Birdpedia: A Brief Compendium of Avian Lore (Pedia Books, 4)

**A captivating A-Z treasury about birds and birding**__Birdpedia__ is an engaging illustrated compendium of bird facts and birding lore. Featuring nearly 200 entries--on topics ranging from plumage and migration to birds in art, literature, and folklore--this enticing collection is brimming with wisdom and wit about all things avian. Christopher Leahy sheds light on hawk-watching, twitching, and other rituals from the sometimes mystifying world of birding that entail a good deal more than their names imply. He explains what kind of bird's nests you can eat, why mocking birds mock, and many other curiosities that have induced otherwise sane people to peer into treetops using outrageously expensive optical equipment. Leahy shares illuminating insights about pioneering ornithologists such as John James Audubon and Florence Bailey, and describes unique bird behaviors such as anting, caching, duetting, and mobbing. He discusses avian fossils, the colloquial naming of birds, the science and history of ornithology, and more. The book's convenient size makes it the perfect traveling companion to take along on your own avian adventures. With charming illustrations by Abby McBride, __Birdpedia__ is a marvelous mix of fact and fancy that is certain to delight seasoned birders and armchair naturalists alike.Features a real cloth cover with an elaborate foil-stamped design A captivating A-Z treasury about birds and birding Birdpedia is an engaging illustrated compendium of bird facts and birding lore. Featuring nearly 200 entries--on topics ranging from plumage and migration to birds in art, literature, and folklore--this enticing collection is brimming with wisdom and wit about all things avian. Christopher Leahy sheds light on hawk-watching, twitching, and other rituals from the sometimes mystifying world of birding that entail a good deal more than their names imply. He explains what kind of bird's nests you can eat, why mocking birds mock, and many other curiosities that have induced otherwise sane people to peer into treetops using outrageously expensive optical equipment. Leahy shares illuminating insights about pioneering ornithologists such as John James Audubon and Florence Bailey, and describes unique bird behaviors such as anting, caching, duetting, and mobbing. He discusses avian fossils, the colloquial naming of birds, the science and history of ornithology, and more. The book's convenient size makes it the perfect traveling companion to take along on your own avian adventures. With charming illustrations by Abby McBride, Birdpedia is a marvelous mix of fact and fancy that is certain to delight seasoned birders and armchair naturalists alike. Features a real cloth cover with an elaborate foil-stamped design "This book is an engaging and interesting compendium of bird facts. Presented in a format similar to that of Lawrence Millman's Fungipedia, the book contains alphabetized entries on all things birds- from basic biology, through taxonomy, to folklore and potted biographies of key figures in the development of ornithology. Entries are written with a general audience in mind, but are charming enough to attract expert birders as well. The book has roughly 180 entries, on topics such as "anting," where birds visit ant nests to allow ants to crawl over their plumage, a method of killing feather mites, to entries on famous ornithologists such as Alexander Wilson and John James Audubon. The entries will be accompanied by approximately 50 black and white line drawings by Abby, McBride"-- Provided by publisher