Average customer rating:
- Short and usefull
- Expected more
- Glad I had it!
- Pocket Guide Intro
- Nice laminated quick guide to common animals/birds
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Costa Rican Wildlife: An Introduction to Familiar Species (Pocket Naturalist - Waterford Press)
James Kavanagh
Manufacturer: Waterford Press
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Waterproof Costa Rica Map
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Costa Rica (Traveller's Wildlife Guides)
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Lonely Planet Costa Rica Spanish Phrasebook (Phrasebooks)
ASIN: 1583550739 |
Customer Reviews:
Short and usefull.......2007-08-08
I'm back from Costa Rica and I can say this booklet is a good resumé of what you can see in that wonderful country. On 152 differents species shown on the booklet we saw 16 of them. I will bring it with me on my next trip in hope to see more.
Expected more.......2007-05-13
This handy pocket guide has the most frequently seen species, but I expected a bit more. Handy, but not what I expected.
Glad I had it!.......2007-03-29
I wasn't holding out much hope for value on this little "brochure" of wildlife but it turned out to be very nice to have. We just returned from a trip to Panama and Costa Rica and the guides - experienced naturalists with National Geographic and also from the parks and the Smithsonian - used it along with others. They are available for different regions and types of wildlife and I purchased two more when I was down there. Easy to carry on a hike, easy to refer to and great for the kids. They are certainly very basic but we were in isolated areas and some of us only got glimpses of an anteater or agouti so as the naturalists were talking about it, we could look at the guide and try to spot it again. Then if I only saw the tail, I knew what it looked like! Hiking up 300-500 ft. on muddy uneven trails with a camera in one hand, binoculars around my neck and a small backpack with water and such, it was hard to pull out a book for reference so if your trip is going to be at all like that, I recommend them.
Pocket Guide Intro.......2006-03-16
This booklet was offered as a bundle with another book I purchased. The booklet itself is well done, but not very extensive re: the wildlife of Costa Rica. It seemed to be a bit pricey to me, even at a discounted rate, for what I received.
Nice laminated quick guide to common animals/birds.......2005-09-29
These are great for families, casual wildlife fans. For die-hard bird fans, you'll need the BIG Birds of Costa Rica book.
Book Description
This uniquely thorough reference and guidebook offers illustrations, descriptions, and measurements for the skulls of some 275 animal species found throughout North America. The skull--the collection of bones that house and protect a creature's brain and sensory organs--is the key anatomical feature used to identify an animal and understand many of its behaviors. This book describes in words and pictures the bones and regions of the skull important to identification, including illustrations of all the bones in the cranium, leading to a greater understanding of a creature's place in the natural world. Life-size drawings and detailed measurements make this guide an invaluable reference for wildlife professionals, trackers, and animal-lovers alike.
Customer Reviews:
another great book from Mark.......2007-07-22
I have all of Mark Elbroch's books. They are essential for tracking & naturalist studies. I refer to them weekly for identification, more than any other books I own. I've also met Mark & had him sign the "Mammal Tracks" book. An all around great guy to study from & talk to. If you enjoy Mark's drawings check out his site for t-shrirts & other cool stuff.-Kevin
Great resource!.......2007-02-27
Outstanding book...wonderful photos of animal skulls...I was able to identify a fragment of a skull that I found by using this book. I know that it's the upper jaw of a house cat instead of a bobcat because of the small premolar tooth that bobcats and lynxes never have, cougars and ocelots always have, and house cats sometimes have. Should be on every naturalist's bookshelf.
Animal Skulls, A guide to North American Species.......2007-01-11
The Best skull identification book ever written.
A must have book for all Biologists,teachers,schools,collectors and museums of natural history.
An instant classic!.......2007-01-07
This is the book that trackers and naturalists have needed for a long time. It's finally here and it's outstanding! Now when I take apart an owl pellet I'll be able to determine what the owl was eating, and hence what small wildlife is abundant in that area. And when I'm out and discover part of a skull from a mammal, bird, amphibian, or reptile, I'll be able to find what that is too. Mark Elbrock has done it again: an instant classic, and a book that all trackers and naturalists should have in their collection.
