How Birds Live Together: Colonies and Communities in the Avian World

How Birds Live Together offers an overarching view of the different and unexpected ways that birds nest and interact together. Many differing nesting habits are covered, from seabird cliff colonies to burrow nesters, to predator and prey nesting together and even non-social nesters, with discussions on the challenges, benefits, hazards, and social dynamics of each style of living, and features a wealth of species as examples.

The author, Marianne Taylor, has clearly done extensive research and showcases colonies from around the world, including Scottish cliff colonies, the Everglades National Park and the Namib Desert. The chapters are full of glossy photographs and maps, with many case studies discussed and species and colony profiles included. As the publisher is American, there is the odd Americanism slipped in, so there is the opportunity for learning new words too, such as 'murre', otherwise known as a Guillemot! The chapters are very readable and it is easy to pick up the narrative where you left off, making it accessible for someone entering into the world of colony birds.

Book reviewed by Gill Birtles