In 1953, birding guru Roger Tory Peterson and noted British naturalist James Fisher set out on what became a legendary journey-a one hundred day trek over 30,000 miles around North America. They traveled from Newfoundland to Florida, deep into the heart of Mexico, through the Southwest, the Pacific Northwest, and into Alaska's Pribilof Islands. Two years later, Wild America, their classic account of the trip, was published. On the eve of that book's fiftieth anniversary, naturalist Scott Weidensaul retraces Peterson and Fisher's steps to tell the story of wild America today. How has the continent's natural landscape changed over the past fifty years? How have the wildlife, the rivers, and the rugged, untouched terrain fared? The journey takes Weidensaul to the coastal communities of Newfoundland, where he examines the devastating impact of the Atlantic cod fishery's collapse on the ecosystem; to Florida, where he charts the virtual extinction of the great wading bird colonies that Peterson and Fisher once documented; to the Mexican tropics of Xilitla, which have become a growing center of ecotourism since Fisher and Peterson's exposition. And perhaps most surprising of all, Weidensaul finds that much of what Peterson and Fisher discovered remains untouched by the industrial developments of the last fifty years. Poised to become a classic in its own right, Return to Wild America is a sweeping survey of the natural soul of North America today.

Part of a suite of books that narrates the story of the impact of humanity's attempt to control fire, this volume focuses on the seat of Western civilization. In this unique perspective on European history, Pyne (history, Arizona State U.) sweeps through over 3,000 thousand years chronicling how flames have been harnessed for agriculture and industry; have served as errant shaping forces of landscape, war, and migration; and as the focus of sacred ritual and thinking about our relationship to natural forces. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Invites readers to explore the smallest and most unique southwestern desert, the beautiful Mojave--Provided by publisher.

The best-selling science writer offers his insights on the disappearance of the Tahitian snail, the ecological crisis, the bent tail of an ichthyosaur, the evolution of the hearing bones, and more.

Each book in this series covers all the different species of a particular type of plant or animal, providing hundreds of color illustrations and range maps so that both nature enthusiasts and backyard observers can easily identify a particular type of flora or fauna.

Harvard University's Pulitzer Prize-winning scientist and world-famous champion of Earth's biological diversity looks back over his lifelong enchantment with the natural world and outlines the main principles of evolutionary biology. Reissue. NYT.

In a series of essays giving careful consideration to the theory of evolution, Gould examines some of the more intriguing mysteries of the topic, studying the Piltdown Man hoax, the deceleration of earth's rotation, and other phenomena

A photographic essay on the archipelago that was the genesis for Darwin's theory

Various historic volcanoes, and the ability to survive them. It includes the Toba volcano, from Indonesia.

The emphasis in research on waterfowl has traditionally focused on breeding as opposed to migrant or wintering birds. Scientists have long been interested in courtship, nest sites, laying, and brood-rearing, and they have also been concerned about losses of eggs, young, nesting hens, and breeding habitats, especially as they have affected the goal of increasing populations. But lately there has been an upsurge of interest and research on the migratory and wintering phases, and this volume offers ample evidence of the knowledge gained. The authors - 105 waterfowl biologists - have contributed 47 chapters that range geographically from Alaska to northern South America, and from the Pacific Northwest to Nova Scotia and Florida. Their subjects include: --distributional changes due to human influence --population trends and concerns over less common species --pairing and other behavior that occurs in the wintering areas and is vital to the success of the species --feeding ecology and body condition during winter --new habitats created by such activities as aquaculture and park development --losses of habitat due to development and drainage for alternate uses --lead poisoning and pollutants that are detrimental to waterfowl --habitat management for maintenance of successful populations now and in the future Also presented are reports of workshop discussions outlining current issues and future research needs. Preparation of this volume was assisted by an editorial board comprising Bruce J. J. Batt, Robert H. Chabreck, Leigh H. Fredrickson, and Dennis G. Raveling.