Marianne Taylor – författare

A uniquely personal meditation on Britain''s gulls by one of today''s leading wildlife writersFrom a distance, gulls are beautiful symbols of freedom over the oceanic wilderness. Up close, however, they can be loud, aggressive and even violent. Yet gulls fascinate birdwatchers, and seafarers regard them with respect and affection. The Gull Next Door explores the natural history of gulls and their complicated relationship with humans.Marianne Taylor grew up in an English seaside town where gulls are ever present. Today, she is a passionate advocate for these underappreciated birds. In this book, Taylor looks at the different gull species and sheds light on all aspects of the lives of gulls—how they find food, raise families, socialize and migrate across sea, coastland and countryside. She discusses the herring gull, Britain''s best-known and most persecuted gull species, whose numbers are declining at an alarming rate. She looks at gulls in legend, fiction and popular culture, and explains what we can do to protect gull populations around the world.The Gull Next Door reveals deeper truths about these remarkable birds. They are thinkers and innovators, devoted partners and parents. They lead long lives and often indulge their powerful drive to explore and travel. But for all these natural gifts, many gull species are struggling to survive in the wild places they naturally inhabit, which is why they are now exploiting the opportunities of human habitats. This book shows how we might live more harmoniously with these majestic yet misunderstood birds.

A beautifully illustrated exploration of the ways birds cohabitFeaturing dramatic and delightful wild bird colonies and communities, How Birds Live Together offers a broad overview of social living in the avian world. From long-established seabird colonies that use the same cliffs for generations to the fast-shifting dynamics of flock formation, leading wildlife writer Marianne Taylor explores the different ways birds choose to dwell together.Through fascinating text, color photos, maps, and other graphics, Taylor examines the advantages of avian sociality and social breeding. Chapters provide detailed information on diverse types of bird colonies, including those species that construct single-family nests close together in trees; those that share large, communal nests housing multiple families; those that nest in tunnels dug into the earth; those that form exposed colonies on open ground and defend them collectively, relying on ferocious aggression; those that live communally on human-made structures in towns and cities; and more. Taylor discusses the challenges, benefits, hazards, and social dynamics of each style of living, and features a wealth of species as examples.Showcasing colonies from the edge of Scotland and the tropical delta of the Everglades to the Namib Desert in Africa, How Birds Live Together gives bird enthusiasts a vivid understanding of avian social communities.

Discover the wonders of the natural world and the animals that inhabit it in this stunningly visual hardcover guide.Nature writer Marianne Taylor guides readers through the development of life on earth, from the first living cells to the astonishing diversity we see in species today. Journeying from the invertebrates, including spiders, crustaceans and insects, to fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, this fascinating book explores the animal kingdom is all its oddity and splendour. A numbers of feature spreads give a deeper focus on themes such as coral reefs, the importance of insects in ecology and the era of the dinosaurs.Sections include:• Animal Evolution• Invertebrates: insects, molluscs,• Vertebrates: fish, reptiles, birds, mammals• Ecology and conservationFeaturing superb full-color wildlife photography as well as a range of diagrams and infographics, this is a captivating guide to the wonders of the animal kingdom which can be enjoyed by the whole family.ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus'' Discovering... series brings together spectacular hardback guides which explore the science behind our world, brought to life by eye-catching photography.

From finches to flamingos, this practical guide introduces the fundamentals of drawing birds. It includes step-by-step drawing projects to break down each step, making in accessible for absolute beginners. From their proportions to their feathered textures, Drawing Birds is the perfect guide for bird-lovers and artists alike.