Book Description

The most complete collection of visual reference material on North American owls including over 700 stunning photos of 16 species of owls. Physical features offer insight into hunting, feeding, flying, and communication. Renowned carver Floyd Scholz presents the much anticipated follow-up to his best-selling Birds of Prey. In this new book, hundreds of stunning full-color photos and useful line drawings offer detailed studies of 16species of owls-from the tiny Elf Owl to the impressive Great Horned Owl. All are illustrated in full detail, with focus on body and wing design, plumage patterns, flight characteristics, and predatory behavior. Also includes a section on carving and painting techniques and a gallery of Floyd Scholz's finished carvings. A must-have reference for carvers, artists, ornithologists, naturalists-anyone interested in these magnificent birds. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Beauty of the owls
If you have even the slightest interest in owls or birds in general this is the book for you. The pictures range from full shots of the individual species to minute details in plumage and even comparative pictures of feet and wing shape. This is truly the most well put together collection of owl photographs I've ever encountered. It even has a section in the back for artists who wish to use owls in carvings and paintings. All in all, this is a fantastic book.

Owls by Floyd Scholz
I thought I had seen the best of the best when I first saw Scholz's "Birds of Prey". I was wrong! "Owls" stands alone, without peers. "Owls" is a rare combination of text, photography and advice. The pictures are amazing. The text is readable and informative. The advice and patterns alone are worth far more than the price of the book. The unbelievable amount of research that went into this book is evident from the dust cover clear through to the last page. The book is a must for everyone who enjoys owls be it artist, carver, naturalist, bird lover or simply people who enjoy fantastic books. Considering the size and quality of "Owls", it is a bargin!

Stunning!!!
Having used Floyd's previous reference 'Birds of Prey' since 1995, I've been eagerly anticipating the arrival of 'Owls'. The quality of the photography and variety of poses, including many extreme close-ups, makes this a first rate reference book for any artist as well as a stunning book for display on your coffee table. The saying that "A picture is worth a thousand words" has never been truer. Anyone who loves these beautiful creatures will be overwhelmed by the elegance of this book. I'll be purchasing a second copy for display, as the one in my studio will be occupied for a while.

Not Just for Carvers
Floyd's 'Birds of Prey' was absolutely the best reference book for wildfowl artists ... until he wrote 'Owls'.

There are more birds featured, and there are more photos of each bird. If you liked the photos in Floyd's first book, you'll love these photos even more. He also provides more detailed patterns for each bird.

I'm ecstatic to be adding this volume to my bookshelf, and it's going to make a great gift for several of my family and friends.

And, if you are a carver, Floyd's Vermont Raptor Academy (referenced in the book) is an experience you don't want to miss.

owls (floyd scholz)
THIS IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL BOOK THE PICTURES ARE STUNNING
BUT I THINK THE BOOK COULD HAVE HAD MORE TEXT.
ALSO AMAZON CLAIMS THE BOOK HAS 512 PAGES. THE COPY
I PURCHASE FROM THEM ONLY HAD 379 PAGES. ... Read more

Book Description

This guide brings together, for the first time within a single volume, a comprehensive review of all the world's pheasants, partridges, quails, grouse, turkeys, guineafowl, buttonquails, sandgrouse, and the enigmatic Plains-wanderer--over 250 species in all. The group includes some of the world's most familiar and beautiful birds, such as the Indian peafowl and the stunning tragopans, as well as some of the rarest and most threatened. This book concentrates on detailed identification and distribution, but also highlights conservation issues where relevant. The seventy-two color plates, by leading bird illustrators, show male, female, juvenile, and subspecies plumages, and form the finest set of illustrations of these birds to date. There is also a color distribution map for each species.

Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse is a landmark volume in the literature of this attractive and vulnerable group of birds.

*Comprehensive identification guide to over 250 species of pheasants, partridges, and grouse throughout the world
*Detailed text covering identification, description, geographical variation, voice, status, habitat and behavior, distribution, movements, and measurements
*72 color plates depicting male, female, juvenile, and subspecies plumages
*Information on conservation issues
*Glossary, index, reference, and bibliography

Reviews (1)

Excellent book on the basics
As with the vast majority, but not all, books that bite off huge taxonomic groups this one fails to provide detailed updated information on this group but does provide an overview and excellent illustrations. If you desire more than the basics purchase Johnsgard's books or some other title that limits its treatment. If its the basics that you desire its worth the money. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Pacific Northwest is a cornucopia of extraordinary outdoor diversity. Pocket- and purse-friendly, this field guide covers habitats (subalpine meadows to rain forests to desert shrub to salt marshes) in addition to topography and geology (with explanations of the Oregon Dunes, Columbia Plateau Basalts, Mount St. Helens volcano, and a variety of minerals). Flora and fauna, however, make up the bulk of the book, with 1,000 of the most common species found in the Pacific Northwest. From mushrooms and algae to trees and wildflowers, fishes, frogs, flies, birds, and mammals, each species is identified with a color picture, short description, and notes on the habitat and season in which you'd encounter it. There's also an excellent chapter on Northwesterners' favorite topic of conversation--the weather--plus a guide to constellations and the night sky, for those evenings when it's clear. It behooves anyone who likes nature and lives in or visits the Pacific Northwest to carry the easy-to-use and beautifully put-together Audubon Society Field Guide at all times. --Stephanie Gold ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Thorough, Compact, and Easy to Use
I highly recommend this field guide to anyone who is interested in the species found in the Pacific Northwest. It is especially great for beginners because it is easy to use and contains sections that cover diverse forms of life. If you're an expert and like to precicely identify mushrooms, for example, get a mushroom guidebook. Otherwise this is great for a quick reference to an amazing number of a variety of species in this area. I've had a lot of fun with it!

A nice gift for a newcomer (or yourself!)
In attempts to find the 'perfect' gift for an active, outdoorsy newcomer to the Pacific Northwest, I stumbled across this guide. Considering the National Audubon Society's reputation for quality material, along with the recommendations and details provided by preceding Amazon reviewers, I took the plunge and bought copies for both of us!

