Illustrated Encyclopedia. A reference guide for waterfowl and near-water birds living in the central part of Russia, with many magnificent illustrations. Stunning photographs from the personal collections of ornithologists turn the book into a unique gift, a place for which is found on the shelf of every lover of native nature. Many readers will see most of the birds featured in this book for the first time in their lives despite the fact that they are not exotic birds to be followed on distant journeys, although many spend their "winter holidays" in tropical or equatorial latitudes.