New old book

[wezwez]

My Father in law came bearing gifts yesterday, a copy of British book of birds from readers digest dated 1969, Its nearly as old as me! But ive got to say for a novice birder like me its packed full of info such as a selection of common mating rituals, some feeding techniques a section on filming birds with a cine camera . all in all a great book, but i have to ask how much of the info will be out of date. Im not talking general facts but more on the subjects of migration and bird instinct and how birds behave.

Steve

[Shrike]

i dont think the info on behaviour will be much out of date ,breeding areas and populations will be wrong now in many cases i suspect.

[The Woodman]

Originally Posted by wezwez

My Father in law came bearing gifts yesterday, a copy of British book of birds from readers digest dated 1969, Its nearly as old as me! But ive got to say for a novice birder like me its packed full of info such as a selection of common mating rituals, some feeding techniques a section on filming birds with a cine camera . all in all a great book, but i have to ask how much of the info will be out of date. Im not talking general facts but more on the subjects of migration and bird instinct and how birds behave.

Steve

Is that the one with the Tawny Owl on the front?

[aeshna5]

Is that the book with a Tawny Owl on the front?- I've certainly got a Reader's Digest book on birds from my youth that has this.

Obviously much new information has been discovered about migration in the intervening years, especially with the technological advances with satellite tagging, etc.

As Shrike suggests above the biggest change will be the status of birds. Some familiar birds of that time such as Turtle Doves, Corn Buntings, Willow Tits + Nightingales have disappeared from whole regions of the UK.

On the other hand many other birds have become much more common. Some are natural colonists like the Little Egret + Cetti's Warbler which would have been a major rarity then, many raptors have increased considerably since then- Sparrowhawk recovering from the effects of DDT, etc, re-introductions like the Red Kite, natural expansion like the Hobby, proliferation of some naturalised species such as Canada Geese + Ring-necked Parakeets.

It's great to look at what is a piece of time in our lifetime to see how much has changed in the birding world.- + that's without mentioning the technology from the internet to pagers to revolutions in molecular work.

[Jersali]

I too have that Readers digest book - inherited from my dad and I still refer to it, I still find it a useful cross reference for identifying...
It was reprinted in 1984 and was recommended by Peter Scott
Al

[wezwez]

Yes it is the one with the Tawny owl belonged originally to my wifes Grandad, also got some of his readers' gardening books.

Yeh i had a feeling technology would play a part especially in migration, thanks for the replies got a lot more info than i expected THX

Steve

[Jersali]

Originally Posted by wezwez

My Father in law came bearing gifts yesterday, a copy of British book of birds from readers digest dated 1969, Its nearly as old as me! But ive got to say for a novice birder like me its packed full of info such as a selection of common mating rituals, some feeding techniques a section on filming birds with a cine camera . all in all a great book, but i have to ask how much of the info will be out of date. Im not talking general facts but more on the subjects of migration and bird instinct and how birds behave.

Steve

Not seen it since I moved Steve but I have an excellent book on bird behaviour, I will dig it out and send you the detail if you're interested, it's the sort of thing that helps you determine that bird sat in the tree was not a swift after all!

[redstart1]

I have this book also, second edition 1974, the cover slip has a pair of grey plovers on it with a tawny owl on the main book itself.
if i can mind right the book cost £5 then.

[The Woodman]

I don't recall the first ed of the Tawny Owl having a dust jacket. It still sits on the shelf at the family home, doesn't it, Mother.

The RD published another bird book, the Field Guide to the Birds of Britain in 1981. This has a green plover on the front cover and has companion volumes Flowers and Trees.

Both books have first class artwork IMO.

[wezwez]

Originally Posted by Jersali

Not seen it since I moved Steve but I have an excellent book on bird behaviour, I will dig it out and send you the detail if you're interested, it's the sort of thing that helps you determine that bird sat in the tree was not a swift after all!

That would be great could do with some recomendations for good books

Steve