(Since I currently reside in the desert southwest; I definitely needed assistance!)

After retrieving his package from the front porch and opening it at the end of a long day at work, my friend wrote, "The Audubon Field Guide is WAY cool. I spent about 15 minutes thumbing through it last night before I even took off my coat."

Soon thereafter, I opened this addition to my own library. At 15-16 oz, this is a serious weight to consider carrying on a long backpacking trip -- but not so frivolous if you relish identifying everything you're seeing! Its compact size makes it a perfect picnic basket/day pack addition for day trips, and when you're not out exploring, it's a handy kitchen/coffee table reference when you gaze out the window. This is a great all-around first guide for a casual/budding naturalist!

I can't wait to use it on my next trip!

Good All Around Guide
I used this guide while on a hiking vacation through the Olympic Peninsula (Washington). Kept it in my backpack and found myself grabbing for it so much I eventually had it tucked in my back pocket. It is nice and compact. The pages have a glossy sheen so the occasional misting from coastal waters or common shower will not ruin it. It has everything in it (animals, trees, mushrooms, lichens, flowers, shrubs, insects...) and nice info on nature preserves, landscape and the weather. It was a great way to not just appreciate the beuaty of the hike, but learn about what I was seeing (a nice diversion on a 10 mile hike). Don't expect a lot of subject depth. Remember, it can fit into your pocket (sticking out the top).

Good easy reference book
As a newcomer to the state of Washington, this book has been very helpful in identifying the flora and fauna of the area. Combining the plants and animals in one easy reference source is helpful. The photographs are very nice.

A Handy Reference Guide
I picked up this book after I knew I would be moving to Seattle. It is a great introduction to the geology, plant life, animals, and recreational areas of WA and OR. Done well, in typical Audubon fashion - I refer to it often. ... Read more

Book Description

Marie Winn is our guide into a secret world, a true wilderness in the heart of a city. The scene is New York's Central Park, but the rich natural history that emerges here--the loons, raccoons, woodpeckers, owls, and hundreds of visiting songbirds--will appeal to wildlife lovers everywhere. At its heart is the saga of the Fifth Avenue hawks, which begins as a love story and develops into a full-fledged mystery.

At the outset of our journey we meet the Regulars, a small band of nature lovers who devote themselves to the park and its wildlife. As they watch Pale Male, a remarkable young red-tailed hawk, woo and win his first mate, they are soon transformed into addicted hawk-watchers. From a bench at the park's model-boat pond they observe the hawks building a nest in an astonishing spot--a high ledge of a Fifth Avenue building three floors above Mary Tyler Moore's apartment and across the street from Woody Allen's.

The drama of the Fifth Avenue hawks--hunting, courting, mating, and striving against great odds to raise a family in their unprecedented nest site--is alternately hilarious and heartbreaking. Red-Tails in Love will delight and inspire readers for years to come. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Terrific! Well-written about hawks,humans and Central Park
Ms Winn presents the story of red-tailed hawks that appeared in New York City and their unlikely selection of a posh condo building to locate their nest. She does a tremendous job of weaving birds, birders, and others who played key parts in putting this story together. This is not a book just for serious birdwatchers; I keep an eye on my birdfeeders, but have no great interest in doing more than watching. The book does address the adaptability of wildlife to urban areas (nesting in skyscapers, dining on pigeons and rats) with the availability of parkland nearby. Red-Tails in Love is quite readable, with brief encounters with the likes of Woody Allen, Mary Tyler Moore, and an astronomer key in the vital process of reading bird bands from afar. The book would be an excellent choice for anyone who wants a good read, nonfiction, with an element of suspence and lots of humor.

Brilliant!
This was one of the best books I have read this year. I'm not a bird watcher by any means, and, despite the drama that I'm obviously missing, do not intend to become one. Nevertheless, I was captivated and moved by the story of Pale Male, a red-tailed hawk who builds a nest in Central Park, and then builds another, and then builds yet another. I thought the writing and story-telling were superb. The way Winn intertwined the story of the hawks with the story of the people watching the hawks, complete with celebrity references (if you blink you'll miss Glenn Close), was excellent. (It did not occur to me until the acknowledgments that one of the reasons the story-telling was so good is that the author is married to a film-maker, who offered advice on how to keep the story moving.)

Perhaps because I'm just not into birds generally, I was less interested in those parts of the book that did not relate to the hawks. Of these sections, the more memorable birds were the saw-whet owls and the woodpeckers. But the prose about these birds is not as moving as the prose about the hawks. Or, perhaps the hawk story is just so well-done it makes the other birds seem, if I can resort to anthropomorphism, pedestrian.

The book is obviously a labor of love, and it was a pleasure to read.

A must read!
I read this book as Pale Male's latest brood are preparing to fledge. This book is interesting, insightful, funny, sad - and absolutely entertaining!

A must read for New Yorkers, animal lovers, and those who like a tale to be told well.

Charming and Delightful
This book is everything a book should be. Funny, sad, entertaining, well written and truly captured my attention. I didn't want to put it down. I only wish that I had been there!

Marie Winn Makes Bird-Watching Irresistible.
"Red-Tails In Love" is more than a story of migrant red-tail hawks raising a family in the middle of Manhattan. It's the most inspiring piece of writing about birding that I've ever read. This book would entice anyone to break out the binoculars and head outdoors to meet the avian neighbors. Author Marie Winn, who also writes a nature column for the Wall Street Journal, tells the tale of her birding colleagues, a group of regular bird watchers in New York's Central Park, and their obsession over the course of a few years with a pair of red-tailed hawks' attempts to breed in the midst of America's largest urban jungle. The drama repeats itself every year as the hawks try to cope with threats from humans and birds alike in order to raise broods of young red-tails in their 5th Avenue nest -ensconced in some of Manhattan's most prestigious real estate, no less. The most incredible part of the story is the rehabilitation of several injured female red-tails, who make their way back to Central Park and annually provide the birdwatchers with a new mystery to solve as to the identity of Pale Male's mate. Interspersed with the adventures of the hawks and hawk-watchers are other stories of bird-watching in the Park, including unusual sightings, some near-disasters with the city's Parks Department, and introductions to some very knowledgeable, and occasionally colorful, birders. In the last section of the book, entitled "A Wildlife Almanac", you will find guides to "Birds Through the Year in Central Park", "Butterflies of Central Park", "Migrating Hawks Over Central Park", "A Taste or Two Along the Way" (edible plants), and a map of the park. The guides are written by some of the Park's birding "Regulars" who are experts in those subjects, and contain information on where and when to find the species mentioned. If you live in New York City or are planning an extended visit, you may find this section of the book extremely useful. And to think that when I lived in New York City, it never occurred to me to go bird-watching in Central Park. If I ever return there, I won't make that mistake again. "Red-Tails In Love" is a very readable story of birds who thrive in an urban environment and the humans who are fascinated by them. It's a real page-turner...and a cure for anyone who ever thought birds were boring. The best thing about this book is that makes bird-watching irresistible. ... Read more

