The Birds of Israel (Hardcover, illustrated edition)

These are just some of the accolades that Hadoram Shirihai's monumental new work, The Birds of Israel, has received on its long-awaited launch. "An all-embracing avifauna guide to one of the most ornithologically exciting countries in the world", writes David Tomlinson in New Scientist. "It is not simply the comprehensive text that makes this an outstanding work, but also the lavish quality of the whole 876-page production." Gordon Hamlett in Birdwatching is equally unrestrained with his praise. "This is a stunning achievement", he exclaims. Describing the book as a "mighty volume from the pen of one of Israel's best-known birdwatchers", he goes on to say: "If you have visited or intend to visit the region, are interested in migration studies or birds of the Western Palearctic in general, then I urge you to save up and buy a copy. Some ten years in the making, Birds of Israel is well deserving of the plaudits. Packed with more information than any previous country avifauna, this major, comprehensive volume is illustrated with over 200 line drawings by Alan Harris and and extraordinary collection of over 500 colour photographs. It is one of the most ambitious scientific projects Hadoram Shirihai has set himself to date. Describing in full the country--its habitats and birdlife--the book also provides detailed texts on individual species, together with maps and bar-charts showing regional and seasonal patterns of occurrence. For studious ornithologists and visiting birdwatchers alike this is an essential and definitive guide. Hadoram Shirihai's reputation as a leading ornithologist is well established, and his enthusiasm for the subject is evident on every page. But just don't take our word for it. Listen to what the critics have to say. As Birdwatch points out: "A bird book can be useful, a work of reference, attractive to look at, or simply a good read. Very few manage to be all of these. The Birds of Israel is just such a work and gives new meaning to that famous phrase, 'the Hadoram experience'." Situated in one of the major Palearctic-African migration routes, Israel is an area of tremendous interest to ornithologists. Israel in general and Eilat in particular hosts the mixing of European and African Avifaunas and is an important place for concentrations of migrating birds. This book is the most complete, up-to-date reference on bird distribution in, and migration through, Israel complied by a foremost authority. The book especially distinguishes those subspecies found in Israel and includes numerous maps and diagrams detailing seasonal occurrence. The inclusion of over 200 photographs ensures that this book will become the most significant work on the birds of this fascinating region. Features: * The most detailed, up-to-date account of the distribution and migration of birds in Israel ever published * More than 500 species described * Written by the foremost authority on the subject * Maps for all the major species * More than 400 colour photographs