Whether presenting disquisitions on ant wars, the predatory characteristics of wasps, the mating rituals of woodpeckers, or describing an encounter with a road full of wood frogs, Summer World never stops observing the beautifully complex interactions of animals and plants with nature, giving extraordinary depth to the relationships between habitat and the warming of the earth. How can cicadas survive—and thrive—at temperatures pushing 115°F? Do hummingbirds know what they're up against before they migrate over the Gulf of Mexico? Why do some trees stop growing taller even when three months of warm weather remain? With awe and unmatched expertise, Heinrich explores hundreds of questions like these.
Exquisitely illustrated with dozens of the author's own drawings, Summer World is Bernd Heinrich's most engaging book to date, a fascinating work from one of our very best science writers.
Chapter One
Preparing for Summer
9 March 2006. the ground is still snow-covered, but I've smelled the first skunk, and the bog is threaded by mink and otter tracks. I've heard the first honking of Canada geese. Two big flocks flew over, very high, heading north. The plant life looks unchanged, except that some pussy-willow buds have recently started to show a little more white peeking out over the edges of their dark brown flower bud scales. The first snowdrops, in the pure, unassuming simplicity that I love, are poking their nodding flower heads through the snow. Yesterday evening I heard the first singing of a mourning dove. The first robin is back, long before a worm is in sight. It's overcast and the forecast says "rain," but even if snow were predicted I'd expect the male red-winged blackbirds to return any day now.
Spring is on the way, and I think the birds feel it too. Certainly the blue jays do. I was lucky to see their first convocation again this year. I first noticed a crowd of them making a racket at seven am on the top of the bare bra ... read full excerpt from Summer World ebook
Microsoft Reader is the first product to include ClearType™ display technology. ClearType greatly improves resolution on LCD screens to deliver a print-like display. Microsoft Reader also pays strict attention to the traditions and benefits of good typography. It offers a clean, uncluttered layout; ample margins; proper spacing, leading and kerning; plus powerful tools for book marking, highlighting and annotation.
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 98 platforms, Microsoft Windows NT4 SP6, Microsoft Windows 2000 platforms, Microsoft Windows XP, and Microsoft Windows Me. Processor: Pentium 75 or higher microprocessor Memory: 16 MB RAM Hard Disk: Approximately 19 MB free hard drive space (Microsoft Reader is 3.6 MB, but additional hard disk space is required for installation) Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 with Service Pack 1 or higher MS Reader for Pocket PC Operating System: Pocket PC 2002 / 2003 Memory: 2.236 MB free RAM Additional Software: Microsoft ActiveSync® 3.5 or later MS Reader for Tablet PC Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition - Microsoft Reader for Tablet PC will not work on any other operating system or device.
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 98 platforms, Microsoft Windows NT4 SP6, Microsoft Windows 2000 platforms, Microsoft Windows XP, and Microsoft Windows Me. Processor: Pentium 75 or higher microprocessor Memory: 16 MB RAM Hard Disk: Approximately 19 MB free hard drive space (Microsoft Reader is 3.6 MB, but additional hard disk space is required for installation) Browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 with Service Pack 1 or higher
MS Reader for Pocket PC
Operating System: Pocket PC 2002 / 2003 Memory: 2.236 MB free RAM Additional Software: Microsoft ActiveSync® 3.5 or later
MS Reader for Tablet PC
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition - Microsoft Reader for Tablet PC will not work on any other operating system or device.
Many publishers require powerful copy protection for their eBook titles. In order for you to be able to purchase and download eBook titles that have been secured for distribution, you first need to activate your Microsoft Reader. Just as a credit card typically must be activated by a bank before use, your Microsoft Reader needs to be activated before you can purchase and read eBooks packaged for secure distribution.
Microsoft Reader requires Internet Explorer 4.01 or later be installed on the user's PC or laptop, but the user is not required to use Internet Explorer as his or her browser. (Netscape, for example, can be used as the browser and Microsoft Reader will continue to function normally.) Microsoft Reader takes advantage of some of the underlying components within IE during activation and provides the integrated bookstore directory.
