Animals

The ultimate resource for dog lovers, the ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs is the authoritative volume on selecting and caring for any kind of dog. In the ASPCA tradition, this book has a strong focus on mixed breedsa major difference from most other dog books, which describe only purebreds. At over 500 pages with more than 650 illustrations and photos, this guide covers everything dog owners need to know to give their dog the best possible care at every stage of life, including advice on bathing and grooming, training and exercise, and the special needs of puppies and older dogs. For anyone thinking about getting a dog or seeking to understand the one they have, this lively book is the place to turn for trustworthy information on all canine matters.

In 2012, McCagg and her husband, Carl built an off-grid, solar-powered house in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. It was to be a weekend getaway for the writer ("what's this pitchfork for?") and trombonist (a wannabe farmer). In December, with two cats and six newly adopted chicks, they drove up to Jaffrey from their home in Providence, Rhode Island, ostensibly just for the winter so their new pipes wouldn't freeze. . . . But their hen "Rhoda Red" turned out to be "Big Red." Roosters are outlawed by Providence city regulations, so Big Red couldn't go back. Thus, writes McCagg, "neither did we. Survival of the fittest. Natural selection. Soul evolution. We named our 193-acre home "Darwin's View" for a reason." Chicken kerfuffles lighten the mood, but this story is born of heartbreak, of yearning for the great beauty of the world as it used to be. As she moves from full-time weekender to organic gardener, McCagg's interlaces her tale with her mother's battle with Parkinson's, braiding both Mother and Mother Nature. Add the sun, the wind, and a cock-a-doodle-do, and you have the recipe for a perfect storm of personal growth rippling out to effect a larger transformation.

Birds are a very visible and entertaining form of wildlife. These colorful visitors provide hours of entertainment as they bathe, feed, court, and nest. With expert guidance from the National Audubon Society, you can learn how to create a bird-friendly environment in your own backyard. Whether situated in a city or in the countryside, you'll get the practical information you need on using gardens, food, water, and nesting sites to entice birds to visit. With more than 1,000 spectacular full-color photographs, The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher profiles the 100 most familiar garden birds and the reasons behind their intriguing antics. Finally available in paperback, this perennial bestseller is the ultimate resource for anyone interested in creating a bird-friendly habitat in their backyard.

The astonishing story of the soldiers, conservationists, and ordinary Iraqis who united to save the animals of the Baghdad Zoo

When the Iraq war began, conservationist Lawrence Anthony could think of only one thing: the fate of the Baghdad Zoo, caught in the crossfire at the heart of the city. Once Anthony entered Iraq he discovered that hostilities and uncontrolled looting had devastated the zoo and its animals. Working with members of the zoo staff and a few compassionate U.S. soldiers, he defended the zoo, bartered for food on war-torn streets, and scoured bombed palaces for desperately needed supplies.

Babylon's Ark chronicles Anthony's hair-raising efforts to save a pride of Saddam's lions, close a deplorable black-market zoo, run ostriches through shoot-to-kill checkpoints, and rescue the dictator's personal herd of Thoroughbred Arabian horses. A tale of the selfless courage and humanity of a few men and women living dangerously for all the right reasons, Babylon's Ark is an inspiring and uplifting true-life adventure of individuals on both sides working together for the sake of magnificent wildlife caught in a war zone.

A stunning full-color guide to one of America's most popular hobbies, with a region-by-region approach that unlocks the key to quick and easy bird identification.

Some 63 million Americans report that they enjoy observing their avian friends from their homes, and newcomers join the backyard bird-watching ranks all the time. But how do backyard birders learn who's who when typical field guides bombard them with choices that take forever to sort out?

The Backyard Bird Lover's Field Guide keeps it simple with a regional approach that cuts the possibilities down to size. Instead of poring over hundreds of species that don't come anywhere near our own backyard, readers will find about 30 of the most likely prospects for each of seven regions of the country. Each entry is packed with advice on favorite foods, welcoming plants, and other temptations to lure birds to the backyard, along with glimpses into the birds' personalities.

Sally Roth has a gift for conveying her passion for the subject along with her extensive knowledge. "Roth's love for birds and her hands-on practical experience are inspiring," say Sharon Dunn and Michael Dunn, owners of the Duncraft Birdfeeding Catalog, about Roth's Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible. Filled with you-can-do-it features, such as tricks to help birders identify birds in a flash and ways to avoid confusing two similar birds, this new field guide will receive similar praise.

Become the best bird host in your neighborhood. Let The Backyard Bird Feeder's Bible by Sally Roth be your guide to the foods and feeders, plants and projects that will guarantee you a yard that's absolutely brimming with birds!

BACKYARD BIRDS IS AN EXCITING SERIES of books that explores the top twenty-five backyard birds most commonly found in each state. It includes a profiled size scale that allows the reader to quickly identify the correct bird, and each bird entry is accompanied by a stunning color photograph and specific description, including identification marks, behavior, habitat, and nesting style-even the song the bird makes! As an added feature, author Bill Fenimore also provides expert tips for building the ultimate backyard bird sanctuary, from creating birdbaths and planting proper foliage to offering a bird's favorite foods.

Fenimore was awarded the Ludlow Griscom Award, the American Birding Association's highest honor.

Bird-watching is one of the most popular activities in the United States, with approximately fifty-one million bird-watchers nationwide.

Bird-watching is a $6 million business.

More than $400 million is spent each year on bird-related magazines and books.

The series will soon include all fifty states.

Author is a franchisee of Wild Bird Center, which has more than eighty locations in twenty-nine states.

Bill Fenimore is owner of the National Best Environmental Stewardship Award-winning Wild Bird Center franchise in Layton, Utah. He conducts seminars and workshops that educate the public about birds and their critical habitat needs, and he leads birding field trips for clients from around the globe.

Get to know birds by ear with this engaging, one-of-a-kind book. Discover seventy-five unique species from Eastern and Central North America as you enjoy their sounds at the touch of a button-reproduced in high quality on the attached digital audio module-while reading vivid descriptions of their songs, calls, and related behaviors. Learn what Black-capped Chickadees are thinking as they give their unmistakable namesake call, or find out why many songbirds have dialects that vary from region to region. Complete with up-to-date range maps and more than 130 sounds provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's world-renowned Macaulay Library, as well as exquisite illustrations of each species, The Backyard Birdsong Guide will resonate with beginners and experts alike.