Mike Unwin

RSPB Spotlight: Eagles (eBook, PDF)

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

The Spotlight series introduces readers to the lives and behaviours of our favourite animals with eye-catching, colour photography and informative expert text.

Eagles are among the most impressive hunters of the animal world. Their predatory prowess and flying skills have imbued them with a romance and mystique that runs deep in our culture and has elevated them to emblems of freedom and power across the globe. At the same time, however, people have long seen eagles as competitors. Reviled by farmers and gamekeepers as snatchers of livestock, many species have been driven into decline by persecution and disturbance.

Two species of eagle occur in Britain - among 60 worldwide - and are the focus of this book. The regal Golden Eagle is the definitive 'true' eagle and occurs in wilderness areas across the northern hemisphere; the even larger White-tailed Eagle, reintroduced to the UK after historic extinction, belongs to the separate 'sea eagles' genus. These two spectacular birds are both very rare - confined largely to the remote Scottish Highlands - and a sighting of either is one of the UK's most exciting and sought-after wildlife experiences.

This highly readable study looks separately at both UK eagles, exploring how each is adapted as an apex predator in its own environment, and explores the relationship between the two. Separate chapters cover all aspects of the birds' biology and lifestyle, from defending their vast territories to raising their young. Fascinating secrets are revealed, including the brutal truth behind 'Cain and Abel' syndrome. The book also takes a look at other eagles around the world, placing the two UK species within this broader context. Finally, it examines the complex relationship that humans have enjoyed with eagles since time immemorial, spanning both culture and conservation, and offers expert tips on where and how you can watch these magnificent birds for yourself.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bloomsbury UK
• Seitenzahl: 128
• Erscheinungstermin: 28. Juli 2016
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781472943712
• Artikelnr.: 45464524

Autorenporträt

Mike Unwin is a freelance writer, editor and illustrator with over 13 years' experience in natural history publishing. In 2000 he won the BBC Wildlife travel-writing competition. His children's titles include the bestselling RSPB My First Book of Garden Birds and My First Book of Garden Wildlife.

Inhaltsangabe

Meet the Eagles
Ancestors and Relatives
A View to a Kill
The Next Generation
Threats and Enemies
Eagles in Culture
Understanding, Protecting and Enjoying Eagles
Glossary
Further Reading and Resources
Acknowledgements
Image Credits
Index