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Contents:
1 - Bird diversity survey methods; 2 - Bird census and survey techniques; 3 - Breeding biology; 4 - Birds in the hand; 5 - Estimating survival and movement; 6 - Radio-tagging; 7 - Migration; 8 - Information from dead and dying birds; 9 - Techniques in physiology and genetics; 10 - Diet and foraging behaviour; 11 - Habitat assessment; 12 - Conservation management of endangered birds; 13 - Exploitation; 14 - Habitat management.
Review:
Sound methodologies are at the heart of any good science. This book is the first in a series looking at such areas of methodologies from the point of view of bird populations.The aim of this collection is to provide conservationists with a set of techniques that can be used in the field to better study bird populations. The reader starts with a brief chapter outlining the ways in which we can design bird surveys and some of the ways to avoid the pitfalls. One useful point is that techniques do not need to be costly or complex if they are understood. This is carried into chapter two which looks at population size or density. A range of sampling ideas and strategies are presented. The aim is to measure (or get a good proxy of a measure) which will allow the population to be sufficiently accurately counted so that future studies can see if the numbers have risen or fallen. The next part is to work out how successfully they are breeding and again a range of ideas are presented from model eggs to cameras. So far, most of the work described can be carried out without actually holding individual birds (and there is much to recommend minimal contact anyway). However, more information is needed and this can only come from capturing birds. How we do this and how to minimise side effects is the focus of chapter four. Once you have the bird it's possible to tag it in some way to gain further information. In chapter five this is survival rates whilst the actual idea of tagging is discussed in chapter six. Many bird species are remarkably mobile and with the need to protect some species it becomes vital that we know where they are throughout the year. Migration poses a problem especially in the longer journeys: radar, and other techniques, may help. Not all birds are active; dead and dying birds can be useful especially in terms of bird diseases. Techniques and checklists are just part of the material noted in chapter 8 alongside health and safety advice. So far most of the work has been aimed at field sites: chapter 9 looks at techniques involving more invasive processes aimed at gathering physiological information. Ideas range from ethical to molecular. Chapter 10 returns to field work with studies of diet and foraging dealing with faecal pellets and other sources of information. Birds need habitats - a key aspect is to find out suitable places (conservation) or see changes that have occurred (naturally located populations). Once places have been found and assessed then rare and endangered species (chapter 12) can be managed. Such management has a long history and the chapter gives a broad but brief overview of what can be done. A key element of species is exploitation (chapter 13) although this should be done with care so as to avoid unintended consequences. This leaves a final chapter 14 to discuss the idea of habitat management from monitoring to dealing with specific areas.
This is an excellent text in its field. There is a vast range of techniques described along with their advantages and disadvantages. References allow specific aspects to be followed up in more detail. Although aimed at the specialist (who should see this as a must-buy text) the material is accessible enough for the keen amateur or student to gain much from the work. A text such as this bodes well for the rest of the series.