Book Description

Scientists call them Inia geoffrensis, an ancient species of toothed whale whose origin dates back about 15 million years. To the local people of the Amazon, pink river dolphins are "botos," shape shifters that, in the guise of human desire, can claim your soul and take you to the Encante, an enchanted underwater world.

As tributaries braid into a single river, Journey of the Pink Dolphins weaves ancient myth and modern science into one woman's search for these elusive creatures. Over four separate journeys, Sy Montgomery follows the dolphins, tracing their spiritual, historical, and environmental past, present, and future. Ancient legends tell us that dolphins have guided humans for millennia, and in Journey of the Pink Dolphins, Montgomery answers their call, taking us to that perfect place where the Amazon melts into the forest, dolphins swim among treetops, and the twenty-first century dissolves into the beginning of time. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Why haven't we heard this before?
I can't believe how many people (including myself) had never heard of freshwater dolphins before seeing this book. Why isn't there any information out there about these intriguing cousins of the saltwater dolphins that we all know and love? Well, now there is! And Sy Montgomery takes us deep into the habitat of the freshwater dolphins --- the Amazon (where, as she explains, there are trees and ants that can kill you, among many other things). She not only explores the life and biology of these dolphins, but she also explores some of the myths that surround them. She learns that many native Amazon peoples believe that these creatures can take the form of humans in their efforts to seduce women into their underwater world. She relates first hand accounts of these stories and myths. But the author doesn't stop there, she writes extensively about the atmosphere of the Amazon, the people, the ecosystem, the cultures, the tourists, the industries, etc... She provides alot of interesting information about a very unique subject. As I read the book, I felt as if I was being pulled into the Amazon. Her writing is clear and approachable, sometimes poetic, but other times drawn-out. There are some very insightful passages as well. And fascinating photographs are scattered throughout. I recommend this book to anyone interested in animals, conservation, adventure travel, aboriginal/native cultures and all those intrigued by the idea of a freshwater dolphin!

enchanting travelogue and work of natural history
I loved this book! Sy Montgomery is a talented writer, able to put you in exotic places with vivid descriptions, I almost felt I was in the Amazon. She really brought it to life, I look forward to reading another book of hers I have purchased, "Search for the Golden Moon Bear."

The book focuses on the author's quest for the pink dolphin, but really it is a journey to find not one but two dolphins. I don't refer to the other species of dolphin that lives in the Amazon, the tucuxis (one which she also covers in the book), but for two sides of the same animal. On the one hand she searches for the pink dolphin, the bufeo in Spanish or boto in Portguese, a living animal of which little is known about in comparison with many other dolphin species. Living in the most massive river system on earth, one connnected to innumerable lakes in the rainy season, in waters often black as coffee and infested with caimans, piranha, stingrays, and electric eels, in often very remote regions to which there is no reliable transportation to, it is a difficult subject to study. An example of cetaceans from an earlier geologic era, primitive when compared to modern oceanic dolphins, the pink dolphins preserve something from an eariler era, a holdover in the modern world. Montgomery and her various companions in the book struggle to get good observations of the dolphins, to try and track them, to identify individuals, to observe their behavior. The author finds that even experts who have studied the bufeo for years are often perplexed by them. She has many successes, providing much interesting information on them and a fine series of color photographs of the often startingly pink dolphins.

Montgomery though is also questing for the Encante, the mystical shape-shifting dolphin that is very real to many of the peoples who live along the mighty Amazon. Believed to exist in fabulous cities beneath the surface of the river, the locals speak in conspiratorial tones about the dolphins' magic powers and often lust for attractive humans. The natives often worry that their wives, husbands, sons, and daughters will be stolen about by the fabulous Encante, and speak with awe and reverence about the dolphins. Montgomery continually quests for the natives' views of the Encante, for their "true" tales, and for how they protect themselves against their fantastic attention.

Montgomery doesn't exlusively focus on dolphins though. Her book in part is a vivid travelogue of Amazonia, bringing us to many exotic locations. We visit Manaus, the impossible Paris of the Amazon, home to an opera house right out of a fairy tale. Built upon the backs of native jungle peoples by rubber barons, today it is a squalid city trying to embrace change. She takes us to amazing Meeting of the Waters, where for miles two tributies of the Amazon, the black River Negro and the white Solimoes, flow side by side before forming the true Amazon River. We are taken to two different nature reserves, both with differing strategies, Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo and Mamiraua, where some of the rich life and deadly beauty of Amazonia is preserved against an uncertain future. Montgomery takes us to the impossibly clear waters and white sandy beaches of the Tapajos and Arapiuns Rivers, where she actually swims with the dolphins, something not possible elsewhere in the dark and piranha-infested rivers elsewhere. She undertakes a vision quest by taking the hallucigenic Ayahuasca or "Mother of the Vine," something few Westerners have done (and for good reason).

Further, while the bufeo or boto is the star of the book, many other animals form a rich supporting cast. The odd hoatzin, a bird with claws, seemingly someting out of the Mesozoic. Electric eels, extremely common and suprisingly complex. Caimans, another seemingly prehistoric species. Amazonian manatees, gentle vegetarians that are much more intelligent than often given credit for. The weird side-necked turtle. All manner of insects, including ants. And more are given space.

