Birds of the Strait of Gibraltar
1st Edition
Published on 30. September 2010
560 pages
978-1-4081-3696-6 (ISBN)
Description
Clive Finlayson, a native of the Rock and a trained ornithologist, presents a fascinating account of this region and its resident and transitory bird life.
The Strait of Gibraltar is famous as a major point of passage for Palaearctic birds migrating between their European breeding grounds and their winter quarters in Africa. The first chapter of the book describes the area, which broadly defined includes the Coto Donana in the north and the Merja Zerga in the south, and the geographic and climatological characteristics which make it a suitable crossing place.
In scope this book goes beyond the strict definition of the Strait and, following Irby's 19th Century work, examines the rich area where Europe meets Africa. The chapters which follow describe in detail the migration patterns of the principal passage species including their origins, destinations and overall numbers, showing how the precise conditions of weather and visibility affect the specific choice of route and timing of the crossing.
The breeding and wintering bird communities are then considered and the ornithology of the entire region summarized. Whether or not you have ever witnessed the thousands of raptors, storks and other birds that may make this legendary crossing in a single day, this book will conjure the spirit of this extraordinary place.
Delightful illustrations by lan Willis complete an important and entertaining book.
The Strait of Gibraltar is famous as a major point of passage for Palaearctic birds migrating between their European breeding grounds and their winter quarters in Africa. The first chapter of the book describes the area, which broadly defined includes the Coto Donana in the north and the Merja Zerga in the south, and the geographic and climatological characteristics which make it a suitable crossing place.
In scope this book goes beyond the strict definition of the Strait and, following Irby's 19th Century work, examines the rich area where Europe meets Africa. The chapters which follow describe in detail the migration patterns of the principal passage species including their origins, destinations and overall numbers, showing how the precise conditions of weather and visibility affect the specific choice of route and timing of the crossing.
The breeding and wintering bird communities are then considered and the ornithology of the entire region summarized. Whether or not you have ever witnessed the thousands of raptors, storks and other birds that may make this legendary crossing in a single day, this book will conjure the spirit of this extraordinary place.
Delightful illustrations by lan Willis complete an important and entertaining book.
More details
Series
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-1-4081-3696-6 (9781408136966)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Clive Finlayson
Birds of the Strait of Gibraltar
Book
09/2010
T & AD Poyser
€94.40
Shipment within 10-20 days
Person
Prof. Clive Finlayson is Director of the Gibraltar Museum. He is an evolutionary ecologist with a DPhil from Oxford. He is a leading exponent of the relationship between climate change and species distributions, and is the author of several books including Neanderthals and Modern Humans (CUP), and Birds of the Straits of Gibraltar (Poyser).
Content
List of Photographs
List of Figures
List of Tables
Preface
1. Introduction
2. Migration of soaring birds
3. Migration of other land birds
4. Migration and wintering of waterbirds
5. Migration of seabirds
6. Terrestrial bird communities
7. Wetlands
8. The birds of the Strait - seasonality, distribution and biological importance
Appendix 1: Systematic list of the birds in the Strait of Gibraltar
Appendix 2: Dominant Plant Species in some habitats of the Strait of Gibraltar
Appendix 3: Mean densities of breeding birds in sites described in Chapter 6
Appendix 4: Methods used in some of the studies described in the text
Appendix 5: Abbreviations used in Chapters 6 and 7
References
Index
List of Figures
List of Tables
Preface
1. Introduction
2. Migration of soaring birds
3. Migration of other land birds
4. Migration and wintering of waterbirds
5. Migration of seabirds
6. Terrestrial bird communities
7. Wetlands
8. The birds of the Strait - seasonality, distribution and biological importance
Appendix 1: Systematic list of the birds in the Strait of Gibraltar
Appendix 2: Dominant Plant Species in some habitats of the Strait of Gibraltar
Appendix 3: Mean densities of breeding birds in sites described in Chapter 6
Appendix 4: Methods used in some of the studies described in the text
Appendix 5: Abbreviations used in Chapters 6 and 7
References
Index
