Thursday, June 30, 2011

Crossing Over Sea and Land: Jewish Missionary Activity in the Second Temple Period

Crossing Over Sea and Land: Jewish Missionary Activity in the Second Temple Period Review



Crossing Over Sea and Land: Jewish Missionary Activity in the Second Temple Period Feature

  • ISBN13: 9780801045639
  • Condition: New
  • Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
What was the extent and nature of Jewish proselytizing activity amongst non-Jews in Palestine and the Greco-Roman diaspora leading up to and during the beginnings of the Christian era? Was there a clear missional direction? How did Second-Temple Judaism recruit converts and gain sympathizers? This book strives to address these questions, representing an update of the discussion while also breaking new ground. A "source book" of key texts is provided at the end.


Tuesday, June 28, 2011

A Guide to the Birds of the Galapagos Islands

A Guide to the Birds of the Galapagos Islands Review



Made famous by Charles Darwin's work on evolution and speciation, the Galápagos Islands contain an extraordinary wildlife that attracts thousands of visitors today. Those tourists who wish to concentrate on the birdlife now have A Guide to the Birds of the The Galápagos Islands, which offers unprecedented comprehensive coverage. This field guide presents every species to have been recorded within the archipelago, including accidentals and vagrants. Twenty-eight color plates illustrate the species, while four color plates show the key island habitats, with typical bird species for each also depicted. Beautiful line drawings, often showing interesting aspects of bird behavior, complement a concise, accessible, and informative text.

The book describes the morphological aspects that make it possible to identify the birds in the field, and also explains the natural history of the species that are resident to the Islands. An introduction offers information on the weather, topography, and evolution of the Islands and their birdlife. With this guide, all visitors, experts and beginners, will be able to identify and appreciate any species within the unique avifauna of the the Galápagos Islands.


Monday, June 27, 2011

A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America

A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America Review



When Steve Howell first visited Mexico in November of 1981, he arrived armed with a strong background of birding in Britain and the Western Palearctic, and an even stronger enthusiasm for the diverse and exotic birds of Northern Central America. But he also arrived without an adequate field guide. Indeed, to his surprise, he found that relatively little was known (and even less written) about the myriad of bird species that inhabit the region stretching from the U.S.-Mexican border to Nicaragua. And so, after eleven years of research in northern Central America, and with the essential collaboration of Sophie Webb--a biologist and one of the most talented ornithological illustrators working today--we now have the definitive guide to birds of this fascinating region. drop rest as varied as the Laysan Albatross, the Blue-footed Booby, the Collared Trogon, even the rare Guadalupe Storm-Petrel.
A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America is astonishingly comprehensive, covering the identification, status, and distribution of all 1,070 birds species known from Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, and western Nicaragua. No other book approaches the thoroughness of this unique field guide. Beautifully illustrated with seventy-one color plates and thirty-nine black and white drawings, the guide shows 750 species and includes many plumages never before depicted. Of special interest are illustrations of some of the most notoriously difficult groups to portray, such as raptors in flight, owls, and nightjars. In addition, superb, easy-to-read maps help the traveling birder locate particular--even rare--species, and the entries describing individual birds detail their appearance, voice, habitat, behavior (including nesting and eggs), and distribution. With the U.S. birder in mind, the guide also includes birds that can be seen north of the border, showing these American migrants on plates when they could be confused with similar Mexican species, thus enabling the birder to make quick and ready comparisons in the field. And, with readable and fascinating presentations of the natural history of Central American birds, this guide will be welcomed not only by seasoned birders, but by any traveler exploring the rain forests, coastlines, and deserts of Mexico and the Central American isthmus.
Sponsored by the distinguished Point Reyes Observatory in California, A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America is a wonderful addition to the library of birders, nature enthusiasts, and travelers alike. With its lavish illustrations, clear writing, and unprecedented range, it offers hours of compelling reading and pleasant browsing for anyone intrigued by the colorful diversity of birds and the wild, largely unspoiled world next door.


