California

Raptors of California (California Natural History Guides)

Raptors--the charismatic group of birds that includes hawks, eagles, and falcons--evoke power, swiftness, and grace. Raptors, or birds of prey, gaze calmly about while at rest, exuding confidence and nobility, and, while soaring aloft, they are absolute icons of the California landscape. Featuring descriptions of every diurnal California raptor, this state-of-the-art, beautifully illustrated guide is the first to combine identification of these important birds with a comprehensive discussion of their natural history.
Raptors of California notes well-established field marks in addition to introducing several new pointers that help distinguish especially difficult species. More than a field guide, the book also includes information on raptor anatomy, foraging, reproduction, movement, where and how to observe raptors, human-raptor interactions, raptor conservation, endangered species, caring for injured hawks, falconry, and more. Of special interest is the inclusion of previously unpublished descriptions of raptor behavior and many fascinating anecdotes and vivid observations from the field that provide new insights into the lives of these captivating birds.

* Covers 27 species, with range maps for the 18 species regularly occurring in California
* 104 color figures include photographs and wash drawings illustrating habitats, anatomy, field marks, and behavior
* 12 full-page color plates show the various plumages of each species--including rarities--as well as their appearance in flight
* Highly readable and accessible, even when covering complicated topics such as flight and evolutionary adaptations

A Desert Country Near the Sea: A Natural History of the Cape Region of Baja California

Illustrated Guide to the Oaks of the Southern Californian Floristic Province: The Oaks of Coastal Southern California and Northwestern Baja California

A beautifully illustrated identification guide complete with easy to use keys, descriptions, and large maps for all 18 species of oaks that are known to occur in southern California west of the deserts. The book also includes two additional species that are endemic to northwestern Baja California, Mexico, and distributional information for other species of oaks that occur in Baja California north of El Rosario.

The Nature of California: An Introduction to Common Plants and Animals and Natural Attractions (Field Guides Series)

Part of a Best-selling series of field guides which provides simplified introduction to the flora, fauna, and outstanding natural attractions in California. This thumb-indexed guide features over 300 color illustrations of familiar mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, trees, shrubs, and wildflowers.

Introduction to the California Condor (California Natural History Guides)

The story of the California Condor--an awe-inspiring symbol of wilderness--is one of the most dramatic and contentious in conservation biology. Huge scavengers with wingspans reaching more than nine feet, Condors declined by 1985 to just nine individuals left in the wild. At that point, under a highly controversial program, the last birds were brought into captivity to create a population that could eventually be reestablished in nature. This engaging book, written by two scientists who were intimately involved with the Condor conservation effort, tells the full story of the California Condor, from the bird's evolution and biology to its captive breeding and subsequent releases, and its uncertain future. It introduces the largest soaring bird in the continental United States to a broad audience and at the same time presents an important case study of a critically endangered species.
Throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Condors suffered from a variety of stresses--from shooting to strychnine poisoning that was an inadvertent side effect of campaigns to exterminate wolves and grizzly bears from California. Condors also faced dramatic declines in their food supply and progressively smaller foraging habitats. But as we are now coming to understand, the most important cause of their decline was lead poisoning caused by the ingestion of the ammunition fragments often present in its carrion food supply, especially in deer that were killed, but not recovered, by hunters. Noel and Helen Snyder delineate in clear fashion the myriad issues facing the Condor today and, looking to the future, convey a measure of hope that we may still achieve viable wild populations of this magnificent denizen of the California landscape.

True Bear Stories

1900. Called the Poet of the Sierras and the Byron of the Rockies, Cincinnatus Hiner Miller alias Joaquin Miller was also termed a poseur and a farce during his careers as a 19th century lawyer, judge, pony express rider, newspaperman, teacher, cook, miner, conservationist and poet. Included in this book of stories is perhaps Miller's most interesting tale of A Bear on Fire, for I doubt you could put it down after reading the first couple sentences: It is now more than a quarter of a century since I saw the woods of Mount Shasta in flames, and beasts of all sorts, even serpents, crowded together; but I can never forget, never!

Guide to Birds of the Salton Sea

The Sonoran Desert's Salton Sea is California's crown jewel of avian biodiversity. Second only to the Texas Gulf Coast in avian abundance, the Sea hosts more than 400 species of birds each year. This volume is the first full-length book to focus attention on the Sea's unique natural wonders and importance while providing a wealth of useful information for birders and naturalists. For readers wishing to visit the Salton Sea, this book provides detailed descriptions of 15 birding sites. Each site chapter has a brief description of the area and its vegetation, directions for getting there, a site map, a section on the birdlife, and a table listing birds seen, their abundance and seasonality. For those coming to the Salton Sea to see a specific bird, the book includes species accounts pinpointing where and when each species is most likely to be seen. Guide to Birds of the Salton Sea also includes chapters on nocturnal roosts, nesting, rare species, species of concern, as well as cumulative tables.

Carson-Iceberg Wilderness

Between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite near the California-Nevada border is a remote region of high Sierra peaks and forest that sees little of the congestion found around its two more famous neighbors. The Carson-Iceberg Wilderness is a place in which to lose yourself. This guide to the area is suited to the well-rounded outdoors enthusiast, with chapters on geology, history, wildlife, fishing, and a variety of backcountry excursions. Included is a handy fold-out topographic map.

Straddling the crest in the central part of the Sierra Nevada, this wilderness preserves the glaciated High Sierra lands between Highway 4 and Highway 108. The vast majority of the wilderness is easily accessible, yet lightly used.

Schaffer covers all the trails in this wilderness of glaciated canyons and spectacular views. Both trails and cross-country routes are shown on the book's foldout topographic map, which shows elevations at all trail junctions plus distances between junctions. Hikes range from easy dayhikes to multi-day backpacks.

The Birds and the Beasts Were There

The Trees of California