A Comprehensive and Easy-to-Use Guide.......2006-12-16
This is a thorough and well-written book, which goes into great detail about the skulls of each North American mammal species, in addition to having a section on birds and reptiles/amphibians. The first several chapters, which I found surprisingly readable given the technical subject matter, are devoted to identifying skull bones and landmarks as well as interpreting the function and meaning behind various skull features, determining age and sex, and even obtaining, cleaning and preparing your own animal skulls. What I found most helpful in this book were the real-life sized illustrations of both skulls and jaws, which the author conveniently locates in one section of the book, for easy comparison. I was amazed at how easy it was to identify skulls I had found in years past- skulls that I had spent hours attempting to identify using information pieced together from the internet and other sources. This book is not only incredibly thorough and rich with information, but also well-organized and easy to understand, with helpful diagrams and plenty of beautiful, detailed illustrations. Overall, it is an excellent book that I will be sure to refer back to many times in the future.
Customer Reviews:
Good info - poor organization.......1997-04-07
This book contains the most up-to-date information and is highly accurate. It does, however, suffer from a poorly organized format. Some authors cover the same information, while other important topics fall between the cracks. I would have liked to see the same organizational structure used for all 3 "types" of deer
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Bats in Forests: Conservation and Management
Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
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Bat Ecology
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The Bat House Builder's Handbook, Completely Revised and Updated
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A Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians of Eastern & Central North America (Peterson Field Guide Series)
ASIN: 0801884993 |
Book Description
Although bats are often thought of as cave dwellers, many species depend on forests for all or part of the year. Of the 45 species of bats in North America, more than half depend on forests, using the bark of trees, tree cavities, or canopy foliage as roosting sites. Over the past two decades it has become increasingly clear that bat conservation and management are strongly linked to the health of forests within their range.
Initially driven by concern for endangered species -- the Indiana bat, for example -- forest ecologists, timber managers, government agencies, and conservation organizations have been altering management plans and silvicultural practices to better accommodate bat species. Bats in Forests presents the work of a variety of experts who address many aspects of the ecology and conservation of bats. The chapter authors describe bat behavior, including the selection of roosts, foraging patterns, and seasonal migration as they relate to forests. They also discuss forest management and its influence on bat habitat. Both public lands and privately owned forests are considered, as well as techniques for monitoring bat populations and activity.
The important role bats play in the ecology of forests -- from control of insects to nutrient recycling -- is revealed by a number of authors. Bat ecologists, bat conservationists, forest ecologists, and forest managers will find in this book an indispensable synthesis of the topics that concern them.
Book Description
This essential guide to safety in the field features 90 venomous animals and more than 250 poisonous plants and fungi. The 340 line drawings make identification fast and simple; 160 species are also illustrated with color photographs.
Customer Reviews:
Quickly Received in Great Condition.......2007-05-20
Product arrived as guaranteed, and the book delivered everything promised. Wish there were more color pictures of the actual plants; but overall, it's a GREAT field guide for someone just starting out in learning about what to avoid while hiking, camping, or just walking through the woods.
Don't harm snake on cover !!.......2007-05-16
My little brother just gave me this field guide. I was shocked to see a picture of a completely harmless Scarlet Kingsnake on the cover of a field guide to Venemous Animals.
I like the field guide, but please people, if you see the snake on the cover - understand it is a Kingsnake and completely harmless, not a Coral snake which is probably what they intended to have on the cover.
Coral snakes do not have red bands between two black bands, and the type of bands they have are quite different.
If you see a Coral snake, please don't kill it either - leave it alone, but especially do not kill a harmless Scarlet Kingsnake thinking it was a Coral snake. Hopefully the next edition will fix this embarrasing mistake.
Great field guide.......2005-09-13
perterson field guides are the best Ive found. I appreciate the easy to use guides and the content is excellent.
Essential to Everyone Outdoors.......2001-11-03
"Peterson's Field Guide to Venomous Animals and Poisonous Plants" is the first thing to be packed in one's backpack.It is essential to every hiker, camper, naturalist, hunter, bird watcher and nature lover. There are a hell of alot less hazards than benign plants and animals (although this varies somewhat according to region. The Mid-Atlantic and Northeast US has it easy compared to the Southwest) and while most people could identify a few, it doesnt make sense not to learn the 2-3 dozen major ones to avoid.
