The Common Eider (Poyser Monographs) - Hardcover

Chris Waltho And John Coulson

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1408125323 ISBN 13: 9781408125328

Publisher: T & AD Poyser, 2015

Synopsis

A common sight around the more northerly shores of the British Isles, the Common Eider is the largest duck in the northern hemisphere. The eider is particularly well adapted to cold-water environments; the insulating properties of eider down are iconic. The species is taxonomically interesting, with a range of well-marked subspecies reflecting the patterns of ice coverage during ancient glaciations, and these ducks have also provided the focus for a number of important behavioural studies, especially on feeding ecology and energy budgets. Eiders have a long association with humans, and have deep cultural significance in many societies. However, modern lifestyles are exposing these ducks to a wide range of new pressures. This monograph provides a comprehensive portrait of the Common Eider and the two other species in the genus, the King and Spectacled Eiders. Authors Chris Waltho and John Coulson bring together an extensive and diverse international literature, with sections on taxonomy, habitats, breeding biology, population dynamics, diet and foraging, dispersal and migration, and conservation.

About this title

Review:

"Poyser monographs never seem to dip below an incredibly high bar. Excellent!" --Fat Birder

"A great read about a bird that was the world's first protected species, way back in 676 AD." --Birdwatching Magazine

About the Author:

Chris Waltho has studied eiders for more than thirty years, with his research based around the Firth of Clyde, home to the largest population in the British Isles. An experienced aerial surveyor of seaducks and divers, Chris has been the president of the Scottish Ornithologist's Club since 2007. Over more than 40 years of research, John Coulson has made outstanding contributions to the behavioral ecology of colonially breeding seabirds and our understanding of coloniality in birds. A former Reader in Zoology at the University of Durham, Coulson was awarded the Godman-Savin Medal by the British Ornithologists' Union in 1992.

About this edition

• Publisher: T & AD Poyser
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1408125323
• ISBN 13: 9781408125328
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 352