkheada a krásnych ilustrácií od Catherine Raynerovej sa s vami táto knižka podelí o tajomstvá dvadsiatich našich operených priateľov. Poďme zistiť, aké je to byť vtákom.