Some have said that she rhapsodizes too much in the book, but I disagree. She has done her research, the book is filled with interviews with experts, and there is a nice bibliography at the end. She has skillfully combined hard science with poetry, and the effort is very worthwhile. I highly recommend it.

Fascinating but Frustrating
As someone who's interested in the Amazon, its people, culture, geography, fauna, flora and other subjects, I read this book for its fascinating topic. However, this is a very mixed bag. There are moving sections, as when she describes the genocide perpetrated against the native peoples by Europeans (you would not believe the atrocities and torture they visited the Indians, whom they considered lower than animals - much worse in its ferocity than the Holocaust of WWII). The writing can be quite bad at times (at one point, her powers of description comes up with a fruit she tried, "bitter as semen"). But the worse is, she seems to be a very bad science writer and researcher. Who edited this book? Certainly not people versed in science or Portuguese. She gets everything in Portuguese wrong. The scientific names and terms are often misspelled. Proceed with caution.

Amazonian vacation
This is one of those books to read when you don't have the money and/or time to actually travel the planet. I enjoyed that Sy both had a grasp of biology and is a truly talented author. She also obviously cares about the socioeconomic situation of the peoples who live in the area that her biological studies took her. This book transports you into a magical world in which pink dolphins inhabit rivers in a mystical jungle. Sometimes the truth is better than fiction.

This book corks my blowhole
To the author: Let me get this straight: You applied with a flimsy pretext to go observe dolphins, to "find the soul" of the Amazon. (Funny how no one writes about the search for the soul of New Jersey. It's always someplace that increases the aspirant's status as interpreter. The Amazon has been prostituted since its discovery, even BEFORE its discovery --in myth; why you suppose your frothy rehash is anything but the same extractivist, exoticizing discourse the West uses to plunder the source-country Americas, is a mystery.) Where was I? Oh, yes. Then you repeat your tourist guides by rote -The rubber barons sent their laundry to Europe, the Meeting of the Waters, so many football fields destroyed, blah blah blah, we know already. Then, not knowing an iota of Portuguese (or lingua geral, better still), you take on underlings to ferry you around and see to your comfort. So there's garbage in the ports? --Any idea where that comes from?
Then, do you acknowledge your privileged vantage? -in one line, yes, you note that tourists can do harm to the very area they wish to see. Would that that stopped you! Then you take Ayahuasca, the cosmological and neurological Virgil of the indigenes and caboclos, and this is the unreal part, you do it to summon dolphin spirits! Sacred vine as recreational trophy for bourgeois day-trippers. Then, as a capper, you relate a slumber party of your half-researched blatherings --endless second- and third-hand accounts of fables, offering no links, context, etymologies, insights to speak of (for example, at one point you tell us the Iquitos prostitutes used to file their teeth like piranhas', but then you don't SPECULATE or reflect critically at all on why that is. Does it have to do with the degradation of women in Latin America or some of kind of reversal of the dynamics of erotic conquests (a topic apropos of your ladykiller/dolphin)? What is the relationship and affective connection of the animal kingdom in general to the Amazonians? Do THEY care about dolphins? (Why not, if not?) Does that effect their ecology? Should WE care about them, besides for the fact they're pretty? What link are they in the river food chain? What of a discussion --in passing at least-- of the complicated politics of First-World ideas of conservation vs. their making a living? Too many things are given unproblematically or unreflectively in this book. And by the way, speaking English deliberately in front of Amazonian river people is RUDE, not to mention paternalistic.
To the editor: Many books about the Amazon are hyperinflated, breathless, and rhetorical by far. They should be purged of HALF of their adjectives. And virtually ALL their adverbs (e.g. here, "dazzingly" , "unimaginably" and for God's sake, "unfathomably".) Where is your blue pencil on sentences like "[We] wanted the same thing: to save this toweringly cruel and nourishing dawn world from fading to twilight." (p. 245)?
Also, virtually all the Portuguese in the book is wrong, save one or two phrases.
To the bookseller: File this under "d" for "dilletanterie".
To the reader: Go find Candace Slater's Dance of the Dolphin instead, which offers real field research.
To Oprah's Book Club: You gotta get this book! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The Afterlife of Flowers
Good reference material and some philosophy about nature. Beautiful photographs show what some commonly found flowers look like when pressed. This book is includes enlarged photos, comments, and a chart with smaller photos showing each flower's common name, width and it's location in the book. 96 pages, hardcover.

Simply Superb!
This isn't a how-to book, but the gorgeous photos do serve as a valuable guide to what some commonly found flowers will look like when pressed. The book is comprised of enlarged photos and comments, ending with an id chart of smaller photos along with each flower's common name, actual width, and the page it was featured on.

If you like the look of pressed flowers, you might want to check out Laura Martin's Art and Craft of Pounding Flowers. Pounding an object's pigment onto fabric and paper creates beautiful and uniquely pressed flower like images. Very nice.

Flower Nirvana
Janie Feldman Gross takes the art of flower pressing to new dimensions. Each specimen is a work of art unto itself - the colors, textures, delicately graceful lines - coupled with Janie's poetic observations, all add up to a book that is both breathtakingly beautiful and inspiring.

Revealing Hidden Beauty in Flowers
For most, the term "pressed flowers" conjures the shriveled and crumbling remains of faded prom corsages. Nothing could be more strikingly different from the pressed flora you'll encounter in THE AFTERLIFE OF FLOWERS. Creator Janie Feldman Gross invites us to a world where flowers reveal their remarkable and astonishing beauty...long after bloom. She guides us through a breathtaking collection of specimens -- most grown in her own garden -- each transformed by weight and time. Bringing her artist's eye to the task, Gross combines spectacular photographic images with her own spare and carefully placed commentary. The result is a visual ballet -- flowers partnered by prose. This is a book to be enjoyed for it uniqueness, its visual aesthetic and its underlying message; if we are patient and take the time to observe the world around us, there is unexpected beauty therein.

