* New book announcement from Oregon State University Press *

Birds of Washington: Status and Distribution
Edited by Terence R. Wahl, Bill Tweit, and Steven G. Mlodinow
Publication date: May 2005
Hardcover, 448 pages. ISBN 0-87071-049-4.

At bookstores or order 1-800-426-3797
Secure online ordering:
http://oregonstate.edu/dept/press/

"Birds of Washington" is the first complete reference work on Washington's
birds to be published in more than fifty years. Designed to enrich the
popular study of Washington birds, this comprehensive volume includes
individual accounts of the 483 species recorded in the state.

"Birds of Washington" is not a field guide for identifying birds. Instead,
it compiles and presents in a single volume current information about the
population status and distribution of each species, as well as their habitat
preferences, their seasonal activities, apparent trends and changes in
occurrence or abundance, the occurrence of subspecies, and any management or
conservation issues. Seasonal distribution maps are included for many
selected species. Nearly fifty contributing authors from all corners of the
state volunteered their time and expertise to create these authoritative
accounts, which draw on a wide range of sources, including scientific
journals, wildlife agency reports, field observations, and surveys such as
Christmas Bird Counts and Breeding Bird Surveys.

Introductory chapters describe bird habitats of Washington and changes in
status and distribution since the publication of the landmark 1953 book
"Birds of Washington State." Unlike many other state bird books, this volume
relates changes in the avian population to the effects of human population,
habitat modification, and natural events, and identifies current threats
such as forest practices, farming, fishing, irrigation, and waste
management.

While establishing a benchmark for future studies, "Birds of Washington"
provides an indispensable source of information on avian life in the state
for a broad audience of birders, wildlife biologists, land managers,
conservationists, hunters, and wildlife enthusiasts in general.

*********************

Publicity contact: Tom Booth, OSU Press, 503-796-0547, tsbooth at comcast.net