The understanding of nature was Ralph Simpson's consuming passion, which he pursued with unmatched vigor and high spirits. In Grass Flats, 1890--1923, Simpson meticulously documents 218 species accounts of bird life in Warren County, Pennsylvania, including notes on other species observed at Presque Isle on Lake Erie. Simpson speaks of habitat preferences and population shifts, while at the same time offering a view of the natural world with a bit of whimsy, as in the following 1909 observations of the Screech Owl. I knew of an old Flicker's hole nearby, and on going past I saw feathers about the edges, so I investigated and found a Gray Screecher at home. She made no resistance, so I reached in and counted five eggs under her, petted her, and left her. Join this noted naturalist, as he seeks adventure birding in the virgin timber of Wild Cat Run, navigating a steep precipice in the wilds of Goshawk Basin, or climbing 70 feet up a giant Eastern Hemlock to peer into a Sharp-shinned Hawk's nest. From his exploits, Simpson learned early on that, with nature, every moment instructs. Simpson, with feet on terra firma, beckons you to his stomping ground--Grass Flats.

This top-selling series introduces the wild creatures of the world and examines the natural world. Good general introductions for ages 10+, these volumes contain the knowledge, personal experiences, and research of leading naturalists and scientists, accompanied by stunning photography. Unless otherwise noted (*), all volumes are sturdy paperback.

Delphus E. Carpenter (1877-1951) was Colorado's commissioner of interstate streams during a time when water rights were a legal battleground for western states. A complex, unassuming man as rare and cunning in politics and law as the elusive silver fox of the Rocky Mountain West, Carpenter boldly relied on negotiation instead of endless litigation to forge agreements among states first, before federal intervention. In Silver Fox of the Rockies, Daniel Tyler tells Carpenter's story and that of the great interstate water compacts he helped create. Those compacts, produced in the early twentieth century, have guided not only agricultural use but urban growth and development throughout much of the American West to this day. In Carpenter's time, most western states relied on the doctrine of prior appropriation--first in time, first in right--which granted exclusive use of resources to those who claimed them first, regardless of common needs. Carpenter feared that population growth and rapid agricultural development in states sharing the same river basins would rob Colorado of its right to a fair share of water. To avoid that eventuality, Carpenter invoked the compact clause of the U.S. Constitution, a clause previously used to settle boundary disputes, and applied it to interstate water rights. The result was a mechanism by which complex issues involving interstate water rights could be settled through negotiation without litigating them before the U.S. Supreme Court. Carpenter believed in the preservation of states' rights in order to preserve the constitutionally mandated balance between state and federal authority. Today, water remains critically important to the American West, and thegreat interstate water compacts Carpenter helped engineer constitute his most enduring legacy. Of particular significance is the Colorado River Compact of 1922, without which Hoover Dam could never have been built.

Part travelogue, part history, and part environmental treatise, "Mekong - The Occluding River" is above all else an urgent warning that factors such as pollution, ecological devastation, and the depletion of natural resources are threatening the very existence of the Mekong River. Author Ngo The Vinh combines his vivid travel notes and collection of photographs with a meticulously researched history of the environmental degradation of the Mekong River. Translated from Vietnamese, the best-selling treatise outlines the myriad threats facing the river today. From oil shipments feeding the industrial cities of southwestern China to gigantic hydroelectric dams known as the Mekong Cascades in Yunnan province, China is the worst environmental offender, though the other nations along Mekong's banks behave no better. From Thailand to Laos to Vietnam, hydroelectric dams that threaten the Mekong and its inhabitants are being built at an alarming rate. To save the Mekong, Ngo The Vinh calls upon all the nations that benefit from its life-giving water to observe the "Spirit of the Mekong" in the implementation of all future development projects. To achieve this end, there must be a concerted and sustained commitment to cooperation and sustainability. At this critical cross-roads, we should remind ourselves of the mantra from Sea World San Diego: "Extinction is forever. Endangered means we still have time."

Originally published in 1851. First editions are now extremely rare and very expensive. One of the first books to deal in comprehensive detail with the management, history, natural history and types of domestic and wild pigeons. The illustrated contents include chapters on: Earliest History - Domestication - Legends and Superstitions - Breeding and Management - Classifications - Breeds - Carriage, Flight and Colouring - Natural History - etc. This fascinating book will appeal greatly to all pigeon enthusiasts and contains much advice and information which is still of practical use today.

