Great Auk Islands: A Field Biologist in the Arctic

Poyser Monographs

by Tim Birkhead

This is an extraordinary book describing the biology of species living in one of the harshest environments on earth, providing a fascinating insight into the way that scientists conduct their studies. Author of many successful ornithology books (including The Magpies and Sperm Competition in Birds), Tim Birkhead has developed a polished and engaging style which makes this book an informative, evocative and lively read.
"a treasure that you should immediately add to your bird book collection."
--Ron Naveen in the Bird Book Review


* Clever blend of biology, travelogue and philosophy of science.
* Evocative setting in Canadian arctic.
* Text is enriched by David Quinn's superb illustrations and numerous photographs in black and white and colour.
* A fine primer for research students into the how and why of research.
* Well known author with polished writing style.

Hardcover

First published November 25, 1997

About the author

Tim Birkhead is an award-winning author and one of the world’s leading bird biologists. He is the coauthor of Ten Thousand Birds: Ornithology since Darwin (Princeton) and the author of The Wonderful Mr. Willughby: The First True Ornithologist, The Most Perfect Thing: The Inside (and Outside) of a Bird’s Egg, and Bird Sense: What It’s Like to Be a Bird, among other books. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and professor emeritus of zoology at the University of Sheffield.