Birds of the Strait of Gibraltar / by Clive Finlayson ; illustrated by Ian Willis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Finlayson, Clive, 1955- author.

Contributor:

Willis, Ian, editor.

Series:

Poyser Monographs

Poyser monographs

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Birds--Migration.

Birds.

Water birds.

Gibraltar.

Mediterranean Sea--Strait of Gibraltar.

Mediterranean Sea.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (561 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London : T. & A.D. Poyser, 2010.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"The Strait of Gibraltar is famous as a major point of passage for Palaearctic birds migrating between their European breeding grounds and their winter quarters in Africa. Clive Finlayson, a native of the Rock and a trained ornithologist, presents a fascinating account of the region and its resident and transitory bird life. The first chapter of the book describes the area, which broadly defined includes the Coto Doñana in the north and the Merja Zerga in the south, and the geographic and climatological characteristics which make it a suitable crossing place. In scope this book goes beyond the strict definition of the Strait and, following Irby's 19th Century work, examines the rich area where Europe meets Africa. The chapters which follow describe in detail the migration patterns of the principal passage species including their origins, destinations and overall numbers, showing how the precise conditions of weather and visibility affect the specific choice of route and timing of the crossing. The breeding and wintering bird communities are then considered and the ornithology of the entire region summarized. Whether or not you have ever witnessed the thousands of raptors, storks and other birds that may make this legendary crossing in a single day, this book will conjure the spirit of this extraordinary place. Delightful illustrations by lan Willis complete an important and entertaining book. Illustrated by lan Willis."--Bloomsbury Publishing.

Contents:

Cover; Contents; List of Photographs; List of Figures; List of Tables; Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Migration of soaring birds; 3. Migration of other land birds; 4. Migration and wintering of waterbirds; 5. Migration of seabirds; 6. Terrestrial bird communities; 7. Wetlands; 8. The birds of the Strait-seasonality, distribution and biological importance; Appendix 1: Systematic list of the birds of the Strait of Gibraltar; Appendix 2: Dominant plant species in some habitats of the Strait of Gibraltar; Appendix 3: Mean densities of breeding birds in sites described in Chapter 6

Appendix 4: Methods used in some of the studies described in the textAppendix 5: Abbreviations used in Chapters 6 and 7; References; Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786612986383

9781472596970

1472596978

9781282986381

1282986384

9781408136966

1408136961

9781408136942

1408136945

OCLC:

742332903