When it comes to states, few are more difficult to approach from a natural history perspective than California. Its long, narrow shape combined with a Pacific Ocean-facing coastline running the entire length of one side join with a variety of eco-regions that range from desert to sub-alpine to create a level of diversity that’s seen […]
Following in the pattern established with the ground-breaking first edition of The Sibley Guide to Birds (or, as it quickly became known, for obvious reasons, in many birding circles, “The Big Sibley”), David Sibley has now divided his even larger and more extensive second edition of that book into a western and eastern volume to allow for easier portability and use in the field.
As a frequent traveler – mostly on business – I often find myself in locations with which I am not particularly familiar. For most business travelers this isn’t unusual; which is why so many can only tell you about airports, hotels, conference centers, and the odd restaurant when asked bout their most recent trip. However […]
While visiting the Festival of the Cranes at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, I naturally peeked in to the visitors center and the little shop operated by the Friends of the Bosque located there. Experience has taught me that very often these little refuge shops can be excellent locations to discover some very interesting books addressing the natural history of the local area – and indeed, this was the case here. While there were literally dozens of books seen on the shelves that were worthy of note, those that follow particularly caught my attention.