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One of Britain's rarest breeding birds, the Golden Oriole is also one of its most charismatic. Females are a vivid green, while the males of this species are a stunning yellow and black, with an extraordinary and unforgettable song. A long-distance migrant, the orioles return to breed in early May at just a few sites, almost all of which are in Suffolk.
Jake Allsop and Paul Mason's "The Golden Oriole" looks in detail at the biology of this spectacular species, with sections on breeding biology, feeding ecology, evolution, population dynamics, mimicry, migration and conservation, as well as a discussion of the biology of other species in the genus. A colour section showcases this photogenic species to full effect, complemented by high-quality black-and-white illustrations throughout.
The fascinating history of the bird's distribution is also covered extensively, stemming from the authors' first-hand experience of the battle to help the species retain a toehold in Britain. The Golden Oriole is a much-admired bird, sought by serious and casual birders alike for the beauty of its plumage and song, as well as for its rarity. By bringing the biology of this elusive species to light, this book will prove a popular addition to the Poyser list.
Acknowledgements Introduction 1. The Golden Oriole and the genus Oriolus 2. The story of Lakenheath and The Golden Oriole Group 3. Habitat in Britain, Europe and North Africa 4. Habitat in other parts of the breeding range 5. The special case of Kazakhstan 6. Climate and weather 7. Courtship and nest-building 8. Egg-laying and incubation 9. Nestlings and fledglings 10. Diet 11. Interspecific relationships 12. Song and calls 13. Population: past, present and future 14. Migration 15. Wintering 16. Orioles in captivity Appendices 1 Systematic list of Oriolidae 2 List of species mentioned in the text 3 Invertebrate prey 4 Site occupancy 1987-2005 5 'Oriole' in other languages and places 6 Analysis of a recording of an oriole song 7 Details of the 1987 survey 8 Historical records of Golden Oriole in Britain Bibliography Index
Jake Allsop and Paul Mason are the Secretary and Chairman respectivelyof the Golden Oriole Group. Working closely with the RSPB, the GOG hasmonitored and helped to protect the UK population of orioles in theirfenland stronghold for more than twenty years.Allsop and Mason were atthe forefront of the ultimately successful battle tosave the orioles' last breeding area, Lakenheath in Suffolk, fromdeforestation.
'this monograph is an absolute must...the authors helped set up the Golden Oriole Group, so there's all the expetise you could want...it's a price well worth paying' Bird Watching (October 2009) 'This monograph fills a gap in the literature at a point when the species' future as a British breeding bird hangs in the balance.' Birding World (2009) 'The enthusiasm of the authors, their detailed knowledge and precise documentation of their work, and chapters such as 'Population: past,present and future'...give the book its special character and everyone interested in orioles should have it on their bookshelf.' Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Union (2010)