The name of this book really says it all; it is the ULTIMATE book for anyone that is thinking about purchasing or already has the pleasure of sharing their love with a Yorkshire terrier. The author is not only a Yorkie owner, but also a breeder who showed and raised champions for over 25 years. This book contains all the information that you will ever need to know about Yorkies including: Detailed information about Yorkshire Terrier Standards. Feeding recommendations just for Yorkies, including a few homemade recipes. The history of Yorkshire Terriers and their Origin. Information about where to purchase a Yorkshire Terrier Puppy, and how to pick out your puppy from its littermates. Preparing your home for a new puppy arrival. Children, other pets and your Yorkie addition. Showing Your Yorkshire Terrier, explaining in detail the different show categories and what you can expect before, during and after a show. Yorkshire Terrier Teeth Care Brushing, Bathing & Grooming information, including hair wrapping. Immunizations Information. Pet Health Insurance and Yorkshire Terrier Health Concerns including: Hypoglycemia, Collapsed trachea, Luxating Patella, Pancreatitis, Canine Idiopathic Epilepsy, Portosystemic Shunt, Renal Failure, Retinal Dysplasia, Legg-Perthes Disease, Enteropathy, Distichia, Cataracts. Helpful hints for Traveling with your Yorkshire Terrier Spaying or Neutering information. Breeding your Yorkie, in detail, before you breed, selecting your mate, line breeding, inbreeding, outcross breeding, what to expect during the mating, and, when you should or shouldn't breed your pet. Detailed information explaining what you can expect during the pregnancy, whelping (the delivery) and afterwards care for mom and newborn puppies. Yorkie puppy care from birth including weaning the puppies from mom, and selling your puppies. Advice about when it's time to say Goodbye to your old friend. Also included are Yorkshire Terrier Facts, Oddities and Interesting Tidbits just for fun.

"Smart Paws "brought a warm feeling, gentleness and love, and] knowledge of animal/bird life. There is pain, but also hope and humor. Importantly, there is] encouragement for others to follow, without fear.""
Helga Milberg
Dog trainer and board member of Tucson-based Handi-Dogs

.A good dog will change your life. When Eloise met Gamble, her first golden retriever, she befriended a gentle, generous soul who understood the art of being a healing presence. Years later, when overwhelming depression and debilitating physical challenges forever changed her lifestyle, outlook, and career, her life went to the dogs. Research about service dogs and the profound impact they can have on a life quickly became her one life-affirming activity. The partnership she envisioned would provide comfort and support by giving her new purpose, allowing her to conquer the many challenges her new life presented.

A mental health counselor, artist, and animal lover, Eloise emphasizes the miraculous competencies of dogs who literally and figuratively open new doors for countless people challenged by physical or mental health problems.

This is also a story about a very special dog named Rusty. Through Rusty, Eloise provides useful information for others interested in bringing a service animal into their lives. Eloise and Rusty explore how dogs have responded to our changing needs from prehistoric times to the present. Eloise's lifelong experiences with animals and her study of the human-dog bond, including research into the evolution of the dog and their special intelligence, are candidly reflected in her tales about pets and partners.

Lakeland Book of the Year 2018, Bookends Prize for Art and Literature, WINNER. With its enchanting song, striking orange bill and endearing willingness to share our living space, the blackbird is one of our best-loved birds. And, in common with all our garden wildlife, it plays a critical role in Britain's fragile and precious biodiversity. In The Blackbird Diaries, Karen Lloyd shares her deep-rooted knowledge and affection for the flora and fauna of these isles. And she issues a clarion call for the conservation of endangered habitats and species - most notably the curlew, Europe's largest wading bird. Over the four seasons, Karen intimately chronicles the drama of the natural world as it all unfolds in her garden and in the limestone hills and valleys of Cumbria's South Lakeland. What emerges is a celebration of landscapes that rarely feature in nature writing. But more than that, at a time of critical species loss, she offers rare insights into the lives of animals that may be common but are no less remarkable.

