Welsh Journals

BOOK REVIEWS The Seabirds of Britain and Ireland: Stanley Cramp, W. R. P. Bourne and David Saunders: Collins: £ 3.50. Trust members will remember the 1967 pilot survey when many of us endeavoured to confirm the numbers of nesting seabirds on our coastline: perhaps better remembered is the main census task of 1969 when Operation Seafarer was mounted. David Saunders, well known to naturalists in Wales, organised the survey, the success of which can be verified by consulting this worthwhile publication. The text covers the biology of seabirds and threats to them, their present number and changing fortunes. A substantial portion of the book is devoted to the 24 species breeding regularly in Britain, and aspects covered include identification, food and feeding habits, breeding, movement, world distribution, census methods, present status and past history. Scarcer species and vagrants are also dealt with. Illustrations include photographs, and Robert Gillmor has produced line drawings and coloured plates that do much to enhance the work. Distribution maps by Crispin Fisher show very clearly the size and location of seabird colonies, and other maps deal with general distribution of seabird sites, water temperatures and salinity, plankton distribution and areas where oil spills could be a special hazard. The many appendices will appeal to those who love statistics and who need to refer to them. A pleasant book to browse through, but also a scholarly reference work indispensable for the seabird man (or woman). A Guide to the Birds of Wales: David Saunders: Constable: £ 2.50. One cannot help but wonder about the wisdom of directing the now vast population of Britain to the bird haunts of wild Wales: the author indicates something like this to be the purpose of his book and some may hope that this aim will not be overly realised. On the other hand, the author comments that the more people who watch and enjoy birds, the greater and louder the voice for bird conservation. He could be right. The opening chapter is geographical, the second historical and takes the reader through the centuries presenting, as it does so, an absorbing chronicle of the developing interest in the birds of Wales and the literature concerning them. A chapter is devoted to useful general information. The major part of the work is concerned with the birds of the 13 former Welsh counties. A map is given for each county, showing major features and the more important ornithological sites. The text describes the sites and the likely birds to be seen; it also presents useful information concerning published avifaunas, bird reports, addresses of county recorders, ornithological societies, etc. A restricted check list is given for each county, and a list of Welsh bird names is appended. The book includes excellent photographs, but many have been spoilt by an annoying double page presentation. The author has certainly done his homework in amassing the information presented, and he has produced a book of value to the wandering ornithologist. The book is eminently portable and graces my shelves. J.W.D.