The book is up to Peterson's usual high standards in a field guide. It covers mammals followed by poisonous plants, shrubs/trees, vines, ferns and fungi. There are color photographs but the black and white drawings are the way to go for IDing. Most people will not read the entire book unless they're a hardcore naturalist or really, really bored in front of a campfire. I recommend checking out the hazards in your partiualr area icluding AT LEAST the following: 1. All poisonous snakes and their look-a-likes 2. Black Widow and Brown Recluse spider 3. Tics and Scorpions 4. Bees, Wasps, Fire Ants 5. Poisonous Plants including the Big 3: Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac 6. Poisonous Mushrooms (not so you can learn which you can eat, but to understand the severity of eating just one wrong one)
There's alot that won't apply to you(save those for a rainy day) and some hazards are less hazardous than others. For example, the short-tail shrew is listed, but most people need not live in fear of "killer shrews". But knowing that their bite has some bite to it, maybe you'll avoid juggling those cute furry creatures. Also, large mammals aren't included, though bears and mountain lions can seem pretty hazardous to me in some situations.I recommend supplementing your reading with "Bear Aware" by Bill Schneider and "Mountain Lion Alert" by Steven Torres. In addition, I wouldn't trust this book solely to gather a gourmet wild mushroom feast, either. I've seen some books topping 1,000 pages on edible shrooms and they still might not be complete. Its best to leave the shrooms alone!
Finally, there are a few diseases found outdoors worth researching: Giardia, hantavirus, rabies, and lyme disease among others.
Also recommended: "Peterson's Wild Edible Plants" and "Medicinal Plants".
Before you know what's edible, know what'll kill you!.......2000-08-18
Before you dash out into the woods and pick some plants you think are edible, you might want to get this book and know definitely what will kill you, or really mess up your body. Excellent info, bright color pictures, and written for an easy understanding, this book should be in any nature enthusiast's library, right next to Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, possibly the best plant identification guide around.
Amazon.com
With a special focus on ecotourism, the authors of The New Key to Costa Rica help you discover the diversity of this colorful country's remarkable flora and fauna (from tree ferns to sloths) and learn ways you can contribute to efforts to preserve it. A well-researched sustainability rating highlights lodgings that are active in protecting an environmental, economic, and cultural balance.
The book offers complete coverage of sights, lodging, dining, and outdoor adventures, including wildlife viewing, parks and reserves, surfing, fishing, horseback riding, and diving. --Kathryn True
Book Description
The original guide to Costa Rica, updated with even more insider secrets, features extensive travel information plus in-depth coverage of the natural environment and advice on taking a ecotourist vacation. Includes recommendations and details over 50 specific hotels that practice sustainable tourism. Co-authored by a dedicated conservationist who lived in Costa Rica for
12 years, it covers the entire country from 44 beaches on two oceans to 38 national parks, 13 volcanoes, and 3 cloud forests.
Customer Reviews:
A must read for CR relocators!.......2007-05-14
We have been to CR for a visit and are now considering the BIG move. This book covers every you would need to know and surprises you with information you didn't think of. We have even shared this information with our family that has lived there for 5 years and it has helped them. It also gave a brief but interesting history of Costa Rica as well as current government, economics and culture. Does a good job of explaining the cultural differences which are most important to the person considering a move anywhere! One thing I might stress... the author states several times that English is taught in the schools. This might lead you to believe that you will have little problem with communication. In our trip last year to the Central Valley and the Pacific Coast we did not meet one person that understood us or could speak to us in English. I highly advise, begin you Spanish Lessons before your anticipated trip!
Great Guide!.......2007-03-23
This guide was the better of the two I bought....and the other one was Fodor's. New Key was accurate, impartial, and covered lots of different kinds of stuff....
Invaluable - ultra-reliable eco-tourism guide.......2007-03-06
I used this book, and the community-based eco-tourism agency recommended in this book, to plan a two-week trip. I was alone, female, and non-Spanish speaking. I had the time of my life. Everything went off without a hitch. Great people, waterfalls, food, views, and adventures galore. Thanks to the author. None of the other guidebooks came close to the insight and accuracy of this guide.
Excellent.......2006-11-17
[...]The 18th edition of New Key to Costa Rica improves upon a veritable classic.
2006 marks the 30th anniversary of the guidebook which guides travelers toward
tasteful family-run lodgings and communities that are actively protecting the rural environment.
Written in a style that feels like a conversation with a travel guide, the New Key provides countless insights about the culture, the environment and the people of Costa Rica.
