I’ve been waiting for the new edition of this book for a very long time. The second edition has been out of print for years and even used copies have been very difficult to come by.
Cornell’s Handbook of Bird Biology is exactly the kind of resource I’ve wanted ever since I started photographing (and eventually blogging about) birds years ago and the new edition includes extensive coverage of hundreds of recent discoveries and insights about bird ecology, behavior, evolution, physiology, anatomy and conservation. In a nutshell it’s a 700+ page college level textbook on the biology of birds whose intended audience includes everyone from Ornithology students to backyard birdwatchers to hard-core birders to professional ornithologists. It includes over 800 full color photographs, a first for any general Ornithology textbook.
The third edition has just been published and the “big brown truck” delivered my complimentary copy yesterday. Even though I took this photo of the book on my coffee table if your interest is in a typical coffee table book you’d be disappointed. Many of the photos are relatively small and meant only to illustrate scientific information about bird anatomy, physiology, evolution and behavior.
But what a rich resource for those of us who are interested in delving more deeply into those subjects! The book doesn’t come cheaply ($128.25 at Amazon) but there’s no question that if I didn’t have my complimentary copy I’d fork out the cash in a heartbeat (who knows, I may buy another copy so I can keep one of them pristine…)
The reason I received a complimentary copy is because I have two images in the book illustrating behaviors – this one of a singing male Marsh Wren labeled “Matched Countersinging” on page 376 and…
this photo of mating Lark Sparrows labeled “Copulation-solicitation display” on page 394.
Along with Birds of North America Online the Handbook of Bird Biology will now be my go-to first reference sources about birds. A special new feature of the third edition is a wealth of online material that complements and supplements the Handbook. I haven’t yet had time to extensively browse either the Handbook or the online material in-depth but so far I’m impressed. Very impressed!
I compliment the Cornell team for their quality product. I can fully understand why it took so long to put it all together but the wait was certainly worth it!
Ron
Note: Some readers may wonder why I posted about a new book – which is certainly atypical fare for Feathered Photography. I know that some of my regular readers have the same scientific interest in birds I do (Dick Harlow, Laura Culley and Dick Ashford come to mind but many others do too…) so I thought I’d help to spread the word about a new and valuable resource.
CONGRATULATIONS!! WHAT A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE TO YOU TALENT!!
There’s none better than Cornell University Ornithology! Incidentally,I think this may be the most difficult school to get into in the US.
Charlotte
With your great review, I just ordered one. I have also found the Peterson Reference series to be excellent if one has interest in the subject.
Good! I hope you like it as much as I do, Pam.
Congratulations Ron.
How lovely to have a new resource AND to have contributed to it.
Shopping is low on my preferred list of occupations – with the exception of book shops and plant nurseries. Which guzzle more of my funds than I can justify.
And, as a hint, your pleasure in this book is what so many of us would feel if YOU ever bite the bullet and create the book that we know you have in you.
Thanks for your confidence in me and my images, EC. If I were a younger man, perhaps…
PS I’m glad that book doesn’t come with sound. The repetive nature of that sassy little bird drives me nuts–especially on a hot day!!! I’m going to have to figure out a way to steal my copy of that book….
Patty (and all who don’t have big book budgets), I’m definitely a bookaholic, but for the last several years, I haven’t had enough money for much of anything. To get the pricey books anyway, I put away a little bit each month until I had the money. It took a while, but I got several pricey falconry books that way. I’m back to having a modest book budget now, and for that, I’m grateful.
I don’t have any extra money. ” to put a little a little bit away each month”…that’s the way it is for some of us. I’m very aware of that concept, but that’s the way I’m trying to pay off huge medical bills now…with whatever I can scrounge up each month. I used to haunt Borders bargain basement, but times have changed in many ways….none of them too great for me. Thanks anyway.
I’m so sorry Patty. I meant no disrespect.
I knew that…no problem!!! (You were trying to help)…it justvwasn’t that easy….
I’ve been there Patty…just coming out of that place.
Patty, you may not be able to get the book but you can still avail yourself of the online materials that supplement it. They’re extensive and very well done. They can be found here: birdbiology.org
THANK YOU !!!!
🙂
THX! Wonderful resource! Will REALLY want the book now! 🙂
Back in the day – I’m another 1 of the 10,000 who passed the course. Still have all binder and pages! Really enjoyed the course, then went to Cornell to take an actual summer course at the Lab.
