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Lords of the Air: The Smithsonian Book of Birds
Lords of the Air The Smithsonian Book of Birds Author:Jake Page, Eugene S. Morton Few creatures on this planet are more admired by human beings than birds. Masters of flight, they captivate us with their ariel powers and grace and further enchant us with their brilliant colors and melodious songs. We have even assigned meanings to birds – the eagle, the phoenix, the stork, the raven, the dove – and ado... more »pted them as symbols.
From an evolutionary point of view, birds are puzzling links to the ancient world of dinosaurs; their precise ancestry continues to cause controversy among evolutionary biologists. The fact remains, however, that birds have evolved into the most successful group of vertebrates on earth and today inhabit virtually every part of the globe from pole to pole.
The study of birds has contributed immensely to our understanding of the world. Charles Darwin’s study of finches of the Galapagos Islands helped him formulate his concept of nature’s grand design of continual change in living organisms. From an environmental standpoint, the disappearance of certain birds serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of maintaining the health of the planet.
All these perspectives are thoroughly explored in this stunning book. It is produced under the imprimatur of the Smithsonian Institution, whose role in the worldwide study of birds is historic. The text illuminates the long and rich relationship between birds and human society; the origins of birds hundreds of millions of years ago; their incredible variety; the physical requirements of flight; their subsistence and migratory patterns; and the problem of endangered species.
Featuring hundreds of magnificent full-color illustrations throughout, this book is indispensable for bird lovers everywhere« less