First authored by Jane Wallace, the book was then updated by her daughter Beatrice Blake and Anne Becher. Beatrice prepared this edition alone, but it is easy to see that the text has been guided by a number of joyful souls.
In 1992 this book was the first guidebook to use a green-rating system. In this edition, the rating system is downplayed in favor of focusing on community efforts.
Focusing on family farm visits allows Blake to show travelers the connections among organic agriculture, appropriate energy technology and diverse ecosystems. She writes: "By visiting these communities, not only will you meet some lovely people, but you will be inspired by their ability to put innovative principles into practice."
For travelers wishing to experience tropical nature, there is no better immersion than visiting the communities that are at the forefront of conservation.
Exciting adventure sports are not omitted. One of the highlights of the book is a review of the country's best canopy tours. Additional "adventure reports" showcase innovative efforts throughout the country.
Among the informative sidebars are capsule reviews of the Talamanca Ecotourism Network, the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center and turtle watching at Ostional Wildlife Refuge.
New Key to Costa Rica covers all the bases - from the practical details of deciding when and where to go to tips on learning Spanish and volunteer vacations. For those seeking an eco trip, this book is a must.
This is it, the real thing.......2006-04-25
Absolutely the best of the four (you can guess the other three) books we took, because this on focuses on the off-beat and the green. Use it to locate the indepth Costa Rica, the one that gets you away from everyone else and makes you feel happy about it.
Book Description
Renowned nature photographer Jim Brandenburg gave himself a challenge: for ninety days between the autumnal equinox and the winter solstice, he would make only one photograph a day. As his shutter opened and closed on that first day, his 90-day journey began. This exquisite book is the result of that bold and immensely personal project.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book!.......2007-08-31
If you haven't seen the DVD (Public TV?) program of this project, you should-great insights into what Brandenburg was after as a photographer-the great and the struggles. WOnderful book and photos!
A Nice Conceit.......2004-11-29
It's a nice conceit. A great outdoor photographer sets for himself the task to taking one, but only one, photograph each and every day for an entire season.
One can see all kinds of implications. Once the photographer finds a subject he must get it right the first time because he isn't allowed a second chance. Exposure, focus, composition - everything must be right and as good as he can get it. Moreover he is continually in peril. Should he pass by a good shot in the morning in expectation of a better shot in the afternoon? And what happens when no better shot is in the camera as sunset approaches? We can easily believe Jim Brandenburg when he says that the exercise was a transforming experience.
But the question for viewers of this book is whether the pictures are a transforming experience for us. Unfortunately, they were not for me.
I understand that some of the pictures were bound to be underexposed or out of focus. Plants blow in the wind; animals move. But while I examined the photographs in this book, I also looked at other work by Brandenburg. These other collections were always quite impressive, providing new ways of looking at the world. Many of the pictures in "Chased by the Light" showed a keen sensibility for the light. The silhouettes of loons and a small island with trees against the backlight of a clouded dawn were breathtaking. The photograph of a raven's feather against a lichen background with a few beaded drops of water on the feather caught my eye.
But for every great photograph, there was one that was pedestrian and one that was discardable. I certainly didn't need to see an out-of-focus mink or trees in the forest with no true subject.
To be fair to Brandenburg, this project was apparently not undertaken for publication but rather as an exercise for his own development. It was his editor who wanted to publish after seeing the photographs. To the editor's eye, at least, the pictures were enlightening and well worth the effort.
The greatest value of this book was not in the photographs but in the speculation in which I engaged about why this book was not outstanding. Is photography a stochastic process with each photograph taken possibly leading to an even greater photograph? Did forcing himself to elect when to take his daily picture cause Brandenburg to sacrifice opportunities, or even limit his willingness to take risks. Does the order of presentation of photographs have synergistic effects, which were lost, because this book almost demanded only chronological order? Does forcing the viewer to look at pictures that would otherwise be discards detract from the impact of good pictures?
For me this book was conceptual art. I found the idea of the task transformed my view of photography. The pictures themselves did not.
Challenge Achieved with Grace.......2004-05-17
I gave this book to my parents several years ago and still leaf slowly through its pages whenever visiting their home in northern Minnesota. For amateurs and professionals alike, his is a fascinating photographic concept: your own property? a favorite park? your family? or pet? a holiday?
