Join naturalist Curtis J. Badger as he explores the last unspoiled barrier island ecosystem in the eastern United States. Badger's own ancestral roots in the region reach back into the 1600s, a legacy that fuels his passion and appreciation for this fragile confluence of land and sea. A beaded chain of 18 islands separates the inland shore from the Atlantic, and in this zone of protected waters lives a startling array of plants and animals. As he writes about looking for milky ribbon worms in the mudflats or paddling through spartina on a tidal creek, Badger gracefully weaves together personal history and natural science with insight and intelligence. 20 black & white illustrations.

The Eastern corridor of the United States may be notorious for overdevelopment, but Curtis J. Badger offers a challenge in his The Wild Coast: Exploring the Natural Attractions of the Mid-Atlantic: get off the highway and go see what the mid-Atlantic states have to offer. A companion to both " Virginia's Wild Side "and "A Naturalist's Guide to the Virginia Coast, " this new volume takes the reader on more than two dozen frequently surprising excursions through five mid-Atlantic states, offering detailed adventures for travelers wishing to explore the undeveloped territory of the East Coast.

With excursions ranging from sea kayaking at Roanoke Island, North Carolina, to a visit to the hawk observatory at Cape May, New Jersey, Badger's guide promises not only factual information on birds, butterflies, holly forests, and native plants but also an entertaining narrative that captures the excitement of exploring new territory. This guidebook to both wildlife and botany will appeal to anyone journeying along the eastern seaboard, particularly those interested in trading in their offices and armchairs for a taste of the unexpected and the wild.

As Curtis Badger will tell you, "Being a good naturalist has more to do with being an enthusiastic observer than traveling to distant places. It is more a matter of curiosity than of a need for adventure, a frame of mind rather than peculiarity of place." "A Naturalist's Guide to the Virginia Coast" will indeed incite an enthusiastic interest in that special place where the land meets the sea. Among Badger's goals is to draw the observer beyond the armchair and reading lamp, the museum and classroom, and outdoors onto the beaches and tidal flats of the Virginia coast to experience its rich natural diversity firsthand. And foot-first: Feel the mud between your toes on the tidal flats at Chincoteague; walk the sandy beach at Back Bay; pedal a bike along the Cape Henry Trail at First Landing State Park.

Informative as a guidebook--complete with sections on Virginia's primary coastal wilderness areas and appendices listing where to go and what to look for-- "A Naturalist's Guide" also serves as a natural history primer, offering clear and concise chapters on the ecological, historical, and botanical background of the region Badger explores.

For the parent adventuring with a curious child or the experienced birder in new territory, the weekend wanderer or the seasoned naturalist, Curtis Badger's user-friendly guide provides an engaging discussion about just the sorts of wondrous things the interested observer will encounter on a visit to Virginia's coastline.

tag: A handy family guide to Virginia's diverse coastline from the Eastern Shore's favorite naturalist