Congratulations on the complimentary copy and the pictures in the book.
Guess I’ll have fork over the retail price. Maybe a Xmas gift???????
X’mas, birthdays, anniversaries – heck, Dick, there’s all kinds of excuses to buy oneself a gift! If nothing else, go out and buy it to celebrate your next lifer!
I’m delighted to hear about this book, although I don’t know if I can justify purchasing a copy. I love the images of yours that are included in the book. This post may not be the regular fare for this site, but it is a very worthwhile post.
“although I don’t know if I can justify purchasing a copy”
Ha, if you’re like me, Susan, you’ll eventually be seduced!
Thank you for posting. Glad to know such a book exists! And with a good reference as well.
So far it has my highest recommendation, Richard. And I doubt that will change.
I’m happy to know about the new edition, and congratulations on having two photos published in it. I have the second edition, which is a huge book, in all meanings of the word. Anything Cornell does is outstanding.
“Anything Cornell does is outstanding”
My experience with them backs up your statement, Nancy. They’re a class act.
Hi Ron,
I purchased the “e-book” version last week. Works well in my IPad Kindle app. I can easily take it on the road, and the online resources are just a tap away. On a historical note, I used the first edition as part of the Cornell Lab’s CORRESPONDENCE course. It was in three-ring binder, and I actually mailed my completed lessons in and received comments in return. Back in the day…
In any event, I agree with you regarding the quality of the book. BTW, the e-book is less expensive than the hard copy. And, it leaves more space on my bookshelf, so I have room for the long-awaited Ron Dudley book. 😀
Cheers,
Dick
Dick, According to the Preface over 10,000 students successfully passed their mailed-in exams and got credit for that course using the first edition which was 9 units of mimeographed sheets. “Back in the day” is right!
I should have known you’d already have the book in one form or another. As for me I much prefer the smell, the feel and the sound of turning pages of a “real” book…
Don’t hold your breath about “my” book. Hell, I barely have time for my daily blog posts!
Congrats on being included in the latest version of the Cornell Handbook!!
Thank you, Linda,.
Thanks for the heads up, Ron.
You’re welcome, Art.
Well, there goes a chunk of money 🙂 I’m not much of a shopper. I’m just not that interested in clothes and jewelry and other typical girl stuff, HOWEVER, one of three places I’m truly dangerous is a book store. One of several motivations of this move (which now has a WHERE part–WHEN and HOW are still under construction) is to reunite myself with my library, all of which is in storage. I miss my books dreadfully, as if they were family. When I open a book, I get such a high–just the thought of all the knowledge that will take my brain on a wander to wherever is a heady, exhilarating experience. And then there’s the smell of the ink! (Happy) sigh! If there are kick-butt photos, all the better!
I have NO problem plunking down a block of cash for a cool book, and while I’ve lost Border’s, there’s still Joseph-Beth in Lexington, Kentucky and Powell’s in Portland, Oregon! All that said, I’ll wait until this move is accomplished so I don’t have to haul it to Arizona–but we’re only talking a matter of a few weeks, and then…
Again, THANK YOU! I wasn’t aware this one was available.
Oh the other two areas I’m dangerous are in really good hardware and/or thrift stores and falconry outfitters.
I figured this book might get your attention, Laura. I wish you luck on your move, wherever it might be…!
Yup, I understand fully!!
I was fine staying out of bookstores until Amazon came along, now I just have a small path to get into my office.
Laura I had to give up some of my library when we retired to a smaller place. As it is, what I kept is strewed around the house and garage.
What a well-deserved honor to be part of such a prestigious resource!!! Congratulations!!! Those are both amazing images. I can see why they were included.
Thanks very much, Patty.
That looks like a great resource of information Ron. Congratulations on getting your images published in it too.
It is, Ed. And thank you.
Congratulations on being published. I had not noticed your photos now I will be looking them up Yes it is a wonderful book. My nose will be buried in it for months!
Then we’ll be rubbing noses for a long time, April! 🙂 Thank you.
Thx for posting and on getting your pictures in. Sounds wonderful – will have to “ponder” that expenditure! 🙂
Judy, that kind of cash outlay won’t be for everyone but for those with the interest I don’t think there’s a more valuable resource of this kind to be had.
Thanks for posting and congratulations on the included photographic images!
Thank you, Nancy.