Bird Life of Mountain and Upland

This book describes the bird life of the various upland regions of the British Isles from a ecological standpoint.

D. A. Ratcliffe (Author)

9780521142595, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 10 June 2010

272 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.49 kg

Review of the hardback: ' a really first class book … This is excellent value for money and will undoubtedly remain the standard work on the ecology of Britain's upland birds for many years to come, and as such is an absolute must for everyone interested in avian ecology.' Country-Side

This book describes the bird life of the various upland regions of the British Isles and presents the various species from an ecological standpoint. The book relates the bird distribution and abundance to the various environmental influences of climate, topography, geology, soil type and human land use. The book initially sets the scene by describing and examining the changes and bird fauna following the major climatic shift since the end of the Ice Age. The uplands are grouped into several main types - sheep-walks, grouse moors, deer forests, flows (peat bogs), maritime hills and high tops and the distinctive bird assemblages are described together with details of the natural history of the more important species. The book will appeal to the informed layman and to the keen bird-watcher who wants to learn more about the life of upland birds and the ways in which they are adapted to their environments.

Preface
Introduction
1. The birds and their habitat
2. The sheep-walks
3. The grouse moors
4. The deer forests
5. The flows
6. The maritime hills
7. The high tops
8. Geographical aspects of the upland bird fauna
9. Conservation of upland birds
Appendix
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Wildlife: birds & birdwatching [WNCB], Birds [ornithology PSVW6]