The vision of the Rare Birds Yearbook is to improve the chances of survival of the world's most threatened birds in two ways.
Its primary purpose is to describe the situation of the 189 Critically Endangered Species in a comprehensible and popular way. The Rare Birds Yearbook should be equally engaging for dedicated ornithologists and birders, and for general readers.
In the book, the spotlight has been placed on the often dramatic circumstances, which have pushed a large number of species to the brink of extinction.
But it also highlights the good examples, cases where active commitment and hard work have improved the bird's prospects.
The second way the Rare Birds Yearbook improves the chances of survival for this species is by raising funds for BirdLife International, donating £4.00 for each book sold.
The main part of the book is a directory of the 189 critically endangered species with history, the latest information on the status of the species, what measures are being taken to protect them, and more than 500 photos, paintings and maps.
Photographers from all over the world have contributed with often unique images of these rarely encountered species.
The book also contains a number of specially written feature articles on issues related to threatened birds such as climate change, the people who find rare birds, and ecotourism. The book also has sections of statistics and lists, a directory of regional organisations and commercial bird tour companies arranging travel to see critically endangered birds, and much more.