This veritable marine treasure trove of a book is richly illustrated by the author, with fifty of the most beautiful, easily encountered, and sometimes astonishing marine organisms found on British coasts, from seemingly exotic seahorses and starfish, to peculiar sea-potatoes and sea lemons. Together, these characterful critters paint a colourful picture of life between the tides: starfish that, upon losing an arm, can grow a new one; baby sharks hatching from their fancifully named 'mermaid' purses'; ethereal moon jellyfish pulsating in the current and, on some seabeds, even coral. Beachcombing, overturning a boulder or simply parting the strands of seaweed in a rock pool offer a glimpse into a thriving underwater world of curious creatures. Inspired by the Oxford University of Natural History's exceptionally rich zoology collections, which contain millions of specimens amassed from centuries of expeditions, this book tells the story of life on the seashore.

The perfect hilarious and heartwarming gift for the festive season! When the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards announced a contest for the funniest animal photo, they received entries from all over the world. Now authors and the original Award founders Paul Joynson-Hicks and Tom Sullam showcase the best of the best - as well as some never before seen - to present the most joyful photographs of wildlife ever printed. A pelican losing its lunch; a three-headed giraffe; a meerkat having a rough day... this is the must-have book that is perfect for animal lovers of all stripes!

Learn to identify animals, plants, and fungi wherever you go with this step-by-step guide for spotting and recording key traits and characteristics.

If you've ever consulted a field guide to identify a new bird at your feeder, you know the process isn't as easy as it sounds. In fact, it seems like you have to know a lot about that mystery bird to even figure out where to start.

The Everyday Naturalist fills in the gaps by explaining what traits to pay attention to when encountering a new species; how and when to use field guides, apps, and other resources; what to do if you get stuck; and more. Rather than focusing on one region or continent, these skills and tools are designed to help you classify nature anywhere you are—whether on familiar territory, traveling, or in a new home.

In chapters about animals, plants, fungi, and organisms like lichens and slime molds, naturalist and guide Rebecca Lexa goes into detail about what sets each of these kingdoms apart from each other—from color, shape, and texture to sexual characteristics, behavior, and habitat—and includes more than forty full-color photos and drawings to illustrate key points. She also provides detailed case studies to demonstrate how to use all of these traits to identify specimens across multiple kingdoms.

This easy-to-follow guide empowers you to learn more about the species around you, then use what you know to preserve the world you love. And at a time when biodiversity is imperiled worldwide, nature needs more advocates than ever.

From its long coastline, with cliffs and islands that bustle with breeding seabirds in the summer, to its open moorland that hold some of the most southerly Curlews and Black Grouse, Wales packs a lot of birds into a small area. It is significant for its populations of Chough, Hawfinch and Pied Flycatcher, and its Manx Shearwaters are of global importance. And it has played an important role in the study of migration, as Skokholm was the first bird observatory in Britain. It is almost 30 years since the first avifauna was published for all of Wales and much has changed. Knowledge of the status of many species has increased thanks to improved monitoring and a greater number of birdwatchers, and we have a better understanding of how humans have affected Wales' birds, particularly the twin challenges of land-use and climate change. The Birds of Wales synthesises the new information and sets it in context of each species' history in Wales. It tells the stories of all the birds that have been recorded here, whether common or rare, and looks forward, anticipating what may occur in the coming decades. It will have an essential place on the bookshelf of everyone with an interest in birds in Wales and should be on the desk or in the rucksack of everyone who influences what happens to the nation's land and seas. It is a once-in-a-generation state of Wales' birds.

Bill Turnbull had no intention of becoming a beekeeper. But when he saw an ad for beekeeping classes after a swarm of bees landed in his suburban backyard it seemed to be a sign. Despite being stung on the head twice at his first hands-on beekeeping class, Turnbull found himself falling in love with the fascinating, infuriating honeybee.

As a new beekeeper, Turnbull misplaced equipment for months, got stung more times and in more places than he cares to remember, and once even lost some bees up a chimney. But he kept at it, with a ready sense of humor and Zen-like acceptance of every mishap. And somehow, along the way, he learned a great deal about himself and the world around him.

"Confessions of a Bad Beekeeper" chronicles Turnbull 's misadventures (and brief moments of triumph) in the curious world of backyard beekeeping and also highlights both the threat to our bee population and what we can do to help these vital little creatures do their wonderful work.