Description
Book SynopsisMore than 600 lush, stunning photos grace this comprehensive handbook to the birdlife of the Mid-Atlantic region. A Great Blue Heron wades in the shallows of the Potomac River, scanning for unsuspecting prey. Sunlight turns the water translucent as a small school of fish rises to the water's surface. The heron strikes and moments later is swallowing its quarrypredation in action! This handsome Great Blue Heron is but one of the more than 400 bird species found in Delaware, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. It shares the mid-Atlantic with kingfishers, eagles, mergansers, wood warblers, and many more. Exploring backyard birds, birds of prey, and birds of the open ocean, Smithsonian ornithologist Bruce Beehler and premier nature photographer Middleton Evans have crafted a comprehensive volume unparalleled in its beauty and captivating storytelling. Birds of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia invites readers to experience the birds' lives as they live them: where they nest, how they forage, their various behaviors, and the natural environments they need to survive. Beehler offers practical advice on bird-watching, including how to find, attract, and even garden for birds, as well as the best places to see them in season. He also discusses the best birding apps, websites, and gear; provides advice on planning a birding field trip; and recommends ornithological institutions that will help you cultivate a lifelong birding hobby. Finally, Beehler challenges the reader to think about conservation efforts to preserve local bird populations. With striking color photographs of more than 400 species, this book is a bonanza for nature lovers. A wealth of images immerse the reader in the world of these wonderful creatures. Marvel at the majesty of Ospreys, navigate the ocean with storm-petrels, and nest with Mourning Doves, all while learning about the richness of the birds' lives, the complexities of their habits, and how we can help keep their populations vibrant and aloft for generations to come.
Trade ReviewIf you've never been able to fully appreciate the red poll, phoebe, towhee or great crested flycatcher, you might derive hours of pleasure from a new book from Johns Hopkins University Press,
Birds of Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. It's the size of a coffee table book and looks at first like one, heavily dependent on photographs. But it's far more than that. Part field guide, part birding atlas, part conservationist pleading, it is nearly 500 pages of photos by Middleton Evans and prose by ornithologist Bruce Beehler. It comes with charts, checklists and maps of birding hot spots . . . I can't imagine a more complete record of the birds of our region. It's an inspiration for anyone who has thought about — but never got around to — becoming a birder . . . The Beehler-Evans book is timely and important. It's an impressive accounting of what we have and what we could lose if we don't do more — and fast — to counter the effects of human behavior.
—Dan Rodricks,
Baltimore SunThis magnificent large-format guide to the local birds of Maryland, D.C. and Delaware is a treasure trove of practical information. More than 70 of the 684 color photographs are full-page . . . Give
Birds of Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia as a gift and encourage a hobby that will be transformative. Experience the beauty that awaits those who venture outdoors with discerning eyes and sensitive ears.
—Dinah Rokach,
The BeaconTable of ContentsForeword, by Chandler S. Robbins
Acknowledgments
Terms, Abbreviations, and Acronyms
Part I. Introduction
1. Appreciating Our Birdlife and the Gentle Art of Birding
2. Natural Geography and Local Bird Provinces
3. The Birding Seasons
4. Birding in Urban, Suburban, and Agricultural Landscapes
5. The Gift of Wild Places
6. Landscaping for Birds and the Environment
7. Feeding the Birds
8. Conserving Birds and Their Habitats
Part II. Bird Group Accounts
The Waterbirds
9. The Waterfowl
10. Marsh and Wading Birds
11. Coastal Waterbirds
12. Shorebirds
13. Birds of the Open Ocean
The Landbirds
14. Birds of Prey
15. Birds of Countryside, Farm, and Field
16. Aerial Feeders
17. Neighborhood, Backyard, and Feeder Birds
18. Sparrows and Their Terrestrial Allies
19. Warblers and Look-alikes
20. Orioles, Blackbirds, and Colorful Fruit- and Seed-eaters
Part III. Birding Tools
21. Best Birding Apps and Websites
22. Necessary Birding Gear
23. Planning Your Birding Field Trip
24. Important Institutions for Birds and Birding
25. Key Birding and Ornithological References
Part IV. Bird-Finding Guide
26. Photographic Atlas and Finding Guide
27. Birds Rarely Recorded in the Region
28. Coded Regional Checklist and Seasonal Occurrence Chart
29. Best Birding Localities
Contributors
Photography Notes
Addendum
Index
