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Nature and Science April 2017
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| The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan EganClustered along the border between the United States and Canada, the Great Lakes are an "interconnected watery expanse that sprawls across 94,000 square miles." In this thought-provoking book, journalist Dan Egan recounts the 14,000-year history of the world's largest freshwater system from its Ice Age origins to its modern-day role as both a shipping corridor and threatened ecosystem. He also explores what lies beneath the surface (an estimated 6,000 shipwrecks as well as a number of invasive species, the result of 19th-century efforts to connect these bodies of water to the Atlantic Ocean) and reflects on the precarious future of this unique natural resource. |
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A big bang in a little room : the quest to create new universes
by Zeeya Merali
An award-winning science writer provides a guided tour through the history of cosmology and uncovers why modern physicists believe that they will soon have the ability to create a brand new baby universe with its own physical laws, star systems and lifeforms.
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Coyote America : a natural and supernatural history
by Dan L. Flores
Examines the natural and urban factors that have caused the spread of coyote wildlife through the eastern regions of America, tracing the species' longtime negative connotations in spite of their capacity for living harmoniously with humans. 20,000 first printing.
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| The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman"Birdbrain" should be a compliment, because our feathered friends (or foes: hello, pigeons!) are very intelligent. (If nothing else, they've had 100 million years to get smart.) Addressing our imperfect understanding of intelligence as well as longstanding misconceptions about bird cognition, author Jennifer Ackerman assesses what we now know about avian intelligence by drawing on copious research, as well as personal observations drawn from a lifetime of birdwatching. For more on animal cognition in general, check out Frans de Waal's Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are? |
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The Most Perfect Thing: Inside (and Outside) a Bird's Egg
by Tim Birkhead
On the outside, a bird's egg is "irresistible." Inside, it's "perfect." Working inwards from the shell through the albumen to the yolk, ornithologist Tim Birkhead examines the physical structure and evolutionary development of the egg through the three-part process of fertilization, laying, and hatching. In the process, he recounts episodes from a 40-year career studying birds and reflects on the enduring appeal of birds' eggs to collectors. If you're inspired by this ode to the ovum, you may also like Roger J. Lederer's Beaks, Bones, and Birdsong: How the Struggle for Survival has Shaped Birds and their Behavior.
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| H is for Hawk by Helen MacdonaldStruggling with depression in the wake of her beloved father's unexpected death, author and academic Helen Macdonald decided to acquire and train a goshawk, a challenge even for an experienced falconer like herself. As she rears Mabel, her goshawk chick, she reflects on the history of the sport and reconsiders a favorite book from her childhood: The Goshawk by T.H. White. Replete with sensory details of falconry and soaring descriptions of the countryside near her home in Cambridge, England, H is for Hawk is both a moving account of grief and a fascinating glimpse into an unseen world. For another lyrical memoir by a falconer, try Richard Hines' No Way But Gentlenesse. |
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Feathers : displays of brilliant plumage
by Robert Clark
An award-winning National Geographic photographer sets his sights on the vast beauty and myriad functions of the bird feather, in a beautiful book that pairs each image with informative text about the utility and evolution of the feather it depicts.
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| The Thing with Feathers: The Surprising Lives of Birds and What They Reveal About... by Noah StryckerWhat do penguins fear? How do pigeons find their way home? Why do bowerbirds build such elaborate nests? Noah Strycker, an associate editor for Birding magazine, explores these and other questions. Divided into three sections, "Body," "Mind," and "Spirit," this book considers behaviors specific to birds, such as homing instincts and the pecking order, as well as those once attributed solely to humans, such as self-awareness, the creation of art, and romantic love. For more insight into bird behavior, try Tim Birkhead's Bird Sense: What It's Like to Be a Bird. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Harrison Memorial Library Ocean and Lincoln Carmel, California 93921 831-624-4629www.hm-lib.org/ |
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