Description
Book SynopsisAn all-access guide to the abundant natural splendor of Sonoma County.
Wild Sonoma celebrates the spectacular and resilient natural landscapes of Sonoma County, which along with its neighboring counties is one of the world’s premier winegrowing regions. Our exploration launches with an entertaining primer on ecology basics, including the impact of fire, before a fun fact–filled survey of sixty-two of the area’s iconic and commonly encountered species—from vivacious acorn woodpeckers to disease-neutralizing Western fence lizards. It caps off with a tour of six sites to experience Sonoma’s diverse natural beauty, with a special emphasis on access. Written by Wild LA author Charles Hood, introduced by renowned naturalist Jane Goodall, and illustrated by John Muir Laws, Wild Sonoma offers residents and tourists from eight to eighty a sense of wonder and cause for hope.
Trade Review"Earthy and balanced, smooth on the tongue, and with a buttery finish, Wild Sonoma is an appealing, opulent introduction to the natural wonders just beyond the tasting rooms and terraces of Northern California wine country."—Foreword Reviews
Table of ContentsForeword by Jane Goodall
Introduction: Welcome to Wild Sonoma!
Part 1: Where Nature Comes From
- water and watersheds
- dirt versus soil
- fire and fire ecology
Part 2: a Field Guide to Cool, Interesting, and Essential Species
birds
- acorn woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus
- American coot Fulica americana
- American robin Turdus migratorius
- Anna’s hummingbird Calypte anna
- California quail Callipepla californica
- California scrub-jay Aphelocoma californica
- common raven Corvus corax
- dark-eyed junco Junco hyemalis
- double-crested cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
- golden-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla
- great blue heron Ardea herodias
- great egret Ardea alba
- house finch Haemorhous mexicanus
- mallard Anas platyrhynchos
- mourning dove Zenaida macroura
- red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis
- red-winged blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
- tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor
- turkey vulture Cathartes aura
- western bluebird Sialia mexicana
flowers, shrubs, and trees
- arroyo willow Salix lasiolepis
- bay laurel Umbellularia californica
- blue dicks Dipterostemon capitatum
- California buckeye Aesculus californica
- California poppy Eschscholzia californica
- coast live oak Quercus agrifolia
- coast redwood Sequoia sempervirens
- common manzanita Arctostaphylos manzanita
- Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii
- Douglas iris Iris douglasiana
- field mustard Brassica spp.
- Pacific madrone Arbutus menziesii
- Pacific poison oak Toxicodendron diversilobum
- sky lupine Lupinus nanus
- spring vetch Vicia sativa
- sticky monkey-flower Diplacus aurantiacus
- toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia
- valley oak Quercus lobata
insects
- common buckeye Junonia coenia
- bumble bee Bombus spp.
- cabbage white Pieris rapae
- California sister Adelpha californica
- common yellowjacket Vespula pensylvanica
- darkling beetle Eleodes grandicollis
- flame skimmer Libellula saturata
- harvester ant Veromessor andrei
- mourning cloak Nymphalis antiopa
- pipevine swallowtail Battus philenor
mammals
- black bear Urus americanus
- bobcat Lynx rufus
- coyote Canis latrans
- gray fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus
- mule deer Odocoileus hemionus
- northern raccoon Procyon lotor
- striped skunk Mephitis mephitis
- western gray squirrel Sciurus griseus
reptiles and amphibians
- California newt Taricha torosa
- garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis
- gopher snake Pituophis catenifer
- northern Pacific rattlesnake Crotalus oreganus
- Sierran treefrog Pseudacris sierra
- western fence lizard Sceloporus occidentalis
Part 3: Explorations and Excursions
- Jenner and the Russian River Estuary
- Lake Sonoma
- The Middle Russian River
- Spring Lake Regional Park
- Jack London State Historic Park
- Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
Where to Go Next
About the Authors