Much More Than a Coffee Table Art Book
This book is a wonderful work of art, and a bit of philosophy about nature as well. From the colors, to the prose, to even the position of the flowers on each page, the author has brilliantly created a piece of inspiration. It is hard to imagine a better art book on the subject. Buy it for someone you love, or just buy it for yourself! ... Read more

Book Description

A valuable at-home reference and an extraordinarily usable guide to more than 2000 of the most common and conspicuous wild plants and animals. Specially designed for quick and easy identification. Vibrant, specially drawn full-color illustrations of each of the 2000-plus species. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The Best Illustration for quick identification
I own many books specific to field identification of Alaska plants. On a recent trip to Ketchikan none of my books were able to assist me in the identification of a specific plant. A local person pulled out her copy of North American Wildlife (NAW). In an instant we located a colored illustation of "orange hawksbeard" . The illustation was so accurate right down to the fine hairs on its long stem. At home I located the same plant in my large treatise of Alaskan plants. I would never had been able to ID this plant with my very expensive treatise. The simple generic black and white drawings in my treatise are vastly inferior to the rich color and detail of NAW. I have been unable to locate this book so my friends in Ketchikan suggested Amazon.com. I'm thrilled that my own copy is on its way. An intertesing side bar is that my treatise of Alaska Plants states that orange hawksbeard is an introduced plant only known to found on the Glacier Hyw in Juneau.

Best All Around Field Guide
Bought this book years ago from a Reader's Digest offer. Moved to the Northwoods of Wisconsin 6 years ago and have not found a better all around guide to ALL of the flora and fauna I encounter here. I have specific guides to wildflowers, birds etc. but I usually find what I'm looking for in any catagory in this book faster and easier and more frequently than any other. I just bought another copy as a gift for my son & his family who also live Up North.

Very well done...
This book contains very clear drawings and descriptions of the most common plants and animals in North America. I especially like the section covering ecosystems in the beginning of the book. All you need to do is find the system you are located in and the most common inhabitants are listed (with page number) on the side. I think this is a great book and would definitely recommend it to a friend.

Reader's Digest North American Wildlife
Reader's Digest North American Wildlife is an "Illustrated Guide" to plants and animals found from Florida to Alaska. From birds to ferns, frogs to manta rays, seashells to mushrooms it is found in this colorful guide.

This is a book that is intended to be used as you explore nature. I found this book to be very useful and makes the enjoyment of the outdoors a more fulfulled experience. If you see a bird or a plant and want to know the name of it... check this book first and you will most likely find it. This is a treasure trove of information the entire family can use. Fascinating and enjoyable to use over and over again in the years to come, I have found this book to be indispensible.

Fully illustrated, easy to use with identification charts this should be with you on all serious nature walks.

It takes me back
I used to love looking thru this book when I was little, my mom's copy was so worn out. I love the illustrations of everything and the descriptions. I think it's a great nature book. ... Read more

Book Description

A concise treatment of the fundamental principles of sedimentology and stratigraphy, featuring the important physical, chemical, biological and stratigraphic characteristics of sedimentary rocks. Emphasized are the ways in which the study of sedimentary rocks is used to interpret depositional environments, changes in ancient sea level, and other intriguing aspects of Earth history.Topics include the origin and transport of sedimentary materials; physical properties of sedimentary rocks; composition, classification and diagenesis of sedimentary rocks and principles of stratigraphy and basin analysis.For individuals interested in one text providing comprehensive coverage of both sedimentology and stratigraphy. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Solid as a rock
Although Boggs dispenses with the multicoloured pictures and obligatory CD-Rom favoured by many modern textbooks, this is not to his detriment. It results in a more concise textbook with clear and simple sketches used effectively to illustrate the text. Perhaps the book may appear somewhat `boring' to certain students, but I prefer to think of it as a `solid' textbook that says what it needs to in a generally clear and understandable manner. For those undergraduates who are more interested in quality rather than flashy appearances, this textbook will prove invaluable in your study of geology.

The pain, the agony....
I was an undergraduate geology student that used this text book for a class. I can say without a doubt that although the book is full of information, it was bogged down in details and the writing was unclear at times. My class generally ignored the text book and the ta's recommended not reading it unless we wanted to be confused. They even suggested that it would be useless in helping us with our exams. The professor poked fun at the book as well. The writing style in this book made concepts unclear at best.

Deep and complete understanding about sedimentary processes
This concise and clear book give you a complete understand about deposicional processes, sedimentary models and stratigraphy. I thanks to Boggs the oportunity to read it because it was possible to see the deposicional processes, facies and sedimentary models from the fluid's dynamical perspective and not the old uniformitarian environments model's view. This book is easy to read for graduate and posgraduate students. ... Read more

Book Description

This all-new edition of the popular field guide provides photographs and descriptions of all species and subspecies of snakes of eastern and central North America from Texas to Manitoba, to the eastern seaboard of the continent. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Guide!
I just bought the 2003 edition of this book, and I must say it is great! The pics are very good! On some of the variable species, there are more than one photo to show you the different forms. The author provides great information on every aspect of the snakes' lives including size, reproduction, prey, habitat, and relative abundance. The book is very easy to read and is a steal at that price for 600 well written pages on North American snakes!- Anthony J. Chodan

Good, accessible guide
A very good reference and field guide to snakes from Texas to North Dakota eastwards, aimed at enthusiasts and accessible to the average reader. It builds on Tennant's earlier books on Texas and Florida snakes (which were excellent), and in fact the text of the species accounts is often lifted more or less directly from those books. This makes this book less than original, but the detail -- over 600 pages worth -- is very good. Lots of photos, though each are a little small. This book is thicker, more thorough and generally stronger than the companion western volume (Snakes of North America: Western Region). It also has a good bibliography. One quibble, though -- the range maps often do not extend into Canada (though the Canadian ranges of the relevant snakes are discussed in the text), which reduces the usefulness of this book for Canadian readers. Recommended.

