"One of the British Trust for Ornithology's Best Bird Books of 2018" Michael Brooke is the Strickland Curator of Ornithology at the University Museum of Zoology, Cambridge. He is the author of Albatrosses and Petrels across the World and the coeditor of The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Ornithology, and has written widely on science and travel for outlets such as the Daily Telegraph and the Guardian.
The lives and activities of seabirds as you've never seen them before
Seabirds evoke the spirit of the earth's wildest places. They spend large portions of their lives at sea, often far from land, and nest on beautiful and remote islands that humans rarely visit. Thanks to the development of increasingly sophisticated and miniaturized devices that can track their every movement and behavior, it is now possible to observe the mysterious lives of these remarkable creatures as never before. This beautifully illustrated book takes you on a breathtaking journey around the globe to reveal where these birds actually go when they roam the sea, the tactics they employ to traverse vast tracts of ocean, the strategies they use to evade threats, and more.
Michael Brooke has visited every corner of the world in his lifelong pursuit of seabirds. Here, he draws on his own experiences and insights as well as the latest cutting-edge science to shed light on the elusive seafaring lives of albatrosses, frigatebirds, cormorants, and other ocean wanderers. Where do puffins go in the winter? How deep do penguins dive? From how far away can an albatross spot a fishing vessel worth following for its next meal? Brooke addresses these and other questions in this delightful book. Along the way, he reveals that seabirds are not the aimless wind-tossed creatures they may appear to be and explains the observational innovations that are driving this exciting area of research.
Featuring illustrations by renowned artist Bruce Pearson and packed with intriguing facts, Far from Land provides an extraordinary up-close look at the activities of seabirds. "A brilliant global overview of seabird behaviour."---Kenny Taylor, BBC Wildlife "His tour of the ecological highlights is gripping in scope and in granular detail gleaned from observations of puffins, penguins, fulmars and more."---Barbara Kiser, Nature "This is a celebration of nature writing, scientific research and the wonder of birds, large and small, that glide, flap and flutter across the world's oceans."---Tim Birkhead, Times Literary Supplement "Brooke's storytelling skills are first rate, and artist Bruce Pearson's illustrations only further the mesmerizing quality of this project." "[Brooke] shares his encyclopedic knowledge with dry wit and fine attention to detail in this absorbing book. . . . His enthusiasm is so infectious that Far from Land is bound to hatch some much-needed new devotees."---Adrian Barnett, New Scientist "If you thought you knew all about seabirds, then think again. This book is absolutely packed with new information."---John Miles, Bird Watching Magazine "Written with passion and knowledge in equal doses. It is beautifully written, immediately captures interest, is erudite, avoids jargon, and is entertaining with a fair peppering of humour. . . . I cannot think of one good reason why any seabirder – field birders and researchers alike – would want to skip this book. Buy it."---Bob Flood, Birdwatch Magazine "[A] marvellous new study."---John Burnside, New Statesman "A thoroughly enjoyable and illuminating survey of the world of seabirds – made all the more enjoyable by Bruce Pearson's lovely pen-and-wash illustrations."---Nigel Andrew, Literary Review "The most up-to-date picture of how seabirds behave when we aren't watching. . . . Beautifully written."---Joe Culley, Irish Times "In a very approachable and often dazzling book, Michael Brooke blends the seemingly incompatible worlds of romance and science. The book almost reads like a collection of fairy tales,
