Monday, November 28, 2022

Book Review - A Pocket Guide to Birds of Galápagos - Princeton University Press


      When I think of these legendary islands my mind turns to the luminaries associated with them. Uppermost in my thoughts is a young divinity student named Charles Darwin whose visit changed the course of history. David Lack was surely one of the most important ornithologists of the twentieth century and he was greatly influenced by his discoveries there. And how could one not marvel at the incredible work done by Peter and Rosemary Grant? Graciously, the Grants have provided the foreword to the book.
     The fourth name that leaps into my consciousness is Tui De Roy, associated with Galápagos all her life, passionate about them, and arguably the person who knows them in greater detail than anyone else alive today. Who better to produce this field guide to their birds?


     
A pocket guide, often, is a pared down version of a standard field guide, smaller and with less information and frequently featuring only the species most likely to be encountered. As the name implies, it is designed to slip easily into a pocket. For Galápagos it is possible to fit in all of the resident birds and some of the principal migrants into this format. Not only that, but informative text is provided about the islands, their geographic setting, physical character and the underpinnings of the endemism of species, and the role of Galápagos as a laboratory of evolutionary study.
     Each species receives a full treatment, with the keys necessary to identify it, and notes on its status and natural history. Tui De Roy's award-winning photographs accompany each species account, adding allure and gob-smacking illustrations. 
     Whose heart does not skip a beat when studying Darwin's finches? A special chart explains their distribution at a glance, followed by an examination of their origin and evolution and the impact of natural selection and adaptive radiation. Concise, accurate, beautifully presented - and all in a guide that slips easily into a pocket.



     This is a first rate publication from front cover to back and is destined to become the default bird guide for the visitor to these enchanted isles. 
     No one will leave home without it!

A Pocket Guide to Birds of Galápagos - Princeton University Press
Tui De Roy
Paperback - US$17.95 - ISBN: 9780691233635
136 pages - 4.75 x 6.25 inches (11.875 x 15.625 cm)
616 colour photographs - 33 maps
Publication date: 29 November, 2022     


David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

59 comments:

  1. I think this is a great little book to carry with you when you're out shooting birds.
    Greetings Irma

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  2. My partner's trip to the Galapagos still fills me with envy. And this book looks and sounds like a gem.

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    1. It has always been a dream for me, but it's a pretty expensive trip. The two places I still yearn to visit are Galápagos and Antarctica, but I doubt that I will make it to either one. Boo hoo!

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  3. It would be nice to have a book and a guide on a bird watching hike for a beginner.

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  4. Sounds like a great book. I always wanted to visit the Galapagos islands but never made it, pity! Big hugs, Valerie

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  5. ...a guide to a place that most likely I will never see.

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    1. You along with most of the population of the Earth, Tom.

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    2. Hari OM
      Yes, but with books such as this, one can travel 'virtually'! YAM xx

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  6. If I had a bucket list of places that I'd like to visit, David, Galapagos would undoubtedly be on it, and I would need this book. Sadly, I now find that my natural history book aquisition mainly needs to be confined to volumes that I will find useful to supplement my UK observations as I don't see myself leaving UK ever again.

    Best wishes to you and Miriam - - - Richard

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    1. I understand perfectly, Richard. Many of us will become armchair birders, I am sure. I am not quite there yet. I have organized a trip for eight to Cuba next February and have already received requests to repeat it in November.

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  7. A friend from New Zealand spent time on the Galapagos in a scientific capacity and I'm sure this will make an excellent present for her. Thanks for the heads up.

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  8. I don't know how to say it in French, but "Holy Moly"! I may have broken the code on getting back to your blog! Time will tell.

    If this is successful, thank you for another excellent book review!
    What a magnificent cauldron of natural wonders. Perhaps it is best that it remains beyond the reach of most of us.

    Meanwhile, thanks to David, we can now all carry one of our dreams right in our pocket!

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    1. Happy to see you back, Wally. Fingers crossed it works reciprocally.

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  9. I will almost certainly never go to the Galapagos in person.
    I would happily buy the book.
    Hugs and greetings.

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  10. Looks like a good guide to the birds of a very interesting place. Like yourself, I doubt if I’ll see it on this life’s journey. Something I think you will smile about: As you will know, some of my recent posts have included the Canada Goose. Imagine my surprise when Gmail started providing unsolicited ads from a company named Canada Goose. Coincidental, or is Google watching me carefully? 😊 The clothing company does have some really nice offerings, yet a little bit on the pricy side.

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    1. I think that Google even knows what colour socks you are wearing, John! Yes, Canada Goose is a high end clothing supplier, but as you say very pricey. I do not own any Canada Goose products!

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  11. Oh yes, these islands are to be done in one's life. But the French Southern Territories too ;-) It is colder ah ah ah .
    My guide from Ecuador told me to come to the Galapagos, unfortunately it's a month of the year when I can't leave the house :(
    Maybe this guide will help me one day!

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  12. The world of Galapagos is fascinating. I've been watching documentaries with her for years.

