1) The Handicap Principle--A missing piece of Darwin's puzzle by
Amotz & Avishag Zahavi 1997 Oxford Press 286pp.

I have not finished reading but for you Tweeters interested in
animal (including birds) behavior this book describes a most
fascinating hypothesis on predator/ prey communications. The
Zahavis are Israeli scientists who have conducted long term
field studies on a group of Babblers( Turdoides squamiceps )
thrasher-like birds that are an arid habitat species.
A wide range of species (other than birds) are treated.
The so called handicap principle described prey species'
signals to predators --Hey,I'm in top condition so don't waste
your energy trying to catch me. Early on this idea was not well
received. However, now it is considered a creditable
explanation for certain behavior patterns. Courting behavior
signals are discussed as well.

2) The Forgotten Pollinators--S.L. Buchmann & Gary Paul Nabhan
1996 Island Press 292 pp.

Technical writing for the informed lay person. WELL DONE BOOK.
Host plant/pollinator relationships described in a wide range of
habitat types. The roles of birds, mammals, (even)
reptiles, and insect as pollinators are covered.
Selective impact(adverse) of land use practices on
host specific pollinators is worth your attention and
understanding. Six appendices contain useful info
pollinators for major crops,call for national policy, pertinent
research org's, lit cited, pollinator classes for wild
flowering plants, and common ag pesticides in use.

3) Bombardier Beetles and Fever trees--A close up look at chemical warfare
and signals in plants and animals--William Agosta 1996
Helix Books

The author is leading researcher on chemical communication
in nature -plants to plants & animals to animals
in all combinations. Factual writing.
Reference included for Burt Guttman good reading
for others as well.

4) Kingbird Highway--Kenn Kaufman 1997 Houghton Mifflin 318 pp

Kenn Kaufman is the author of Lives of North American Birds--
A RTP Natural History Companion book.

A personal account of "A Natural Obsession That Got A Little
Out Of
Hand" . An interest history of the birders' national network
prior to Email and air travel--Describes Kenn working for
the BIG LIST of NA Birds. His connections made primarily by
phone and hitch hiking. What a net work of calling and help
provided.
Interesting reading--I could relate to some of the named
birders.

I hope email preserves the original format of the report maybe not then
difficult reading Bill