Despite their small sizes, Maryland and Washington, DC, possess a vast range of environments--from the high peaks of the Allegheny Ridges to the low marshes of the Chesapeake Bay. Home to 200 nesting bird species, these habitats are under constant threat from urban sprawl, changing farming practices, and the degradation of coastal wetlands. The "Second Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia" documents the impact of these environmental changes on the region's bird population and discusses the recovery of the endangered Bald Eagle and the new confirmation of breeding by three species--the Common Merganser, the Ruddy Duck, and the Double-crested Cormorant.

Species accounts, each with a stunning color photograph, provide detailed coverage of the habitats, biology, and relative abundance of mid-Atlantic nesting birds. Up-to-date maps reflect changes in their breeding ranges and distributions over the past two decades. Of perhaps greatest value are the comparative analyses with data from the first statewide survey conducted in the 1980s.

Treasured by birders--and an invaluable reference for ornithologists, conservationists, and land use planners--this book will significantly influence our understanding and management of avian species in the region for the next decade.