Revised and updated hardback book is most comprehensive yet on birdlife (and habitats) of Greenland

Author David Boertman records Waxwings as becoming a new breeding species for the island 

WITH Greenland in the international news headlines, publication this winter of  an updated and much enlarged edition of Birds of Greenland is timely.

The author is David Boertmann, an academic at the University of  Aarhus in Denmark's second largest city. He almost certainly knows more about the subject than anyone.

Although there have been similar titles, their content has been nowhere near as comprehensive - understandably so given that much of the habitat on this huge island is close to being inaccessible, especially in winter when temperatures plummet.

Just over 30 years after the first edition of this book was published, this new version - published in hardback two months ago - covers all 268 species known to have occurred in Greenland.

For the 58 regularly breeding species, distribution maps are presented, based on the author's own observations and information given in all kinds of published bird accounts, numbering more than 13,000 records. 

The introductory chapters give a brief introduction to Greenland - its history, politics, climate, geography and more.

Since the previous list, Canada Goose, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Redwing have established breeding populations and Bohemian Waxwing seems to be doing the same. 

The text is illustrated with numerous photographs of birds and habitats.

The book is priced at £50 on Amazon UK, though delivery is not guaranteed until March 30 at the earliest.

Perhaps there ought to be a copy in the library in The White House?  

The author - photo: University of Aarhus