Avian Ecology and Conservation in an Urbanizing World [Hardcover]

John M. Marzluff (Editor), Reed Bowman (Editor), Roarke Donnelly (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0792374584 | ISBN-13: 978-0792374589 | Edition: 1st

One of the most striking and persistent ways humans dominate Earth is by changing land-cover as we settle a region. Much of our ecological understanding about this process comes from studies of birds, yet the existing literature is scattered, mostly decades old, and rarely synthesized or standardized. The twenty-seven contributions authored by leaders in the fields of avian and urban ecology present a unique summary of current research on birds in settled environments ranging from wildlands to exurban, rural to urban. Ecologists, land managers, wildlife managers, evolutionary ecologists, urban planners, landscape architects, and conservation biologists will find our information useful because we address the conservation and evolutionary implications of urban life from an ecological and planning perspective. Graduate students in these fields also will find the volume to be a useful summary and synthesis of current research, extant literature, and prescriptions for future work. All interested in human-driven land-cover changes will benefit from a perusal of this book because we present high altitude photographs of each study area.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`Avian Ecology in an Urbanizing World is a useful compilation of research on birds in human-dominated landscapes, and belongs ... in the library of any institution intereested in stydying or managing urban systems. It also highlights how much more we need to learn in order to address the impacts on birds of the suite of human activities that comprise urbanization. It is therefore a good point of departure for students embarking on new research in urban areas.' Ecology, 83:9 (2002)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 608 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1st edition (August 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792374584
• ISBN-13: 978-0792374589
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,849,710 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rallying call for more than binoculars., April 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Avian Ecology and Conservation in an Urbanizing World (Hardcover)

I am a masters student studying birds in the urban environment, so this book was just the tool I needed to help me get interested and educated on urban ecology and birds. The authors are leaders in urban ecology, or up and coming. They all write magnificent chapters that outline the need for study, the pertinent questions we should be asking, and even case studies. The bibliographies alone are a wonderful source.

While this book seems designed mostly for researchers, bird clubs and birders would do well to have a copy of this text on their bookshelves. It will provide fascinating insights and ideas for understanding birds in the urban ecosystem and its adjacent areas.

80% of the US population lives in urban or suburban areas. Finding ways to understand the birds closest to people will be a necessary challenge in the coming years if we are to successfuly manage our landscapes for wildlife and get the popular support to do it. This book is the first tome on how to do it.

Very pricey, but worth it if you're a club or wildlife department.