Snakes of North America : Eastern and Central Regions (Field
Overall I thought this book was well written, very comprehensive, and quite easy to use. The copy I purchased has a problem with some of the pages being out of order. The Western guide I have has the range maps for the hognoses reversed. These may be a function of the printing company's sloppiness. However, I believe this book is an important addition to any serious amateur or professional herpetologist or budding herpetoculturist.

Excellent Field information
This book has the most comprehensive and up to date data down to sub-specific detail I've seen in a field guide, or any publication for that matter. This book is informative and easy to read. As a field guide it tries to group the animals by their appearance, which is occasionally annoying, but for a novice trying to identify something it is logical. The collection of pictures is quite complete, however, unusual color morphs of some species are depicted where it would be better to show clearer pictures of typical specimens(especially because it is a field guide). ... Read more

Reviews (1)

a must for anyone interested in birds
this is not only a complete list of all the modern birds of the world, but a revision based on dna testing by the authors sibley and monroe. This offers a new taxonomy of the worlds birds with many startling changes. Itis a fascinating and comprehensive work. those educated on the wetmore andamadon classification will have to reeducate themselves. ... Read more

Book Description

More popular than ever, Tom Brown, Jr.'s unique approach to inner growth through outer awareness has gained a wide audience, ranging from weekend campers and nature lovers, to serious survivalists and college students.The Science and Art of Tracking expands upon Tom Brown's most enduring subject: the important life lessons to be learned through tracking skills. Tom Brown was taught the ancient skills of survival by a Native American he called Grandfather. His most advanced lessons were those of the scouts, members of a secret society who were highly attuned to nature. The scouts refined tracking to a disciplined science and art form. With these physical skills came enhanced perception and true enlightment. "Tracking was their doorway to the universe," Tom Brown writes, "where they could know all things through the tracks..."Now Tom Brown, Jr. shares generations of wisdom through one of the most rewarding pursuits to be found in nature. Tracking lets us unlock the secrets of each animal we follow, and in turn, to become more aware of our own place in nature and the world. It is a journey of discovery that engages the senses, awakens the spirit, and enlightens the soul. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

TRY IT FOR YOURSELF-NO TALL TALES HERE
THIS BOOK TEACHES THE BARE MINIMUM YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TRACKING. BASICALLY, EVERYTHING YOU LEARN IN TOM'S STANDARD ON TRACKING IS OUTLINED VERY NICELY IN THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK WILL NOT ONLY HELP IN YOUR AWARENESS OF ANIMAL TRACKS BUT ALSO OF EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE. IT TEACHES YOU TO LOOK CAREFULLY AT EVEN THE SMALLEST DETAILS. THIS IS THE ONLY COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO TRACKING ON THE MARKET THAT I KNOW OF. IF YOU SEE ANOTHER BOOK REFERING TO "PRESSURE RELEASES," YOU KNOW IT CAME FROM TOM BROWN JR.. SOME PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK THAT THE DETAILS IN THIS BOOK ARE JUST TALL TALES. DO A QUICK EXPERIMENT IN YOUR GARAGE. CHECK OUT THE DUST ON THE FLOOR IN THE MORNING GET DOWN CLOSE TO THE GROUND , USE A FLASHLIGHT TO GET THE FLOOR BETWEEN YOU AND THE LIGHTSOURCE. IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU WILL EASILY SEE THE TRACKS OF ALL THE LITTLE CRITTERS THAT HAVE BEEN ROAMING YOUR GARAGE AT NIGHT:MICE, BUGS,CATS ETC. MY GOODNESS, YOU'VE JUST TRACKED AN ANIMAL ACROSS SOLID ROCK. JUST ONE OF THE SIMPLE THINGS REVEALED IN A CONCISE MANNER IN THIS BOOK. NO TALL TALES HERE BELIEVE ME

Charlatan
Brown's revelation of pressure releases is nothing new. Any tracker worth his or her salt knows Brown's new revelation is just common sense. Trackers have been using this technique for centuries. Brown's "adventures" with grandfather are fiction. Brown is a charlatan who couldn't track a muddy-footed elephant down a dry sidewalk.

Bummer!
I'm very disappointed! Having read this book, I couldn't track an elephant across a mud flat in broad daylight. I think the problem is all the psycho-babble pop philosophy this book is crammed with. It gets in the way of communicating any real information to the reader. That plus I found myself wondering how "Grandfather" could see his own feet at the age of 92, much less see ant tracks on solid rock. It's probably just me.

Try it for yourself!
This is a great book for beginning trackers and nature lovers. The book shows how anyone willing to put forth a little effort to go out and practice and get some "dirt time" can learn to follow even the tiniest tracks across the most difficult surfaces. Tom uses a common sense method of tracking that examines a track in terms of "pressure releases." For example: a heavy foot displaces more "dirt" than a lighter foot, a foot traveling fast will displace more "dirt" to the rear of the foot than a foot moving slowly. By measuring the size of these pressure releases one can tell a myriad of things about the creature one is tracking: its size, its direction of travel, its speed of travel and its head position. Eventually, by studying micro-pressure releases inside the track one will also be able to tell whether the animal has a full stomach, whether it is male or female and dozens of other cool details about the animal. Tom will teach you how to see the animal as you track it. Some people seem to doubt whether the stories Tom tells are real or not. Kevin below states that there are no oak trees in Montana. This is false. The bur oak is abundant in the state of Montana and it grows up to 70 feet high sometimes. The best use of this book I feel is to use it in your everyday life. It teaches one to look at the details of life one might miss.

Is he for real?
All of Tom's books have been very interesting and inspiring, but there is something that makes me wonder if he is for real. However, the science and art of tracking was very good and I have had success with most of his concepts. He has a lot to share, I'm sure, but I don't know if I would take all he says for 100% true. For instance, In The Search, "weathering out a bad storm in the top of a giant oak tree in a national park in Montana." In Montana!!?? I live in Montana and there is not one single oak tree in the whole state. Tom is obviously fudging here for sake of and interesting story. I would recommend all of Tom's books and the morals and principals he expresses in them, and his wilderness guides are very well done, but just be aware. Kevin ... Read more

Book Description

A superb collection of field recordings and descriptions offer unparalleled access to the sounds and calls of numerous popular and less well-known amphibians. The book and CD provide an introduction to the sound repertoire of species living in eastern and central North America. A variety of calls from each species are included, along with an in-depth description and explanation of their significance. In addition to color photographs of the most common species, the text offers a fascinating look at the science of amphibian calls, making this guide an indispensable aid for the outdoor enthusiast. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

excellent work on frogs of eastern and central US
...which is why the previous reviewer did not find the Pacific Treefrog...

