Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea: An Atlas of Distribution

(Hardback)

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Description

Ethiopia and Eritrea have a fascinating and unique avifauna. Poorly known in comparison to many parts of Africa, knowledge on bird distribution in the two countries is scattered throughout the literature. For more than 35 years, the authors have been painstakingly collecting bird records in the region and plotting them on half-degree maps, including published records, data from museum specimens, sightings from their own extensive travels and, more recently, records from the many birdwatchers that now visit Ethiopia.

The resulting atlas provides, for the first time, an accurate assessment of the distribution of each of the 870 species known from the two countries, including valuable information on breeding. The succinct text summarises the results and discusses distribution to subspecies level. Extensive introductory chapters cover topics such as topography, geology, vegetation, climate, habitats, conservation, migration, breeding seasons, bird ringing, and the history of ornithology in the region. This groundbreaking book fills a large hole in the literature for one of the most diverse and least known areas of Africa.

Reviews

'It will enhance the library of anyone with an interest in the birds of East Africa.' * Biologist (August 2009) *
'A most thorough and well researched avifauna of these two countries, giving a huge amount of detail...a superb section of photos.' * Scottish Bird (2009) *
'The whole is a remarkable achievement and will form the very important foundations on which future surveying and conservation work can build.' * www.bto.org (August 2009) *
'I can wholeheartedly recommend this extremely impressive and well-produced book for anyone interested in African birds and their conservation - and it sets a high benchmark for anyone engaged in similar projects.' * British Birds (November 2009) *
'...an invaluable tool and source of data for regular visitors and residents.' * Bradt's Ethiopia Guide Online (November 2009) *
'Both clear and precise, it sets a new high standard in works of this kind and definitely forms a benchmark.' * Bull ABC - 2010 *

Author Bio

John Ash is a distinguished ornithologist who spent much of his careeron bird-related research in Africa, including many years in Ethiopiaand Eritrea. He has travelled extensively in the region and was seniorauthor of the acclaimed Birds of Somalia(Pica Press, 1998). John Atkins lived in Ethiopia for several yearswhile working for the British Council, travelling widely and developinga deep knowledge of the region's birds.