How fast can a falcon dive? : fascinating answers to questions about birds of prey /

This latest volume in Rutgers' "Animal Q&A" series targets birds of prey (raptors) in a now familiar format. The authors are certainly well qualified. Capainolo works in the American Museum of Natural History's ornithology department and is a member of the New York State Falconry Advisory Board, and Butler coauthored four previous works in the series (e.g., Do Bats Drink Blood?, CH, Feb'10, 47-3169; Do Butterflies Bite?, CH, Jan'09, 46-2660). The book begins with a definition of "raptor" and a few observations about evolutionary relationships, distribution, and classification. Successive sections examine anatomy and physiology, behavior, reproduction, and dangers these birds face in their environment. The authors pay considerable attention to falconry; they devote two complete chapters to the topic and make references to the subject throughout the text. Research and conservation are considered briefly. Black-and-white photos are scattered throughout the volume, and eight color plates (19 photos) are inserted in a central section. Mostly, the questions asked in the text are very basic; consequently, this work will appeal primarily to lay readers and raptor fanatics (there are many!). As a budding bird-watcher in high school, this reviewer would have devoured this book. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates, general audiences, and birders. P. K. Lago University of Mississippi

This follows the format of other titles, concerning bees, bats, butterflies, and hummingbirds, in Rutgers's engaging "Animal Q&A" series. Butler has cowritten several previous entries (e.g., Why Do Bees Buzz?), and Capainolo is in the ornithology department at the American Museum of Natural History. Together, they answer in detail 85 questions concerning behavior, reproduction, husbandry, taming and training, research and conservation, and interactions between people and raptors. Owls and vultures, not in every raptor book, are included in a secondary role along with the expected hawks, eagles, and falcons. This title is more biased toward falconry than most general raptor books. The 14 lengthy sidebars hit on a variety of topics, including women in falconry, a barn owl nest, Audubon and gyrfalcons, migration theories, and, curiously, the hunting of wolves. Somewhat hit-and-miss, especially the lists of websites, books, and places to see raptors, but there is virtue in not trying to do everything. The abundant references for each chapter are mostly in hard-to-find technical journals. Verdict Authoritative, this will appeal to readers with an interest in natural history.-Henry T. Armistead, formerly with Free Lib. of Philadelphia (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.