In 1983, Mike O'Connor opened the Bird Watcher's General Store on Cape Cod, which might well have been the first store devoted solely to birding in the United States. Since that time he has answered thousands of questions about birds, both at his store and while walking down the aisles of the supermarket. The questions have ranged from inquiries about individual species ("Are flamingos really real?") to what and when to feed birds ("Should I bring in my feeders for the summer?") to the down-and-dirty specifics of backyard birding ("Why are the birds dropping poop in my pool?"). Answering the questions has been easy; keeping a straight face has been hard. Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches? is the solution for the beginning birder who already has a book that explains the slight variation between Common Ground-Doves and Ruddy Ground-Doves but who is really much more interested in why birds sing at 4:30 A.M. instead of 7:00 A.M., or whether it's okay to feed bread to birds, or how birds rediscover your feeders so quickly when you've just filled them after a long vacation. Or, for that matter, whether flamingos are really real.

A collection of humorous Q&As about everything you've always wanted to ask about birds and birding Mike O’Connor knows bird watchers as well as he knows birds. He knows that if you’re even slightly interested in identifying birds or attracting them to your backyard with a feeder, then you’ve also had your share of strange and silly questions about birds and their sometimes inexplicable behavior. In Why Do Bluebirds Hate Me?, O’Connor applies his deep knowledge of all things avian to answer the questions that keep birders up at night. Questions like · Should you clean your birdhouses? · Do swallows have a feather fetish? · How much does it cost to run a heated birdbath? · Is drinking coffee bad for birds? Other questions O’Connor covers range from the practical (Should I rotate the seed in my feeder?) to the quirky (Why are vultures eating my vinyl screen door?) to the just plain adorable (Are those birds kissing or feeding each other?). And he also explains why bluebirds just don’t seem to like some people.

"This book takes readers behind the scenes of the world of the truly bizarre, to reveal the truth behind our planet's wildest and wackiest."--Provided by publisher.

An all-ages quiz book that makes learning science fun, from the Discovery Channel science quizmaster and author of What Does the Moon Smell Like? From the surprising science behind everyday life to the mysteries on the frontiers of scientific discovery, this quiz book explores anything and everything in a fun, user-friendly format. Topics include the Earth, the moon, and the stars; satellites and space travel; pets and other animals; nature and the environment; the brain and the body; and the psychology of food, behavior, success, and attraction. The introductions to each question are peppered with interesting tidbits of information, and the fascinating answers to these quiz questions are explained in detail and given full context. Whether used as an individual brain workout or as a fun game at social gatherings, What Does the Earth Sound Like? is smile-inducing and thought-provoking. “Playful questions like those in What Does the Earth Sound Like? can provide important insights and understanding . . . Delightful.” —Marty Hoffert, professor emeritus of physics, New York University Praise for What Does the Moon Smell Like? “This is a great book. It became a popular table game in the summer holidays with two teams competing with all the questions. It makes an excellent change from celebrity trivia.” —Peter Gabriel, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer “Proving that science can be wildly fun with each new page, this book reads like a mad scientist’s Trivial Pursuit . . . A book that will surely provide hours of thought-provoking and amusing entertainment.” —Scene Magazine

You don't have to be an experienced birder to enjoy this guide! With hundreds of illustrations and a user-friendly format, you'll soon be spotting and identifying birds in your locale in no time. The updated text highlights the latest trends in birding and the most up-to-date ornithological information. -- adapted from back cover

"This volume of stories celebrates the incredible and indelible ways in which birds touch us, intrinsically as well as extrinsically. I hope it will encourage a greater awareness of and appreciation for these remarkable beings and a deep and abiding respect for and nurturing of their presence amongst us." -Ira Rubinoff, PhD, Director Emeritus and Senior Staff Scientist Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Welcome to the amazing world of birds, birders and bird watching. Birds have what we don't-the enchantment of wings! They lift and break free from the bounds of gravity, soar over lakes, mountains, treetops-a veritable moving feast of fascinating, unpredictable, and breathtaking movement that captures and defies our ability to control it. And we love them, because they represent the untamed wild in ourselves. The writings in this book evoke our deepest connections with birds and allow us to revel in the sense of mystery, magic, and devotion that we all feel for our feathered friends. Open to any page, start reading, and become one of the millions who know that the only piece of equipment you really need to begin birding is a book. Let your journey begin with this one.

'The perfect present for any inquisitive child.' The Sunday Times 'Top-notch non-fiction from a profoundly accomplished author, it's the sort of book that could ignite lifelong scientific curiosity' The Guardian praise for The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions – A Guardian Best Children's Book of the Year Has a slug ever been to space? When did life begin? Why do we have two nostrils? The perfect gift for all children! Following on from The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions, this books provides EVEN MORE answers to the weird, wonderful and sometimes downright dumbfounding questions that buzz around kids' brains at bedtime – covering topics such as philosophy, science, nature, animals, geography, culture and more. With fascinating but short, succinct answers and inviting illustrations, it really is the ideal read for curious kids. Why are parents in charge and not children? Can dogs laugh? Are we all aliens? With engaging, fascinating text by expert science writer Isabel Thomas and dreamy illustrations by Margarida Esteves, The Bedtime Book of EVEN MORE Impossible Questions is the perfect bedside companion to delve into when you are wondering if there really is an answer to everything.