Abstract
There is certainly no shortage of books for bird aficionados. The available niche for new arrivals is narrow, with competitors occupying just about every linear inch of space on the bookshelf. Keith Bildstein's latest entry onto the shelves claims―and quite effectively holds―a secure space on that ledge, creating a resource that synthesizes significant historical and recent peer-reviewed publications on raptor biology, ecology and conservation for those for whom such literature may be either academically or financially inaccessible. Written for a broad audience, from ecologists to lay people interested in birds, Raptors: the curious nature of diurnal birds of prey is one of the many recent publications that also serves to elevate scientific literacy using a charismatic group of animals to describe basic biological and ecological processes, classification and nomenclature, and key conservation issues facing many species.