I normally hesitate to use this word, but...profound........2002-07-09
I'm a verbal type; I'd rather read a beautifully written description of a frozen lake than stare at a picture of it anytime. Even knowing that, my mother gave me this book several years ago, and I fell in love. I sat with it for hours, seeing, dreaming, and I still take it down often to do the same again. The photographer, Jim Brandenburg, set himself the challenge of taking only one photograph each day for three months, in the boreal forest where he makes his home. The result is a portrait of life as many of us can never experience it: not just "calendar shots," but pictures that show the cruelty of man, the certainty of death, the very simple beauty of a single bright leaf burning on the dark, still waters of an evening pond. Some photos are amazing in themselves and some seem ordinary in the extreme, but it is important to take them as a whole, and see what you learn from the journey.
Old fashioned and wonderful.......2002-05-30
It's so more agreable to have this engagement calendar on your desk than a modern and dull looking electronic device. Use an old fountain pen to take your notes, and wait till the ink is dry before turning the page! Wonderful pictures under your eyes every day of the year! You can escape and image yourself so far from the busy and noisy modern world. I'm waiting for the 2003 edition.
Book Description
"Reads like a crime novel . . . each chapter ends on a cliff-hanging note."—Seattle Times
When residents of Boulder, Colorado, suddenly began to see mountain lions in their backyards, it became clear that the cats had returned after decades of bounty hunting had driven them far from human settlement. In a riveting environmental tale that has received huge national attention, journalist David Baron traces the history of the mountain lion and chronicles one town's tragic effort to coexist with its new neighbors. As thought-provoking as it is harrowing, The Beast in the Garden is a tale of nature corrupted, the clash between civilization and wildness, and the artificiality of the modern American landscape. It is, ultimately, a book about the future of our nation, where suburban sprawl and wildlife-protection laws are pushing people and wild animals into uncomfortable, sometimes deadly proximity.
Customer Reviews:
Beast in the Garden Review.......2007-09-19
Extremely well written. I've recommended this book to all my friends and family.. not only is it intriguing and interesting, but its also incredibly informative. It opens your eyes to issues that you probably have not ever thought of. I'd give this book 10 stars if I could.
Beast in the Garden.......2007-06-27
I read this book because a friend at work had it.
I bought two copies from Amazon after reading it: one for me, and one for a friend researching/photographing mountain lions in South Dakota. I've already loaned out my copy to another friend who lives in Colorado and Nebraska and he said he remembers when the Idaho Springs incident happened.
This book is well written and does read like a detective story - but the reality is chilling. I couldn't stop reading it. I can't wait to read it again.
Thanks to Mr. Baron for such excellent work.
Tim Reigert
I loved this book........2007-03-08
"Beast in the Garden" was an extremely interesting book. It was full of facts and entertaining, although although a bit disturbing, at the same time. I live in an area where there are bears in many back yards and this book really takes a very informed look into the suburban/wildlife dynamic. I would definitely recommend it. My daughter is reading it now.
The Beast is Brilliant.......2007-01-09
This is a simply brilliant exposition of the Boulder that I grew up in. Baron examines the situation well and pays attention to the wildlife issues that were relevant at the time and are still relevant now. A few historical problems do come up, but they are merely anecdotal and hardly detract from the story.
Two things really make this a great book:
-if you're from Boulder or the Front Range, you'll be saying "Oh, I've been there" or "Hey, I know that guy" throughout the whole book.
-this book is action-packed. If they could make a movie out of it, they should.
Most of all, Baron pays attention to the characters and really goes in depth with who they are. I'm mostly interested in wildlife, however I found his portrayal of the people the most exciting.
A Cautionary Tale for Garden Dwellers.......2006-11-03
A fitness freak teenager, Scott Lancaster, skips his lunch period to run - his track a mountain trail just upslope from his Idaho Springs, Colorado, high school. The track lies within a few hundred yards of I-70, not far from Colorado's gambling towns, Central City and Black Hawk, about 40 miles west of Denver. Not unusual behavior for a youngster who often cut classes to go running.
But Scott Lancaster did not come back to school or to home. Two days later, a search team including many of Scott's fellow students, about ready to give up looking, found his brutally assaulted body in heavy underbrush, just off his trail.
A Beast in the Garden killed Scott.