Sunday, June 26, 2011

The Flamenco Academy: A Novel

The Flamenco Academy: A Novel Review



“Bird captures the staccato passion of flamenco in a rapturous love triangle.”
–People

“The Flamenco Academy opens so boldly . . . that you have to wonder how [Sarah] Bird can sustain such high drama. But it quickly becomes apparent that she’s mapped her novel’s treacherous terrain and planned accordingly, building characters sturdy enough to stand firmly, even when their emotions are spinning out of control.”
–The New York Times Book Review

The first commandment of flamenco is Dame la verdad–Give me the truth. But for Cyndi Rae Hrncir, a shy seventeen-year-old, the truth is too painful to share. When Rae becomes infatuated with the devastatingly handsome flamenco guitarist Tomás Montenegro, she and her best friend, Didi, immerse themselves in the exotic world of the Gypsy dance and in the spellbinding stories told by their legendary teacher, Doña Carlota, Tomás’s great-aunt. Locked in a volatile triangle and driven by obsession–Didi with fame, Rae with Tomás, and Tomás with the mystery of his origin–the three sharpen their performances, while danger, longing, and betrayal pulse beneath each step. When a heartbreaking longheld secret comes to light, Rae is duty-bound to honor the laws of flamenco and finally reveal the truth.

“The stuff bestsellers are made of . . . [The Flamenco Academy is] funny and beautifully structured to create anticipation and suspense, with lush moments of romance and a surprisingly sturdy backbone.”
–Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Good conflict makes good fiction, and that’s what gives The Flamenco Academy such irresistible energy and narrative drive. . . . A heady brew of a novel, lushly romantic at one turn, wryly and wittily observant at the next.”
–Houston Chronicle

“A deft exploration of love, desire and jealousy told against the backdrop of that most complex of dances, flamenco.”
–Baltimore Sun


Saturday, June 25, 2011

Understanding Wine Technology, 3rd Edition

Understanding Wine Technology, 3rd Edition Review



Any student who s ever logged credits in a viticulture and enology class knows Bird s book. It s the most widely assigned wine science primer in the English speaking world. This completely revised and updated edition to Bird s classic textbook deciphers all the new scientific advances that have cropped up in the last several years, and conveys them in his typically clear and plainspoken style that renders even the densest subject matter freshman-friendly. New material includes: expanded section on the production of red, rosé, white, sweet, sparkling and fortified wines; information on histamine, flash detente, maceration, whole bunch and whole berry fermentation; expanded chapter on wine faults, including Brettanomyces; new section on HACCP analysis as applied to a winery; and much more.


Friday, June 24, 2011

The Secrets of Backyard Bird-Feeding Success: Hundreds of Surefire Tips for Attracting and Feeding Your Favorite Birds

The Secrets of Backyard Bird-Feeding Success: Hundreds of Surefire Tips for Attracting and Feeding Your Favorite Birds Review



Seeds work like magic to bring colorful birds into close view, but when special treats like homemade
bird doughs and fresh fruit are offered, remarkable visitors like waxwings, orioles, and thrashers stop
by for a treat. Add in seed-rich ornamental grasses and fruiting shrubs, and birds will find the scene
irresistable.

 
Touting the latest research on what and when birds eat, Secrets of Backyard Bird-Feeding Success
explains how nutritious food at key times of the year (during egg laying, migration, and harsh weather)
can mean survival—or not—for feathered friends. From seeds and suet to plants and feeding stations,
readers will learn easy, practical, and low-cost ways to entice birds into stopping by regularly, along with tips on specific types of bird-friendly fare, such as nuts, nectar, berries, and even bugs! A gallery of the 50 most popular backyard feeder birds lists their preferred foods and feeder styles plus behavior and migration details so readers can anticipate and prepare for a specific bird’s arrival.
 
Feeding backyard birds is a win-win situation for both bird and birder—the birds get a reliable source
of food and bird lovers get lively song, color, and motion in their welcoming backyards.


Thursday, June 23, 2011

Mockingbird

Mockingbird Review



Caitlin has Asperger's. The world according to her is black and white; anything in between is confusing. Before, when things got confusing, Caitlin went to her older brother, Devon, for help. But Devon has died, and Caitlin's dad is so distraught that he is just not helpful. Caitlin wants everything to go back to the way things were, but she doesn't know how to do that. Then she comes across the word closure- and she realizes this is what she needs. And in her search for it, Caitlin discovers that the world may not be black and white after all.


