"In A Natural History of the Chicago Region, Greenberg takes you on a journey that begins with European explorers and settlers and hasn't ended yet. Along the way he introduces you to the physical forces that have shaped the area from southeastern Wisconsin to northern Indiana and Berrien County in Michigan; the various habitat types present in the region and how European settlement has affected them; and the insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, and mammals found in presettlement times, then amid the settlers and now amid the skyscrappers. In all, Greenberg chronicles the development of nineteen counties in Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin across centuries of ecological, technological, and social transformations."--BOOK JACKET.
The Windy City isn't just a hub for commercial airlines: over 8 million birds migrate through town each autumn and spring. This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species and includes an eco-region map featuring prominent bird-viewing areas. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by visitors and residents alike.
The diverse habitats of Illinois--savannas, rivers, marshes, forests, and beaches--offer a home for hundreds of types of birds throughout the year. And as one of the important "flyover states," Illinois welcomes hundreds of species of migrating birds during the spring and fall. From the shores of Lake Michigan in the north to the central Great Plains to the magnificent Shawnee National Forest, Illinois is a magnificent state for birds and birders. Written by a third-generation Illinoisan birder and filled with over 500 color images of birds in native habitats, this is the perfect companion for anyone interested in learning about the natural history and diversity of the state's birds and when and where to find them.
Whether we live in cities, in the suburbs, or in the country, birds are ubiquitous features of daily life, so much so that we often take them for granted. But even the casual observer is aware that birds don’t fill our skies in the number they once did. That awareness has spawned conservation action that has led to notable successes, including the recovery of some of the nation’s most emblematic species, such as the Bald Eagle, Brown Pelican, Whooping Crane, and Peregrine Falcon. Despite this, a third of all American bird species are in trouble—in many cases, they’re in imminent danger of extinction. The most authoritative account ever published of the threats these species face, The American Bird Conservancy Guide to Bird Conservation will be the definitive book on the subject. The Guide presents for the first time anywhere a classification system and threat analysis for bird habitats in the United States, the most thorough and scientifically credible assessment of threats to birds published to date, as well as a new list of birds of conservation concern. Filled with beautiful color illustrations and original range maps, the Guide is a timely, important, and inspiring reference for birders and anyone else interested in conserving North America’s avian fauna. But this book is far more than another shout of crisis. The Guide also lays out a concrete and achievable plan of long-term action to safeguard our country’s rich bird life. Ultimately, it is an argument for hope. Whether you spend your early weekend mornings crouched in silence with binoculars in hand, hoping to check another species off your list, or you’ve never given much thought to bird conservation, you’ll appreciate the visual power and intellectual scope of these pages.
Presents a cultural ethnography and a guide to the forest birds of southern Chile and Argentina. This title includes entries on fifty bird species, such as the Magellanic Woodpecker, Rufous-Legged Owl, Ringed Kingfisher, Buff-Necked Ibis, Giant Hummingbird, and Andean Condor.
Tiny ruby-throated hummingbirds weighing less than a nickel fly from the upper Midwest to Costa Rica every fall, crossing the six-hundred-mile Gulf of Mexico without a single stop. One of the many creatures that commute on the Mississippi Flyway as part of an annual migration, they pass along Chicago’s lakefront and through midwestern backyards on a path used by their species for millennia. This magnificent migrational dance takes place every year in Chicagoland, yet it is often missed by the region’s two-legged residents. The Art of Migration uncovers these extraordinary patterns that play out over the seasons. Readers are introduced to over two hundred of the birds and insects that traverse regions from the edge of Lake Superior to Lake Michigan and to the rivers that flow into the Mississippi. As the only artist in residence at the Field Museum, Peggy Macnamara has a unique vantage point for studying these patterns and capturing their distinctive traits. Her magnificent watercolor illustrations capture flocks, movement, and species-specific details. The illustrations are accompanied by text from museum staff and include details such as natural histories, notable features for identification, behavior, and how species have adapted to environmental changes. The book follows a gentle seasonal sequence and includes chapters on studying migration, artist’s notes on illustrating wildlife, and tips on the best ways to watch for birds and insects in the Chicago area. A perfect balance of science and art, The Art of Migration will prompt us to marvel anew at the remarkable spectacle going on around us.
This series targets beginning and intermediate bird watchers from each Midwestern state. In addition to the profiles, each bird entry includes a map to identify the specific range covered by the bird. One hundred birds are presented via multiple photographs for accurate identification.
Domenic Jejeune is a reluctant police hero but an enthusiastic birdwatcher. After he's promoted to a post in the heart of Britain's birding country, his first case involves the murder of an environmentalist. Torn between loyalties to his job and his hobby, Jejeune faces mistrust from his colleagues and self-doubt as he works to solve the case.
The vast expanse of North America is home to more than 800 bird species, spread across an amazing variety of habitats. A Birder's Guide to Metropolitan Areas is the first guide to cover North America city-by-city. The book's birding trips visit most of the major habitats on the continent, among them some of the best birding sites in the U.S. and Canada. The more than 400 sites described include close-in urban parks and preserves as well as more-distant locations up to two hours from the downtown center. Whether birding for two hours or an entire day, the birder will find specific directions and 160 maps to the most desirable birding sites in and around each city. Cities covered are Albuquerque, Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo/Niagara, Calgary, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Detroit, Halifax, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Montréal, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington, DC, and Winnipeg. Each chapter was authored by a local birding expert (or team of experts), and was compiled and edited by Paul Lehman, former editor of ABA's Birding magazine and one of North America's most traveled and most knowledgeable birders. This comprehensive guide to finding birds in North America's cities and environs will greatly aid any birder's search for breeding, wintering, and migrant species, vagrants, and other sought-after birds. A Birder's Guide to Metropolitan Areas contains advice and directions for finding such species as Harlequin Duck, Snail Kite, Gyrfalcon, Spruce Grouse, White-tailed Ptarmigan, Yellow Rail, Rock Sandpiper, Atlantic Puffin, Northern Hawk Owl, Great Gray Owl, Red-cockaded and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Yellow-billed Magpie, California Gnatcatcher, Bicknell's Thrush, Le Conte's Thrasher, Cerulean and Swainson's Warblers, Baird's and Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows, and many more.
