Plumage

Bowland Beth: The Life of an English Hen Harrier , Hörbuch, Digital, ungekürzt, 188min

The story of the short life and tragic death of Bowland Beth - an English hen harrier - which dramatically highlights the major issues in UK conservation. 'The sun was blood red as it broke the horizon and lit the communal roost where the female hen harrier had spent the night. She watched the other harriers as they left to go foraging for food out on the moor. She didn't join them, for she had felt a quickening in her body, an urge to move to Mallowdale Pike, a rocky crag from where she had fledged nine months ago. After preening, she lifted off from the roost and soared up over the fell.' David Cobham enters Beth's world to show what being a hen harrier today is like. He immerses himself not only in the day-to-day regimen of her life, the hours of hunting, bathing, keeping her plumage in order and roosting, but also the fear of living in an environment run to provide packs of driven grouse for a few wealthy sportsmen to shoot. The hen harrier is seen as a totemic species in the battle between the conservationists and ruralists, and, as one of the key players in this emotive debate, David Cobham is uniquely placed to reflect on Beth's story. In this powerful narrative, he provides us with a profound tale which helps to illuminate the larger implications of the species' decline, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to reverse this. ungekürzt. Language: English. Narrator: Dugald Bruce-Lockhart. Audio sample: https://samples.audible.de/bk/hcuk/003015/bk_hcuk_003015_sample.mp3. Digital audiobook in aax.

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Price: 9.95 EUR excl. shipping

Odd Couples: Extraordinary Differences Between the Sexes in the Animal Kingdom , Hörbuch, Digital, ungekürzt, 424min

While we joke that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, our gender differences can't compare to those of other animals. For instance: the male garden spider spontaneously dies after mating with a female more than fifty times his size. Female cichlids must guard their eggs and larvae--even from the hungry appetites of their own partners. And male blanket octopuses employ a copulatory arm longer than their own bodies to mate with females that outweigh them by four orders of magnitude. Why do these gender gulfs exist? Introducing readers to important discoveries in animal behavior and evolution, Odd Couples explores some of the most extraordinary sexual differences in the animal world. From the fields of Spain to the deep oceans, evolutionary biologist Daphne Fairbairn uncovers the unique and bizarre characteristics--in size, behavior, ecology, and life history--that exist in these remarkable species and the special strategies they use to maximize reproductive success. Fairbairn describes how male great bustards aggressively compete to display their gorgeous plumage and large physiques to watching, choosey females. She investigates why female elephant seals voluntarily live in harems where they are harassed constantly by eager males. And she reveals why dwarf male giant seadevils parasitically fuse to their giant female partners for life. Fairbairn also considers humans and explains that although we are keenly aware of our own sexual differences, they are unexceptional within the vast animal world. Looking at some of the most amazing creatures on the planet, Odd Couples sheds astonishing light on what it means to be male or female in the animal kingdom. ungekürzt. Language: English. Narrator: Kristin Kalbli. Audio sample: https://samples.audible.de/bk/adbl/012049/bk_adbl_012049_sample.mp3. Digital audiobook in aax.

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Price: 9.95 EUR excl. shipping

RSPB Complete Birds of Britain and Europe

Lavishly illustrated throughout with crystal-clear photography, this guide is the essential reference for the novice and experienced birdwatcher. This large format book starts with an extensively illustrated introduction, describing bird characteristics and behaviour. It also surveys the varied habitats in which birds may be spotted, including urban parks and gardens. The 330 most commonly seen species are given a full-page entry in the species catalogue. See birds in their natural habitat and learn about characteristic behaviour with stunning photos showing adults in typical plumage, with male, female, juvenile, and summer or winter variations to help you identify birds quickly and easily. Colour-coded maps highlight resident and migratory distributions so you know which species of birds to expect when you are out and about. Within this bird book for adults there are key details and descriptions of rare species and accidental visitors to Britain and Europe.The new edition of RSPB Complete Birds of Britain and Europe includes access to a free-download audio app, which features recordings of birdsong and calls for the most commonly occurring species - so that species can be identified by sound and by sight.Whether you are looking for a guide to help you take part in the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch or a bird-watching gift for friends and family, this bird watching book is essential for quick and easy bird identification of European and British birds.

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Price: 31.99 EUR excl. shipping

Murder by Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento (eBook, ePUB)

This book covers the films of Dario Argento, Italy's acknowledged master of horror and suspense, has made a career out of exploring the macabre poetry of images of violent death. He did not, however, set out to be a filmmaker. He established himself early on as a progressive voice in film criticism-lavishing praise on directors like Sergio Leone, who had yet to receive their due from the Italian critical establishment. His efforts attracted the attention of Leone himself, who invited the young critic to help develop the story for his next feature. The end result, Once Upon a Time in the West, is often cited as a masterpiece-and from there, Argento went on to enjoy success as a screenwriter before making the all-important switch to directing. His directorial debut, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, became a major hit and helped to popularize the floundering genre of Italian thrillers, also known as gialli. In the years since, Argento has established a high profile as one of Italian cinema's most commercially successful artists, earning a level of celebrity which is almost unheard of among film directors. His filmography includes such beloved gems as Deep Red, Suspiria, Inferno, and Phenomena, as well as more hotly-debated titles like The Stendhal Syndrome, The Phantom of the Opera, Sleepless, and Mother of Tears. Murder by Design: The Unsane Cinema of Dario Argento explores the full scope of his work as a writer, a producer, and a director. Lavishly illustrated and with newly conducted interviews with Dario Argento, as well as such colleagues as actress (and daughter) Fiore Argento, actress Sally Kirkland, actress Irene Miracle, composer Claudio Simonetti, and cinematographer Luciano Tovoli, the book provides a comprehensive overview of Argento's life, career, and rich cinematic legacy.

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Price: 9.49 EUR excl. shipping