The book tells the tale in a readable way. How the Garden came to be. How the wilderness areas at the edge of human development along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains were set aside as nature preserves in which the Beasts could live undisturbed. How the Beasts' natural predators were driven off. How the Beasts adapted to co-existence with the humans at the edges of the Garden. How the Beasts were seen moving further and further into developed areas like Boulder and Idaho Springs. How the Beasts showed their killer instinct with dogs and cats and sheep and other smaller animals. How the Beasts changed their ways, hunting in broad daylight, killing animals people said it feared. How the Beasts repeatedly attacked humans, even though it was said they would not. How a Beast treed Lynda Walters. How Andy Peterson saved himself by gouging out another Beast's eye. How a Beast killed Scott.
The Beasts in the Garden were mountain lions.
The book is the story of a killing and the hunt for the killer. It is also a story of a young naturalist, Michael Sanders, then of the Boulder County Parks and Open Space District, helping humans learn to live with the raccoons and other small invaders from the Garden. Mountain lion sightings piqued Sanders' fascination for big animals. Sanders and others began to build a systematic knowledge base of verified mountain lion sightings. They showed how the population of mountain lions appeared to be growing. How the sightings were of behaviors that proved more and more dangerous to domestic animals, even to humans. How Sanders warned that mountain lions posed significant danger - and was often ignored.
Finally, the book is a study in eco-sociology. Of the forces that created and still maintain the Garden as a preserve for wilderness creatures. Of the conflicting values of those living on the edge of the Garden, those who would remove mountain lions from the Garden, those whose saw humans as the intruders onto the mountain lions' natural home. It is a story that pits neighbor against neighbor. More instructively, it pits Sanders and his friends against the State and Federal park and wilderness managers. It pits emerging reality against common wisdom.
David Baron is a reporter on science and the environment for National Public Radio who first became interested in the behavior of mountain lions in developed areas while doing a 1996 story on a hiker who was killed by a mountain lion near Auburn, CA. His interest took him to the Garden that is the wilderness near Boulder and to Scott Lancaster's and Michael Sanders' stories. Beast in the Garden is a very good read, a well-written mystery that would be thoroughly satisfying were it not for the macabre reality.
The reality is not unique to Colorado's Front Range. My local newspaper has reported many sightings in the town north of my community, sightings and attacks on sheep, goats, and other small animals. A cashier at the local supermarket lost her dog to a mountain lion that is a frequent visitor in the community 15 miles south of mine. A nearby vineyard owner reports a female that has given birth to twin kits annually for several years. The regional paper has reported mountain lion sightings in urban areas, one just a few blocks from the county's community college. On a recent ten-day swing through the Pacific Northwest, there were reports of mountain lion sightings in developed areas in the Tacoma News Tribune, the Vancouver Sun, the Lewiston, Idaho, Tribune, and the Portland Oregonian.
So reality reminds us that my community, a former sheep ranch of about 3000 acres that has been developed with 2300 properties and more than 1500 acres of common land - forests and meadows - is a Garden, too. We, too, are seeing mountain lions. Not just in the forests, but in our meadows, close to the trails along the ocean bluff. Deer kills are reported routinely. We, too, have lost some of the sheep we keep to reduce fire risk, and there are musings about pets that have gone missing. No attacks on humans - yet.
The lessons in Beast in the Garden do not stop at the Front Range; they are applicable in my community - and maybe yours.
Book Description
With a new epilogue
Though the Plains have been in economic and population decline since the twenties, they are actually within closer reach of vibrant ecological sustainability than any other region of the country. This visionary book offers a constructive alternative to the decline of cattle ranching, depletion of underground water, and dependency on outside energy sources. It shows how bringing back the hardy, majestic bison and using the region's winds to generate power are keys to renewed economic and social health for Plains communities.
Customer Reviews:
An excellant series of suggestions for the rural plains.......2003-10-20
Well, I'll try this a second time. The first time I wrote this review, it disappeared from the screen as soon as I clicked on the Edit button, so take care. At any rate...
Callenbach makes an excellent case for changing the way we utilize the Great Plains. With depleting aquifers, failing farms, and resultant loss of population, the region is changing drastically, regardless. With a semi-arid climate, the High Plains are best utilized for ranching, with some farming of suitable crops. The author points out that the native American bison is far more suited to this environment than the domestic bovines now dominant. They are low-maintainance, and provide meat that is leaner than beef, with more protein. And, it's quite delicious. (In fact, after I get off the web, I intend to cook a stroganoff with ground buffalo!) Thru both public and private efforts, as well as projects by Indian tribes in the region, bison can once more become part of a sustainable future for the Plains. Callenbach also advocates bringing back associated grazers like elk, deer, and antelope, as well as appropriate natural predators. Still, man will continue to be the main predator. By using the Plains in a sustainable fashion, a better future could be in store for this great region of the country. Tourism, in the form of wildlife viewing, picture-taking, and hunting would add to the economy. He correctly points out that wind-power would become a major source of power thru-out this whole area.
