Lefranc, Norbert: - Norbert Lefranc is a French ornithologist specialising in the ecology of shrikes. He has travelled all over the world in search of shrikes and other birds, publishing many papers and four books, including Les Pies-grièches d'Europe, d'Afrique du Nord et du Moyen-Orient (1993) and the first edition of the present book (1997). He worked as a biodiversity officer for the Ministry of Ecology in the 'Grand Est'. Now retired, he spends his time contributing to research and conservation actions led by NGOs, particularly by the Société d'Etudes Ornithologiques de France (SEOF) and the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO/Birdlife France).