By: Michael A. Patten, Guy McCaskie, Philip Unitt

Hardcover

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The Salton Sea, California's largest inland lake, supports a spectacular bird population that is among the most concentrated and most diverse in the world. Sadly, this crucial stopover along the Pacific Flyway for migratory and wintering shorebirds, landbirds, and waterfowl is dangerously close to collapse from several environmental threats. This book is the first thoroughly detailed book to describe the birds of Salton Sea, more than 450 species and subspecies in all. A major contribution to our knowledge about the birds of western North America, it will also be an important tool in the struggle to save this highly endangered area.
Synthesizing data from many sources, including observations from their long-term work in the area, the authors' species accounts discuss each bird's abundance, seasonal status, movement patterns, biogeographic affinities, habitat associations, and more. This valuable reference also includes general information on the region's fascinating history and biogeography, making it an unparalleled resource for the birding community, for wildlife managers, and for conservation biologists concerned with one of the most threatened ecosystems in western North America.

"Astonishing new book. . . . Whether this book stands as a farewell to this rich haven or a rallying cry of support is yet to be seen, but its case and timing make it a classic."--David Lukas, "Los Angeles Times, September 9, 2003

Foreword	p. vii
Preface and Acknowledgments	p. ix
A History of the Salton Sink	p. 1
Lake Cahuilla	p. 2
Formation of the Salton Sea	p. 4
Conservation and Management Issues	p. 7
Current Threats	p. 8
Proposed Solutions	p. 9
Biogeography of the Salton Sea	p. 12
The Fauna of Lake Cahuilla	p. 12
Current Conditions	p. 13
The Salton Sea and the Gulf of California	p. 15
Vegetation and Habitat	p. 18
The Avifauna	p. 26
A Checklist of the Birds of the Salton Sea	p. 33
The Primary Checklist	p. 33
The Next Twenty	p. 33
The Species Accounts	p. 68
The Geographic Region	p. 68
Data Collection	p. 69
Taxonomy and Nomenclature	p. 70
Subspecies	p. 71
The Main List	p. 72
Nonnative Species	p. 316
Hypothetical List	p. 317
Common and Scientific Names of Plant Species Mentioned in the Text	p. 323
Literature Cited	p. 325
Index	p. 349
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

ISBN: 9780520235939
ISBN-10: 0520235932
Audience: Professional
Format: Hardcover
Language: English
Number Of Pages: 374
Published: 19th August 2003
Publisher: University of California Press
Dimensions (cm): 26.0 x 18.4  x 2.8
Weight (kg): 0.971