Keith Hansen Livres

"Identify and learn about over two hundred and fifty birds of the Sierra Nevada"-- Provided by publisher

An essential and richly illustrated guide celebrates California's coastal birds and the wonders of witnessing them. A birding paradise, Point Reyes National Seashore boasts a breathtaking coastline that attracts an array of winged beauties and their flightless fanciers year-round. Both a waystation for feathered vagrants and home to a wealth of native species, this coastal sanctuary is teeming with avian life, and in Birds of Point Reyes expert birder and ornithological illustrator Keith Hansen celebrates this airborne abundance. From the sparrows and cormorants to the hawks and ravens to the wild wanderers who sweep through in vast seasonal migrations, Hansen introduces readers to the wildlife that soar and swirl overhead though 25 awe-filled portraits of Point Reyes's birds. Both experienced birdwatchers and less-than-expert birders will delight in Hansen's reflections, brought vividly to life by richly realized full-color artworks that reward the reader's sustained attention and help to identify the many-splendored species of the region. With this guide Hansen invites readers to imagine the world's fastest hunt through the eyes of a cliff-dwelling peregrine, to appreciate the evolutionary complexity of the shorebird beaks prodding the sands of Drakes Bay, and to attune to the serenade of birdsong. Grab your binoculars and get ready to see these birds like never before.

We all recognize the California Quail, with its striking good looks and mellow call notes. Widely distributed along the whole Pacific Coast, it has long been of interest to bird-lovers, sportsmen, ranchers, and wildlife biologists. In early times it was an important food source, and stocks were rapidly depleted by market hunters. Today its populations are being restored through the efforts of both private land-owners and government agencies. This comprehensive report summarizes what is known about the history, biology, and management of the species. It recounts the impact of settlement on quail, it describes the quail's intriguing social life, covey relationships, nesting behavior, and habitat requirements. Males, for example, play an important role in chick-rearing; chemical compounds in food substantially influence the nesting success of females. A major part of this book tells how to provide proper over, food, and drinking water that are needed to increase quail populations, whether for hunting or for observation and enjoyment. The suggestions offered stem from decades of scientific research and practical management effort. Written by a renowned wildlife biologist who worked on the quail for many years, this volume will be the definitive work from both the natural history and game management points of view. It is copiously illustrated with photographs and drawings, and will be of use to anyone who wishes to understand and foster the state bird.