Markus Varesvuo

The definitive photographic guide to the avifauna of Finland. Finland is one of the great European birding destinations. The tundra is the breeding grounds for many of Europe's waders, while the Siberian taiga reaches its westernmost extent here, making Finland home to many forest species that are scarce or absent elsewhere. Renowned for owls, with a remarkable 10 breeding species, Finland boasts an array of birding delights including Azure Tit, King Eider, Red-flanked Bluetail, Siberian Jay and Capercaillie. With photography by world-class photographer Markus Varesvuo and text by Mikko Oivukka, Birds of Finland is the perfect identification guide to 300 species regularly seen in the country. Concise text for each species includes details on identification, songs and calls, behaviour, distribution and habitat, with photographs carefully selected to aid identification. The book also provides a valuable guide to the best birdwatching sites. Portable yet authoritative, Birds of Finland is an essential companion for travellers and wildlife enthusiasts visiting this beautiful, bird-rich country in Scandinavia.

Snowy Owl is the most beautiful and expert description of the life and future of owls living far away from us humans. An impressive body of work joining photography and science to tell the story of the mysterious and endangered Snowy Owl, roaming far and wide in the fells and tundra in search of lemmings and moles. As the climate warms, lemmings will dwindle and the living conditions deteriorate for the owl, and the entire North will be the poorer for it. Snowy Owl is a story of the mythical white owl from the land of open tundra and arctic fells, long winters of snow and darkness, short summers filled with light. Lemmings and moles, and their age-old population crashes that spell hardship for the great arctic owl. Snowy Owls nest in Lapland only during the best lemming years, and as suddenly and unpredictably as the birds arrive, they disappear again. Jorma Luhta has made countless journeys into their northern land and depicted their life with both camera and pen. The Snowy Owl's behaviour and annual cycle is captured equally arrestingly in Markus Varesvuo's pictures. Pertti Koskimies has decades of research experience in northern birds of prey, and he has compiled the latest information on Snowy Owl nesting and migration, and the threats to its existence as climate change accelerates. Pertti Koskimies on Suomen eturivin luontoasiantuntija ja lintututkija. Hän on julkaissut ja toimittanut useita luonto- ja lintuaiheisia tietokirjoja.