What about Pacific Treefrog?
The CD is very well organized. The tone qualities are very good. As an amateur herpetologist, I deeply appreciate this audio archive of North American frogs and toads, especially the rana, bufo and hyla familes. Amphibians are going extinct and/ or disappearing rapidly from our planet. Mr. Elliot has compiled such an extensive audio library with great care and detail. All nature lovers and herpetologists must get this tape.

Nonetheless, Mr. Elliot failed to include the most widespread frog here in California... the Pacific Treefrog. This is the most well-known as the Hollywood frog. It is used widely to underscore background nature sounds in films. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very useful manual for coastal wetland plants:
Sections include:
-Coastal Wetland Ecology: A General Overview (different tidal wetland habitats, their description and characteristics, & typical species of each)
-Identification of Coastal Wetland Plants (keyed system, easy to use diagnostic keys)
-WETLAND PLANT DESCRIPTIONS and ILLUSTRATIONS (this is over half the book, organized by environment: Each entry with name, common and scientific names, family, full description, habitat, range, similar species, and very accurate diagram drawings by Abigail Rorer. Over 150 species covered).
-Places to Observe Coastal Wetlands, with maps
-Sources of Other Information, References, Glossary, and Index.

Should the author ever desire to revise or write another edition, I hope he doesn't change much, as it is good, but he might consider adding a few key upland plants which grow in extreme proximity to coastal wetland plants; these might be American Beach Grass (Ammophila brevigulata), Beachpeas (Lathyrus maritimus), Seaside Rose (Rosa), Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica), Sea Celery (Ligusticum scoticum), Common Sow Thistle or Beach Lettuce (Sondus oleraceae) - but these are easily learned on their own.

This is an excellent, very well written reference manual, useful to environmental consultants, wetland delineators, and botanists. Get a plastic book cover to protect it, and use it in the field (or salt-marsh, as the case may be). This may be the best text on this particular subject. -DMM ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An Aukful story of extinction
Ask anyone you know with even a cursory knowledge of birds and animals to name you an extinct species. After the Dodo, the Great Auk will probably be the most frequently mentioned name. The reason the story of the Auk's extinction has remained in our brains, in the recesses yes, but remembered nevertheless, is because of the sheer size and horrific destruction associated with the hunting to extinction of the bird.

The book deals not just with the hunting of these large flightless birds (think Penguin) for food but also looks at what their feathers, fat and oils were used for. Other subjects include the history of the trade, a full description of the birds appearance and it's behaviour. Although the last bird died in 1844 the story does not end with their demise. Fuller talks about the stuffed specimens and the eggs and how the greed associated with the Auk's extinction continued in the behavoir of collectors and museums.

Plenty of color illustrations. Gift for a bird lover.

The best book ever written on a single account of extinction
Fuller's book cannot possibly be surpassed on its subject, the extinction and remaining artifacts of the The Great Auk. A truly amazing book which details every stuffed auk from around the world, as well as all the eggspecimens. Mostly with photographs, the history of how each specimenfinally came to its current residence of display is a story in itself.Great detail is given to theobsessive collectors and dealers through thelast 150 years also. Forget the price, just buy this book! Fuller's own Aukis photographed extensively in colour. Only question remaining on thesubject is, What did Eric Fuller pay for his Greak Auk?"

stunning
a volume with meticulous research, and also a sad inventory of the last specimens of this extinct bird. Let us hope there won't be too many books in this serie.

EXTINCT BIRD LOVERS PARADISE
THIS IS A MOST EXCELLENT AND SUMPTUOUS BOOK.THE AUTHOR COMBINES IN HIS STYLE VICTORIAN IDEAS ABOUT COLLECTING WITH MODERN CONCERNS ABOUT CONSERVATION.A BETTER MAP WOULD BE IN ORDER"TRY FINDING FUNKISLAND".HE OPINES THAT LIKE THE PASSENGER PIGEON,GREAT AUKS CAN ONLYEXIST IN GREAT NUMBERS"PG.63" HE ALSO DOES NOT TELL US WHAT HEPAID FOR HIS OWN SPECIMEN."PG.141" A BEAUTIFUL AND TECHNICALBOOK. ... Read more

Book Description

Make each night a meaningful stargazing experience with A Walk Through the Southern Sky. This ultimate guide to the heavens takes the guesswork out of identifying constellations and fosters appreciation of their beauty and significance. All you need are your eyes; this trusty volume takes care of the rest. This volume brings to stargazers in the Southern hemisphere the same insightful coverage and accessibility that Heifetz and Tirion's previous volume--A Walk Through the Heavens--did for those up North.Its unique, simplified maps not only make constellations easy to find but also help locate the stars within them. Without having to use a telescope or other astronomical equipment, readers can gauge the sizes and separations between constellations, and easily move from one to the other, by simply following the book's clear instructions. In addition, the ancient myths and legends surrounding the constellations, are retold, providing a rich historical prespective. Beautifully illustrated by Wil Tirion, this is an ideal introduction to launch the novice astronomer on a journey across the starlit skies. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Learning the Southern Sky
After deciding to go into the Observational Astronomy hobby, I have been denying experts' advise for months. Although being almost a rookie, "start with a pair of binoculars", "plan your session ahead" and so on seemed trivial to me. This book helps the reader to solve which is probably the very first lesson to begin with: "learn the sky". In addition to that, it is dedicated to the Southern Hemisphere, trascendental for those who live "below" the equator. "A walk through the Southern Sky" easily and friendly explains how to reach minor constellations starting at the major ones. From Orion and Canis Major, precise highways are traced to reach Canis Minor, Cancer, Lepus and so on. From Crux and Centauri, to Vela and so on. I had started with a friend's computerized scope, and always thought that "starhopping" would be imposible for me under light-polluted skies. Probably one of the major goals of the authors is having proved me wrong. Again, if I could, anybody can! ... Read more

