BOOK REVIEW

The Fife Bird Atlas by Norman Elkins, Jim Reid, Allan Brown, Derek Robertson, Anne-Marie Smout et al.

The birds of Fife have been relatively well documented in the past, by the efforts of pioneers like John Berry, Evelyn Baxter and Leonora Rintoul. However this is the first book to be devoted to all the birds of the whole of Fife. In her book The Birds of Fife in 1986 Anne-Marie Smout could almost claim that distinction but for the omission of the Isle of May, [an omission which is also perpetuated in the annual Fife Bird Reports since the Isle of May Bird Observatory produces its own annual report]. It is nice to see the May reunited with the rest of Fife.

This 'atlas' is the result of stupendous cooperative effort: well over 200 people took part in the field work and many authors apart from those listed contributed to the text. It is of course much more than a set of maps: 2 x 2 km squares for breeding distribution, 5 x 5 km squares for winter records, all for the period 1991-99. The text provides a huge amount of information incorporating local data from surveys by the British Trust for Ornithology and the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust, and puts our local birds in a national and international context.

To obtain the atlas call Norman Elkins on 01334 654348, or e-mail jandnelkins@rapidial.co.uk. Cost is 25 pounds plus p&p (or delivery surcharge of only one pound if you live in Fife), or arrange to collect from members of Fife Ornithological Atlas Group.

Gordon Corbet