{"title":"Clifford Frith","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"bowerbirds-book-clifford-frith-9780198548447","title":"The Bowerbirds","description":"The bowerbirds are confined to the great island of New Guinea and the island continent of Australia, and their immediately adjacent islands. They are medium-sized birds, omnivorous and largely solitary. They are unique in the avian world in that the males build elaborate 'bowers': structures of sticks, grasses or other plant stems on or close to the ground for display and courtship, often incorporating objects such as colourful fruits, flowers, feathers, bones, stones, shells, insect skeletons, and numerous other natural (and human-made) objects.   The highly sophisticated building, decorating, collecting, arranging, thieving, singing, and courtship posturing and dancing by males is primarily to attract and impress females. As much of it is performed in the absence of females, however, some consider it possible that males may also enjoy such activities for their own sake. The bowers and the birds' behaviour associated with them have been much studied by behavioural ecologists searching for evolutionary and ecological explanations of behavioural patterns.   The authors' aims include: (a) making the reader aware of the broader significance of bowerbirds to general biological studies and (b) providing references to key literature on theoretical issues.  Part I contains general chapters on bowerbird evolution, behaviour, environment, demography, courtship patterns, breeding biology, and sexual selection. Part II follows with 21 species accounts, giving comprehensive information on the birds in their natural state, including distribution maps and sonographs. Complementing the species accounts are superb colour plates by Eustace Barnes, especially commissioned for this volume.   The Bowerbirds, like its companions in the series, is an indispensable work of reference for everyone interested in birds.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50512021356817,"sku":"GOR009817090","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50837486567697,"sku":"GOR014092240","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52331183833361,"sku":"NLS9780198548447","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0198548443.jpg?v=1750908760"},{"product_id":"woodhen-book-clifford-frith-9780643108707","title":"The Woodhen","description":"This book tells the fascinating success story of saving the flightless Woodhen of Lord Howe Island. This unique large rail, an iconic and highly endangered Australian bird, was at the very brink of extinction with just 15 individuals found in 1980, when bold and risky actions were taken to save it.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The book begins with the discovery and ecology of Lord Howe Island. It then details the history of the Woodhen, its place among the rails and their evolution of flightlessness, the planning, implementation and trials, tribulations and successes of the captive breeding program and the way in which the wild population recovered. The ecology, behavior and breeding biology of this unique flightless island rail are also discussed. The text is accompanied by numerous photographs and drawings.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e This is a story of survival, yet the bird remains highly endangered as it is under constant threat, which could tip it over the brink and to extinction. \u003ci\u003eThe Woodhen\u003c\/i\u003eprovides gripping insights into the potential for both losing and saving this vertebrate species.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":53390381318417,"sku":"NIN9780643108707","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":53473216135441,"sku":"NLS9780643108707","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9780643108707.jpg?v=1775668921"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/collections\/author-books-by-clifford-frith.oembed","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}