THE BIRDS IN OUR GARDENS AND THEIR SECRET LIFE - ANTOINE ISAMBERT & SANDRA LEFRANÇOIS
Discover how the common swift flies for 10 months straight without ever landing, how the long-tailed tit sews its nest with spider silk... but also how the crow takes advantage of the Vigipirate security plan to feed itself, that Belgian finches have either a Flemish or a Walloon accent, that in Berlin nightingales sing louder on weekdays than on weekends, and that the jay lives up to its Latin name — Garrulus glandarius, literally the "acorn-chattering bird." And the robin? Much more fearsome than it seems :(
The garden birds we think we know are often the most surprising. This guide presents 60 common species — those we encounter every day, from our windows or while out for a walk. Unlike classic ornithological guides, this one is actually meant to be read — from beginning to end, or by species, depending on your mood. Sandra Lefrançois's magnificent illustrations make identification easy, and Antoine Isambert's anecdotes stick with you, allowing us to truly get to know our feathered friends.
- Authors: Antoine Isambert & Sandra Lefrançois
- Publisher: Éditions Ulmer
- 60 illustrated species
- Format: 14 x 19 cm
- 128 pages
Antoine Isambert — author
Passionate about birds since the 1970s, Antoine Isambert grew up in the countryside, studied agriculture and botany, made a detour through Germany — before directing Éditions Ulmer for nearly 30 years. He spends as much time as possible on foot and by bike, on trails and out in nature.
Sandra Lefrançois — illustrator
A graduate of the Fine Arts schools of Le Havre and Rennes, Sandra Lefrançois is a naturalist illustrator and painter. She worked in nature reserves before collaborating with Terre Sauvage, La Salamandre, Images Nature, and the British magazine Birds. She works with graphite lead — a style that combines speed and accuracy, capturing the essence of a bird as much as its form. Today, she focuses on landscapes and oil painting.
Éditions Ulmer — publisher
Founded in 1868 in Ravensburg by Eugen Ulmer with a small program on fruit arboriculture, the publishing house moved to Stuttgart in 1874 and became a European reference for life sciences — gardening, agriculture, nature, and ecology. Managed by the same family since its creation, it has celebrated its 150th anniversary. The independent French branch has been established in Paris since 1993 — with Antoine Isambert himself at the helm for nearly 30 years.