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Bird's-Eye View

Bird's-Eye View Review



Bird's-Eye View Feature

  • ISBN13: 9780446611664
  • Condition: New
  • Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Penzler Pick, August 2001: J.F. Freedman is a wonderful storyteller whose six previous novels have been nothing less than compulsive page-turners. This, his latest, is no different.

Meet Fritz Tullis, lovable failure. He should be on top of the world. He comes from one of the most prestigious families in Maryland and, until recently, taught at the University of Texas. That all ended when he was discovered having an affair with the wife of one of the university's most generous donors. Now he's back on his mother's land living in a little shack, drinking too much, and indulging in the local women.

But Fritz is also an enthusiastic photographer who spends his early morning hours trying to get rid of a hangover. He takes a small boat to the marshy areas near Chesapeake Bay where he has been watching migrating birds, especially Ollie, a whooping crane (an endangered species) who seems to have lost his way and ended up with a group of sandhill cranes in the marshes of Maryland. Fritz knows that he should be informing a wildlife preservation group about this lost bird, but then the place would be overrun by activists, and there would go his privacy.

One morning as Fritz is watching Ollie he hears a small plane approaching the runway just across the creek. The land belongs to his mother, so Fritz turns his zoom lens towards the plane--and witnesses a murder. That night at his mother's house, Fritz is introduced to the new owner of that piece of property, James Roach, assistant secretary of state. From the moment he meets Roach, Fritz's life is in turmoil. He also meets Maureen O'Hara, the ornithologist from Harvard with the seductive name who just complicates his life further as he tries to keep Ollie's presence a secret. But in Bird's-Eye View nobody is quite who they seem to be, and the reader is kept in suspense until the very last page. --Otto Penzler While photographing birds at dawn, Fritz witnesses a fatal shooting. As his quiet life becomes more complex, people - including some who are near and dear - start to die. Fritz soon senses that he himself is being lined up as the next victim.


Monday, June 20, 2011

Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region (Stokes Field Guides)

Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region (Stokes Field Guides) Review



Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region (Stokes Field Guides) Feature

  • Field Guide Eastern
  • Great for your garden!
  • Perfect gift for outdoor lovers!
The easiest-to-use and most comprehensive field guide to North American birds-from the country's preeminent writers on birds and nature Drawing on more than twenty years' experience as bird and wildlife experts, Donald and Lillian Stokes have produced field guides that are factually, visually, and organizationally superior to any other books you can buy. You'll find: * All the identification information on a single page-color photographs, range map, and detailed description. No more fumbling to match photos with text! * For fast reference-a compact alphabetical index inside the front and back covers. * More than 900 high-resolution color identification photographs. * An illustrated Quick Guide to the most common backyard and feeder birds. * Convenient colored tabs keyed to each bird group. * Concise and comprehensive text, with information on habitat; plumage variation; feeding, nesting, and mating behavior; bird feeder proclivity; and-for the first time in any guide-population trends and conservation status.


Saturday, June 18, 2011

The Birds of Pennsylvania

The Birds of Pennsylvania Review



From Eared Grebes, Tundra Swans, and Peregrine Falcons to Lesser Yellowlegs, and Snowy Owls, Pennsylvania is home to a magnificent array of birds. In the first comprehensive summary and analysis in over a century of the birds of that state, Gerald M. McWilliams and Daniel W. Brauning provide a wealth of information for both the professional ornithologist and the amateur birder.

This book treats all 428 species seen in the state, including breeding and wintering birds, migrants, and vagrants. Each entry provides the general status of a species; the locations where it is most commonly found; its natural habitat, migratory patterns, breeding habits, and seasonal status and distribution; and a summary of the bird's history in Pennsylvania. With clear descriptions of physiographic regions as well as 44 breeding distribution maps for the most commonly seen birds and 67 photographs of many rare and hard-to-find species, this volume is an indispensable resource about Pennsylvania's bird life.


