The Lapwing: (Poyser Monographs)

A detailed, authoritative yet highly readable monograph on one of Britain's best-loved farmland birds, the Lapwing. With its striking green-black and white plumage and distinctive pee-wit call, the Lapwing is one of Britain's best-known birds. Lapwings depend on agricultural land to breed and are considered a barometer of the health of this habitat; the population has crashed over recent decades, partly due to changes in farming practices. In winter, Lapwings switch to coastal areas and to wetlands, including those in suburban areas, where large, noisy flocks can gather. Michael Shrubb's The Lapwing is a thorough review of Lapwing biology contains sections on population dynamics, feeding ecology, habitat use, migration, and conservation; there is an impressively detailed review of our current understanding of breeding biology, plus discussion of some other species in the genus. The Lapwing is a superb addition to the Poyser list. Of interest to both amateur naturalists, who will enjoy insights into the birds' lives, and to academics, who will appreciate the broad overview of current research, this title will remain the definitive work on the species for many years to come.

Table of Contents:
List of Figures List of Tables Introduction and Acknowledgements 1 The lapwing species 2 Breeding distribution and populations 3 Breeding habitat and causes of population change in Europe 4 Breeding habitat and causes of population change in Britain 5 Distribution and populations in winter 6 Winter habitat use 7 Food and feeding behaviour 8 The breeding season: arrival and territory 9 The breeding season: courtship, display and pair formation 10 The breeding season: laying, incubation and hatching 11 The breeding season: nesting success 12 Rearing the chicks and fledgling success 13 Movements and mortality 14 Conservation and the future Appendix 1: Changes in breeding populations Appendix 2: Habitats used by breeding Lapwings in Europe Appendix 3: The diet of the Lapwing Appendix 4: Scientific names of species mentioned in the text References

About the Author :
Michael Shrubb, a former farmer, has enjoyed a lifetime of study on Lapwings; he has been fascinated by them ever since he found breeding birds on his land more than 40 years ago. An acclaimed expert on farmland habitats and birds, he has written numerous books and papers on the subject, and his conservation work has included the organisation of projects such as the RSPB Lapwing Recovery Programme and the BTO Lapwing Survey. Michael is a former council member of both the RSPB and BTO.

Review :
Michael Shrubb's writing style is at once intimate, conversational and expressive...If you're keen on learning more about this charismatic wader, snap up a copy of what is sure to become a highly collectable book. Well-written and carefully produced book that is readable yet includes good science.