Urban PeregrinesBy Ed Drewitt Pelagic Publishing, 2014; hbk, 224pp; many colour photographs ISBN 978-1-907807-81-7 Subbuteo code M24176 £24.99 Another book on Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus? Well yes, but one with a difference, and surely there can't be too many books about 'the ultimate bird'. This is a fascinating volume, written with an infectious enthusiasm that will appeal to experienced watchers and beginners alike. Following a foreword by Chris Packham, the book is split into 11 chapters, covering areas such as 'How to study Peregrines', 'People and Peregrines' and 'Myths about Peregrines', as well as such thorny issues such as 'Peregrines and Pigeons'. Throughout, the focus is on studying Peregrines in urban environments, on ringing, prey species and how to collect and identify prey items. The closer relationship with humans brought about through their use of towns and cities has, in part, allowed us to study urban Peregrines in greater detail, and this comes across well in this book. Facts about the Peregrine are presented in an informative and interesting way that appeals to a wide audience: for example, Peregrines in a stoop fly in a curve rather than straight at their prey, and the G-force they experience is considerably more than a fighter pilot! Each of the very readable chapters is brimming with facts and complemented by photographs of a high standard that beautifully illustrate its pages and complement the adjacent text. I found few mistakes, although the maps on pp. 136-137 would have been better with only one arrow illustrating the direction of migration. I personally would not have included the ghoulish photo of the Common Gull Larus canus on p. 78, and occasionally I found that similar information was reused in different parts of the book. This book provides sound recommendations for those who want to set up Peregrine projects in towns and to study both the birds and their prey. I have personally been involved with urban Peregrines for seven years but still learnt much from the wealth of knowledge contained in this book, and have already returned to re-read some chapters a second time. With the Peregrine population increasing in southern England, and many birds adapting to an urban setting, what better opportunity can there be to get young people involved in wildlife than by introducing them to the fastest bird in the world? Here it is, right on their doorstep; and this book certainly helps the process. Anyone with an interest in Peregrines will want to buy this book, but especially those who want to be involved in an urban Peregrine project, and I can highly recommend it. Mike Wallen Buy this book from the British Birds bookshop, which is run by Subbuteo Natural History Books This means that 5% of all sales generated by British Birds subscribers, whether it is books reviewed in the journal, featured on its book page or listed on the Subbuteo website, will be paid to British Birds - and will directly support the production of the journal.
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