All in all, a fascinating and thought-provoking series of ideas for projects and policies that would help reverse the decline in the heartland. I would recommend it to anyone interested in a sustainable future. Needless to say, there is much more to the book. I've only mentioned a few of the main points. (I listed more in my disappearing first review; that still ticks me off.) Nevertheless, read it and I guarantee it will not be time wasted.
The Buffalo and the Bear.......2000-01-29
To begin with, i haven't read this book.But the idea seems to me great. Bringing buffalos to the plains will start a new period in the life of America, only we'll have to bring indians too. They would live quietly though loudly, producing some kind of energy which was always here, and which otherways is dissolving into Nowhere.This energy is necessary for generating life all over America. Joseph Campbell tells an interesting story about how buffalos interchanged with indians in the process of buffalo-hunt. They (buffalos) said they are not against hunting them in general, but they must be asked to and treated politely. Anyway all this play is inevitable, they said (indians used to follow them to the end of the rock and made them jump into the precipice) You must only find a suitable form. Another, more human and beautiful attitude we see in the film "Bless the beasts and the children", but this is a kind of unfair play from the side of the bad guys that we see there. Anyway, America must return to It's roots, the only question is where and what these roots are? perhaps this returning is going on somewhere without us, humans, and this is for better because we would spoil everything, even the ecologists? And this process is wild and strong? And it is expressed in our personal mythologies? I had written about the russian-american connections( i am a Russian originally) as the connections of the Bear and the Buffalo, both of them are beautifully and roughly strong, but they differ very much in their behaviour. So i think they would not fight, when they meet, imagine what they would do? Bear had a strong hand, Buffalo a strong foot...no, it's hard to imagine. Dance perhaps? Do circus? So to finish with this short review of an unread book( I liked Ecotopia very much, and want to ask if somebody knows what Mr.Callenbach is doing at the moment)I would like to phantasise about returning bears to the Russian forests. There are still a lot of them, but so many were killed, and so many went to the zoo and circus. What would be Russia with bears in the streets of Moscow? Perhaps people are so tired that nobody would notice?
Really opens your eyes to the importance of restoring bison.......1999-10-01
An excellent book. Callenbach clearing shows that he did his "homework". A must read for anyone who feels that bison should be reestablished on the American scene.
The poorest book ever written about the Great Plains.......1998-08-24
Callenbach demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the people who live on the Great Plains and the issues facing them. This book is very poorly researched, is full of factual errors, and consists primarily of wishful thinking. The idea that taking land from the people that own it and creating a giant buffalo park will be an economic boon and reverse the population declines the Plains has experienced for the past 60 years is ludicrous. If you're really interested in the future of the Great Plains, read some of the more recent articles by Frank and Deborah Popper. The Buffalo Commons is a useful metaphor, but nothing more.
Amazon.com
As ecotourism booms, it's only natural that eco-themed guidebooks would boom alongside it. The Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guides series, endorsed by the Wildlife Conservation Society and researched by professional biologists, is one of the more credible brands to have surfaced in the swelling ecotravel ranks. The series provides an encyclopedic introduction to Central America's flora and fauna, as well as a friendly primer on the principles of ecotourism. These rich ecological contexts are accompanied by hundreds of pictures and photographs. Miraculously, the guides deliver solid science without growing stilted or boring--as evinced by sections with such titles as "Avian Mating Systems and Birds That Cheat" and "Frugivory: Animals That Eat Fruit and the Trees That Want Them To." The one element in surprisingly short supply is ecologically sound travel tips, from general do's and don'ts to a list of ecologically responsible tour operators and other eco-friendly establishments in Costa Rica. This is somewhat discouraging--learning how to travel responsibly is as important as knowing what you're going to see. Though the book isn't quite a one-stop information source for the ecologically minded, it's an excellent guide to the natural wonders that make Costa Rica such a rewarding destination. --Andrew Nieland
Book Description
With
Costa Rica: The Ecotravelers Wildlife Guide, Les Beletsky provides the tourist to Central America with an invaluable handbook to natural history, ecology, and wildlife habitats. The readable, informative text along with photos and drawings will help the ecotourist to identify animals encountered on their visit. Also included are lists of wildlife reserves and other ecologically significant sites with up-to-date conservation techniques in Costa Rica. It is the only book that gives the reader a mix of natural history, ecology, conservation, species identification and site guide all in one volume.
