This book, which has received a starred review from ALA Booklist, pulls together recent research on bird species and habitats to show how basic ecological principles apply in seemingly different situations. The decline of bird species in a wide range of North American habitats - forests, prairies, shrublands, mountain regions, marshes, and deserts - has inspired two decades of intense scientific study of bird ecology and conservation. Askins provides an engaging introduction to bird ecology and concepts of landscape ecology, focusing on such intriguing species as Bachman's Warbler, Red Crossbill, Mountain Plover, and Marbled Murrelet.
Robert A. Askins is professor of zoology and director of the Goodwin-Niering Center for Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies at Connecticut College.
This book is first-rate, very broad in scope and appeal, readable, and truly integrative in its coverage of landscape ecology and its implications for avian conservation biology... It will be of significant interest to researchers and students of conservation biology, ornithology and ecology; land managers; conservation agencies; and anyone with an interest in protecting the rich avian diversity of North America. Trevor E. Pitcher, American Scientist "This wonderful book is especially relevant for conservation biologists from all walks of life." Kathryn E. Sieving, Auk "An enjoyable read for anyone, from the amateur birder to the professional scientist." J. Michael Reed, Ecology