The Little Book of Wetland Bird Sounds

The sound of birdsong seems to have been louder and more joyful than ever this spring, but perhaps that is thanks to this wonderful series of books in teaching us to recognise individual bird sounds. The marriage of a soundbar including twelve different bird sounds with photos and information works brilliantly. All the recordings are of excellent quality and of a sufficient length to be helpful in recognising a bird’s unique call. And what could be more magical than the soulful cry of the curlew or the haunting call of the black-throated diver. The honking of the mute swan and the explosive calls of the coot, the chatter of the reed warbler and the quacking of mallards are familiar sounds to one who grew up alongside water, but the alarm call of the kingfisher was entirely unfamiliar, and the avocet all-too rarely heard. Plenty of useful information on habitat, nesting and behaviour is included in each bird portrait, along with snippets of interesting facts. Produced in association with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) the cover gives brief details on where to find out more about visiting the ten wetland centres and reserves in the UK. There is also a helpful note on replacing the batteries to prolong the life of the book. If you don’t already know this excellent series, look out for the companion volumes The Little Book of Garden Bird Songs, Woodland Bird Songs and Night Time Animal Sounds.