A History of Birdwatching in 100 Objects

Callahan, David

ISBN 10: 1408186187 / ISBN 13: 9781408186183

Published by Helm, 2014

Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp. Seller Inventory # J09O-00151

Synopsis:

This book looks at 100 items that have profoundly shaped how people watched, studied and engaged with the avian world. Each item contains around 500 words on a double-page spread and include an illustration of the object in question. The book includes the objects listed below as well as many more.The range of items is international and cross-cultural. Subjects include:

An Egyptian 'field guide' [early tomb decorations of birds, identifiable as species]
Ornithologiae libri tres: the first British bird guide [a 1676 publication that attempted to itemise all British birds known at the time]
The Dodo specimen held at the Horniman museum
Systema Naturae by Carl Linnaeus [the first-ever system of scientific names in 1758, and still the international standard today]
The shotgun
The book, The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne by Gilbert White [1789]
HMS Beagle [the ship on which Darwin made his ground-breaking discoveries]
Aluminium bird rings [used to record movement and longevity of individuals and species]
along with many more modern innovations including walkie talkies, pagers, radio tags and apps.

About the Author: David Callahan is a nature writer and lifelong birder, with a particular interest in the many great sites in southern England. He has travelled the world in search of birds, and also trained as a taxonomist at the Natural History Museum and the Zoological Society of London. He was staff writer at Birdwatch magazine for more than 10 years.

Bibliographic Details

Title: A History of Birdwatching in 100 Objects
Publisher: Helm
Publication Date: 2014
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good