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  13. It must be a very intresting place to visit, David. It must also be wonderful to walk in Darwin's footsteps.
    Hugs and kisses, Marit

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    1. I have visited areas of Patagonia where he visited, Marit, and you are right there is a special feeling about it. Hugs and kisses - David

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  14. Without a doubt, an extraordinary guide, now I regret not having been able to count on her in 2018, the year I visited the Galapagos Islands. I would be very interested to know details of your trip to Cuba in February. It is one of the places that I would love to visit for its beautiful endemism. A big hug David.

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    1. Send me your email address and I will send you an outline of the trip. This will be my fourth visit to Cuba.

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  15. Querido amigo David, un viaje a las Islas Galápagos tiene que ser todo un sueño que ya nunca podre ver realizado. Así que me quedo con las especies y sus fotografías que pueda ver a través de la red, así como sus explicaciones. Por lo que comentas es un libro que se hace imprescindible para aquellos que puedan disfrutar de tan maravilloso viaje.
    Como siempre es habitual en ti, dejas una extraordinaria reseña del mismo.
    Un gran abrazo estimado, amigo y compadre David.

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  16. Buena guía para llevar encima y consultar en cualquier momento.

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  17. How I would love to visit there but sadly it will never happen. If I was to go I would certainly travel with book in hand.
    Keep warm, Cheers Diane

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    Replies
    1. Gee, and I was counting on you to take me with you!

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  18. A place many of us would like to see.

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  19. I'm sure this book is a wonderful help for people going there...

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  20. Un libro super interesante, me encantaría tenerlo.Besos y abrazos.

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  21. Hello David, that sounds like a great book. Galapagos Islands always facinated me sinds I was a little girl. A place I would love to vissit but that I think will remain a wish not come true.
    Regards,
    Roos

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  22. There are so many birds to learn about. I like having a book specific to an area.

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  23. It would be an amazing place to visit but I could at least get the book and enjoy that, couldn't I? Great review and thanks so much for leaving me a nice message of comfort on my blog. Your friend, Diane

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  24. Galapagos is a place out of reach for me, as much as I would like to see it. And maybe that's a good thing, because if I could make it there, many other people could as well, and do we really want that much tourism into places like Galapagos or Antarctica? They would just be trashed eventually like so many other beautiful places as well. So let's leave these places to the scientists, read and learn about them, but otherwise keep on dreaming.

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  25. Many years ago my husband visited the Galápagos Islands when he worked for the UN and was endeavouring to protect and save our oceans.
    I have a rather loose connection to Charles Darwin. My grandmother's aunt married into the Darwin family, and when the aunt died she left everything to my grandmother and her sister. There were many interesting pieces including a FitzRoy barmometer - FitzRoy was the captain of the HMS Beagle during Darwin's voyage.

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    1. Darwin and FitzRoy had a difficult, sometimes turbulent relationship. Have you read "The Voyage of the HMS Beagle?"

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  26. Con esa maravillosa portada tiene que ser un guía fantástica. Gracias por compartir David, un fuerte abrazo desde el norte de España.

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  27. Probably a place that I will never visit, but I'm sure they are amazing islands with their unique animals and plants.

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  28. Sounds like this book is useful for many bird lovers, David. You are lucky to have him.

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  29. I've always been fascinated by the Galapagos because of the Darwin connection. Even though I likely will never go there, I would be happy to have this guide.

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  30. This is definitely a place I have always wanted to visit. The pocket book would be a must take item. Thank you for sharing this.

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  31. Oh, how I would love a trip to the Galapagos and have a need for this book!

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    1. Make sure you take me with you, Amy. I will be your guide, bon vivant and co wine-quaffer!

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  32. This book sounds brilliant :)

    All the best Jan

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    1. Given the combination of this author, the subjects and the location, brilliance is virtually assured.

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  33. Very interesting book!....Galapagos is a place to go....I love islands in general for their unique biodiversity .......Abrazotes, Marcela

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  34. We lived in Ecuador for many years, but the cost to visit the Galapagos was so high that we never went. I regret that now. However, our eldest daughter's AP Biology field trip was a cruise around the Galapagos with a guide. I envy her that!

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    1. I visited Ecuador twice and very much enjoyed my time there. Not a place that would induce me to live there, however.

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  35. Merci pour la visite.
    Ce livre doit en effet être passionnant.
    Bonne journée

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  36. Hello David,
    Another great review and book. The Galapagos is a dream trip for me, I would love to see the birds in Galapagos and Ecuador. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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    1. Ecuador is very doable, Eileen. So is Galápagos for that matter, but a whole lot more expensive.

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  37. Hi David - I love that photo ... delightful. I'd also love to see the book ... cheers belatedly! Hilary

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  38. I imagine that it must be a very good field guide, ideal for visiting these islands, a dream for me that I don't think I can achieve. Cheers

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  39. Dobry kieszonkowy przewodnik po ptakach to skarb! Moje wszystkie są mocno zużyte.

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