Madagascar is a land where lizards scream and monkey-like lemurs sing songs of inexpressible beauty. KKnown as the Great Red Island, it is a place where fossa and tenrecs, vangas and aye ayes thrive in a true 'Lost World' alongside bizarre plants like the octopus tree and the three-cornered palm. And where the ancestors of the Malagasy, as the island's 18 tribes are collectively known, come alive in rollicking ceremonies known as "turning the bones."This natural and cultural histor...

Why Flight Test? Since the Wright Brothers first flew at Kitty Hawk, aerodynamicists, engineers, and mathematicians have conquered the equations of flight. So, we should be able to know everything from wind tunnels, simulation, and computation, right? No. The dynamics of flight require in air test. It is impossible to replicate all the flight conditions on the ground. Or there may be specific flight conditions on the ground. Or there may be specific flight regimes that are poorly defined o...

WINNER OF THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE 2018WINNER OF THE JEFFERIES AWARD FOR NATURE WRITING 2017The full story of seabirds from one of the greatest nature writers. The book looks at the pattern of their lives, their habitats, the threats they face and the passions they inspire – beautifully illustrated by Kate Boxer.Seabirds are master navigators, thriving in the most demanding environment on earth. In this masterly book, drawing on all the...

WINNER OF THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN NONFICTIONWINNER OF THE NIB LITERARY AWARDFINALIST FOR THE KIRKUS PRIZE FOR NONFICTIONHIGHLY COMMENDED IN THE WAINWRIGHT PRIZE FOR WRITING ON GLOBAL CONSERVATIONA SUNDAY INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR‘There is a kind of hauntedness in wild animals today: a spectre related to environmental change … ...

Why have island ecosystems always suffered such high rates of extinction? In our age, with all the world's landscapes, from Tasmania to the Amazon to Yellowstone, now being carved into island-like fragments by human activity, the implications of this question are more urgent than ever. Over the past eight years, David Quammen has followed the threads of island biogeography on a globe-encircling journey of discovery.

**Chosen as a best book of the year by The IndependentComplete with an "annotated cast list" of all the known birds in the world—plus gorgeous illustrations—The Bird is a comprehensive and delightfully accessible guide for everyone from dedicated birders to casual birdwatchers that celebrates and illuminates the remarkable lives of birds.**In this fascinating exploration of the avian class, Colin Tudge considers the creatures of the air. From their evoluti...

Sasol First Field Guide to Common Birds of Southern Africa provides fascinating insight into the birdlife of the region. Through full-colour photographs and distribution maps, and easy-to-read text, the young adult and budding naturalist will be able to identify the more common bird species found in southern Africa, discover where they live, and learn about their unique feeding and nesting habits.

'A rare and magical book. I didn't want it to end.' Bill Bryson**'A total miracle.' Max Porter'A witty, intoxicating paean to Earth's wondrous creatures.' Observer'Rundell's pen is gold-tipped.' Sunday Times** SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR **The world is more astonishing, more miraculous and more wonderful than our wildest imaginings.

"Kemp's adventure-filled journey into the often-bizarre world of ambergris takes us from whale innards to remote islands. A compelling narrative." —Philip Hoare, author of The Whale"Preternaturally hardened whale dung" is not the first image that comes to mind when we think of perfume, otherwise a symbol of glamour and allure. But the key ingredient that makes the sophisticated scent linger on the skin is precisely this bizarre digestive by-product—ambergri...

Stephen Moss answers in detail over 450 questions, submitted by birdwatchers of all levels, and in doing so he conveys a veritable feast of bird-related information in a friendly and accessible style.This RSPB-endorsed book answers all those burning questions about birds that beginners and experts alike may ask themselves as they go about their birding. How do ducks keep their feet from freezing in winter? Why don't swallows stay in Africa? Are birds really dinosau...

Did you know that the courtship dance of some seahorses can last eight hours? Or how the sea serpent myth is thought to have started? This fantastic quick-read eBook features 101 amazing facts split into categories such as record breakers, sharks, unusual fish and many more. So if you want to know which fish the Romans used as a recreational drug, or in which states it is illegal to get a fish drunk, then this is the book for you! Find the information you want, fast.

All animals are equal - but some, as George Orwell said, are more equal than others, and birds, most people would surely agree, are in the very first rank. They can do almost everything that mammals can do - and more. By mastering flight, they have a way of living that encompasses the whole world. In The Secret Life of Birds, Colin Tudge explores the life of birds, all around the globe. From the secrets of migration to their complicated family lives, their differing habitats and s...