Product Description

Bradt's fully illustrated wildlife guides focus on regions of the world particularly celebrated for their amazing and often unique species. With spectacular photography or exclusive watercolour drawings throughout, each visitors' guide provides an introduction to the region's principal flora and fauna alongside suggested wildlife itineraries, practical information on when to go and what to take, and photography tips. Written in a deliberately engaging way, they offer something different from dry field guides, and will appeal to the interested layman as much as the wildlife devotee. Ideal as a lightweight companion to any wildlife trip they also make a handsome souvenir.
A superbly illustrated and attractive new edition of this traveller's companion to the wildlife of the Antarctic wilderness. Dafila Scott's illustrations provide the perfect accompaniment to naturalist Tony Soper's immaculate text. This guide provides full coverage of plumage and identification, breeding and nesting, feeding and the best locations to observe the varied species to be found in Antarctica.
* Illustrated in full colour throughout with specially commissioned watercolour paintings * Authoritative writing by TV naturalist Tony Soper * Species identification, behaviour and habitats and conservation guidelines for visitors * History of discovery and exploration

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #59118 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Review
'Few people can claim to be thoroughly familiar with Antarctic wildlife. Most of us visiting the deep south are doing so for the first time and thirst for some authoritative guidance. Here, at last, is the book we have been waiting for.' --Sir David Attenborough

'Sebsational! The most concise and accurate account on the market.' --Peter Harrison, top ornithologist

'For anyone Antarctica bound, this is the book. Tony Soper's facts and Dafila Scott's drawings cover the essentials of all the living things you will see and introduce the drama of the stage itself. Vital as long johns.' --Keith Shackleton

'Sebsational! The most concise and accurate account on the market.' --Peter Harrison, top ornithologist

'For anyone Antarctica bound, this is the book. Tony Soper's facts and Dafila Scott's drawings cover the essentials of all the living things you will see and introduce the drama of the stage itself. Vital as long johns.' --Keith Shackleton

About the Author
Tony Soper is a veteran natural-history presenter, film maker, lecturer and author. Dafila Scott is an artist and zoologist, member of the Society of Wildlife Artists and Scott of the Antarctic's grand-daughter.

Customer Reviews

A beautiful and practical wildlife guide
This guide covers the wildlife found South of The Antarctic Convergence (the area where the warm currents coming south meet the cold currents going north). Whilst this is logical in geographical and natural history terms, it may be a disappointment to those whose holiday includes the Falkland Islands that although South Georgia is covered the Falklands are not. I do not know how much of a problem this will turn out to be in practice.

The book concentrates mainly on birds and marine mammals, although there are two or three pages on each of terrestrial plants and insects, marine invertebrates and fish. Dafila Scott's illustrations are a delight, being works of art in their own right as well as showing the identifying features clearly. Most species are allocated two pages, including distribution maps and information on behaviour and feeding habits as well as field characteristics. A particularly useful feature of the pages on whales is pictures of the outlines of the different species as seen above the water, and the shape of the "blow" - a very practical addition to the usual pictures of the whole whale as if stuffed in a glass case!

An introductory chapter on the discovery and exploitation of the wildlife of the area provides an interestingly different slant from the usual information on the discovery and exploration of the continent.A final detail which will be useful when comparing notes with people of other nationalities is a list of the names of the birds and animals in English, French, German and Spanish.

I had hesitated over ordering this book as I was also purchasing the Lonely Planet Guide to Antarctica, which has a 30-page wildlife guide. I have not regretted my decision. Although the additional information is not enormous, and some people may feel the Lonely Planet Guide is adequate for their needs, I felt that this book is well worth buying for its beauty and clarity. It may seem a little expensive for a mere 144 pages, but it is light to carry!

A good overview of the main species
This is a brief guide to the main species that you will see on a trip to the Antarctic and if you are visiting for the general experience rather than from the perspective of a budding Attenborough/Soper/Oddie (enter name a fave naturalist here) then it'll be good value and not take up too much valuable baggage allowance.
The drawings are attractive and clear, and the text authoritative, so it will add a lot to the experience by making sure that you know what you're looking at and is therefore heartily recommended. You'll soon be telling the difference between a Skua and GP (Giant Petrel) at a glance !
However, the enthusiastic wildlife watcher will want "The Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife" which will enable accurate identification of all species, rather than the top 50 - but at a price.