Owls

Appealing not just to keen birdwatchers but also to budding naturalists and all those with a passing interest in birds, copies of Chris Mead’s original work are still sought after. This amazingly informative book has now been redesigned and republished as the first volume in The British Natural History Collection. The original text has been brought right up to date by Mike Toms of the British Trust for Ornithology.
Now includes colour photographs
The book is illustrated throughout bybeautiful and accurate line drawings and cartoons by renowned wildlife artist Guy Troughton. This special edition also features an eight-page gallery of stunning colour images by bird photographer Mark Hancox including his photograph of a Short-eared Owl, winner of the BirdGuides Photo of the Year 2010 competition.

‘The book on owls is significant as it is the first volume in this publisher’s new series “The British Natural Hisory Collection”. To mark this historic event from a publisher that is renowned for its important natural history series this is an updated classic from Chris Mead…
‘If you want to know anything about owls then this the book for you. The subjects are far reaching not only for the fascinating natural history about owls but also controversial issues such as toxic chemicals and gamekeepers.
‘I particularly liked the sections on folklore and country names…
The hardback covers give the book a tactile feel and is to be welcomed as are the series of colour photographs by Mark Hancox ad the cover painting, in colour, by Guy Troughton.
This new collection will include original works and updated classics and this Volume 1 is a must to start a valuable collection for the future.’ – Ray Collier, Highland Group Newspapers

‘Owls’ is the first volume in the new British Natural History Collection from Whittet Books, and it seems very collectable to me. The first thing you can’t help noticing is that it’s a superbly crafted hardback, just the right size and shape to be carried and read almost anywhere (I wouldn’t trust myself with it near a bath, for example). The paper is good quality, the pages are not just glued but stitched, and the text is cleanly laid out. On almost every page there’s a black-and-white illustration by Guy Troughton, beautiful as well as informative…
‘I’m no birder, so maybe many people will already know all of the many new things which I learnt from this book, but perhaps this book is aimed at people like me – people who appreciate wildlife without knowing as much as we’d like – as much as the real owl enthusiasts. But with such a beautiful book I expect it will be popular with all sorts of people…
‘Chris Mead, Mike Toms Guy Troughton, and Mark Hancox deserve a wide audience for this beautiful book.’
– The Ranger’s Blog, Naturenet.net
For the full review please see http://naturenet.net/blogs/index.php/2011/10/03/p876#more876