As cities grow and housing becomes more dense, elements of nature have adapted and birds are the focus of this book. We share our living environment with many species and WELCOME TO SUBIRDIA introduces them, proposing nine steps we can take to make birds more welcome, such as providing nest boxes and winter food; limiting cat foraging hours; putting stickers or blinds on high windows.

John Marzluff tells us that birds prey on insects, rodents and garden pests; they delight us with colour, song and activity; they make seasonal migrations through our territory or reside all year round. From the start of crop- farming and city-dwelling five thousand years ago we have attracted some creatures and dispersed others. Following us to cluster in cities, or brought there, we today find the rock pigeon, house sparrow, starling, mallard duck and Canada goose widely dispersed. Other inhabitants however are local specialists, from hummingbirds to owls, enjoying backyards and city parks. Birds are described as avoiders, adapters or exploiters of built environments.

Suburbs are where Marzluff finds the greatest tally of species, as urban land merges with rural and riverine and individual gardens provide habitat diversity. Radio transmitters, mist nets, leg rings and patient study are all described in the search to identify, count and track birds. America has probably lost the ivory-billed woodpecker, victim of enthusiastic logging, but other birds are better adapters. For instance, Marzluf says that swallows, which swoop low to catch insects, are often killed over roads; surviving birds have longer, thinner bodies to swerve more quickly away from cars, so these are the ones which will breed.

While mainland America is the main location studied, other areas cited include England and Hawaii. The delightful illustrations by Jack Delapp show us the birds in their natural environments, whether that is a shopping area or a forest. Other creatures living in built environments such as golf courses include frogs, salamanders, turtles, snakes; don't forget abundant insects. Anyone studying ecology will find much food for thought in the lively WELCOME TO SUBIRDIA. Keen birdwatchers as well as those just getting started will be thrilled to know that so many species thrive just outside the door.