Birds of Kenya & Northern Tanzania

Helm Field Guide to the B.irds of Kenya & Northern Tanzania , published by Russel Friedman Books , 1999,softcover, illustrated, index, 576 pages, condition: as new.

This field guide is an abridged edition of the authors' Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania published in 1996. It treats all species known from the region, including a few vagrants added to the avifauna subsequent to the appearance of that publication. Although the vast majority of persons who have provided us with comments on the earlier book decidedly favored its format and its detailed treatment, a significant number expressed the desire for something smaller that could be conveniently carried on foot-excursions away from their tents or safari vehicles. They still wanted all benefits of the big book' available in the field, plus something less weighty and nearer 'pocket-sized' to have with them at all times. Some serious birders dismember large regional books, separating the text from the fascicle of plates which they keep available for instant reference in a shoulder bag or ruck-sack, but most eschew such drastic measures. Although Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania was not designed for hand-carrying, we have seen several excised sets of plates bound with hard protective covers to withstand rough, prolonged use on treks in the bush. After lengthy deliberation, we decided to condense as much information as possible into a smaller and more portable format to meet the obvious demand, but we stress that this new guide is not intended as a substitute for the original book to which we refer our present readers for many details and the extensive supplementary material. Of necessity, the new species accounts are greatly abbreviated, and all have been re-written, but most of the present material has been taken directly from the original book. We have updated our treatment with occasional modifications, a few additions and corrections.