Key Features
* The only guide to Costa Rica to combine general ecological information with basic species identification
* Readable, informative text
* Plates of species with photos of typical habitats and drawings of common plants
* Lists of Reserves and sites to visit
* Up-to-date text on conservation in Costa Rica
Customer Reviews:
good but not great.......2004-05-30
For 30% less of the cost of this book, you could (as I did) pick up a superior book that details the history of conservation in the country's diverse geographical zones (seacoasts, prairies, jungles and volcanic highlands). That book is "Costa Rica: The Last Country The Gods Made."
excellent nature guide.......2003-02-17
This guide has got three sections: an introduction to the neotropical ecosystems, a description of families of animal, and a section with pictures, for purposes of identification.
The second section is for people who are willing to dig deeper into this stuff, the first section gives a good introduction into Casta Rica and it's ecology.
To shallow for professionals, to deep for absolute beginners (only the last section will appeal to them), but very good stuff for the informed layman!
Excellent Resource.......2002-02-11
This book provides a fascinating, well-written and often humorous overview of Costa Rican natural history as well as a detailed description of the most often seen wildlife. I cannot overstate how much this book enhanced my trip to Costa Rica and gave me a greater understanding of what I was seeing. It is not exhaustive, but unless you want to carry multiple, subject-specific books with you, this is the one to bring. It had information on virtually every bird and creature I saw there.
Not enough coverage.......2001-07-04
I took this book with me to Costa Rica so that I could spot and identify commonly-seen birds and wildlife there.
The first part of the book contains an overview about Eco-traveling that could have been summarized a bit more. The book conveniently places details about wildlife in the center of the book, and puts the illustrations in the back so that you can do faster lookups.
Although I appreciate the emphasis on Eco-travel, I found this book rather disappointing when used as a reference. Some of the birds I saw more than once were not listed at all. There are few illustrations of what the birds look like in flight and there is little about age- or gender-based differences in appearance. Also, although the wildlife coverage is fairly good for reptiles and amphibians, there is very little about marine or plant life.
I'm still relatively new to birding, but if I could do it again, I would have paid the additional cost and bought the Stiles and Skutch book.... If you're not a bird watcher and you're just looking for a basic 'wild life' identifier, I would suggest skipping the book, and instead, buying one of those laminated 'bird/wildlife identification' cards that you can find for about $10 in many of the visitor-oriented shops around Costa Rica.
A Beginner's Guide.......2001-04-18
If you really consider yourself to be an "ecotraveller" then you will be greatly disappointed by the limited information provided in the book.
The attractive title "Ecotravellers Wildlife Guide" had me sold. Unfortunately this book is not for ecotravellers, but for the novice wildlife observer. This book is very elementary and is very limited in the variation of species of birds and reptiles listed. As for the mammals, the book was sufficient.
I just returned from my trip to Costa Rica 3 days ago and I had more than one of my wildlife tour guides criticize this book for its lack of information. It was so frustrating to see gorgeous birds and lizards everywhere and not be able to find hardly any of them within the book. Costa Rica has 1600 species of birds, so it is understandable that many birds would go unmentioned. Unfortunately, this book does not even scratch the surface of the diversity of birds found in this amazing country. While on my trip I was fortunate enough to be able to borrow a book from my tour guide so that I could go out bird-watching. The book I borrowed was fabulous and it was called "A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica" by F. Gary Stiles & Alexander F. Skutch. (highly recommended)
I hope this information is helpful and best of luck on your trip!
Books:
- Cougar: A Guide for Older Women Dating Younger Men
- Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home: And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals
- Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
- Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
- Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats
- Draw 50 Cats: The Step-by-Step Way to Draw Domsetic Breeds, Wild Cats, Cuddly Kittens, and Famous Felines
- Easter Bunnies Everywhere (Top This! Book)
- Eva Cassidy: Songbird: Her Story by Those Who Knew Her
- Family Dog
- Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy (Fancy Nancy)
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