Albatross: Their World, Their Ways

First, I have a passion and strong interest in albatross. I enjoy observing and photographing them. Equally I enjoy reading about these magnificent seabirds. This said, this book would have to be one of most informative books I have purchased on the subject. It is well written, filled with thousands of facts and figures, is easy to read and has excellent diagrams, maps and photographs throughout. One aspect of the book which brings it above others is that it deals with all albatross species and discusses each in turn, while providing ideal comparative charts and photographs of the different species. The section which deals with research is also very interesting and informative. I knew quite a bit about albatross before reading this book. Now, I have a more thorough understanding of the various species, their habitats, locations, statistics and current research. This review is rather short - not because there is nothing to write about, but because nothing negative can be said about this book - it is excellent. If you're interested in the albatross, then this book is a definite must have. This book is highly recommended in every respect.

I will not rehash what the previous 3 reviewers have said except to confirm that the book is absolutely stunning and belongs in everyone's library who loves these birds. The photography is first class, with great compositions, exposure and stunning detail. The text is well written and provides great insight into the Albatross and the challenges this seabird faces. The book is worth every penny.

I got turned on to this book by Carol Ann Bassett in her wonderful book Galapagos at the Crossroads: Pirates, Biologists, Tourists, and Creationists Battle for Darwin's Cradle of Evolution. I was so inspired by the authors' pictures and text that I even wrote a poem to the sooty albatross. Combined with Carl Safina's Eye of the Albatross: Visions of Hope and Survival, this book leads us to understand much more about the bird that makes the winds to blow. Having been a bird watcher for a number of decades, I have never been on a pelagic trip to the great upwelling at Cordell Bank not far from where I live. Reading this book I understand the excitement of my friends who have gone out and my brother who substituted for me when I hurt my plantar tendon and could not stand on a rocking boat. What more is there to say. As the authors show us so clearly, dense masses of albatrosses on barren rocky islands represent an aspect of nature that should be as isolated and alien to us as any on this planet. And yet humans who learned to sail the antipodes have directly and, now even more, indirectly decimated populations. Longline mortality is bad enough but chick carcasses with flotsam of plastic and other industrial garbage is incomprehensible. Out of sight out of mind is no longer tolerable. It is hard to know how to stop such impact except by radically restricting how much and what kind things we use in life. Albatross on their rocky outcroppings or amidst megaherbs on forbidding islands challenge us to live differently. I thank the authors for their intriguing and inspiring book. "I wanna be a sooty albatross./ No gooney bird nor mollymawk.-----" Charlie Fisher author of Dismantling Discontent: Buddha's Way Through Darwin's World

This is the best book of its type (non-technical, non-identification related bird family book) that I have seen. It provides just about everything that you could want to know about these amazing birds. The book is split into three main sections. The first is an introduction to the various groups of albatrosses, with each of the eight groupings getting its own chapter. The author is obviously very familiar with these birds, and the personal anecdotes and observations greatly adds to this section. The second part is a collection of 18 essays, each by a different expert on these birds (researchers, ornithologists, etc). They cover a broad range of topics, but mostly deal with conservation. Unfortunately, this is a necessity since most albatross species are threatened, and many are very much endangered. The final section is a brief overview of the albatross family, and individual species accounts for each of the 22 species that the authors recognize. These accounts are great for a book such as this, and include just about everything that you could ask for. As good as the text is, the photography is even better. The images are consistently beautiful and awe-inspiring; I found myself amazed anew with every page turned. In addition to all of this, there is also an introduction by Carl Safina (a modified excerpt from his wonderful Eye of the Albatross: Visions of Hope and Survival), a list of the best places to see albatrosses, books and websites for further reading, and a glossary.

I have to say this books is the best Albatross book I ever read! The price for this book is very cheap for the material and quality of photographs this book has to offer. The info in this book is also up to date on Albatrosses! This book is the cheaptest alternative on through treatment of Albatrosses.