Friday, June 17, 2011

Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand

Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand Review



This is a more portable, updated edition of the original Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. The original edition was published in two parts; the first containing an identification guide with color plates and distribution maps, the second giving more detailed information on the biology and ecology of the species described. The current book combines the two sections into one book of plates, maps, short descriptions, introduction and a section on where to find the birds. It is a smaller, more manageable guide - perfect for field work and birding for pleasure.


Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Defensive Signaling at Bridge

Defensive Signaling at Bridge Review



The author begins this thorough discussion of a neglected but vital topic by examining the real purpose of defensive signalling, and the basic kinds of signals that are available. He goes on to recommend a comprehensive set of signalling agreements, and analyzes more complex situations in the light of these agreements. Most of the chapters are followed by a quiz, the answers to which will demonstrate the effectiveness of the recommended signal. The book finishes with a chapter that looks at the signalling methods of eight world-class pairs, with examples of their methods in action. This is a book any player looking to improve his or her results will want to read.


Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Birds of Prey

Birds of Prey Review



This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.


Monday, June 13, 2011

National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: The Carolinas

National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: The Carolinas Review



National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: The Carolinas Feature

  • ISBN13: 9780792241867
  • Condition: New
  • Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
National Geographic Field Guide to Birds provides affordable, portable, reliable region-specific information, perfect for the novice or experienced birder. In each guide, an introduction by an expert birder from the region offers guidance on where to look for key birds. An opening section gives pointers on how to look for key birds and what to focus on when you spot them. Each guide features approximately 150 birds, grouped by family. Two indexes: one alphabetical and one color-coded help readers identify a bird quickly.

Each entry has a vivid photograph showing the bird in its native habitat. On the facing page, there is a list of bulleted points of field identification clues as well as behavioral and habitat information, and the best local places to find the bird. Special field notes give additional i.d. or behavioral information and detailed maps show the range of each bird's habitat. With comprehensive coverage of the region and valuable advice from experts, these user-friendly guides will quickly become favorite companions on the journey to lifelong birding.

North and South Carolina, a favorite among bird watchers, are homes to a wide variety of birds that live in the western mountainous terrain or the eastern shorelines.


Sunday, June 12, 2011

Bird Ecology and Conservation: A Handbook of Techniques (Techniques in Ecology & Conservation)

Bird Ecology and Conservation: A Handbook of Techniques (Techniques in Ecology & Conservation) Review



In this intensely practical handbook, a team of leading ornithologists describe a wide range of standard methods that can be applied to the study of avian ecology and conservation. Topics covered range from surveys and tracking and handling to breeding biology, foraging behavior, and migration. Chapters on conservation techniques describe how to assess species over-exploitation, the methods available for the intensive conservation of endangered species, and the principles involved in the maintenance and restoration of habitats. This comprehensive synthesis will be essential reading for graduate students and researchers as well as a valuable resource for environmental consultants and professional conservationists worldwide.

Bird Ecology and Evolution is the first title in a new series of practical handbooks which include titles focusing on specific taxonomic groups as well as those describing broader themes and subjects. William J. Sutherland is the series editor.


Saturday, June 11, 2011

Aristophanes I: Clouds, Wasps, Birds

Aristophanes I: Clouds, Wasps, Birds Review



Originally adapted for the stage, Peter Meineck's revised translations achieve a level of fidelity appropriate for classroom use while managing to preserve the wit and energy that led The New Yorker to judge his Clouds "The best Greek drama we've ever seen anywhere." and The Times Literary Supplement to describe his Wasps as "Hugely enjoyable and very, very funny." A general introduction, introductions to the plays, and detailed notes on staging, history, religious practice and myth combine to make this a remarkably useful teaching text.


Friday, June 10, 2011

Birds of a Feather

Birds of a Feather Review



Barb Adams and Alma Allen are back with their new block of the month project, published in The Kansas City Star throughout 2006. Called "Birds of a Feather," the book celebrates our favorite feathered friends with 12 blocks, finishing instructions, plus an assortment of related projects including needlepunch, purses and a hooked rug. Both Barb and Alma offer their own concept quilts.