Book Description

Following the hugely successful Walking with Dinosaurs and Walking with Prehistoric Beasts, DK dives into the past to swim with prehistoric reptiles and mammals in Chased by Sea Monsters. Exploring the underwater world where he "encounters" amazing creatures, Nigel Marven presents a unique record of a lost world never revealed before now. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Providing a fine focus on evolutionary proceedings
This gorgeous presentation explores the prehistoric world in search of sea-based monsters and is published to coincide with the BBC program of the same name; but familiarity with the TV show is not required for a separate appreciation of this book. More than just another dinosaur guide, Chased By Sea Monsters focuses on life in ancient oceans during each prehistoric period, providing a fine focus on evolutionary proceedings.

Bigger, meaner and deadlier
Nothing, not the carnivorous dinosaurs of the past, nor the imagined sea serpents and monsters of maritime history, nor the great white shark, salt water crocodile, killer whale and leopard seal of today can compare to the horrifying hunters of the prehistoric oceans. You will feel a lot more comfortable about going out for a swim or an afternoon boat ride knowing that such behemoths are extinct today!

The Dunkleosteus is school bus-sized armored fish with razor sharp bladed jaws for cutting through anything in its path. The mighty Liopleurodon is a true monster, largest and most powerful of the Pliosaurs. The deadly Mosasaurs where the real sea serpents of their day, and some where large enough to dispatch an adult tyrannosaur easily. The Basilosaurus, the first of the large whale species, is not a harmless plankton eater but a fearsome high speed hunter. And most frightening of all is the Megalodon, a gargantuan ancestor of the great white that makes its modern day relative look like a tuna.

If you're a paleontology buff like me or a fan of BBC's Walking with Dinosaurs series, this book is for you. The digital designs of the monsters are excellent and very well realized. And the fun-loving Nigel Marvin provides a great narrative. My only question is when does the DVD of the series come out?

Another excellent book is Sea Dragons by Richard Ellis. ... Read more

Book Description

Cash in on the highly popular trend of rearing game birds!This manual shows you how to do it, by helping you evaluate proper selection, breeding, feeding and raising of pheasants, quail, waterfowl and other game birds.It also compares rearing birds both in captivity and in open fields. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A bit outdated, but useful
This book needs to be updated, especially the information on sales and marketing. "Housewives" today probably make up considerably less market than bistros. It also advocates using multiflora rose as a fence, which was popular 20 years ago. Most areas are now trying to eradicate this uncontrollable, nasty weed. There is also little info on domestic ducks. The book does, however, provide some good info and is worth the $12. ... Read more

Book Description

A delightful small-format book that will appeal to butterfly enthusiasts young and old, with vivid images by the leading butterfly photographer and texts by preeminent writers in the field. ... Read more

Book Description

Published in association with America's preeminent authority, the Smithsonian Institution, this comprehensive handbook to the birds of North America: Eastern Region includes 706 species ---- all birds known to breed east of the 100th meridian on the United States and Canada, as well as regular visitors and vagrants to this region.The Smithsonian Handbook is the first identification guide that includes details of the bird's life history in a concise and user--friendly format. Each full--page profile combines a precise description, annotated photographs, and artworks to highlight the key field marks of the species in each plumage. Similar species are shown and distinguishing characteristics are noted. Further information on the bird's habits describes the typical song and other vocalizations, behavior, breeding, nesting, population, and conservation concerns. Typical flight patterns and nest locations and shapes are described with clear icons, and amplified in the text. Each bird's range during summer, winter, and on migration is clearly shown on a map. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Something new for the birdwatcher
Here's a fine addition to the serious birdwatcher's library. Well illustrated showing juvenile and sex variations in plumage, maps and range for each species, details about similar types, population, etc. Only drawback for the birder is the heft of the book. This is no in-the-pocket volume but should be taken along on any auto trip as reference.

a useful companion guide
I take issue with the Book News Review. Every birding guide has strengths and weaknesses, and few (if any) can compete with Sibley on illustrations. This book's main attribute is its standardized format that provides song, behavior, breeding, nesting, fight pattern, nest identification and similar birds for every species, plus a sighting checkoff at the bottom of each page. The comprehensive information makes it a useful companion to other guides. As for field portability, my reliable, dog-eared Peterson's still wins out.

a helpful companion birding guide
I take issue with the Book News review. Every birding guide has strengths and weaknesses. For illustrations, we'll leave that to Sibley. The Alsop book's attribute is its standardized format of song, behavior, breeding, nesting and population summaries, plus similar birds, flight patterns and nest identification, for every species. This comprehensive information makes it a useful companion to other birding guides. The Alsop guide may be too heavy to carry in the field (my trustworthy, dog-eared Peterson's still wins out here), but it doesn't take up too much room in the car trunk.

Bird Identification made easier.....
Did you ever try to decide whether the little wren on the back patio was a Winter Wren, a Carolina Wren, Bewick's Wren, or a House Wren? With this book you can add a few more wrens to your list. You'll also find plenty of Sparrows, Warblers, and members of other bird families. BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA: EASTERN BIRDS contains a comprehensive listing of the birds who spend at least part of their year living east of the Mississippi as well as plenty of western birds of interest--like the House Finch who migrated east. This book is large-more than 700 pages-so it's heavy, but it has a plasicized cover so you can haul it in your backpack if you're strong. Since the Smithsonian developed it, the book is literally jam-packed with information, including: a description with a color photo; call notes; habitat; nesting habits; relative size (the bird is silhouetted against the book); bird look-alikes; and plenty of other useful stuff. Each bird receives a full page of coverage. My only complaint, and it's barely worth mentioning is that the maps appearing with each bird entry are a bit small. In some cases a bird's domain is barely visiable, but partly that's owing to the demise of the domain. You not only will discover where the little guys summer, wint