Birds in jeopardy : the imperiled and extinct birds of the United States and Canada including Hawaii and Puerto Rico /

As birds are often the best ecological indicators of environmental change, the losses and declines of avian species attracts much attention. This book provides a definitive review of all such periled birds of the US and Canada; it is current and complete. For each species there is information on natural history (nesting, food), distribution, and the precariousness of its populations. Most importantly there is a good discussion of the human and environmental factors jeopardizing the species, as well as current management and recovery plans. Sections are organized for those birds federally recognized as threatened or endangered, those not officially listed but already of special concern, and, alas, species now extinct (Hawaii's losses have been staggering). The book concludes with detailed discussions of imperilment problems and conservation aims, and a rich reference section. These three authors are also well known for their recent and highly successful The Birder's Handbook (CH, Dec'88). The nontechnical language and colorful illustrations add to the wide appeal of this timely book. Undergraduates particularly will appreciate this easy access to endangered species information. C. Leck; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Limited to North America but including Hawaii and Puerto Rico, Birds in Jeopardy covers birds on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's imperiled list and on the National Audubon Society's "early warning" Blue List and auxiliary lists of species warranting concern, 11 species not listed "that illustrate the spectrum of vulnerability of North American birds," and birds that have become extinct since 1776. For each threatened avian, the book provides specifics on nesting, feeding, range, the perils that it faces, and any recovery plans now under way. For each extinct bird, there is an epitaph on former habits, habitats, and reasons for extinction. Every entry also includes a color painting of its subject, and there are 191 portraits in all. Following the species entries is a section of "Commentaries on Imperilment" that includes discussions of conservation topics and current bird-protection laws. The authors' belief that the outlook for birds is grim has a grimmer corollary: the fate of birds may be the predictor of events for other animals, including humans. ~--George Hampton