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OverviewThe History of British Birds reviews our knowledge of avifaunal history over the last 15,000 years, setting it in its wider historical and European context. The authors, one an ornithologist the other an archaeologist, integrate a wealth of archaeological data to illuminate and enliven the story, indicating the extent to which climatic, agricultural, and social changes have affected the avifauna. They discuss its present balance, as well as predicting possible future changes. It is a popular misconception that bird bones are rarely preserved (compared with mammals), and cannot be reliably identified when they are found. The book explores both of these contentions, armed with a database of 9,000 records of birds that have been identified on archaeological sites. Most are in England, but sites elsewhere in Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Isles are included. Britain's most numerous bird is also the most widespread in the archaeological record, but some of the more charismatic species also have a rich historical pedigree. For example, we can say quite a lot about the history of the Crane, Red Kite, White-tailed Eagle, and Great Auk. The history of many introduced domestic species can also be illuminated. Even so, there remain uncertainties, posed by difficulties of dating or identification, the vagaries of the archaeological record or the ecological specialities of the birds themselves. These issues are highlighted, thus posing research questions for others to answer. And the commonest British bird, then and now? Buy the book and read on... Full Product DetailsAuthor: Derek Yalden (, University of Manchester, UK) , Umberto Albarella (, University of Sheffield, UK)Publisher: Oxford University Press Imprint: Oxford University Press Dimensions: Width: 16.70cm , Height: 1.20cm , Length: 24.00cm Weight: 0.512kg ISBN: 9780199581160ISBN 10: 0199581169 Pages: 270 Publication Date: 05 November 2009 Audience: Professional and scholarly , College/higher education , Professional & Vocational , Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly Format: Paperback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: To order  Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us. Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: The Bird in the Hand.... 2: The Early History of Birds in Britain and Europe 3: Coming in from the Cold 4: Farmland and Fenland 5: Veni, Vidi, Vici 6: Monks, Monarchs and Mysteries 7: From Elizabeth to Victoria 8: Now and Hereafter Appendix - An annotated historical list of British birds References IndexReviews`This volume looks set to become the best modern reference for anyone wishing to know about the rich history of the British avifauna...It is both readable and engaging.' Birdwatch `This book is well furnished with tables and distribution maps...i did learn much from it.' Scottish Birds `Far and away the most comprehensive set of records to date. A fascinating book.' British Trust for Ornithology News `The book is well produced and...should form part of any serious ornithologist's library.' British Ornithologists' Union `...this volume looks set to become the best modern reference for anyone wishing to know about the rich history of the British avifauna...it is both readable and engaging' Birdwatch Magazine <br> Alden and Albarella undertook a very ambitious project in writing this book, which is nothing less than a comprehensive history of the avifauna of the British Isles from the Mesozoic to the present. This volume is a remarkable effort and can be strongly recommended to anyone interested in the faunal history of the British Isles or the Western Palearctic in general. --AUK<br> Highly recommended. This specialized work will be a valuable resource for advanced students interested in avian population biology, ornithology, anthropology, paleontology, and especially avian zooarchaeology. --Choice<br> `This volume looks set to become the best modern reference for anyone wishing to know about the rich history of the British avifauna...It is both readable and engaging.' Birdwatch `This book is well furnished with tables and distribution maps...i did learn much from it.' Scottish Birds `Far and away the most comprehensive set of records to date. A fascinating book.' British Trust for Ornithology News `The book is well produced and...should form part of any serious ornithologist's library.' British Ornithologists' Union `...this volume looks set to become the best modern reference for anyone wishing to know about the rich history of the British avifauna...it is both readable and engaging' Birdwatch Magazine <br> Alden and Albarella undertook a very ambitious project in writing this book, which is nothing less than a comprehensive history of the avifauna of the British Isles from the Mesozoic to the present. This volume is a remarkable effort and can be strongly recommended to anyone interested in the faunal history of the British Isles or the Western Palearctic in general. --AUK<p><br> Highly recommended. This specialized work will be a valuable resource for advanced students interested in avian population biology, ornithology, anthropology, paleontology, and especially avian zooarchaeology. --Choice<p><br> Author InformationDerek Yalden retired from Manchester University after 40 years of teaching vertebrate zoology in September 2005. He is the author/co-author of over 200 scientific publications. He has worked on birds and mammals in the Peak District, including long-term population studies of Common Sand pipers and Golden Plovers, and on the mammals of Ethiopia, with two species - Leptopelis yaldeni (tree-frog) and Desmomys yaldeni (rat) - named in his honour. His interest in the history of the British fauna dates back to undergraduate lectures on Pleistocene mammals, summarised in reviews, papers, and The History of British Mammals (1999). Derek is currently the President of the Mammal Society, and was Editor of their publication 'Mammal Review' for 22 years. Umberto Albarella is based in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Sheffield. He specialises in the study of animal bones (zooarchaeology), but his research is wide-ranging and strongly oriented towards the integration of different aspects of archaeology. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |
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